Even if you’re a Gator hater, there is no joy in Meyer’s departure
It’s a tough business. I get that. And over the course of six seasons a head football coach in the SEC can rub a lot of people the wrong way, especially the people he beats.
But if you’re a Bulldog or a Volunteer for a Gamecock or a member of the Crimson Tide Nation, you really shouldn’t be celebrating today over the news that Urban Meyer is leaving as the head coach at Florida.
I’ve had my own issues Meyer.
He was flat wrong when he suspended linebacker Brandon Spikes for only one-half game after Spikes clearly tried to hurt Georgia’s Washaun Ealey (sticking his fingers in the facemask). Only after the public outcry did Spikes “suddenly” decide that his suspension should be for one game.
He was wrong when he dressed down a reporter in practice in front of cell phone cameras. If he had an issue with the reporter, then there is a right way–a professional way–to address the concern. He chose the wrong way. I don’t know if Meyer was trying to put on a show for his players but it was unprofessional behavior. You don’t use people as props because you want to win football games.
He was flat wrong when he allowed Chris Rainey to return to the team and I said so. There are certain lines in life that you do not cross and threats against women is one of those lines. The rationalizations about who Rainey was and his background, etc., may have all been true. But all that pales in comparison to a text message that said “Time to die, ——-.”
The more success Meyer and the Florida program had, the more withdrawn and insular it became. They became like rock stars who once basked in the attention that brought them fame and fortune but ultimately found it suffocating and just tried to block it all out.
But instead of managing the media and managing the very high expectations, which successful people do every day, Meyer chose to throw up walls and pull in the ranks and adopt this silly “us agains the world” mentality. Coaches do that because it’s easy and the players will easily buy into it. It’s much easier for a coach to tell a player “they are all out to get us” instead of “dealing with the media–good and bad–is part of growing up. If you want to play at the next level you need to learn how to deal with these people and be smart about it. We will teach you how to do that.” But that takes work and, in some coaches’ narrow view of the world, it has nothing to do with winning and losing and so it should simply be eliminated as a factor. It is short sighted but if you win enough games, being short sighted eventually becomes a virtue.
Having said all that, Meyer is/was a helluva coach and the record certainly proves that. He won two national championships in three seasons (2006, 2008) and was certainly good enough in 2009 to win a third but for Alabama. For five years at Florida his star burned as brightly as any I’ve ever seen. But on Wednesday he announced, in so many words, that he was burned out.
I know you love your school but most of you I hear from also love your conference and college football as a whole. And so there is no reason to celebrate when the sport burns out a talented coach. You would rather he stay so that when you finally beat him it is all the more sweet.
Florida will find another talented coach. Frankly, I’m going to be surprised if its not Dan Mullen. Whoever it is will be very successful. Steve Spurrier forever changed Florida’s football program in his 12 years (1990-2001) at the school. Before Spurrier arrived Florida had never won 10 games in a season and had never won an SEC championship. Spurrier raised the bar and so Florida will never go back for more than a year or two.
And for Urban Meyer? I predict that he will be out of coaching for only one year and will surface again. This year he got caught in the perfect storm of talent losses and coaching losses and the inability to summon up the fire in the belly that had burned white hot for five seasons. We were all guilty of thinking that Florida could just reload after four years of Tim Tebow. The Florida program took a dip as all programs do (see Texas). The Gators will be back sooner rather than later but Urban Meyer will no longer be their coach.
If you love the game, there is no reason to celebrate that.
And one last thing: If Urban Meyer goes to the Denver Broncos in the next two months, I take it all back.
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621 comments Add your comment
ARdawg
December 9th, 2010
12:01 pm
Ga Peach
Don’t look for Petrino to even be in the consideration and I don’t think there is a lot of love in Arkansas for Malzahn
BAMA dude
December 9th, 2010
12:02 pm
I’d say five to ten is a good number, ARDawg. Even five would be 20% of a class thad you’d have to replace.
