Deny, deny, deny: But don’t be surprised if Meyer leaves
Florida's Urban Meyer is just like every other coach: At some point, he's going to need a new challenge.
If Urban Meyer wants to clear the air again about rumors that he’ll become Notre Dame’s next football coach after the upcoming season, he’ll have an opportunity this week at SEC media days in Alabama.
Will it make a difference? No. But at least everybody will have something on tape for reference, just like all those clips of Nick Saban saying: “I guess I have to say it. I’m not going to be the Alabama coach.”
I know. Meyer is different, right? That’s what Florida fans say. That’s what Meyer suggests. So when he all but slammed his fist on the table the other day and said, “I’m not going to Notre Dame. Ever. I’m going to be the coach at Florida for a long time, as long as they want me,” we had to believe him right?
Uh, no.
I don’t know Meyer but I know coaches. Never met one — in any sport on any level — who didn’t at some point need a new challenge. This isn’t to say Florida isn’t one of the best college football jobs going right now and possibly even a better job than Notre Dame (the name still has cache even if the current edition doesn’t). But at some point, after another championship and another multi-million-dollar raise, it’s only natural for a coach to think, “What next?” and look around.
Fact is, compared to other coaches, there’s twice the reason to think Meyer’s gone after one more season. He has two things tempting him: 1) We know what the Notre Dame job means to him because he has said it; 2) We can guess what the NFL means. With some teams now using a form of the spread offense, it would be easy for Meyer to convince himself of a smoother transition to the NFL than Saban and Steve Spurrier had.
Personally, I think Meyer’s gone. Gator fanboy needs to understand something: Coaches lie. They do it because they think they have to. They do it to keep recruits from getting cold feet and to keep their players focused. They do it because they think it’s none of your business whether they take that next job or not.
And, yes, Meyer has done it. The Orlando Sentinel dug up a couple of quotes from the Gators’ sainted coach.
♦ “I was contacted by one, but I’m not interested. I love it here. We have a lot of work to do. That’s the bottom line.” — That was Meyer in 2002 when he was the Bowling Green coach. Six days later, he took the Utah job.
♦ “All I keep saying is I plan on being the coach here at Utah.” — That was Meyer in 2004. Five days later, he took the Florida job.
Still feel the same about Meyer?
Get ready for a season of denials. But they mean nothing.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
233 comments Add your comment
Mark
July 20th, 2009
11:51 am
Mark Richt is leaving UGA to take over at FSU when Bowden is tossed out/retires.
That has as much credibility as this article. I guess, if you can’t beat ‘em, try to figure out a way to run them off. Is this College Football or Washington Politics?
Keep wishing…..
Okefenokee Dawg
July 20th, 2009
11:52 am
Don’t know if Urban will go or stay. I personally think he will stay. But I can’t control it, so I don’t worry about it. Don’t think Urban lied, he told the truth at that point in time to protect his program at that time. Besides, lying to the media is not a sin and never has been. If Richt can start to beat Florida, this will all be moot. And, if he can’t we will all be talking about Georgia’s new coach.
Mark
July 20th, 2009
11:54 am
You guys are delusional on the Tebow front. Doesn’t anyone remember that John Brantley broke all of Tim’s passing records in Florida and was the Player of the Year in his senior year in High School. Tebow is a great player; but that does not mean there is not a great player to follow him.
Really?
July 20th, 2009
11:55 am
TampaGator-Didn’t you say at 8:37 that was going to be your last blog? You are always on here being so defensive? If you aren’t worried about him leaving and so sure that UF is going to win another title why are you always on here trying to get everyone to believe you? If I was as confident as you I would just sit back and relax.
Johnny DangerDawg
July 20th, 2009
11:55 am
AltamahaDawg,
Well said. Saying “I’m staying” is really the only option for a coach until after he has signed with his new team. But we can still criticize guys who handle it poorly. (e.g. Bobby Petrino, who didn’t even have the guts to face his Falcons players when he decided to skip town at midnight)
Mark
July 20th, 2009
11:58 am
By the way Jeff, aren’t you just channeling Paul Finebaum? I somehow thought plagarism was frowned upon in journalism. I had somehow given you more credibility than that, but if that is how low you have sunk, it is pretty sad commentary.
