NFL notebook: Ohio State denies allegations of racial comment

Ohio State coaches and officials are issuing strong denials in response to a report that the father of a former Ohio State player said his son was the target of racial comments made by former Buckeyes assistant coach Zach Smith. A story posted by college football reporter Brett McMurphy to WatchStadium.com reported that LeBron Grimes, the father of former Ohio State wide receiver Trevon Grimes, claimed that Smith called his son a "bitch ass (N-word)" during practice last year. The story intimated that head coach Urban Meyer tried to cover up the incident by taking a trip to Grimes' home in Florida. Trevon Grimes, who is now at the University of Florida, did not comment for the story, but three of his current teammates at Florida claimed Smith directed the N-word at Grimes. Smith denied the allegation. "I've never said (the N-word) in my entire life. I've never been in a fight with a player in my life. Never. That never happened," Smith stated, according College Football Talk. During a conference call Tuesday, head coach Urban Mayer said he was "irate" when he heard the allegations, calling the report "the most preposterous thing" he has experienced as a college football coach. Meyer also said the university is considering legal action. Athletic director Gene Smith issued a statement calling the report "unequivocally false." --Maryland quarterback Kasim Hill will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL this weekend, coach Matt Canada announced. Redshirt sophomore Tyrell Pigrome replaced Hill after the latter sustained the injury during the second quarter of a 34-32 loss to Indiana on Saturday. Hill scrambled and twisted his left knee on what Canada called a "freak play." Hill, a sophomore, completed 84 of 170 passes for 1,083 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions in 10 games this season. --A television station in Denver reported Monday night that the University of Colorado and head coach Mike MacIntyre will part ways after this season, but on Tuesday the athletic director said no decision has been made on MacIntyre's future at the school. Denver7, an ABC affiliate, reported that multiple sources informed the station that MacIntyre will be gone after this season. MacIntyre has a 30-43 record in his six seasons at Colorado. The Buffaloes are 5-5 this year, beginning the season 5-0 and earning a No. 19 ranking, but they have now lost five straight. Colorado athletic director Rick George released a statement on Tuesday morning regarding the report. "We do not comment on speculation or unsubstantiated rumors with anonymous sources. Let me just say I have made no decisions regarding the future of the football program," George said in his statement. "As I've stated in the past, we continually evaluate all aspects of all of our 17 intercollegiate sport programs." That statement does not deny that MacIntyre will be fired after this season. --Iowa State running back David Montgomery and Baylor defensive end Greg Roberts will miss the first half of their respective team's games this weekend after being ejected from last week's contest. Montgomery retaliated with a swing after Roberts reached over an official to deliver a punch during the second half of the Cyclones' 28-14 win over the Bears on Saturday in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said the school wouldn't appeal the Big 12's punishment. Montgomery, who is the second-leading rusher in the Big 12, will sit out the first half against Texas this weekend.