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
Dawg Fan 74
December 27th, 2009
9:38 pm
Message to Big L,
Lighten up Frances.
It’s only a game.
Dawg In O-town
December 27th, 2009
9:39 pm
Not sure how many others feel this way, but geez. At first I kinda felt bad for the guy with his “health” condition, but now I just think he’s an idiot. I mean his oldest daughter said “I get my daddy back”, and just because his players had a good practice . . . uh, nevermind I’m not going anywhere.
What a jerk!
Mark Richt needs a double dose of Propecia
December 27th, 2009
9:42 pm
I hear the fleabags enjoyed a VERY FANCY dinner at the local Denny’s last night. Shreveport is so beautiful this time of year. I SAY its great to be a georgia bulldawg right Tony ?????
Big L
December 27th, 2009
9:51 pm
I know it’s a game 74. Read my former post just a little up from yours. Toungue in cheek, football has it’s place, all that. But I found something that I enjoy. I hate nascar, I’m a good ol boy but 5 hours of left hand turns is mind numbing. I don’t drink. I work , come home and love on my wife. Happy with little things so my mania can be overbearing sometimes.But perspective and self restraint are well practiced at my house.
Big L
December 27th, 2009
10:00 pm
Sides, I am new at blogging and more people here listen to me than anyone at work. Blogging is awesome.
Tenn 45-19
December 27th, 2009
10:05 pm
And this just in……Tennessee scores again!
45-19
What a pathetic bunch of UGA losers.
You can’t beat the Gators, so you make jokes instead. Typical behavior for your second rate football program.
Urbane Meyer
December 27th, 2009
10:05 pm
Screw my family – screw my health – T-bone is gone and all I can do is pretend to be Brett Farve
Big L
December 27th, 2009
10:06 pm
Alright, some guy named bryan tried to sell a townhome on the blog. Ain’t there a section for that. Oh well , good luck bro.
Big L
December 27th, 2009
10:09 pm
Hey tenn 45-19. The only thing you scored was an underage girl. Trying to keep up you teams criminal appearance I see.
Big L
December 27th, 2009
10:15 pm
Lame Kiffin can think he can do whatever he wants. You don’t make a mckery of the SEC and make a career in it. So Tenn 45-19, enjoy your gay lambo, shirtless team picture. Eeewww!!
Big L
December 27th, 2009
10:32 pm
g’night all ya’ll
Red Dog 77
December 27th, 2009
10:37 pm
Yep, Yer Dern Tootin, I have become a Big L fan, GATA, Big L…….RED
Dave Smith
December 27th, 2009
10:41 pm
This just in: Hal Mummey was just spotted at the McDonalds on University Blvd in Gainesville eating dinner with Jeremy Foley and Bernie Machen. A very reliable source claims he had an orange and blue towel around his neck. Stay tuned……this is just starting to get interesting. I’m expecting a news conference tomorrow A.M. I hear the 2 parties are hundreds of dollars away from a deal.
C’s-BOrlando/B a biggie on many levels | Betting BKCC: Orlando Magic
December 27th, 2009
10:43 pm
[...] 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 [...]
Daedalus
December 27th, 2009
10:47 pm
Urban Meyer is to college coaching like Mark Sanford is to being a governor.
There is definitely a screw loose there.
Saint simons
December 27th, 2009
10:54 pm
Oh No !!!! another romp coming from UF next season
2N4YEARS
December 27th, 2009
11:05 pm
Assistant coaches make Head coaches lool good (or bad). Meyer has had most of his asst since Bowl Green, and now he loses his OC, DC and Senior leadership within 1yr.
If you’re scared, say you’re scared!!
are you kidding me?
December 27th, 2009
11:19 pm
Give me a freaking break! You make an informed decision to resign for health reasons and announce it to the world and then less than 24 hours later you change your mind about the necessity to change your priorities for the sake of your faith, your health and your family, etc? What an absolute joke!!! Kinda like the half game suspension eh? Can’t make decisions can you Herbal? Wow!!! Ooops- never mind!!!!!
are you kidding me?
December 27th, 2009
11:42 pm
It certainly appears that Herbal Meyer has trouble making well informed decisions and then sticking by them. I’m sure however, that this “stress thing” will turn out to be nothing and something that a man of his obvious talent can just will away. Stay tuned in for the next exciting adventure coming out of G-ville. It is rumored that little Timmy will coach the team in Herbal’s short absence.
