Strained friendship between Urban Meyer and Florida high school coach
Urban Meyer has won two BCS titles at Florida (AP photo)
A Florida high school football coach says his friendship is a little strained with Urban Meyer these days. It has everything to do with recruiting.
Robert Weiner directs Tampa’s Plant High, the Florida powerhouse which has won two out of the last three state championships. Plant High also boasts two prospects ranked among the nation’s top 100, quarterback Aaron Murray and tight end Orson Charles. Both are headed across the state line for college ball, which isn’t sitting too well with fans of the reigning BCS champions. Weiner counts Urban Meyer as a friend.
“I’m sure, at least for a short period of time, there will be strained relations with Urban and the Florida coaches,” Weiner told the AJC on Wednesday. “But eventually we’ll be back to business. I’ll have other players that the University of Florida will want in future years, and I’d love to get players to the University of Florida. Anytime you have two players so highly recruited, things can get pretty intense. But in the end, there are no hard feelings. Everything will be OK.”
These days, however, Weiner is feeling the heat from all directions. In forming an unlikely alliance with the Gators, some Florida State and Miami fans are also disappointed to see two elite recruits depart the Sunshine State. However, the Gators carry the most powerful voice because they are the reigning champs.
“There’s some history there,” Weiner said. “The University of Florida lost Aaron Murray to Georgia. Orson eliminated Florida State first, and then Florida. When you lose one of the top recruits in the state, and then lose another kid [Charles] who decides to go somewhere else, I can see how they need someone to point back at. You know, ‘Hey coach, there’s some consistency there with your top two players leaving Florida. What’s going on?’”
Aaron Murray signed with UGA (Tampa Tribune)
“I know some people are thinking ‘That high school coach must not like Florida. He must not like Urban Meyer.’ That’s not true. I love the University of Florida. Urban Meyer is one of the greatest coaches I’ve met in my life. He’s a great person, a tremendous leader, and his job excellence speaks for itself with two national championships … However, my only agenda right now is for the kids at Plant High. It’s about the kids. I support whatever they do with their college decisions. Business is business with recruiting, and I’m sure everything else will take care of itself in time.”
Charles trimmed Florida from his list on Wednesday, and is deciding between Southern Cal, Georgia and Tennessee. He will reveal his college choice on March 6.
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47 comments Add your comment
Recruitnik
February 26th, 2009
12:06 am
So let me understand this. He will in the future be sending players over to florida. That really isn’t what he should be doing. He should allow the kids to make the decision themselves. Seems he is under fire from gator fans who don’t like seeing players leave. Who gives a care? Gator fans need to shut their pie holes and let these kids go where they want. I don’t care whether it’s texas, uga, tenneseee, etc.. it’s a player’s right to make a decision without their head coach under fire from local fans to force him to pressure his kids to go to Florida.
bh
February 26th, 2009
6:09 am
I am a big Georgia fan, and I feel Mark Richt does a very good job getting “most” of the big stars in the state of GA; however, many young kids go to out of state schools for various reasons. I think the FL fans are being pretty arrogant to put heat on a high school coach like that. Should not be happening!
Thursday morning buffet « Get The Picture
February 26th, 2009
6:35 am
[...] because their school missed out on signing Aaron Murray and Orson Charles. But if Urban Meyer is this pissy about something like that, good [...]
ugahypocrates
February 26th, 2009
7:52 am
Georgia fans are hypocrates for talking crap about UF fans who are upset about Chartles leaving the State. How quickly you forget reactions of your peers to Greg Reid, Omar Hunter, and Jarvis Jones. All fans are the same. That said I would guess that the pressure is overblown. Venture over to any UF boards and you don’t see comments about any expectations that b/c he is from Florida he should choose a Florida school.
