By Shane from Centerpoint
Wow! Lately, the Gator nation must feel like they’ve somehow gotten the wrong part in a bad movie. First, disaster struck when Florida fans were forced to witness the dismantling of their football empire by the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC championship game. Now, the man who built the empire and provided the “swagger” is hanging up his cleats. I’m not buying the old “I will more than likely stay” story. He’s just trying to save the recruiting class. This cat has tapped out.
The Gator hero – the man who made them forget Spurrier – says he’s decided that his health and family mean more than winning football games.
Personally, I commend him for having his priorities in order, but I’ll bet that won’t be the case for most of those who occupy Gatorland.
Hey, I’m amazed that Meyer has stayed as long as he has. He probably deserves a badge for dealing with the radical fan base he’s faced for the last five years. Remember, this is the same psychotic group in power at Florida that established long before Urban took the job that they could screw up a good thing. Just ask Steve Spurrier.
As time passes, I’m sure the conspiracy theories will run rampant on Florida message boards, talk radio, and other outlets. Gator fans will be angry and blame Meyer for leaving because they know that without him they will undoubtedly return to mediocrity.
Ultimately, those same fickle Florida fans will hate Urban Meyer – especially if he ends up coaching the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and Tim Tebow gets drafted as his franchise player. Hold the rope, Gators! I’m just kidding! However, the fires of Rome will burn if that does actually happen, won’t they?
Whether it’s a leave of absence, a resignation, or a sabbatical, Meyer apparently succumbed to the relentless pressure and high stress created directly by the dominant nature of what Saban and the Tide did to his Gators in that championship game.
Admittedly, Urban Meyer changed the culture at Florida. But, he also created his own monster. Two national titles in four years can do strange things to the mentality of a fan base. It can do even stranger tricks to the ego of the architect who designed the project.
Who knows, maybe losing Tebow is going to be much more costly than anybody could’ve ever imagined, and Meyer simply can’t get over thinking about the future without Tim running his offense?
Maybe that particular issue (or the Bama loss) is affecting Urban’s confidence in his abilities as a head coach?
Or, Meyer might be using a carefully crafted exit strategy – taking a couple of years off – while waiting for Brian Kelly to “bomb” at Notre Dame, so that he can eventually return and lead the Irish to their rightful place among the nation’s elite.
I’m not really sure exactly what’s going down with Coach Meyer and Florida right now, but I do know that Urban isn’t through coaching.
As I stated earlier, he may actually go to the NFL. But, if I were a “betting man”, I’d put the house on Notre Dame. By the way, he could end up at Michigan or Ohio State as well.
One thing is evident – he wants out of Florida.
In fact, I’m not so sure that coaching in Gainesville is the greatest coaching job in college football any longer. In spite of the ideal recruiting territory, Urban Meyer still had to deal with America’s quirkiest athletic director and that wacky fan base.
I do think Meyer saw the future clearly unfold on the turf of the Georgia Dome on that fateful Saturday night. Also, Meyer probably understands that facing the specter of Alabama on the road next year (without Tebow) carries the danger of derailing Florida’s season early.
Besides, he couldn’t have picked a better time to get out. He had a magical run with the Gators. His five-year record of 56 wins with only 10 losses is awesome, and his 2-SEC and 2-national crowns speak for themselves.
By parting ways now Meyer stands alone as the greatest coach in Florida football history. Honestly, it’s hard to blame a guy for wanting to go out on top. The sad part of the story is that somehow the Florida fans will find a way to make him the scapegoat when the program falls.
Shane writes a weekly column for the Call News and the Capstone Report.
Last time I checked close only counts in horse shoes, which we ain’t playing. I do believe parity is playing a huge role in all of college football, but even in parity you will still have some teams that will seperate from the rest.
On a year in year out basis the Bearcats, Utes, Red Raiders, and many other flash in the pans will have their moments, but put them in a conference like the SEC or Big Twelve and they wouldn’t stand a chance. But if they play a cup cake schedule during the year then yeah for a one game season they can play with the big boys due to turn overs, mential collapses and so forth.