BadgerFan
December 9th, 2010
12:05 pm
OK…I say Bill Belichick is a candidate for the job.
Georgia Peach
December 9th, 2010
12:09 pm
Trish,
I can understand you Aubies’ jealousy of The University of Alabama, but I never guessed you guys would stoop to Arkansas envy!
Oh well… Chicken coops are way cooler than cow barns, I guess.
BAMA dude
December 9th, 2010
12:09 pm
If, and I said IF, it turnes out to be Petrino, how ironic would it be that he got that woman fired for wearing a Florida hat a few months back?
Georgia Peach
December 9th, 2010
12:11 pm
@BAMA dude
I think I heard about her landing a job in Gainesville.
Reader of Morons and quite a few idiots
December 9th, 2010
12:13 pm
BAMA dude, goot one.
BadgerFan
December 9th, 2010
12:14 pm
Ha…then she would show up at a UF press conference with a hog cap on.
Georgia Peach
December 9th, 2010
12:16 pm
So the SEC Coaches voted Spurrier “SEC Coach of the Year”.
Interesting.
BAMA dude
December 9th, 2010
12:16 pm
Georgia Peach, looks like you heard right.
She doesn’t expect wearing the cap will be a problem at her new job at UF-owned WRUF 850 AM.
“Technically, my paycheck will come from the University of Florida, so I don’t think that will be an issue,” she said.
Funny stuff.
Georgia Peach
December 9th, 2010
12:18 pm
I figured it would be Mullen — or Pat Dye.
MURPHY
December 9th, 2010
12:22 pm
Butler Community College Defensive Tackle Cornelius “Tank” Carradine visiting with UGA coaches as we speak. Got to get this kid. With a name TANK he has to be able to clog the middle!
MURPHY
December 9th, 2010
12:23 pm
Florida will not hire a coach from the NFL ranks.
BULLDAWG BILL
December 9th, 2010
12:25 pm
GOOD RIDDANCE! UM IS A CLASSLESS, WIN AT ALL COSTS, EGOMANIAC. HE SHOULD GO BACK UP NORTH WHERE HE CAME FROM AND HOPE HE CAN FIND AT LEAST ONE FRIEND HE HAS LEFT.
UFL WILL BE FINE BETTER WITHOUT HIM. EVEN I COULD COACH THE TALENT RON ZOOK LEFT THIS IDOT. HE IS LEAVING BECAUSE HE DOESN’T WANT TO GET HIS BUT BEAT WITH THE LACK OF TALENT AND COACHING THAT’S CURRENTLY AT UFL.
UFL WILL HAVE TO REBUILD AND THE GATOR FANS SHOULD EXPECT SOME UPS AND DOWNS NO MATTER WHO THE NEW COACH TURNS OUT TO BE. THERE IS ENOUGH HIGH SCHOOL TALENT IN FLORIDA FOR ALL THE STATE COLLEGES TO SHARE AND HAVE ENOUGH TO COMPETE WITH ANYONE.
I DON’T WANT TO BE ACCUSED OF KICKING UM WHILE HE IS DOWN. I KICKED THE SOB WHEN HE WAS UP. I DO NOT LIKE THIS MAN AND HIS ACTIONS AND DECISIONS AS A UF COACH.
ARdawg
December 9th, 2010
12:25 pm
Ya’know
For the ole gal that showed up at Meyer’s press conference with a Hog hat on was the ultimate display of unprofessionalism. Like wise, Meyer’s rant about it was more of a display of unprofessionalism. She deserved what she got. She was there as an “objective” reporter. Meyer only displayed yet another example of his lack of class
Not So Fast
December 9th, 2010
12:27 pm
Hey Tony:
That giant sucking sound is the Gaytor Freshman FB players transferring out. CHOMP CHOMP.
Urban Crier
December 9th, 2010
12:27 pm
Hey Tony, why didn’t you mention the fact that Urban Myer’s infidelity was about to be public and his impending, nasty divorce was going to be a significant distraction to the program.
Georgia Peach
December 9th, 2010
12:27 pm
@ARdawg
Huh???
