The Aaron Hernandez murder case and investigation has numerous angles and interesting story threads, including the connection to former Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer, who led the team while Hernandez was in school and oversaw things during turbulent time for the roster despite winning championships on the field.
Meyer hadn't commented on the situation much or directly at all until the weekend and he refuted some comments and stories in the media about how his tenure as coach of the Gators was marred by player arrests and controversy, including incidents involving Hernandez. Meyer was coach of the team while Hernandez played there from 2007 to 2009 and now he is sitting in jail facing first degree murder charges after being arrested for the shooting of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player. Police reports said that the motive behind the killing was Lloyd talking to the wrong people at a club and Meyer finally responded to the incident, saying that his thoughts and prayers go out to the victim and his family.
Meyer went on to say that blaming the University of Florida or his staff for any of the actions that occurred is wrong and that he also refuted reports about Hernandez failing drug tests while playing for the Gators. Meyer had previously declined to comment on the situation and he felt it was best to comment since reports made by the media were wrong about the school covering up drug tests. Meyer said that the staff and himself tried to mentor Hernandez and keep him on the right path, including having bible study sessions with him and trying to help him cope with his father's death.
Hernandez was reportedly involved in a number of situations while with the Gators, including a bar fight and a shooting for which he was questioned. Hernandez was only 17 at the time of that shooting and now he is in jail after police discovered a body a mile from his home in an industrial park, while his two alleged accomplices are also behind bars. Carlos Ortiz was charged with carrying a firearm the day of the shooting and Hernandez is facing life in prison for the charges
