“The program was out of control,” former Florida safety Bryan Thomas told the Sporting News.
Part of the problem, according to the report, is that Meyer’s players said he developed a “circle of trust” group of players that could get away with anything and Meyer would look the other way because of their talent on the football field.
Former players told the Sporting News that future pro stars Percy Harvin, Brandon Spikes, and Aaron Hernandez all missed a game due to failed drug tests for marijuana. Officially, Meyer reported that the three were injured.
The Sporting News’ investigation pointed to Harvin as getting the most preferential treatment. The Sporting News said multiple players confirmed that Harvin physically attacked wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales by grabbing him by the neck and throwing him to the ground.
It took two other assistant coaches to pull Harvin off Gonzales, players told the Sporting News, but Harvin was never disciplined. Gonzales would later resign by putting his keys, cell phone, and a resignation letter on Meyer’s desk.
More than 30 players were arrested in Meyer’s six seasons. Tight end Aaron Hernandez admitted to failing a drug test at UF which cost his draft stock. Harvin failed a drug test at the NFL combine and caused him to slip in the first round, according to the Sporting News.
And this is the stuff people are willing to talk about.