Georgia is doing ok in recruiting this year – do you really need to go to these great lengths to make things up and try to help? I guess impartiality is too much to expect.
Ted Striker
July 20th, 2009
12:03 pm
TampaGator @ 8:34: Thanks for explaining theology, politics, and college football to me — all in less than 50 words. Of course none of it made any sense but you receive a bonus point for proper spelling and keeping it brief.
G8R8U2
July 20th, 2009
12:04 pm
You really have to wonder about the abilities of folks to properly assess a situation. Apparently, lots of people (admiitedly, they’re the terrified supporters and fans of opponents) seemingly have no problem putting plenty of emphasis on certain quotes from Meyer, and giving no weight whatsoever to others. For instance, the only reason anybody even speculates that Meyer might go to ND is because of the quote, “Notre Dame was my dream job”. Everybody seems to have no trouble believing THAT quote; even though all the “journalists”, including this one, claim in their reprocessed “articles” that you can’t trust what a coach says. LOL. Well, which is it… can we trust what they say or not? If he’s being dishonest about his intention to stay at UF “for a very long time”, then he could be exaggerating about his desire to be the ND coach, too… no? And, honestly, we all know he was talking about a team he grew up rooting for, and not really that he had any intention of actually going there. How do we know? BECAUSE HE ALREADY HAD A CHANCE TO BE THE COACH AT NOTRE DAME. He had 2 job offers in late 2004, ND and UF. He chose UF; and said the reason was because he wanted to coach at a program where he could compete for NC’s… which is also the reason he left Utah. Of course, we know nobody really thinks he’s leaving UF for ND, and people are just trying to annoy the Gator fans. And, we know that because nobody is stupid enough to think a guy would abandon a program he’s turned into a powerhouse, and who is defining Florida’s “tradition” as we speak, with his own signature on it… and we all know Meyer isn’t stupid, either; and he’d have to be to give up UF for ND. Sorry to all the traditionalists out there; but tradition doesn’t mean squat if you don’t keep doing what it is that gave you the tradition in the first place… just ask Princeton and Yale how important their 43 NC’s are to their football programs TODAY.
Dawg95
July 20th, 2009
12:04 pm
I have a theory that I haven’t heard anyone else bring up anywhere. There are a few undisputable facts that contribute to my theory.
1. Meyer is a huge believer in his style of offense.
2. He is a huge believer in Tim Tebow.
3. Popular opinion is that the spread offense will never work in the NFL for various reasons.
4. Popular opinion is that Tebow is not going to be sought after as an NFL Qb.
5. Urban Meyer is a very strong willed individual.
My theory is that Meyer goes to the NFL on the stipulation with whichever team it is, that they draft Tebow in the first round. Any NFL team looking for a coach will have been bad enough to have a high first round pick next year. And tebow is not going super early in the draft otherwise, so he would definitely be available even by the fifth selection in the draft or so.
I know this all might sound like a conspiracy theory, but I think Meyer would love nothing better than taking his offense, and his golden boy QB, to the NFL just to prove all of the detractors wrong!! Hence the I’m never going to Notre Dame statement. That sounds pretty definitive to me, and I actually believe him on that.
Ken Oberkfell
July 20th, 2009
12:07 pm
Urban Meyer is a jerk with no personality. He also enjoys beating the crap out of the mutts so he’s OK in my book..
45-42
ReptilesRule
July 20th, 2009
12:09 pm
Well I guess if you can’t beat ‘em, hope they leave!!
Really Stupid?
July 20th, 2009
12:11 pm
Why in the world would Meyer leave? He’s got the easiest job…beating Georgia every year!
TampaGator
July 20th, 2009
12:12 pm
RJS, your reality is a little unclear for you. Notre Dame’s offer to Meyer was about the same as the Florida offer. In fact, Notre Dame was willing to match the Florida offer. Therefore, the reality is that Meyer’s decision had nothing to do with money. Meyer took the Florida job for two main reasons: 1. Recruiting for Florida would be easier and would take him not far or long from his family which he loves and wants to spend a lot of time with. 2. The recognized that the Florida job had more potential than the Notre Dame job (and it was in Florida, not Indiana) and could become the best coaching job in America, which it has.
