Should he stay or should he go?
In a story sending shockwaves throughout the college football establishment, Florida head coach Urban Meyer has announced he will be stepping down following the Sugar Bowl citing health concerns. Meyer's Gators beat the pulp out of a lot of teams during his five seasons in Gainesville, including a 41-14 drubbing that sent your beloved team into a big game tailspin.
The release on the University of Florida athletics website generated so much traffic that within 15 minutes the site had crashed. Obviously our best wishes to Meyer on his personal health and let's hope this isn't as serious as the urgency would indicate. More as it develops.
UPDATE: Multiple outlets (Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post, ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Pete Thamel of the New York Times) are now reporting that Urban Meyer's flip flopped, and in the interim will only officially be taking a leave of absence. Gator haters can take solace that polarizing offensive coordinator Steve Addazio is expected to serve in an interim role while Meyer is out, and recruiting with a nebulous uncertainty to when/if Meyer will return can't possibly help the program. Every man is entitled to change his mind, but the story becomes that much more bizarre given that just this morning, Meyer's wife was quoted as saying "no chance" he does so.
Comments
WTF? This can't be true. If it is, I say it doesn't stick. He'll start feeling better and come back.
I feel no pity for Florida fans, for obvious reasons, but I feel terrible for him, being an Ohio guy and all.
Wow just heard about it on espn. Sorry for Urban but not sorry at all for florida fans f them. I hope all their recruits jump ship. RIP Gator football.
Just an add-on here... I bet he wants to stay with Timmy and can't stand the thought of those lonely nights without him.
This sucks. Urban Meyer was such a fantastic nemesis. A guy who ran a team that I could really love to hate. I'll miss getting the hate going for Urban. The way it was supposed to go: The Vest was supposed to pound UF so badly that he was forced to resign.
Next stop: Ann Arbor.
Supposedly Meyer's heart is bad...http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/26/report-meyer-had-in-season-heart-attack/
Should help the Buckeyes with a couple recruits still on the board that were considering the Gators.
Yeah Seantrel Henderson, Shariff Floyd, Jonathan Hankins, and Jordan Hicks....not to mention Josh Shaw may decommit plus Matt Elam is reportedly upset...we can use him at safety.....
Just remember - he was one of us once (receiver coach under Earle Bruce, I think).
OK - let's start the what-if's... Does Meyer ever coach again? If so, how many years does he stay away from coaching?
Further, if only 9 years under the microscope wears a 45 year old guy down to the degree he has to quit for "non life threatening health reasons" is he a safe hire for a marquee program (like Ohio State for example)?
If you were AD, would you give Meyer a shot in two or three years at running your program?
Uh, if he's willing, why the hell not? You can't argue with two national championships. As an AD, if a gem like Meyer drops into your lap, you hire him, and take his word on his health.
Personally, I think this is something permanent. No one would retire from Florida right now, even post-Tebow, if they aren't suffering from something serious.
Is Chris Peterson of Boise State the obvious top choice for the Gators?
All I know is the Sugar Bowl will be Tebow AND Meyer's last games at Florida. Meanwhile UC and their coaching situation....Ummmmm... take the Gators and the points (every last point).
I am torn here, b/c I really don't like UF but I am really...really...sick of the UC stuff and wouldn't mind watching Tebow, etc... put a "you can shut up now" score on them.
Clearly, it has to be one of two different possibilities to me.
1) He does have some sort of major health problem and coaching may cause him to drop over.
2) Something scandalous could be on the brink of coming out. Maybe with the program or maybe Tiger Woods like in nature.
He wouldn't just step down because he wanted another job, or was tired of coaching at Florida. He surely would've taken off to Notre Dame if that were the case.
It's an Urban Shocker!
it's his health
More a response to some of the ignorant posts/cheap shots below.
Thoughts:
1) Either a scandal is coming
2) Legit
If it ends up as legit, it is in poor taste to say anything to bash it. How many coaches hold on tooth & nail at the expense of everything else?
Seems unlikely to me that Urban would leave at the pinnacle of his career w/o involved reasons, BUT you have to only respect someone if it turns out he achieved what he wanted & decided it was time for his family & life.
That's what I'm saying, if people are doubting health as the real reason, the only other possible reason is impending scandal. I know that's what they are reporting and everything and seems to be likely.
Let's see, the Jaguars said they are going to draft Tebow 1st round. Maybe Meyer is heading to the NFL, possibly on their staff. Watch out Jack Del Rio!
Pressure at Florida is nothing like pressure at tOSU.
