Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer let it be known in no uncertain terms to the members of the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association this morning that he considers this state the Buckeyes’ home turf, especially when it comes to recruiting.

In fact, bristling at the complaint from Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema that Meyer and his assistant coaches might have stepped out of bounds in flipping players such as offensive linemen Kyle Dodson of Cleveland Heights and Taylor Decker of Vandalia (Butler), and defensive end Se’Von Pittman of Canton (McKinley) from their previous commitments to Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Michigan State, respectively, during the just completed recruiting season, the new Ohio State coach indicated the battle has just begun.

“You're (upset) because we went after nine committed guys? Guess what, we got nine (assistant coaches) who better go do it again; and do it a little harder next time,” Meyer said to the high-school coaches during his presentation to them at their convention at the Easton Hilton this morning.

He spoke for almost two hours then had to leave for a flight to Chicago where the Big Ten coaches were gathering for an informal meeting at late morning. On his way out of the door at the Hilton he told The Dispatch  that the complaints by other Big Ten coaches are “silly” as far as he was concerned, and that they will not change how he and his staff do business.

After the meeting with the coaches and Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney, this afternoon Meyer issued the following statement: “I was pleased to take part in a productive, regularly scheduled meeting of the Big Ten Conference coaches today in Chicago. We had an opportunity to discuss a number of issues with each other and conference staff, including those that have arisen this week.

“It should be noted that my coaching staff is in full compliance with our recruiting efforts, and no one on this staff did anything illegal or unethical. We will continue to comply with NCAA rules and recruit with relentless effort, especially the great state of Ohio.

“I want to thank commissioner Delany for his insight and leadership, and at this point we all look forward to moving past this week and getting ready for the start of spring football.”

tmay@dispatch.com