Pago Flyer
December 27th, 2009
11:44 pm
Bad news for the DAWGS if Urban returns!
Atl Resident
December 27th, 2009
11:49 pm
I don’t understand how the UGA fans going to talk when their own team got issues. And what’s sad is talking about Florida when Florida damn beat hell out of UGA and it might happen again next year.
We
December 27th, 2009
11:50 pm
Why do people say “WE” when they are talking about a football team representing the school that they may or may not have attended? You are not the athletics director, head coach, defensive coordinator, or quarterback.
I’d never met so many losers that said “WE” in my life until I came to Atlanta.
are you kidding me?
December 27th, 2009
11:57 pm
As a new visitor to the Shreveport area, let me just say that it is like a mini-”Athens West” here. I have just been so happy with the local honky tonks and the waffle houses here are just the best ever. Man life is good for all Dawg fans.
are you kidding me?
December 28th, 2009
12:06 am
Hey Herbal Meyer – please be advised that the beatings will resume next year on your visit to Tuscaloosa. You think you had stress in Atlanta- wait till you get rolled in the Tide’s back yard.
Welcome back pretender!
Red Dog 77
December 28th, 2009
12:38 am
Erba Mire is my coarch and of that I cant deny, One, Two ,Thre ,FO ,Fiv, Erba Mire dont take no jive………….If Erba wants to coarch, then he will Coarch, If he dont, he dont….got that scraight?
College Football Fan
December 28th, 2009
12:38 am
You Dawgs aren’t jealous of a couple of program’s are you?
Good Luck in Shreaveport.
And hey, pick up a Poulan Weedwhacker at the after Christmas sale at Walmart while your there.
What time’s the big game?
5 o’clcok on a Monday afternoon.
Now that’s BIG TIME!
I Hate trailer trash
December 28th, 2009
12:40 am
What the hell is up with Florida as a whole? Coaches in waiting interim coaches. Too mant crazy ass yankees.
I Hate trailer trash
December 28th, 2009
12:44 am
many excuse me
TampaGator
December 28th, 2009
12:48 am
Kidding me….Meyer and the Gators kicked you arse last year and you got us back this year. Difference is, Meyer and the Gators have won 2 national championships in the last 4 years. How many has Bama won? And exactly who is the pretender? Until you have won a NC (and I hope you do this year), I would not rag on Meyer and the Gators too much. You sound silly…just like many of the idiot Georgia fans who blog daily about beating up on the Gators…like they did this time last year and this time last year for 17 out of the last 20 years.
Red Dog 77
December 28th, 2009
12:49 am
Other than UGA , I am a huge Iowa fan…….WOOOOOOO GO HAWKEYES, got to love them hairy HAWKEYES……..how bout them HAWKEYES…..HUNKER DOWN …..HAWKEYES……….YEP, them HAWKEYES are gonna whoop some major bee butt…… Yep ,Knock that stinger slap off, just like ………UGA did…..30- 24……GO DOGS….GO HAWKEYES!!!!!!!
TampaGator
December 28th, 2009
12:51 am
Kidding me….that should have read….”How many has Bama won lately?” I know Bama has won a ton more national titles than the Gators, but none lately…sort of like not since 1980 with the Dawg fans.
u cant make it up
December 28th, 2009
12:52 am
Urban renewal….Happy New Year Dogpoopers hhahahahahahahaahhahaha
poop on dogs
December 28th, 2009
12:55 am
Other than GT, I’m a huge Fl Gator Fan, Urban Meyer fan, Kentucky and Randall Cobb fan, Oklahoma State fan, LSU fan and especially a Lane Kiffin and Tn fan
are you kidding me?