Also as far as the coach saying that he would send kids to UF, he wasn’t being literal. Take off the UGA homer glasses and you know exactly what he meant.
get a life people
February 26th, 2009
8:00 am
Grown men who get pissy over an 18 year old kids choice of which college to attend really, really need to get a grip.
dawes
February 26th, 2009
8:21 am
coach
JimDawg
February 26th, 2009
8:34 am
I thought Omar Hunter tried to get a UGA scholarship and at the time UGA didn’t have any left for defensive linemen. That’s when Omar went over to UF. I do wish however that he had gone to UGA. He is a nice player for any school.
dawes
February 26th, 2009
8:37 am
i think coach urban meyer is jealous of the georgia bulldogs he is cry baby he rank the score in the miami game then wanted to cry when the georgia players went on the field after they made a touchdown i don.t think what georgia did was wrong so fla get over it and stop crying
knoxdawg
February 26th, 2009
8:55 am
It really is an article about nothing. You have coaches in Georgia who probably push UGA on kids. It is the same every where you look. There will always be kids who want to leave the state to play ball. Can you blame them for wanting to broaden their horizons? We all wish we had that kind of opportunity when we were that age. There are so many prospects in Florida and Georgia that neither UF, UGA, FSU or Miami can sign them all. We live in a global economy so why would anyone think that recruiting would not follow the same suit. We live in a mobile society that covers the whole United States so why not go see what life is like elsewhere.
Steve
February 26th, 2009
9:13 am
What’s a hypocrate? Is that a crate to carry hippos?
Jazzbo
February 26th, 2009
9:17 am
Dawes, are we correct in assuming English is neither your first nor second language? On second thought, I’ll bet you are a UGA alumnus. That has to be the reason for your screwball post.
James
February 26th, 2009
9:29 am
Funny that the jawja fans are ignoring what the article say. It says the PHS coach is getting heat from fan bases from ALL 3 of the big 3 in Florida. He specifically says that “However, the Gators carry the most powerful voice because they are the reigning champs.”
It doesn’t mean that Gator Nation is beating this guys door down or calling him out on message boards.
but keep singling out UF fans and keep showing that reading comprehension is not a common trait amongst many of you.
PTC DAWG
February 26th, 2009
9:33 am
I’ve always been one to think the PLAYERS should make the decisions. And I’ve always said, anyone calling out a High School player on these blogs for his decisions, well, they are an IDIOT.
Music City Dawg
February 26th, 2009
10:19 am
The state of Florida has so many great prospects. UF can’t get all of them. So he didn’t get the two from Plant? Who cares? They’ll still be good. Moving on…
Haha
February 26th, 2009
10:58 am
Yeah, Urban is really jealous of Richt. I bet he really wanted to have his record last year. UF is the clear leader in the east and will continue to be. So UF loses out on two good players from Florida. UGA recruits well every year. Do you think that Richt was a little mad about Jarvis Jones and Greg Reid leaving the state? I bet he was. So does that mean that he has a “strained” relationship with those high school coaches?
longtimesecfan
February 26th, 2009
11:05 am
to dawes and others of his ilk:
you know as much about the facts as I do about nuclear physics:
1.Meyer has said nothing-all is speculation by H.S. coach
2.Meyer didn’t run up score Miami just couldnt hold it down
(same as 49-10)
3.you dont think it wrong that ugay team went on field after
TD-read the rules sonny -SEC and NCA say it is.
4. summary: ugahippocrates said it well above.
rec Dawg
February 26th, 2009
11:55 am
Let the recruits decide what is the best fit for them in football, education and whatever other criteria they have. This HS coach should help the kids with the process, but he shouldn’t be steering kids to one school just becuase he likes them. He isn’t playing there, they are.
vandy
February 26th, 2009
12:23 pm
wow did a UF fan just call UGA fans ignorant?
Black pot, let me introduce you to the kettle….
vandy
February 26th, 2009
12:25 pm
hippo-crates.
too funny.
Brad
February 26th, 2009
2:04 pm
Well, so far this story carries the distinction of being the greatest non-story of the off season. Congratulations AJC!! And I think it’s funny to hear all fans of hating Florida chime in on how Urban Meyer has in some way lost a battle here. UF was always considered a long shot for this kid anyway… I feel quite certain that Meyer will not be losing any sleep over this kid. In fact, he’ll likely sleep quite well knowing that he is returning his entire two-deep roster on what is now a championship level defense. And did I mention that Tim Tebow is returning?