Gov. Clinton Tyree
July 20th, 2009
12:12 pm
Tampa: In my opinion, the only ones we have no right to yap about are the Mississippi schools. They are ALWAYS trouble, doesn’t matter if they’re ranked or 0-5 coming into our game. I’m always a little quiet until after the Ole Miss game (or even Miss St).
Hell, we won a mythical national championship and still couldn’t handle Ole Miss. Kinda like Saban’s LSU championship during the Zook years when we were the only team in the country to handle the national champions.
G$DAWG
July 20th, 2009
12:13 pm
As a UGA fan, I wouldn’t mind seeing Urban leave. Of course, it seems whomever UF hires to be the head football coach has had no difficulty in beating UGA. And that’s the point: what coach Meyer has done at UF is nothing short of remarkable. Frankly, he has proven to be a far superior coach then coach Spurrier. Meyer owns the State of Flordia, has the best program in the SEC, and right now the best program in college football. The only reason he may choose to leave is because he is bored with the success at Florida and may want a real challenge; which in the case it should not be Notre Dame but somewhere help is really needed, like Washington State. However, Meyer has enough competition from Georgia, Alabama, and LSU to make it interested and with new wildcards at Tennessee, Auburn—plus the always fiesty Vanderbilt—and a reinvigorated Ole Miss and Arkansas—he might find it fun to stay on for awhile longer. I hate the Gators but you have to respect what the guy has done, whether we like it or not.
Gov. Clinton Tyree
July 20th, 2009
12:16 pm
The reason you Georgia types can’t win is you think it’s easy. “Urban Meyer’s got it easy”. It ain’t easy. If it was easy, everybody’d be doing it.
It’s hard. And it’s hard waking up every day and doing it again. The reason Urban has been successful is transferring that consistent intensity to a weight room in July and a study hall in March.
I can understand people not liking Urban – he’s a little gruff and comes off as arrogant at times – but you’ve got to respect him, no?
warhorse
July 20th, 2009
12:16 pm
Funny that the bozos stuck at the bottom of the career chain are the one who write columns like this about someone leaving. Shutzie is at the absolute bottom of newspapers — and he does not get offers from decent newspapers. He is living vicariously through Urban who is good enough to be in demand. Enjoy the fantasy that life will hand the poodles a gift in the departure of Urban — but away from the fantasy enjoy the beatdown in Jax at the hands of Urban for another decade. Wake up from the dream of his departure.
Prog
July 20th, 2009
12:16 pm
If Meyer goes to Notre Dame then Paul Johnson may replace him. When Bowden retires, Richt will leave UGA and be replaced by Leeman Bennett who may want to unretire. Who will replace Paul Johnson?
TampaGator
July 20th, 2009
12:18 pm
Really? I am sitting at home with a badly damaged leg (car accident) and have nothing else to do but read a book and surf the net (I hate TV unless a college football game is on). Therefore, I admit I am being an abnorml blogger the last few days. Please excuse, as it beats wondering or worrying about when I will be able to walk normally again. Defensive. No, I think I am being offensive in the land of the Dawg bloggers, although I sometimes get a little support from my Gatornation bloggers.
Art Vandelay
July 20th, 2009
12:18 pm
Jeff, I’ve defended you countless times against charges of complete idiocy from your readers, but I can’t back you up here (not that you need me to). Meyer would be an absolute fool to leave UF (or any SEC school) for Notre Dame. He’s got the best athletes in the country practically lining up to play for him, and he has unlimited funding for his program (and his salary). Notre Dame will not be able to compete with UF on either a financial or a facility level — sure, they can pay Meyer as much as UF does, but not more, as UF would certainly match any offer above his current salary. The recruiting issue is also very significant. Part of the problem Weis is having at ND has to do with their higher admission standards, and the lack of appeal of playing in a town like South Bend as opposed to Gainesville, Athens, Tuscaloosa, Knoxville, etc. And finally, the so-called “lies” pointed out from Meyer’s previous jobs are irrelevant to this discussion. Leaving Bowling Green for Utah is a no-brainer career choice, as is leaving Utah for UF. There’s no higher position in college football than the one he has now. The NFL is a possibility, I suppose, but Meyer has also said multiple times that he has no interest in coaching in the pros.
