Will Meyer be Florida’s head coach for the 2010 season?
As expected, Urban Meyer announced Sunday afternoon that he has changed his mind and will not resign as Florida’s head coach after Friday’s Sugar Bowl game with Cincinnati.
Meyer will take an “indefinite leave of absence” from his duties as head coach and offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will serve as interim head coach. Meyer will not put a timetable on his return as head coach but he did indicate that believed he would be the head coach when the 2010 season rolls around.
Based on conversations I’ve had today with people close to the situation, Meyer told his family on Christmas night that he was going to resign as coach. The school put out a press release on Saturday that Meyer would be stepping down for the sake of his health. But things really changed in the next 24 hours.
The Gators practiced in Gainesville this morning before getting on the plane to go to New Orleans. Meyer met with athletics director Jeremy Foley after practice and discussed the possibility of him taking a leave of absence instead of resigning.
The fact is that Meyer’s wife, Shelley, Foley, and president Bernie Machen had put the idea of a leave of absence on the table a while back. Meyer told them he didn’t think he could do that and that just walking away was the best thing for everybody involved.
Meyer said he had a change of heart after Sunday morning’s practice. He decided to reconsider the leave of absence idea and to see if he could make it work.
Whether or not he can change his approach to coaching and come back remains to be seen. If he backs off his intense approach to the job, does he lose the edge that made him so successful? That is the challenge for Meyer in the weeks and months to come.
This is a good result for Meyer, but why would Florida do this? First of all, this buys Florida some time and holds this recruiting class together–at least for now. According to various reports, word has already been given to the players committed to Florida that Meyer will eventually come back as head coach. But it is a good six weeks between now and national signing day and you can bet that opposing coaches will hammer Florida about the uncertainty surrounding the program. There will be some defections.
There is another element of risk on Foley’s part. If Meyer does not come back for the 2010 season, this decision could set the Florida program back for a couple of years. But if Meyer comes back fit and rested, Foley has managed to retain one of the very best coaches in the game. If I’m Foley I believe it is a risk worth taking.
By the way. How would you like to be the University of Cincinnati football team? Wonder if they will get any coverage this week?
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445 comments Add your comment
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 27th, 2009
3:22 pm
Big L (oser)
“You guys aren’t a bowl qualifying team”.
Hahaha.
We’re not a Shreveport bowl qualifying team
Hahahaha. Yo moma can’t fix Stupid son.
Hahahahahaha
Coach Vince Dooley
December 27th, 2009
3:23 pm
Enough of this, I have to go to work building my house…I’m not going to Shreveport.
Don't matter
December 27th, 2009
3:25 pm
FLORIDA JUST BEAT GEORGIA AGAIN AND DIDN’T EVEN PLAY
Big L
December 27th, 2009
3:26 pm
Hey Gaytor fans, is he losing his mind or something? Can’t handle losing Tebow. What’s goin on between those two?
bark worse than your bite
December 27th, 2009
3:26 pm
As usual, the dog fans are showing they have no class. They have no idea what is going on in Gainesville in regards to Urban’s health and they are already throwing around crap about flip-flopping, change of mind, in-decisive, etc. Who wants to be the first dog to step up to the plate and show some class? We have not heard Urban’s press conference yet and it has been noted that he does have some health issues. I guess there has never, ever been a dog fan change their mind about anything in the world!
GTJim
December 27th, 2009
3:26 pm
45-42
Alert Alert
December 27th, 2009
3:26 pm
Looking for a screwball program? Go to Florida. Donovan leaves but doesn’t. Meyer leaves but doesn’t. Although they had a team, the team never won anything until 1990 after being the tail dragger of the SEC for over 60 years! And this is Urban’s MO wherever he’s been. He stays around just long enough to win with other folks’ players and a few exceptional players and then runs for the door as soon as it looks like things are about to get tough. “Tim’s leaving? Strong’s leaving? Mullen left?…I’m gone.” Here’s one UF fan who is thinks it’s time to clean house and get started again with new and more dedicated leadership. Best wishes but you only get one chance to leave should be the rule.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 27th, 2009
3:27 pm
Enter your comments from Shreveport here
Mike Bobo
December 27th, 2009
3:27 pm
Hey, Shreveport is pretty nice.
I think we’ll be back next year.
Ralph Cramden
December 27th, 2009
3:31 pm
Hey, get the Tech fans: they lose to an unrated in-state rival and they’re back on her talkin’ smack…incredible! Aren’t you even a LITTLE embarrassed? And I’m a Clemson fan, for gosh sake.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 27th, 2009
3:32 pm
Funny how you dogs jumped all over The MLK running back for “changing his mind” and now you are doing the same thing to Urban Meyer.
At least you don’t have to worry about this any of your defensive coordinator candidates. Hahahahahahahaha.
Big L
December 27th, 2009
3:33 pm
Hey alla ya’ll we rebuild at 7-5 and you talk crap. Trust me Tebow leaving, 20 years on the dot and Meyer crying all night long . Things are changing. An tell Brantley, we ain’t FAU. Mopup against small schools don’t count. Alec Ogletree will be a first year stud who demolishes ol Brantley. And you will see why Meyer tried so hard to get Arron Murray. It’s gonna hurt.