And Dawes?… We Gator fans officially got over the whole dispicable display of unsportmanlike conduct from the 07 game when we stomped UGA into the Jax turf to the tune of 49-10, went on to do the same to the rest of the teams on our schedule, won the SEC title, and won the National Championship after that. And wasn’t UGA the team that started the season # 1? Oh, that’s right… you guys faceplanted in that endeavor.
Go Gators!!
vandy
February 26th, 2009
2:09 pm
hey Brad I’m glad you guys finally got over it. Now we dont have to hear the whining anymore then, right?
jeff
February 26th, 2009
2:21 pm
wow, “dawe” is that supposed to be “dawg”. We did get over it, you’re the one living in the moment two years ago.
jeff
February 26th, 2009
2:22 pm
lately the “Big 3″ in Florida has been UF, USF, and UCF.
Orson Charles narrows his choices down to Georgia, USC, and Tennessee « Football on the Brain
February 26th, 2009
2:37 pm
[...] the lead but you never can tell with these things. Regardless of how Urban Meyer feels about it, Tampa Plant HS HC Robert Weiner says, “My only agenda right now is for the kids at Plant High. It’s about the kids. I support [...]
Brad
February 26th, 2009
2:50 pm
Hey Vandy!! I’m so glad you liked my comment. So, I guess it’s safe to assume that you’re a fan of the mighty Commodores. Congratulations on your first bowl appearance since 1982… what a proud tradition!!
On to the Goal » Blog Archive » Morning links — 2/26/2009
February 26th, 2009
3:07 pm
[...] anything, but this slightly bizarre item from the Atlanta Journal Constitution indicates that the relationship between Urban Meyer and Tampa Plant head coach Robert Weiner is becoming/is already strained. Even after several reads of the article, it’s tough to tell [...]
Michael Carvell
February 26th, 2009
3:19 pm
How important was Orson Charles to the Florida Gators? On signing day, Urban Meyer said that he would like to sign one more. Per NCAA rules, Meyer couldn’t say names, but the likely candidate was Orson Charles, according to the Florida media. How important is O.C. to Georgia? On signing day Mark Richt went out of the way hint at WR Marlon Brown (who signed with UGA) and Charles …
“I’d still be excited about another wide receiver … that’s kind of tall,” Richt said on Feb. 4. “You know, another tight end … who is a mismatch for linebackers and safeties, I would be pretty excited about that … We could really use that about right now, if you catch my drift.”
Brad
February 26th, 2009
3:31 pm
Hey Carvell… not really sure why the UF angle is such a story for you. I have two words in response to your post… Aaron Hernandez… Meyer already has a stellar tight end and knows he has next year to find one to coach up… Charles was not a priority like Andre Debose in light of Percy Harvin’s departure… Thx!!
Michael Carvell
February 26th, 2009
4:59 pm
Brad: Thanks for your response. UGA signed one player from Plant High School, Aaron Murray, and is in the running for another. On your opinion on Florida’s recruiting priorities ie Aaron Hernandez, I have to agree with you there.
Ga Gator
February 26th, 2009
8:08 pm
Hey Dawgs listen up…Let’s think about this..Who put pressure on a certain wide reciever…ummm Fred Gibson..It is well documented that Ga put the full court press on him and made him feel bad about commitment to Fla..I also know for a fact that Aarron Murray wanted to go to Flordia but it was about playing time with Tim Tebow,John Brantley,and Cam Newton before he got kicked off…E
brick
February 27th, 2009
1:43 am
Ga Gator, I really doubt you know anything for a fact about Arron Murray’s recruitment other than what you read. Didn’t Cam leave, Tim is a rising Sr and will be gone, John is the only qb underclassman on the UF roster. Seems to me that would be the place to go, UGA has a Sr as well, a rising Soph and will be bringing in 2 highly rated qb in this class. So you trying to imply Murray was afraid to compete looks like nothing more than sour grapes.