KJ
July 20th, 2009
12:19 pm
I wonder if the Bowling Green/Utah fans were this delusional right before their coach left.
TampaGator
July 20th, 2009
12:22 pm
warhorse, those comments were uncalled for. There are literally thousands of journalist out there that would love to have Schultz’s job. Now, I do think the man could have done his research for the story a little better and put some reasons both ways why Meyer would leave or stay at Florida. But, if he had done his research, he would have realized why Meyer went to FLorida and why he will not leave…and therefore he would not have written the story in the first place.
tip
July 20th, 2009
12:24 pm
I don’t know Urban Meyer. But personally I would want a new challenge if I were a coach in his shoes. Without new challenges even winning gets boring. He’s accomplished it all in such a short amount of time. I’d actually argue that he’s less of a coach if he does not leave in the next few years.
Deniro
July 20th, 2009
12:25 pm
How on earth can you people say those comments from Meyer at Utah and Bowling Green were lies???
In one, he says he PLANS on being the coach there. Didn’t say he would never leave! Didn’t say he would entertain any offers.
In the other one, he said one contacted him, and he wasn’t interested….we have no idea what school THAT was. But when Utah came, obviously he WAS interested.
Neither of those comments were lies and it’s really reaching to act like they were.
mexdawg
July 20th, 2009
12:28 pm
This is old news.I told you guys 6 months ago that this is gonna happen.ND goes 7-4 this year and then Myer gets the call.Sorry gators but that’s the way it’s gonna happen.
dawes
July 20th, 2009
12:28 pm
why you want to keep the cry baby all is acry baby he cry when georgia players went on the after they score a touchdown any when they had miami beat in the last minute of the game i call that trying to run the score so cry on baby
Deniro
July 20th, 2009
12:28 pm
And for all the….”but wouldn’t he want a new challenge??” folks….
Did Bear Bryant want a new challenge? John Wooden at UCLA? Coach K at Duke? Bobby Bowden at fsu?
Why is it okay for all these iconic coaches to stay at their school for a long time, but Meyer…no way! It would be boring!!
Actually I think it would be pretty exciting and challenging to try and eclipse the Bear in the SEC and stay at UF.
Deniro
July 20th, 2009
12:30 pm
“This is old news.I told you guys 6 months ago that this is gonna happen.ND goes 7-4 this year and then Myer gets the call.Sorry gators but that’s the way it’s gonna happen.”
we all know that’s what you are hoping and praying for. I would be too after losing 16 out of 19 to the Gators.
tip
July 20th, 2009
12:31 pm
Imagine, he could take Utah undefeated win 2 or 3 championships at Florida, rebuild and win championships at Notre Dame, maybe even go to Syracuse from there and win a NC. He’d be bigger than the Bear forever.
If he stays at Florida and wins then he will be a superstar on the same level as the Bear. Glory is so much greater when you take chances and still succeed.
Gatorzone
July 20th, 2009
12:31 pm
Tampa, I got your back. Sorry about the leg. You got some gator support from over in St. Pete!
Zone
Art Vandelay
July 20th, 2009
12:31 pm
Gov. Tyree (or should we call you Skink?): You get my award for best name on this blog. A Hiassen reference on a story about UF could not possibly be more apropos.
TampaGator
July 20th, 2009
12:33 pm
This IS my last post on Meyer leaving Florida. Got a good book I have to finish. Ask yourself this question? Why would Meyer work so hard the last 3 years to build up such a great program at Florida (including building the best training, weight room, and welcoming facilities in the country) and then just pack up and leave? Some day those same facilities will be named for the man…about 20 years from now when he retires as Gator head coach (and after an 18-2 record against Georgia during that time period). Sora nora (sp?)
G8R8U2
July 20th, 2009
12:34 pm
Question: How many SEC coaches are coaching at their alma mater or the program they grew up rooting for, i.e. their “dream job”?
Answer: None.