BAMA dude
December 9th, 2010
12:29 pm
Yeah, ARDawg you got that bass-ackards.
ARdawg
December 9th, 2010
12:32 pm
Georgia Peach
IMO that reporter deserved the dressing down by Meyer. She was there as a reporter, not a fan. There was no reason on her part to be inflaming by wearing a Hog hat to a UF press conference. Yet, any coach with a modicum of class would not have made an issue of it
WestCoast Gator
December 9th, 2010
12:33 pm
For the millionth time, Spikes did not “eye-gouge.” He was returning the spit that Easley had just spat in his face in the earlier play. If you watch during the transition, Spikes shows the spittle to his teammates. And UF won an SEC title in 1984. It’s just that Dooley led the vote against them getting to keep it. This all the while when he knows he paid for Herschel.
ARdawg
December 9th, 2010
12:34 pm
BAMA dude
How do you figure? Bassackwards?
Georgia Peach
December 9th, 2010
12:35 pm
I wonder what the “over/under” is on the total number of SEC coaches to leave their current job this year after this musical chairs game really gets into gear?
GT
December 9th, 2010
12:36 pm
The eye thing again with Spikes, in fact everything Tony mentions has a personal connection. I think about 75% of the public delight in someone putting down a smart ass reporter who is asking jerk questions just because he can. Chris Rainey was back from probation just in time to play Georgia and had a strong hand in beating them. If they bring Mullens in Georgia won’t beat Florida for another 5 years and it will be the beginning of the end for Richt. If I were Georgia I would fire Richt now, hire Mullens if it is not too late, taking him away from the Gators and having a great coach that is use to working with the new athletic director at Georgia. If Mullens can beat you at Mississippi State, he will own ya at Florida.
BAMA dude
December 9th, 2010
12:36 pm
It was a Petrino press conference and the girl wore a Florida hat to it, ARDawg.
MURPHY
December 9th, 2010
12:38 pm
GT,
Just like we own you at UGA? 1-9 IN LAST 10
Georgia Peach
December 9th, 2010
12:38 pm
ARdawg,
Meyer wasn’t the coach at Arkansas this year and the girl was wearing a Gator hat. Bassackwards is merely an anagram of Ass Backwards — you know, like the way you’re telling this story.
MURPHY
December 9th, 2010
12:39 pm
GT,
Mullens will be at UF as the next head coach and will bring Diaz the D-Coord with him.Diaz is the man!
UGASlobberknockerI
December 9th, 2010
12:39 pm
Would GTPhenoms mother pls take away his laptop and put him on restriction?
Georgia Peach
December 9th, 2010
12:41 pm
So Vandy and Florida are already on the list. MSU and Arky are possibilities. Will Rich Rod leave Michigan? Does LSU care?
Will UGA ever allow Mark Richt to leave Athens?
BAMA dude
December 9th, 2010
12:41 pm
Here’s an article from Rivals about Florida’s upcoming recruiting class and the impact Meyer’s resignation will have on it. AC Leonard is mentioned as one of the recruits in play- Andrew Bone tweets that Saban was in his living room yesterday.
ARdawg
December 9th, 2010
12:42 pm
BAMA dude, Ga Peach
Ah, I understand. The same principle applies. Petrino’s lack of class in this case. I stand corrected
Go Dawgs!
December 9th, 2010
12:42 pm
“It’s much easier for a coach to tell a player “they are all out to get us” instead of “dealing with the media–good and bad–is part of growing up. If you want to play at the next level you need to learn how to deal with these people and be smart about it. We will teach you how to do that.” But that takes work and, in some coaches’ narrow view of the world, it has nothing to do with winning and losing and so it should simply be eliminated as a factor. It is short sighted but if you win enough games, being short sighted eventually becomes a virtue.”
