An Ohio State-Michigan recruiting battle ended Wednesday when Detroit Cass Tech running back Mike Weber signed with Ohio State.
But the departure of Ohio State running backs coach Stan Drayton on Thursday brought hard feelings, and in a Detroit radio interview Friday, Weber's high school coach, Thomas Wilcher, said Weber was misled by Ohio State.
Wilcher, a former Michigan running back, told Detroit Sports 105.1 Friday that he needs "to have a talk" with Ohio State coach Urban Meyer about "respect" and what he feels was deception when Drayton left to take the same job with the Chicago Bears on Thursday. Weber had previously decommitted from Michigan due to uncertainty surrounding the since-departed coaching staff.
Meyer acknowledged Wednesday that Weber's ultimate decision went to the 11th hour.
"(Weber) wanted to stay committed, he wanted to show he understands about commitment," Wilcher said. "That's what he showed Ohio State in the end. They're at least supposed to show him the same type of courtesy.
"It's a black eye on the university. They're out there getting these young men under false pretenses."
Wilcher made it clear that he's not angry at Drayton for taking a better job. But he criticized Ohio State for not informing Weber.
Upon learning of Drayton's departure on Thursday, Weber put out a tweet that read, "I'm hurt as hell I ain't gone lie."
Wilcher wouldn't say whether Weber still plans to attend Ohio State. Because he signed a national letter of intent, Ohio State would need to release Weber to allow him to play at another school.
"That's why Mike decommitted from Michigan (last fall), because he didn't know who the coach was going to be," Wilcher said. "Now you've got that same type of uncertainty again.
"You should have at least told the young man."
At a coaching clinic in Columbus on Friday, Meyer told reporters, "There was a talk (with Weber). I had a long conversation with him and so did Stan. We've got to move forward."
