2009 season took its toll on Meyer
Little surprises me any more but I was stunned tonight to learn that Urban Meyer would resign as the head coach at Florida after the Sugar Bowl.
It was widely known in the football community that this season was a very stressful one for Meyer, who is only 45. The pressure of defending the national championship, being No. 1 for the entire season, and various off the field problems eventually took their toll on Meyer.
There was the Tim Tebow concussion and the constant second-guessing that came with his decision to let Tebow play against LSU.
Then came the Brandon Spikes eye-gouging incident against Georgia. Meyer originally suspended Spikes for only one half and was hit with a storm of national media criticism. Spikes later “asked” that his suspension extended to a full game and even that decision was met with skepticism.
He was fined $30,000 by the SEC office for commenting on officiating.
And finally there was the worst incident of all when defensive end Carlos Dunlap was arrested on an alcohol related incident on the Monday before the SEC championship game. Meyer never said this publicly but it was the worst kind of betrayal by a player on the eve of the biggest game of the year. Florida would not have beaten Alabama even if Dunlap had played. But the Gators got embarrassed and seemed shell shocked.
Put it all together and you can understand what may have led Meyer to this decision. There are health issues involved here but none of us knew it was this serious. I spoke to several people close to the Florida program Saturday night and they were just stunned.
I visited with Meyer before the SEC championship game on Dec. 5 and thought he looked thin. In the post-game press conference after the loss to Alabama, he looked drained. He was admitted to the hospital for what the school said was dehydration. Several people told me they heard it was more serious.
Regardless of the school you support, this is sad. The man is a helluva football coach.
And now the dominoes start to fall. Who does Florida hire? Jeremy Foley has to pick up the phone and call Bob Stoops of Oklahoma and make him say no. And if Stoops says no, where does Florida go next? Do you call Dan Mullen, who just left Florida to take over at Mississippi State? There is no question that Florida’s offense lost something when Mullen left Gainesville.
All I know is that this is one of those big moments in the history of the SEC which can change the power structure of the league. I remember the day in January of 2002 when Steve Spurrier announced he was leaving Florida after 12 seasons. We were all stunned. This feels a lot like that.
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231 comments Add your comment
BILLY JACK
December 27th, 2009
12:17 pm
My thoughts and prayers go out to coach meyer and his family.I am a georgia guy and have alot of respect for coach meyer.I believe they will hire Dan Mullen and promote LB coach Chuck Heater to def coord.That would be the smartest thing to do.I was hoping coach meyer would get a few more beatdowns on little K iffin before Tennesee got the death penalty in 2011.
Marianela
December 27th, 2009
12:19 pm
I hear Willie Martinez is available.
ToccoaDawg
December 27th, 2009
12:27 pm
I just hope the gators aren’t smart enough to go after Strong.
TCM
December 27th, 2009
12:29 pm
I too like the majority of the UGA fans on this blog wish CUMeyer the best with his health concerns and a speedy recovery from whatever it is that’s ailing him.
But I will say this, you can’t help but wonder slightly in the back of your mind what’s up with the timing of this. You’re losing your star pupil, your coaching staff has officailly been depleted, and now you’re in positiion where you truly have to start from scratch and rebuild. I’m not saying the man isn’t sick, but the timing of this decision is a real coincidence. Somehow it makes you say……..hmmmmmmmmmmmm?
observor
December 27th, 2009
12:31 pm
Funny thing about this is that you see a glimmer of hope now amongst dawg fans. One idiot even posted that now that Meyer is gone the dawgs are guaranteed to win the east for the next 2 years. Really? What would it matter anyway. The dawgs would just get annihilated by the bammers a la blackout night in the seccg. With Saban and the Bammers now destroying everyone in their path your pathetic conference has been reduced to one giant that being the bammers and 11 dwarves. Florida will only go back to being a dwarf for a year or 2 before they rise back up under whoever they hire and start competing again. But for now you guys are a one trick pony of a conference.
joe taxpayer
December 27th, 2009
12:36 pm
master of the obvious tony barnhart
hubba hubba
December 27th, 2009
12:37 pm
Shreveport at Christmas time- man we have died and gone to football heaven!!!
What happened
December 27th, 2009
12:38 pm
TCM,
The other what happened could be the obvious changing of the guard had a factor also in Meyer leaving. Nobody is saying it but I think meyer, just like the rest of the sec, is now a little shell shocked and probably a little intimidated by what the bammers did to him. I kinda wonder after the way he got dismantled by Bama that maybe some doubt along with the health issues contributed to him just hanging it up.
Since Saban came to the sec he has personally fired several coaches and played a role in the firing of several others. Clemson, Tennessee, Auburn, the decision to fire Tommy Bowden, Fulmer, and Tubberville was all made the week after Saban embarrassed these respective programs. Add Meyer to that list. He didn’t get fired but its safe to say he understands their is a looming crimson juggernaut to the west that he can’t compete with
SuperB
December 27th, 2009
12:38 pm
I bet he coaches again– somewhere.
