Ohio State coach Urban Meyer addressed the burgeoning college basketball scandal in his Wednesday night session with reporters, but he went into much greater detail on his radio call-in show on 97.1 The Fan on Thursday afternoon.

When the subject was first broached, Meyer said he was reluctant to say too much.

“I have plenty of thoughts and opinions, very strong ones,” he said. “I'm not sure I can share them.”

But then he did. Here are his comments (lightly edited for clarity):

“I’ve always been a big proponent of the NCAA. It’s very frustrating to see that things happen and things happen and things happen — some of a very serious nature — and it just disappears because they don’t have subpoena power. You hear the term ‘toothless.’ It’s certainly not because of effort, because we have very good people there.

“I always believed if you willfully and intentionally broke the rule or you lie to the NCAA, you can never coach again. To this day, I still believe that. I’m not talking about mistakes made when you have a rulebook like this (thick). But if you intentionally pay a guy money or willfully have a second cell phone to make illegal phone calls, you’re done. You can never coach again.

“It’s no different than a student-athlete. If a student-athlete lies to the NCAA, they’re finished. So you’re telling me a 50-year-old man has more rights than an 18-year-old student-athlete? Who comes up with that? If you intentionally lie about committing violations, your career is over. You’re not suspended for (only) two games. Some of the silly penalties you have — you can’t talk to a recruit for a week and a half or something like that — no. You’re finished. That will clean up some things.

“I’m in favor of regulation. I’m in favor of strong law enforcement and making people obey the rules in our profession. I don’t know the whole story behind it. I don’t have time. But I know one thing, when you start hearing “federal,” when someone asks you a question and you lie, you’re going to jail. I’m anxious to watch what happens.”

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He said the believes the scandal will result in needed reforms.

“Sure. It has to. (Athletic director) Gene Smith and I have spoken about it,” Meyer said.

He added that coaches who use burner phones to evade regulations should be banned. Meyer finished by saying he’d read a story about the possible prison time since involved in the scandal might face.

“I read one article where you’re eating through a slit (in the cell),” he said.

Other highlights from Meyer’s radio show:

* Meyer said he thinks teams should be limited to two night road games a year because of wear and tear and/or sleep issues. He joked that he “opened up my big mouth” a few years ago lobbying for more night games because of the atmosophere and recruiting benefits.

* Meyer said he’s talked up wide receiver Parris Campbell for years, before he was productive on the field: “As good a human being as I’ve coached.”

* Meyer on the six-player rotation at WR: “Six is a lot to rotate. It’s what you want. It’s a little bit like our defensive line right now. The key will be how they perform against equated competition. That’s what we’re trying to do — get them to that level.”

* More on the OSU receivers: “It’s probably the most selfless group of receivers we’ve had here.”

* Meyer on freshmen receivers Trevon Grimes and Jaylen Harris: “Right now they have improved, but (they’re not quite ready). The future is very bright for them.”

* Meyer said running back/hybrid Demario McCall is still battling effects of hernia surgery. He’s lacking explosiveness right now.

* Meyer on backup defensive end Jonathon Cooper: “His energy level and toughness is outstanding.”

* Meyer says, probably joking, that he considered playing quarterback Tate Martell against UNLV, his hometown school. He said he loves his freshman’s competitiveness.

* Meyer said “Joe (Burrow) is still right there,” with Dwayne Haskins in backup QB battle.

* Meyer on Rutgers’ defense: “They were not very good a year ago and they’re very good now.”

* Meyer said Rutgers’ offense is behind its defense but is improving.

* Meyer on quarterback J.T. Barrett: “It’s like talking to another coach: ‘What do you see? Who do you like?’ ”

* Meyer on OSU’s red-zone offense: “That’s an area where there’s been a slight decline since ’13-14,” though he added that the numbers are a little skewed because of a couple of kneel-downs. Meyer said they worked hard in the spring to install a red-zone package.

* Meyer said New Jersey high school football is similar to Ohio’s: “Very well-coached, very important to the people in the area.”

* Meyer on defensive coordinator and former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano: “Rutgers is in the Big Ten conference because of Greg Schiano and what he did at that place.”

* Meyer said he used to be reluctant to hire former head coaches because he’s not sure he could go from head coach to assistant.

Parris Campbell then joined the show for the final segment.

* Campbell on his thoughts when kickoff is in air: “A lot of stress going on. The 10 guys in front of me, I have no doubt they’re going to do their job.”

* Campbell said young receivers like Harris and Grimes are talented and have made progress learning how hard they have to work to succeed.

* Campbell on wide receiver C.J. Saunders: “C.J. is a guy who brings juice and energy to the room. He’s a walk-on but he plays like he’s got a scholarship. He’s really, really talented. When C.J. steps on the field, he’s a baller.”

brabinowitz@dispatch.com

@brdispatch

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