Just making observations about your team and the sux vols, isn’t always talking them down, just stating facts as you say. Your entire fan base has always said it ain’t about the rankings of the incoming class, now all I hear you say is wait until we get this and that one, and have a top 5 class. So which is it? I knew you knew better all along but y’all haven’t been getting it done with recruits the last few years and it shows.
Simply because you won 8 this year instead of 5 does not mean you have arrived. But there has been improvement, although everyone in the SEC with the exception of Florida has a lot of catching up to do.
Can you catch up, maybe, maybe not. You know they say the longer things remain the more they stay the same. Can you say 13 and counting? Probably not. But that is a fact, the other fact you could say is well we have 1 and are trying to rebuild, and will be awhile before we can say 2, now that aurox is a FACT.
Furnish me with some more aubie facts, I need a good laugh this afternoon.
Carl, seriously, I’m beginning to have doubts about you now. In your response to my last post you started by giving the old horseshoes cliche. Really?? Is that what you gleaned? Of course I know “close” doesn’t count in football, but it very much counts when talking about parity within a conference.
As for your second paragraph, I’ve said that same thing many times. A lesser team from a lesser conference can “get up” for a shot at knocking off an SEC calibre team on any given Saturday. Stringing together successive Saturday wins in the grueling SEC, is quite another task. I understand that completely.
As for recruits, you have never heard me downplay the importance of a good recruiting class. The lack of is the reason Auburn got in this pickle. When Alabama and LSU were bickering last year over who won the “Recruiting Championship” I thought that was pretty silly. Being that the margin of error in ranking those classes is usually +/- 10 spots after the class has played 4 years and we see how good they actually were, to argue over number 1 or number 7 is pretty dumb. Bottom line, you’re doing something right if you’re in the top 10 or 15.
You’ve been pretty even keeled most of the season, as bama began winning week after week. This confrontational, pompous attitude you express now makes me think you are either getting worried about Jan. 7, or are just nervous. Which ever it is, relax.
By the way, would you be willing to wager a “name change” bet with me if Auburn stays in the top 5 in recruiting??? I can’t lose.
As a Florida fan I guess I’m somewhat flattered by all the attention we get in the state of Alabama. I’ve listened quietly as Paul Finebaum has called our coach (or at least insinutade) everything except human. He hinted that Tebow was gay and now he is infactuated with Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun. Consequently, I was very pleased during the Sugar Bowl when the commentators remarked that people who always cut down Meyer and Tebow are jealous.
I remember when Finebaum made some snide remarks about Steve Spurrier after Spurrier arrived at Florida. Spurrier ignored little man and now we see Finebaum is always licking Spurrier’s shoes. Finebaum called Dooley “Meyer’s boy” … then I submit Finebaum is “Spurrier” boy”.
I don’t have a problem with Bama fans, I do have a problem with Finebaum who is always sucking up. He reminds me of the Kibbles and bits dog who wants to be a big dog so bad. Finebaum has the Napolean (little man) syndrome.
Rox why would I want to wager a name change, as I for one don’t believe in made up names. I’ll simply stick to my real name and let those of you who are ashamed of who you are continue to chose fictional names to go by.
As far as being worried about the upcoming game, I have stated before I never worry about winning a game, I simply expect to win them all, which expectations have been correct more than they have been wrong for over 45 years now.
I do however understand why people outside the Bama nation would worry about winning, as they lose quite often.
But since you’re into made up names, why don’t you just call yourself, “Classic Boy”, as I’m sure if an 8-5 finish creates classics in your mind, you have many more classics to come.
Hey guys, I’m Carl. I can’t argue facts, so I’ll just gloat and call people names.
Rox,
Haha……good sumation of yourself.
Facts can’t be argued. Why? Because a fact is a fact, something you awebeens have a really hard time of coming to grip with.