Joe Cox's Half Brother's Cousin's Friend's Friend
February 27th, 2009
2:27 am
Brick to Ga Gator: “So you trying to imply Murray was afraid to compete looks like nothing more than sour grapes.”
–Bingo.
Murray’s going to have all he can handle at UGA, which says a lot about his drive to compete.
He sure talks like a winner though.
Check out ESPN on April 11th to see him in action. You might see Orson Charles catching a few passes from him too…
Joe Cox's Half Brother's Cousin's Friend's Friend
February 27th, 2009
2:29 am
Hippo-crates.
–Love that.
Top Players Leaving Florida - VolNation
February 27th, 2009
7:39 am
[...] Players Leaving Florida Strained friendship between Urban Meyer and Florida high school coach | College Football Recruiting [...]
petethegator
February 27th, 2009
9:45 am
The kids probably do not want to have to study…so they go to Georgia. Florida has plenty of other kids to recruit.
AtlantaGator86
February 27th, 2009
1:21 pm
Brick:
I agree Murray wasn’t scared of competition at UF, he just liked UGA better. But for the record, we got a good QB in this class in Jordan Reed and another already in next year’s class in Trey Burton. So Brantley won’t be the only QB on roster.
renegade
February 27th, 2009
2:24 pm
Its called having a choice some chose Fla some chose UGA You choose to make yourself happy.I reckon most of these kids are happy with their choice if they aren’t they’ll choose another school and transfer.I don’t guess any of these guys let their coach pick a school for them I know I wouldn’t. Anyway there are plenty of five star players to go around.YALL QUIT CRYIN
William
February 27th, 2009
3:22 pm
Florida has missed out on hordes of recruits from the state of Florida. It hasn’t stifled our success. The fact is there are so many top notched programs in the neighborhood and then there are great national recruiters like TOSU.
We are blessed to be deep in talent on both sides of the ball. Recruits see that and only the ones that are patient or who area that good are going to commit to our program.
You show me a kid who commits to an arch rival of Florida’s when that school’s program has won only one SEC championship in the past 20 years, and I’ll show you a kid who in all likelihood did not think he could cut it at Florida or did not have the patience to wait to make his impact.
William
February 27th, 2009
4:08 pm
For those of you who argue that Murray will have to compete just as much for a starting position at Georgia as he would have for Florida, you are missing the point.
Murray is an in state recruit. He opted to go to a rival of a program located in his home state that has beaten the school that he committed to something like 15 out of the last 17 times they’ve played. Name one prize recruit from Georgia who committed to Florida the same year that Georgia won a national championship? The answer is there weren’t any. Not one. Ergo the strained relationship. Though it is probably not the case, a casual observer could easily surmise that there either is not enough fostering of state pride at that high school, or the players are not being taught about the history of the rivalry.
It would be one thing if your in state school never actively recruited you or waited until last minute. You could justify an opting out of state scenario (even to a rival of a school from your home state) for recruits who wanted to play for a program that had won two of the last three national championships because they craved the championship atmosphere.
But to opt out to a program which arguably over the past 15 years in the SEC has been the third best team in the SEC East and perhaps the 5 best in the SEC overall is borderline inexplicable. Over the last 20 years there have been 7 national championships awarded to SEC schools. Eight if you count Auburn. Georgia has not won one. When you have a conference that has a 40% winning rate of national championships over a twenty year period, you start to appreciate that football is serious business in the SEC. Tack on two championships from FSU and two from Miami and southern schools have won close to half of the naitonal championships in the last 20 years. Florida schools have won 7 of the last 20 national championships alone.
Why? Putting aside blessings which we all get in one form or another, SEC schools keep their players home.
Murray would not have started next year at Florida. End of story. Charles assuming Hernandez stays another year would not have started at Florida either. They both have a chance at starting next year at Georgia. It is the difference between having a chance and having no chance that Florida fans believe influenced at least Murray’s decision (we don’t have Charles’ decision yet but it won’t be USC you can bet that). Since we really don’t know the inside scoop on Charles, it would be inappropriate to speculate that there were qualification issues.