Jacketkiller
December 27th, 2009
3:33 pm
Nice comment GTJim….You fruitcake that was last year and I bet you will be posting that score next year after we beat Tech again to make it 8 out of nine.
Mike Bobo
December 27th, 2009
3:33 pm
Forget New Orleans and the Sugar Bowl, Shreveport is beautiful this time of year.
Oh yes, I’ll be back…it sure beats helping Vince build his house.
I’m thankful that our DC took all of the blame.
Big L
December 27th, 2009
3:35 pm
Hey GTJim, got that enscribed on your pocket protector?
Big L
December 27th, 2009
3:38 pm
Bet Notre Dame wishes they had waited a little longer now. They would so deserve Meyer. But you can’t wear flip flops in Indiana.
Shreveport Minor League Football News
December 27th, 2009
3:39 pm
” Joe Cox will be just fine with his pin-point passing,
and to please forget about the the 14 interceptions.”
Big L
December 27th, 2009
3:40 pm
Jacketkiller, next year would be 9 out of 10. Be careful, them Techtards love numbers. 45-42 is the only one that keeps em goin.
Mike Bobo
December 27th, 2009
3:43 pm
Big L,
Could you come over tomorrow and help rebuild Vince’s home?
I’m in Shreveport…but Vince could use some help.
uga1989
December 27th, 2009
3:46 pm
Urban Meyer = Drama Queen
Big L
December 27th, 2009
3:46 pm
Hey alert , finally a gator fan I could have a beer with. I am so sick of flip floppin, and these schools that sign em, get what they deserve. Coaches should HAVE to live up th o their contracts or sit out a year just like these kids who trust em. If Richt were like this , I would carry him behind the wood shed. I would wish you good luck, but it’s been a tough 20 years, so God Bless you bubba.
BG
December 27th, 2009
3:47 pm
I guess that power structure is back in place huh tony. Idiot
11-2 GEORGIA TECH in ORANGE BOWL
December 27th, 2009
3:48 pm
Thanks for a great season,
………………………………..ACC CHAMPS…………………….
Will Hill
December 27th, 2009
3:48 pm
Meyer, Addazio, or the water boy, whoever coaches is still going to beat the Dawgs year in and year out. Richt will never win two National Titles as a head coach, he probably won’t win one. The ship has sunk in Athens and you will never again have the success Meyer and the Gators have had and will continue to have. 49-10, 41-17, embarrassing, Alert Alert!!! Enjoy mediocrity loser.
Big L
December 27th, 2009
3:48 pm
hey Bobo, after you get fired next year, Vince could use a maid. How you look in a short skirt?
D(r)ooley
December 27th, 2009
3:51 pm
Its been a tough 20 years huh puppies? I can understand your hate and the others that are green with envy. UGA is a second tier program at best. The Gators will be your daddy until the last Florida Georgia game you see.
Big L
December 27th, 2009
3:52 pm
Please somebody listen to me!
I need attention!
Big L
December 27th, 2009
3:52 pm
11-2, wal- mart can’t sell those ACC chumpionship hats. You got plenty of room in that empty garage of Tech football memorabelia , right. I mean, there has’nt been anything else , recently to put in it.
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
December 27th, 2009
3:53 pm
Enough of this Urban Meyer talk… lets focus on the Independence Bowl baby!!!!
7-5 Georgia Bulldawgs are gonna win the national championship next year right leg humpers?????
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo doggies
olddawg
December 27th, 2009
3:54 pm
OK. As a Ga fan I was still saddened and sincerely concerned about Urbans health issues that were so serious that he had to resign. BUT NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND. He had several weeks to talk to the doctors, to the AD and school president and his team and then make the decision. BUT, now less than 24 hours later he has changed his mind and reversed field and won’t resign. Is the illness a mental one then? Can’t make up his mind or wasn’t that sick after all. Now I don’t feel so sorry for him any more.
Bud
December 27th, 2009
3:54 pm
Urban is following Jerry Sienfeld’s philosophy ” always leave when you’re ahead”. Again, congratulations to Drew Butler for best punter and to all the Dawgs for “puntin” Tech’s sorry ass all day long!
FLA DAWG
December 27th, 2009
3:56 pm
You got it right on Tony.
This is a pure delay tactic to hold the committed recruits long enough to find another head coach.
Urban Meyer is Gone With The Wind.
11-2 GEORGIA TECH in ORANGE BOWL
December 27th, 2009
3:57 pm
Thanks for a great season,
………………………………..ACC CHAMPS………………………..
Big L
December 27th, 2009
3:58 pm
wow , my first imposter. A gator wants to be a dawg. I knew it. As Tebow leaves and Meyer cries, the defections begin.
HeHateYou
December 27th, 2009
4:01 pm
So Tech had a great season and couldn’t even beat a mediocre Ga team.. Just who was your best win this year. Was it jax St? Or Duke? Or Wake Forest? or FSU at 6-6, Or an 8-5 Clempson team who lost to SC and Wake? Or the big Va Tech win I suspect with 9 wins against ACC competition.