December 28th, 2009
12:56 am
This year the Gators were the big pretender the whole year- played a nothing non-conf schedule and had the refs give them the Arky game and helped with the MSU game etc. Pretenders? Absolutely!!!
poop on dogs
December 28th, 2009
12:57 am
also a Texas A&M fan btw great job aggies buying out those allotment of UGAY tickets in Shreveport so the dogpoop retards can brag on these blogs about how loyal they are to their team
Red Dog 77
December 28th, 2009
1:00 am
Well I certainly dont post about UGA beating the Gators, cause it happens so rarely, But I will say college football runs in cycles, And I feel a change commin on, and when it does, Its gonna be a hard rain gonna fall……….GO DOGS
man o man
December 28th, 2009
1:22 am
man i wonder what georgia fans would do if they didnt have TECH in there lives… who would they pick on to boost there prob low self esteem? I mean its not like there remotely close to BAMA or even close to pulling what FLA has been doing… whos to say next years TECH team isnt gonna be there best in 20 years… do you guys seriously think your about to run away with for another long streak??? … you punched back this year after getting a bloody lip from 08.. cant wait to see who gets in the next shot??? i wish they would play again this week…
PHIL
December 28th, 2009
1:24 am
If you want to know the real reason UF is so good and ALWAYS will be, go back to the first page and read “Reptiles Rule.” Much of it is geography and the full support of the schools administration. It’s an advantage they have over most, if not all programs in the country.
Chris
December 28th, 2009
1:37 am
I guess his kids really know where they stand now.
Its a Gator World
December 28th, 2009
1:58 am
Too funny watching the dog fans get all hopeful about Meyer leaving and now having their hearts ripped out about the fact that he may be returning. Funny but also pathetic too. Real pathetic.
Corrine Brown (D)
December 28th, 2009
2:07 am
Urban must have found a way to blackmail the college chick he’s been banging into keeping her mouth shut.
qiqi
December 28th, 2009
2:28 am
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens staged another classic in what’s fast becoming one of the NFL’s best rivalries. The Ravens narrowly prevailed in a physical 20-17 overtime victory over the Steelers in a big game for both teams. when a new NFL season is bound to begin, you will notice that these replica jerseys get sold like hotdogs at various local sports apparel shops. More and more people are trying to get their hands on some NFL replica football jerseys. If you are one among those hardcore football fans you may find yourself in great difficulty when trying to buy NFL replica football jerseys at a nearby sports shop. Either you find ill-fitting sizes for you or you don’t find any replicas at all because they are already sold out.
BuLLdawg
December 28th, 2009
3:40 am
Urban Meyer
LOST :
Dan Mullen
Charlie Strong
Tim Tebow
His Offensive Coordinator
His Defensive Coordinator
His “Quarterback”
UGA won MORE against Tim Tebow than we did when Tim Tebow was NOT there.
UGA won MORE against Urban Meyer than we did when Urban Meyer was NOT there.
Steve Addazio.
Just so I have this straight (today), Steve Addazio is the Head Football Coach at Florida.
Whom does Steve Addazio hire to be his Defensive Coordinator ?
Whom does Steve Addazio hire to be his Offensive Coordinator ?
So, if Urban Meyer does not come back for like Game 5, which is Alabama, does that count as a LOSS for Urban Meyer ?
Urban Meyer had a really soft schedule this season, against four (4) teams not even in a bowl game. (GA tek had 6 and UGA 3.)
Next season, the schedule cannot be as easy as it was this year, with LSU beating no ranked team and that the only win by Florida this year over a ranked team.
If you compare Dan Mullen last year to Steve Addazio this year :
Mullen 30 Addazio 23 Tennessee
Mullen 63 Addazio 41 Kentucky
Mullen 51 Addazio 13 LSU
Mullen 49 Addazio 41 UGA
Mullen 42 Addazio 27 Vanderbilt
Mullen 56 Addazio 24 South Carolina
Mullen 45 Addazio 37 Florida State
Mullen 31 Addazio 13 Alabama
8 Common Opponents with Dan Mullen as Offensive Coordinator last year to compare with Steve Addazio Offensive Coordinator this year.
138 points better than Steve Addazio was Dan Mullen.
17 points a game on Offense Florida was better with Dan Mullen than Steve Addazio.
If there were even 1 of the 8 games where Steve Addazio actually did better of the 8 common opponents, that would be something at least. There isn’t.
If it were close, like 3 points in just 1 game mind you between the 2 “Offensive Coordinators” that would be something. There isn’t. It’s huge 17 points WORSE with Steve Addazio than with Dan Mullen
17 points per game WORSE with Steve Addazio than with Dan Mullen.
I do not think Urban Meyer is happy at all with the job turned in by Steve Addazio a lifetime Tight Ends Coach out of Central Connecticut State with zero NFL experience as a player or as a coach.
