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Yahoo Sports reported Thursday that Joker Phillips' stunning resignation as Florida's wide receivers coach came over a violation of the NCAA's "bump" rule -- one reported to the NCAA by "an individual with ties to the Miami Hurricanes athletics program."
Sources told Yahoo that the individual turned over to the NCAA a photo of Phillips sitting in a restaurant with a recruit, one taken during a recruiting "dead period." During such periods extended contact between the coach and any recruit is prohibited.
Though the bump rule violation would be considered secondary -- and Yahoo reports it was presented to the NCAA as such -- it could be treated as a major violation if the NCAA found the meeting between Phillips and the recruit had been pre-arranged.
Neither the NCAA nor Miami would comment to Yahoo on the case.
The former head coach at Kentucky, Phillips resigned suddenly Wednesday after just one season on Will Muschamp's staff. His predecessor as Gators receiving coach was, ironically, Aubrey Hill -- who himself resigned after being connected to the Nevin Shapiro scandal at Miami.
Former Florida quarterback Chris Leak has been promoted to fill Phillips' position.
