Urban Cleared Of Recruiting Violations Dave Curtis | Sentinel Staff Writer 6:53 PM EST, February 5, 2008 GAINESVILLE - Florida Coach Urban Meyer and his assistants have been cleared of any wrongdoing in the recruitment of junior college receiver Carl Moore and gymnast Maranda Smith. "Allegations about impermissible phone calls by the football staff have been reviewed by the NCAA and the University (of Florida)," UF assistant athletic director Steve McClain said Tuesday. "At this time, the information does not indicate any violations of NCAA rules occurred." The comment comes a month after UF's University Athletic Association compliance office started to review Meyer's actions late in the fall and early this winter. Senior associate athletics director Jamie McCloskey led the review, and he and his staff consulted with NCAA representatives before reaching their conclusions. The review's scope included two possible violations by Meyer and the assistants. One centered around whether Meyer contacted Smith, Moore's girlfriend, in an effort to recruit Moore from Sierra (Calif.) Community College. The other focused on whether Meyer instructed quarterback Tim Tebow to make a recruiting pitch to Moore via telephone on Dec. 8, the night Tebow won the Heisman Trophy. NCAA rules limit the number of coaches who can recruit an athlete, and Meyer's calls to Smith might have exceeded the three coaches allowed in women's gymnastics. The rules also prohibit athletes from contacting recruits when instructed by coaches; athletes can contact those recruits on their own. Published comments from Moore and Smith triggered the reviews. Moore told the Sacramento Bee in mid-December about receiving a Heisman night call from Meyer, who passed the phone to Tebow. Smith told the Gainesville Sun in January about daily conversations with Meyer, when he often inquired about her gymnastics future. Smith later changed her story, saying she rarely spoke with Meyer. Both Moore and Smith signed to attend Florida in December and arrived on campus before the second semester began. Smith has competed all season for the No. 3 Gators all season, and Moore continues to participate in the Florida football offseason conditioning program. Dave Curtis can be reached at dcurtis@orlandosentinel.com. Two more links. ESPN - Meyer Cleared Florida Today On Meyer Cleared