That said, 5 years from now, maybe Tress will move to the AD position and who knows..............
No way he goes to Kax.... College is cake compared to the NFL pressure cooker.
Kak= Jax
your ignorant.
Brian kelly...should have waited until after the sugar bowl.
Unless Florida can beat Kelly's deal that he got at ND then I don't see Kelly jumping to Florida. Although, if recruiting turns out to be a big obstacle for Kelly and the new Florida coach sucks then I'm sure Kelly goes to Florida. Where else?
you're the ignorant one Tampa. It was time for his family, and you are fucked up for wanting to deny him that
Not if he starts as a coordinator!
Yea... I think we really should take Meyer at his word. Until we hear otherwise it is only fair to believe that the guy really does have the big picture in mind. No need to die at a practice in August when you're 48 when you have already established your legacy and have more money than you could ever imagine.
He's really no different from those people who win the lottery and quit their job the next day, when you think about it.
If his ticker really is on the edge, then I tip my cap to him for putting his health and his family first.
That much said....I am sure Brian Kelly is KICKING himself right now... how funny would it be if ND was suddenly scrambling b/c Kelly turns around and bails on them?!?!
Who's to say Brian Kelly would've left UC for Florida? He left UC because it was NOTRE DAME calling. Every ambitious coach wants to bring them back from the dead. If he turns them into a winner, he becomes a legendary coach, if he fails well he has an enormously fat wallet and other jobs will be open to him.
Florida, while a great program has about 12 years of history. It's a great job, but not so sure people are going to jump ship to go there. I keep hearing people mention Bob Stoops and I say why is he going to leave a program that has 1 championship the last 10 years, more regular season wins, and more BCS bowls than Florida.
i guess tim tebow tears cannot cure stress and angina
ring.... ring.... you hear that florida its 7-5 and music city bowl calling
It is going to be fun to watch that program fall back to earth next year. I hope Tennessee kills them!
So why does Stoops' name keep coming up in these coaching searches? I thought Oklahoma was about as big of a end game destination for college as there was. You don't hear about anyone trying to steal Pete Carroll, Mack Brown, or Jim Tressel when these vacancies show up.
There actually were early murmurs about Carroll (since his AD ostensibly threw him under the bus), but sources close to him indicate there's "no chance" he'd leave SC for UF.
Carroll will retire soon, early, and maybe at the end of this year, just in time to miss out on sanctions at USC. His career will be done, and he will be radioactive.
Urban Meyer is the best motivator since Knute Rockne.
what? I think you've been at sea too long. He has a great offense I'll give you that.
I hate Urban Meyer and the Gators. They are smug spoiled rich kids and karma is a bitch.
Uh, right.
In conclusion, Urban Meyer is the best coach in college football. Can't argue with results, regardless of what you think of him or his team.
I hate the Gators as much as scUM, but I was referring to the "Won one for the Gipper", now it's "Win one for me and Teebs".
Very shocked to hear this, seems like it came out of nowhere.
Hope he gets his health issues straightened out and returns to coaching.
Last time I checked coaches don't play on the field. He does a good job of getting out of the way of his talent unlike the buckeyes staff.
Are you implying he has nothing to do with their success? That Florida would win these titles without him, based purely on talent?
Uh, Ron Zook would like a word with you.
It looks like Urban has consulted with Brett Favre on how to best handle a retirement announcement
You may want to check the news. You're a little late.
What? A Florida coach waffling on a decision to leave or not?! Impossible!
this is all just so that fla. does not lose the recruits they already locked up or was going to get. as soon as feb 2nd goes by he will retire
Exactly, it's all about recruits.
I was thinking the same thing earlier. Maybe they like the University, but Gainesville is a shithole.
This is sort of a theory I read into upon initially hearing the news, but it doesn't add up for a variety of reasons. There's absolutely no chance Florida AD Jeremy Foley would be on board with any kind of succession plan that would come from any of the staff remaining. That would leave Florida in a long term position for failure and make future classes extremely vulnerable. Florida would also be unable to realistically make an outside hire after signing day and would be forced to go with Addazio or Dan McCarney for a season, which would amount to a lost year (plus many potential transfer risks feeling extremely deceived). From watching the presser, I'm pretty convinced that Urban legitimately changed his mind. Whether or not 20 years of poor stress managements habits can be relearned in a more healthy fashion, however, is another debate all together.
Haha most classic statement ever. Your ignorant.......Haha
Try picking up a grammar book. It's you're as in you are.
classic