Urban Meyer: Red-hot speculation on Ohio State deal

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Speculation is flying about whether former University of Florida football coach Urban Meyer will take over the helm at Ohio State.

WKMG-TV in Orlando is reporting that Meyer has agreed in principle to a seven-year, $40-million deal with the university. Sources -- unnamed -- said the deal would be announced in the coming days.

WKMG’s sources said Meyer has even assembled some of his staff.

They said that Mickey Marotti, the strength coach at Florida, would become Ohio State’s director of football operations and that Luke Fickell, the interim head coach at Ohio State, would become an assistant head coach.

Not so fast.

On Wednesday, Meyer told ESPN, where he works as a college football analyst, that no such deal has been made.

‘I have not been offered any job nor is there a deal in place,’ Meyer said in a statement. ‘I plan on spending Thanksgiving with my family and will not comment on this any further.’

Meyer, 47, stepped down as head coach at Florida in 2010 because of health concerns and a desire to spend more time with his family, but he told the Gainesville Sun on Monday that he may be ready to make a comeback.

‘I’m in a good place right now, mentally and physically. So if something happens with Ohio State, I’ll have a decision to make. But there has been no interview. There has been no offer to make a decision about.

‘If there is a decision to be made concerning Ohio State, there will be a lot that will go into it. But right now, there is no decision to be made.

‘I love football. It’s what I am. I miss it.’

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-- Melissa Rohlin