Nick Saban is headed to West Virginia. Why? Because that’s the school he grew up rooting for, and he was once an assistant there. Les Miles is headed to Michigan. Why? Because that’s his alma mater, and he was once an assistant there. Gene Chizik is leaving AU, and taking UF’s vacant coaching position. Why? Because he grew up rooting for Florida, and he played there. Mark Richt is heading to Nebraska, Miami, or FSU, depending on who has an offer first (probably Miami). Why? Because he grew up rooting for Nebraska. played at Miami, and was an assistant at FSU. Dan Mullen is leaving his new position at MSU, and heading to PSU to take over for Paterno. Why? Because he was a Penn State fan growing up, of course. Bobby Petrino is leaving Arkansas for Montana. Why? Well, he’s from Montana, and was an assistant at schools in the area, like Idaho and Nevada. Bobby Johnson is leaving Vandy for Clemson. Houston Nutt is headed to Oklahoma State after this year. Why? Because he’s already had his dream job at Arkansas; and he’s going to the other program where he played and was an assistant. Lane Kiffin is headed to Minnesota or Fresno State next year. Why? Well, because he was born in Minnesota, played at Fresno, and neither expects much from their football coach. Rich Brooks is headed to Oregon State after this season. Why? Why because he played there, and was an assistant there, of course. Oh, and Spurrier, he’s going to the Senior’s Golf Tour. Why? Because he’s already had his dream job, and he’s a scratch golfer.
Gatorzone
July 20th, 2009
12:34 pm
dawes, are you drunk?
Gator Nation
July 20th, 2009
12:37 pm
First of all Urban won’t be leaving anytime soon. He will be signing a new long term contract that will ensure him and his family lifetime financial security. But someday, probably maybe in 5-7 years or so he probably will need a change as NOTHING lasts forever. There are no more Bobby Bowdens or Joe Paternos out there. But because of Steve Spurrier, Jeremy Foley, and now the success of Meyer, Florida has now become such a power with its wealth, top notch facilities, recruiting base and fan base that no one man can overshadow the program. I can remember when Spurrier left, one of my Ohio State friends said to me “man, Steve Spurrier WAS Florida Football, what’s gonna happen to Florida now?” Well, we have all seen what has happened. It has come to that at Florida, the program itself is self substaining and will maintain excellence drawing the best talent whether it be coaches, players or administration.
Dawg95
July 20th, 2009
12:52 pm
I have a theory that I haven’t heard anyone else bring up anywhere. There are a few undisputable facts that contribute to my theory.
1. Meyer is a huge believer in his style of offense.
2. He is a huge believer in Tim Tebow.
3. Popular opinion is that the spread offense will never work in the NFL for various reasons.
4. Popular opinion is that Tebow is not going to be sought after as an NFL Qb.
5. Urban Meyer is a very strong willed individual.
My theory is that Meyer goes to the NFL on the stipulation with whichever team it is, that they draft Tebow in the first round. Any NFL team looking for a coach will have been bad enough to have a high first round pick next year. And tebow is not going super early in the draft otherwise, so he would definitely be available even by the fifth selection in the draft or so.
I know this all might sound like a conspiracy theory, but I think Meyer would love nothing better than taking his offense, and his golden boy QB, to the NFL just to prove all of the detractors wrong!! Hence the I’m never going to Notre Dame statement. That sounds pretty definitive to me, and I actually believe him on that.
archangeladidas
July 20th, 2009
12:56 pm
i don’t know if even one was paying attenion but les miles did say that he would not leave lsu for michigan. all these so called experts said that he was gone and headed for big blue. what happened? Go GATORS!!!
archangeladidas
July 20th, 2009
12:58 pm
to tampagator…losing another game to these garbagedawgs is not an option. 19-1 is more like it! Go GATORS!!!
Sanford Drive
July 20th, 2009
1:02 pm
This is stupid. Urban isn’t going anywhere. He’s in the middle of building a dynasty.
Dawg95
July 20th, 2009
1:04 pm
Did anyone see my post from earlier about my theory on Meyer, Tebow, and the NFL? I’ve posted it twice now, and I dont see either of them anywhere! There was no profanity in it, so I don’t understand why it’s not showing up.
Red and Black Attack
July 20th, 2009
1:06 pm
Who cares???!!! Let the big dawg eat!!!!!!
Legpuller
July 20th, 2009
1:09 pm
Dawg95, I, in my infinite wisdom, judged your posts to be inferior, and so intercepted them. If you’re real nice and try again, maybe I’ll let it go thru.