ReptilesRule
December 27th, 2009
12:40 pm
You are SO SO right Tony. As a Florida man for over 40 years I would say that this was by far the strangest and most trying season I have ever seen. The pressure of being and staying #1 is mind bending in itself and I’ll be honest, with each new drama that unfolded seemingly every week I was wondering if it was even worth it. This year seemed more like a strain than a celebration of being the top program in college football. There was very little, if any, joy after the games…just a sense of relief that we survived another battle. And then the Carlos Dunlap situation on the VERY week of the biggest game of the year…it became just too much at that point. And I’m sure it seemed that way even more for Coach Meyer and then to have it all culminated by a devastating blowout loss to Bama in the SECCG left many Gator fans to wonder why?? Why all the sweat and tears during the season?? What an empty feeling!!! You can say spoiled or whatever you want but that feeling was impossible to escape. And I believe that is exactly what went on in Urbans mind…there was just nothing left at the end. Nothing left in the tank.
are you kidding me?
December 27th, 2009
12:46 pm
It’s wonderful to read all the sports psychology opinions on here. It certainly rounds out our sports education and our morality doses for the week. It is after all only a blog- and we all know that football blogs are for blitzing and flaming. Except that now certain self impressed police have determined that we must now be ultra-serious about this issue and very gentlemanly in our responses. How very quaint.
Texas Dawg
December 27th, 2009
12:48 pm
I hope the UM gets his health issues corrected soon and I wish him the best!
With that being said, I have never liked UM. The timeouts were classless, but as a UGA fan I want to beat the best and UM/UF have cosistantly shown they are the best.
Mr. Foley is looking for your new Daddy......
December 27th, 2009
12:48 pm
Maybe your old friend Steve Spurrier will answer the call? You guys remember him right, he sent a lot of unhappy fans back on the road to Athens after the Jacksonville game.
“I remember when Spurrier left Florida back in 2001. UGA mutts were convinced they would finally be able to beat the mighty Gators. Meanwhile, a 2-7 record against Florida later.”
So true Mike at 9:01 P.M. – Spurrier, Zook, and Meyer all beat these guys…….so will the next man. Richt could only go to fantasy land to believe he could win 2 BCS Titles in 3 years.
AltamahaDawg
December 27th, 2009
12:50 pm
Reading some of the comments questioning then timing, and it appears to me that once he made up his mind, he did Foley a big favor by announcing this now, not in month, or a week. Foley needs to react as quickly as possible but today he has time to at least do an actual search, and not a scramble. You dont want to be “considering” your HC hire in Feb. You can’t keep secrets, and lying to recruits, and in fact the entire gator faithfull for another month, isn’t helping anyone.
As far as having to rebuild next year as his only reason, or running from something. Could it be that he hung in this year for the sake of these soon to departed player, and staff? Rebuilding next year would require a tremendous amount of energy and focus and if he didn’t have it, hats off to him for understanding that. What some seem as an excuse or negative, seems to me is just a legitamate factor.
Now as far as being a saint because he is putting family first. Didn’t he try his best to NOT do this? Or as long as possible at least. Don’t all coaches know the deal? Not saying he is not a great family man, but so are a lot of folks, and sacrifice a lot more everyday than stepping away from your multi-million dollar job for a little while. . Not sure trying not to die, is really that admirable or tough of a choice. It’s the essence of a selfish decision. A good one though.
Will
December 27th, 2009
12:53 pm
Marianela
December 27th, 2009
12:19 pm
I hear Willie Martinez is available
Willie was a scape goat honey, bring Willie down to the Florida staff it will add another good recruiter to bring in top 5 classes every year of superior players. UGA always has to blame losses on somebody besides the players……..the refs, location of a game, uniforms etc………..
Atlanta Gator
December 27th, 2009
12:56 pm
Wow. Talk about the unexpected event that you didn’t see coming. After all of the speculation about Urban Meyer leaving for Notre Dame or the NFL, the Gators’ coach resigns because of personal health issues . . . .
This Gator alumnus and fan wishes Coach Meyer well and hopes for his continued health and success. His tenure as the Gators’ head football coach was a relatively short 5 seasons, but his success was unprecedented. None of us would trade the last five seasons with Urban Meyer for any other coach. Meyer was a worthy successor to Ray Graves and Steve Spurrier, and he is already the newest living legend in the Gator sports pantheon.
Godpseed, Urban. You will be missed.
DAWG07
December 27th, 2009
1:01 pm
SPURRIER the next Flordia Caoch?
He should have been offered the job on his unsuccessful return from NFL.
jw
December 27th, 2009
1:07 pm
I am a dawg fan, and I did long for a day that Urban was not on the sidelines of UF, but NOT THIS WAY!! You wanted him to leave and go to ND or some other destination, he is a great coach and we were the victims too many times. I hoped UGA would hire a Great DC, get our swagger back, and start beating UF with CUM, now we will never know what we could have done against him with a real UGA Defense.. My compassion to the Gator Nation, I know they are hurting now. He established a great legacy at UF in a very short period of time. I am sure Foley will make a great hire.
are you kidding me?