Tony- perhaps if some of your fellow media brethren spent more time REPORTING the news rather than trying to CREATE the news Meyer and other coaches would grant more access to their players and themselves. Instead many (not all of course) spend more time trying to figure out how they can edit someone’s responses to questions to make the responses more sensational or stir up controversy. I’m obviously not a UF fan, but that reporter that Urban dressed down at his practice was wrong. He clearly took a young man’s words (D.Thompson) and spun them around to make it appear he was criticizing Tebow when he wasn’t. Almost everyone in the media ran to the defense of this guy and very few had a problem with what he tried to stir up. It’s things like this that cause coaches to have a “Us against them” attitude towards the media, not because they are taking the “easy” road and not teaching them to deal with the media.
Georgia Peach
December 9th, 2010
12:42 pm
And what about Ole Miss?
BAMA dude
December 9th, 2010
12:43 pm
Murph, Mullen is claiming otherwise at this point and the Missy State folks seem somewhat confident that he’s staying.
Georgia Peach
December 9th, 2010
12:44 pm
@Go Dawgs!
I agree. Coaches avoid the media because the media is crap anymore.
MURPHY
December 9th, 2010
12:46 pm
BAMA dude,
Famous last words of a coach leaving. AKA SABAN Know what I mean? I would be shocked if Mullen turns down the UF job!
Atlanta Gator
December 9th, 2010
12:47 pm
“UFL WILL BE FINE BETTER WITHOUT HIM. EVEN I COULD COACH THE TALENT RON ZOOK LEFT THIS IDOT”
Yeah, you just might be able to coach all of the talent Ron Zook left in Gainesville, but apparently Ron Zook couldn’t coach those same players to anything better than an 8-5 season. If my memory still serves, Urban Meyer did substantially better.
By the way, what, exactly is an “IDOT?”
MURPHY
December 9th, 2010
12:47 pm
BAMA dude,
What will be interseting is if Mullen takes the UF job and Diaz is offered to Miss St job.
BAMA dude
December 9th, 2010
12:48 pm
Murph, everything I have read suggests that Missy State would be on Malzahn like stink on a cowpie if Mullen were to leave.
GT
December 9th, 2010
12:49 pm
You know what is funny, Tony almost proves they are “all out to get them” by just writing this article. He must do this stuff tongue in cheek. Nobody could be that clueless of his position.
ARdawg
December 9th, 2010
12:49 pm
Looks like an opportune time for Diaz to make his own move if he is so inclined. Mullen is a pretty sure bet to Florida in my mind
MURPHY
December 9th, 2010
12:49 pm
Atl Gator,
Your program will be fine no matter who the coach is going to be.I think Zook would have done much better if he would have had all the Gator Nations support.Would he have done the same as Urban? No,but I believe he could have won a SEC Championship.
BAMA dude
December 9th, 2010
12:50 pm
I wonder who Foley would prefer between Petrino and Mullen, assuming they both would jump at the job if offered?
MURPHY
December 9th, 2010
12:51 pm
BAMA dude,
Oh I could see them going after Malzahn.They better find a way to keep Diaz if at all possible.This guy will be a household name here soon.
ARdawg
December 9th, 2010
12:52 pm
MURPH
Meyer came to UF with the cupboards brimming at the rim. I think even Zook could have coached that team to a NC. Of course it’s all academic now
Atlanta Gator
December 9th, 2010
12:52 pm
Go Dawgs!—-
You are exactly right. As if it somehow would have been better if Meyer had taken the little smart-@$$ twerp out back and smacked him around outside the prying eyes of the cameras? Meyer was right to be angry, and Florida seems to be full of these snarky 20-something small outlet reporters who never played a down in their lives. Meyer was so hot he came dangerously close to telling the Orlando Sentinel that its reporter was persona non grata in Gainesville.
MURPHY
December 9th, 2010
12:52 pm
BAMA dude,
He would perfer Mullen over Petrino I would guess.I know I would.
Dr. P.
December 9th, 2010
12:52 pm
Gawd let Richt gather up the ‘nads to leave also
Urban crier 2
December 9th, 2010
12:53 pm
Hey, has anyone got some pics of this Hottie?