Jordan Reed on the other hand, knowing that he isn’t going to supplant John Brantley next year. Nevertheless he and Desmond Parks committed to a program that has demonstrated a current championship tradition, and they will be afforded the luxury of not having to sink or swim or be relegated to the bench because of some other recruit who happened to out perform them in practice.
Tim Tebow who deserved his second Heisman waited patiently to get his turn and the rest is history. Either Murray didn’t feel he could cut it or he wasn’t willing to wait. Whichever is the case, it will be Reed who will be backing up a 5 star recruit who learned from a Heisman winner (and runner up) next year not Murray. It will be Parks and not Charles who will be backing up a 5 star TE and one of the stars of the last BCS championship game in Hernandez (if he stays).
I suspect that when Meyer sees the dividends that such decisions on the part of Reed and Parks pay he won’t be upset with Plant HS for long.
Marvin Walker
February 28th, 2009
1:25 am
I graduated from Plant High and Florida before most of you guys were born, and ended up in Atlanta. Sure, I hated for Urban to lose two hot prospects. You never really know how your recruit class will end up, and who you will need year-after-next.
Many recruits want to play ball close to home and family, these two thought differently. I doubt that their coach or anyone else could change their mind. I attended Plant when Rick Cresares? attendend Jefferson and then Florida. I heard several times that Rick and his mother were under great pressure for him to stay in state. I loved his football and basketball skills, but thought it was terrible that he couldn’t go where he really wanted to. These boys were smart to follow their heart.
Marvin Walker
February 28th, 2009
1:26 am
Enter your comments here
Michael Carvell
February 28th, 2009
6:12 am
William: That’s deep. That might be post of the year. Please come back and post again.
Dawg fan
February 28th, 2009
7:17 am
Michael,
NCAA announced 5 scholarship penalty for New Mexico academic cheating violation involving 3 football players. Florida State had cheating involving 20 to 30 some players and no announced penalties by NCAA. Could the NCAA be laying off FSU so Bowden doesn’t get penalized his last year of coaching? That many players cheating sure sounds like an ‘out of control’ program. What gives?
Too Easy
February 28th, 2009
8:45 am
William: Do come back, but with way fewer words.
Maybe this Kid...........
March 1st, 2009
10:16 pm
liked The University of Georgia better? Plenty of good players have left Georgia for other programs, and probably should have. Plenty have liked UF better. UF is a fine school and there is nothing wrong with that. The difference is that Georgia doesn’t have a coach who refers to himself in the third person to complain of “strained relationships”.
Let’s get a few basic things out of the way…….
First of all, THERE IS NO NATIONAL CHAMPION in D1A college football and there never has been. The NCAA does not award them. Notre Dame, UGA, UF, Michigan, Alabama, LSU, etc all have the same number, which is ZERO, because it’s not sanctioned or recognized by the NCAA. The AP poll, and the cutey pie BCS are a nice destraction, but they’re a fraud. National Championships don’t exist in college football.
Secondly, the heisman is a fraud and it’s always been a fraud. There is no consistency or credibility to the award. You can’t cheer when a guy from a 9-4 team wins the heisman because of inflated stats, and then complain the next year when he doesn’t win because his stats weren’t up to par. It’s either one way or the other.
And further, Florida has had a great run since 1990, but catch up…………….47-38-4 (on the field), 12-8 SECC (on the field), and then talk.
Swamp Fan
March 3rd, 2009
11:54 am
Maybethiskid….. sounds just like a fan who pulls for a team that has not done much in the last 29 years… no MNC, no Heismans, just a bunch of wins before he was born to hang his hat on.. good job!!
Ask the leadership coach » Strained friendship between Urban Meyer and Florida high school …
March 12th, 2009
7:56 am
[...] unknown posted a noteworthy aricle today onHere’s a small snippetanything, but this slightly bizarre item from the Atlanta Journal Constitution indicates that the relationship between Urban Meyer and Tampa Plant head coach Robert Weiner is becoming/is already strained. Even after several reads of the … [...]