Whatever
July 20th, 2009
1:10 pm
None of you are taking into account Urban’s Catholicism. It’s well known that one of the reasons he agreed to take the Florida job is because Billy Donovan showed him that there is a strong Catholic network in Gainesville. Of course, the opportunity to return to prominence the largest and most well-known Catholic university in the world to might be hard to pass up for Urban.
Dawg95
July 20th, 2009
1:18 pm
I have a theory that I haven’t heard anyone else bring up anywhere. There are a few undisputable facts that contribute to my theory.
1. Meyer is a huge believer in his style of offense.
2. He is a huge believer in Tim Tebow.
3. Popular opinion is that the spread offense will never work in the NFL for various reasons.
4. Popular opinion is that Tebow is not going to be sought after as an NFL Qb.
5. Urban Meyer is a very strong willed individual.
My theory is that Meyer goes to the NFL on the stipulation with whichever team it is, that they draft Tebow in the first round. Any NFL team looking for a coach will have been bad enough to have a high first round pick next year. And tebow is not going super early in the draft otherwise, so he would definitely be available even by the fifth selection in the draft or so.
I know this all might sound like a conspiracy theory, but I think Meyer would love nothing better than taking his offense, and his golden boy QB, to the NFL just to prove all of the detractors wrong!! Hence the I’m never going to Notre Dame statement. That sounds pretty definitive to me, and I actually believe him on that.
G8R8U2
July 20th, 2009
1:19 pm
This “article” is little more than a copy and paste from the plethora of articles already written by other “journalists” who copied and pasted it, too. It’s almost verbatim what I read just a few days ago on the issue (which really isn’t even an issue at all). If there are thousands of other journalists out there that would love to have Shultz’s job, I sure wish they’d apply for it; because this is little more than blatant plagiarism being circulated among the lazy and poorly informed “journalists”.
As for the topic, the fact of the matter is that UF has won more games and NC’s in the last 2 decades than any other team in the country; and that’s no accident. People have known for some time that the population explosion in Florida was going to make it a recruiting mecca. In fact, Bear Bryant said some 30 or so years ago that, “If they ever get a coach down there, everybody else is going to be playing for second place.”. Nobody abandons a dynasty, right in the middle of it, to start all over and try to bring another program back to its heyday. Florida’s football program may not have the past prestige of other teams like ND; but they’re making their tradition right now, and Spurrier (123-27-1 .818 UF, 6 SECC, 1 NC) and Meyer (44-9 .830 UF, 2 SECC, 2 NC) own it… just like Rockne (105-12-5 .881 ND, 6 NC), Leahy (87-11-9 .855 ND, 4 NC) and Parseghian (95-17-4 .836 ND, 2 NC) own ND’s tradition. Everybody’s winning tradition has to start somewhere; and Florida’s just happens to have started later.
His Eminence
July 20th, 2009
1:20 pm
Catholic, smatholic. Get back to talking about football.
dawggirl
July 20th, 2009
1:20 pm
I can’t take anybody seriously that refers to themselves in the third person. The timeouts didn’t even have as much of an effect on me as that. What a self-consumed, egotistical blowhard. He could take a lesson or two from Tebow on the art of humility and graciousness.
bwell
July 20th, 2009
1:22 pm
Great article, Gatornation is falling from grace. Tebow and rest of the defense and will depart after this year and ND will fire bigboi, so yeah he will leave cause of the expectations being placed on him to win natl titles. Good bye…. oh yeah is daughter attending GT yet?
TheItalianDawg
July 20th, 2009
1:27 pm
good column! Personally, I believe he is gone as well, I live in Florida and I honestly can tell you 90% of Florida’s red necks are in Gainsville! but if Georgia beat Florida this season, I would love him to stay to see how well Florida will do in the post Tebow era. Fear the Dawgs! Georgia is rising.
Comin' Down The Track
July 20th, 2009
1:37 pm
Uh, TampaGator, I agreed with your initial argument. You’re not being particularly “… offensive in the land of the Dawg bloggers…” as probably half of us have said that even though we wish the meathead would bugger off, he’s got it made where he is. In fact, I went as far as to call on my fellow Dawgs who were on the wishful thinking train to disemBARK, put up and shut up. Beat coach Meyer with regularity and then start begging him to stay at UF.