Get in a real conference. We already saw what SC and Ga did to your two best teams. Ha Ha Ha
WTF
December 27th, 2009
4:03 pm
For all you Tech crybabies here are the bowl records since Richt has been a UGA
Tech
2008 – Peach – Lost 2008 – Capital One – Won
2007 – Humanitarian – Lost 2007 – Sugar – Won
2006 – Gator – Lost 2006 – Chick-Fil-A – Won
2005 – Emerald – Lost 2005 – Sugar – Lost
2004 – Champs – Won 2004 – Outback – Won
2003 – Humanitarian – Won 2003 – Capital – Won
2002 – Silicon Valley – Lost 2002 – Sugar – Won
2001 – Seattle – Won 2001 – Music City – Lost
Tech bowl record since 2001 – 3 and 5. Georgia bowl record since 2001 – 6 and 2. Tech in a major bowl last time 43 years ago, Georgia in a major bowl 2 years ago. And just to jog your memory – UGA won the ACC championship this year!
Go crawl back under your rock!
Big L
December 27th, 2009
4:03 pm
Hey olddawg, I wasn’t saddened but concerned. My homerism has it’s bounds and I don’t want anyones family to lose a father or husband. But this man used god and family as his new focal points. Did god and family just drop a peg or something? Oh well , next year we get to see how Urban deals with adversity That bowl loss to Michigan is gonna pale in comparison to what UGA is gonna do to em next year.
Gator hater
December 27th, 2009
4:05 pm
As they say in Alabama, TeBooHoo will be gone next year so Urban Crier decided he couldn’ face life without him.
Shreveport Rocks
December 27th, 2009
4:07 pm
I for one can’t wait to play in the V100 Advocare Bowl. It is at least the third best bowl in Louisiana.
Kentucky runs this state.
Time for Some Honesty
December 27th, 2009
4:10 pm
First off, I don’t care what decision CUM makes, we wish him all the best health.
An honest UF fan will tell you that they were sh***ing their pants when CUM made the initial announcement yesterday. The funny thing is that UF fans talk about tradition as if college football began in the 1990’s. I have all the respect in the world for what UF has done lately but their fans are too ignorant to discuss serious college football.
This is the season that UGA needed to have in order to finally get some much needed changes. UGA football has become too dull and needs an off-season spark to get things going again.
With that being said, the worst UGA team beat the best GT team. I was expecting the ass whooping all Nerds had been talking about.GT cannot sell out their Orange Bowl, and another team has to cough up the money to get their crap-mobile to the game. All of GT fanbase should be embarrased.
Shreveport Rocks
December 27th, 2009
4:10 pm
No wait, I guess Lane Kiffin runs this state.
Or may be Oklahoma State runs this state?
No, nevermind, Florida runs this state — and has for many years.
I think Vanderbilt used to run this state too.
Oh, yeah, Les Miles runs this state too.
Georgia loses so often, its hard to keep track.
Big L
December 27th, 2009
4:10 pm
If he needs to take it easy, why would’nt he do it in the hardest part of the year. Just lies. Taking time off in off season. Yep, sounds stupid to me too.
ARdawg
December 27th, 2009
4:11 pm
Urban Meyer is Florida’s drunken prom date. Oh the drama
KENTUCKY RUNS THIS STATE
December 27th, 2009
4:13 pm
That’s right you pups, its Wildcat time.
TampaGator
December 27th, 2009
4:14 pm
I was in shock yesterday…don’t know what I am in today. Don’t know how this impacts the program other than I hope Meyer can get away, get healthy, and then come back and continue being the great HC he is. Any recruits who don’t understand the situdation can go elsewhere. We want players who understand what GatorNation is all about…teamwork and family…and, of course, playing for championships. I am glad we have a chance of getting one of the top championship coaches back some day. If not, then he showed he is a part of GatorNation by giving it a try. Welcome back, Coach Meyer. God speed to you in your physical and mental recovery process…enjoy your time with family. GatorNation is always there for you if you decide to come back full time.
Dennis G. Berdanis
December 27th, 2009
4:14 pm
I love hearing Gator fans talk smack when 90% of their offense just graduated. Too bad you didn’t work anyone else into the offense. Will be nice playing your all freshman offense next year, especially the guys that stood around the last couple of years and just watched Tebow. Go Tim Go LOL.
ARdawg
December 27th, 2009
4:14 pm
Saint Simons
Don’t you ever tire of that crap you post? Momma won’t let you out to play again?
Big L
December 27th, 2009
4:15 pm
Hey Shreveport. You just named off a bunch of good reasons UGA is a better program than uou. We schedule OSU, you get Charleston Southern, Troy, and FAU. Yeah, you guys are tough. Keep scheduling them cupcakes, it’ll catch up to ya.
Brandon Spikes
December 27th, 2009
4:15 pm
No, you are all wrong.
EYE RUN THIS STATE.
Lame Duck
December 27th, 2009
4:16 pm
The “WHEW” you just heard came from the directions of Oklahoma, Louisville, and Mississippi State. They get to keep their head coaches…for now.