December 27th, 2009
1:11 pm
Let the canonization proceedings begin.
BILLY JACK
December 27th, 2009
1:25 pm
Hey observer-you sound like a techie to me.Lets wait til after the bowl season and the sec dominates again.I think the ACC is 0-2 as I write this.The SEC is the most dominate conf in the land and this will never change.If you were any kind of a college football fan, you would know Alabama and Fla had a few close calls this year and last.
macrotech
December 27th, 2009
1:34 pm
This man has earned the right to be respected and appreciated for what he’s done at UF…. It’s refreshing to see a coach at his level choose health over a game. I wish him and his the best!
Who cares?
December 27th, 2009
1:35 pm
I suspect Saban made Urban’s decision a whole lot easier.
jb
December 27th, 2009
1:39 pm
you write good articles….do you have to say a cuss word in every article though? I seem to remember a damn last time and helluva in this article…..just a thought
DawginLex
December 27th, 2009
1:57 pm
Have to respect the guy for quitting because of his health and placing his faith and family first.
Won’t be surprised to see Whittingham from Utah because of his ties to Meyer and the AD. Mullen would be my next guess.
I wonder if Charlie Strong would have gotten a shot if he hadn’t already left for Louisville?
AltamahaDawg
December 27th, 2009
2:15 pm
What exactly does “placing his faith first” mean? I read that quite often over the years and never really knew what they were trying to say, or not say. The guy didn’t retire for religious reasons, or even family reasons, he did so because of a physical defect, or more to the point probably, just simply the limits of the human body and mind. I agree with him for putting health over being stupid. I suppose that’s not really a given with adult men all the time.
Just for the record, I have decided to put my faith and family first and not continue to pursue being half my age. Just in case somebody wanted to send me some gift cards.
Buzz29
December 27th, 2009
2:15 pm
The saga continues… He’s just gonna take a leave of absence next year. The OC is gonna coach next year.
SallyP
December 27th, 2009
2:25 pm
Whoever Florida hires, UGAy will still be Florida’s beatdown b*tch!
In only four more days, we’ll have a complete count on how many UGAy players were arrested this year. Maybe on January 1 each year, the AJC should start a contest where people predict the number of arrests each year.
Or how many of these dumb goons actually graduate with their “Recreation and Leisure Time Activities” diplomas.
Whatever. The game on Monday is at 5:00 PM when nobody is at home. It’s on ESPN2 – not ESPN but ESPN2. It’s in Shreveport.
That’s like off-off-off Broadway.
In other words, who cares.
Texas A&M 42, UGAy 24. Another humiliating beatdown for the Athens goons and morons.
KingGator
December 27th, 2009
2:26 pm
You think the announcement last night was stunning? Wait until you hear the next announcement!!
Hint- Billy Donovan
SECfanatic
December 27th, 2009
2:42 pm
I wish CUM well, but at the same time I’m convinced that part of this decision is directly related to the loss of many top coordinators and Timmy (especially Charlie Strong). I think the challenge of having to more or less a brand new staff along with replacing Tebow and much of the defense weighed heavily on him as his health declined the past month. I respect the decision to step down but let’s not kid ourselves because if this season stressed him next season would’ve been terrible for him.
Anyway, The SEC East is wide open next year seeing as UGA, FLA, and UT are breaking in new qb’s, Stephen Garcia returns at S. Carolina but he’s not nearly an all-SEC qb at this point, Kentucky brings back their new qb and Randall Cobb, but lose Derrick Locke and many key defensive players. Should be fun next year.
GBO
BuLLdawg
December 27th, 2009
4:31 pm
Steve Addazio
???
Tight Ends Coach.
Now, he is what ?
Head Football Coach at the University of Florida ?
He has recruited 7 players, three 4-Star and four 3-Star recruits.
Everyone says he has done a poor job running the offense for Dan Mullen.
Steve Addazio played football at something called Central Connecticut State.
Steve Addazio has zero experience in the NFL as a player or as a coach.
He is a Tight Ends Coach, for God’s sake.
And, not a very good one either.
Obviously over his head trying to take over for Dan Mullen OC.
Fiasco.
So, without :
Dan Mullen
Charlie Strong
Tim Tebow
Can Urban Meyer NOT count the next few games ?
His wife told Urban Meyer to take a leave of absence ?
What the hell is this ?
The players are now happy ? They like it that Urban Meyer is turning Florida over to NONE OF THE NAMES LISTED ON THIS BLOG, but to Steve Addazio.
Fiasco.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 28th, 2009
4:50 am
Shreveport by the numbers
2 Wal-Mart’s,
4 Waffle Houses
1 Motel 6
11,693 deer stands
48,545 seat Stadium (no kidding)
6,230 of 12,000 georgia ticket allotment sold
5:00PM start time
Peachtree TV # 2
#5 offense nationally facing #70 defense with 2 grad assts at the helm
7 recruits likely switching
Unlike Georgia, Texas A & M does not think the Herschal Walker and Lindale Scott led, 42-0 win in Athens on Sept. 13, 1980 will play a role in this game.