I cannot be the only 1 to have this jump out at me that Steve Addazio did 17 points per game WORSE “replacing” Dan Mullen.
Now, Steve Addazio is the Head Football Coach at Florida – hiring the replacement for Dan Mullen and for Charlie Strong.
Look, Urban Meyer’s Sugar Bowl Press Conference clearly made it obvious that Urban Meyer has a cyst and has lost over 25 lbs. hoping to eat New Orleans Creole and gain some weight and color back. It was also very obvious that Urban Meyer cannot string together a whole sentence. Urban Meyer was surprised and unprepared for the question that we want to know who is going to now replace Charlie Strong. Steve Addazio ? Or, Urban Meyer ? Uh, er, I don’t know, hmmm; let me think; er, uh, not sure who will be hiring the replacement at Defensive Coordinator for Charlie Strong, but the players made we come back to Florida to be their coach and are happy I did. They don’t care about my health so obviously serious. I am going to be coming back and be the head football coach at Florida in Game 1. I don’t want the LOSSES to be counted against just Steve Addazio. I have worked at 3 places for 2 years each and as soon as the players that made all 3 great were GONE, so was I. This is what I do. No, wait, Steve Addazio is the Head Football Coach at Florida, hang it that he is 17 points per game WORSE as Offensive Coordinator (over his head) than Dan Mullen. Who is hiring Charlie Strong’s replacement at Defensive Coordinator for Florida ? Uh, er, uh, I don’t know – but, not me, I am on leave. I am not on leave yet. Not until Friday. Friday I go on leave. Recruiting Signing Day is less than a month later. I will be Head Football Coach in Game 1 next year so the LOSSES count against me (So, I can cry again after LOSING.) But, between Friday and Signing Date, I have NO IDEA who is going to hire the replacement for Charlie Strong.
Circus ?
This is NOT a circus.
Clearly, Urban Meyer needs our support. The guy is in real bad health, clearly and obviously. His mind is not there. He actually told the Press Conference that he has not been back to the hospital “But I had them checked out, each one.”
Steve Addazio perennial tight ends coach, 17 points per game WORSE than Dan Mullen, is the Head Football Coach at Florida starting Friday. This is so clearly a health issue from every piece of evidence watching and listening to Urban Meyer today try to formulate what in the hell is different today from yesterday when he says he has thought about this ALL YEAR LONG. Best of Luck Urban Meyer, Please take the time off and get your health better by GETTING AWAY from what we all Love You For As 1 of the Top Football Coaches Ever.
Urban Meyer is NOT going to be back for Game 1. I wish he were. He is not. He can’t. He also cannot hire the replacement for Charlie Strong that needs to be happening already. And, honestly, he needs to replace Steve Addazio who is NOT 1 of the coaches Urban Meyer has on his staff from Boling Green to Utah to Florida. Steve Addazio is a nobody tight ends coach with no NFL experience as player or coach who is 17 points per game WORSE “replacing” Dan Mullen.
FACT : Florida does NOT have a coach, none.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 28th, 2009
4:49 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.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 28th, 2009
5:04 am
Corn-dog Rodeo
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?template=zoom&Site=D9&Date=20091228&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=912280304&Ref=AR
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 28th, 2009
5:09 am
“We’re excited for the opportunity to play Georgia.”-Jerrod Johnson QB at Texas A & M.
Dude, EVERYONE IS
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 28th, 2009
5:10 am
Prediction:
45-42 Texas A & M
college football is all about the money
December 28th, 2009
5:47 am
Flip flop Meyer … Brett Farve and Meyer belong together.
ClinchPanther
December 28th, 2009
6:00 am
well your last paragraph is the only meaningful one. this is all about florida and the perch it was knocked off of by alabama.
no doubt meyer needs rest. but to hold a press conference to say i’m going to take a leave? espn covers it like it was a national emergency, and so do all of you writers. how about alabama getting the press instead? it is all about recruiting and florida wanting the attention that belongs to someone else. you all built florida up all year and it didnt work out, no other coach in the country would have gotten the press of this mess. Meyer, rest up and get back to work but stay out of the news while Alabama and texas play in the game you think you should be in.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 28th, 2009
6:16 am
The Shreveport Bowl ain’t about the money. Hahahahaha. It’s about two ex great football programs saying good bye to those that have replaced them