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.
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233 comments Add your comment
BruffDawg
July 20th, 2009
8:13 pm
We danced with time left to respond and win the game. T/O were taken when the game was over. BIG difference
Kevin G smokes crack
July 20th, 2009
8:14 pm
uga 28 years of failure and still counting
BruffDawg
July 20th, 2009
8:15 pm
Urban changed his offense in order for it to work, and will have to change it again when tbow leaves.
BruffDawg
July 20th, 2009
8:16 pm
10 win seasons and 2 SEC titles are hardly what anyone ould consider failure.
dan
July 20th, 2009
8:31 pm
Leghumper
Maybe if UGA rushed the endzone last year they would have won. That’s the attitude and mentality it takes to win. Florida lost that game in 2007 for all the wrong reasons. Florida fans piss and moan about Tebow being hurt, which is true to an extent. But Florida underestimated UGA going into that game, thinking they could gut out a victory over them. I gurantee that they thought ” eh it’s UGA, we don’t have to be at 100% to beat them”, and then they got exposed against a determined opponent.
The fact of the matter is Florida didn’t show up to play in that game, and they got exactly what they deserved, which is an ass whipping. The reverse was true this past year when Florida showed up and UGA didn’t.
But see here’s the thing: the endzone dance > timeouts. The endzone dance was a ballsy move and if UGA lost they would have looked stupid. But they won, so it was ace. The timeouts on the other hand weren’t ballsy at all. Passive aggressive maybe. But victory was already in hand. I didn’t think they were that big of a deal honestly. The Demps juke out was a lot worse IMO, but if UGA is going to suck then they get what they deserve.
BruffDawg
July 20th, 2009
8:43 pm
Does anyone have the 2009 media guide?
uga# 1 fan
July 20th, 2009
8:49 pm
I never been to a uga game muchless find athens with a gps but i do buy my uga gear at walmart. my dawgs will win it all in 09. they will beat those gayturds and yellow jackets.my dawgs will win the sec title and nc title too in 09.mark it down and book it. i been playing this same broken record for 30 years.go dawgs. meow meow
Urban said
July 20th, 2009
8:59 pm
Mutts game is over when I say it is over. TIME OUT! (legal too) …Mark Richt, UGA players and fans had to look at the clock whenever a time out was called.THE PAIN AND EMBARRASSMENT STILL HURTS TODAY. GATORS 49 GEORGIA 10
georgia dawgs
July 20th, 2009
9:04 pm
go to georgiadawgs.com click football then far right click media then click media guide 09 in pdf.
RandyRedBlood
July 20th, 2009
9:28 pm
Hey Urb…. sounds like you hear a Dawg biting right on your a!!
Dawg dominance is here!!!! Looks bleak Gay..tors!!
BKbroila
July 20th, 2009
9:32 pm
Georgia fans do not hope that Urban Meyer leaves….we hope he stays. You guys should hope Tebow stays on another couple years. Oh yeah, this is it…better repeat! This will be your last chance for a long time. Go Dawgs,
Barry Jay
July 20th, 2009
9:39 pm
Florida fans are so afraid Meyer will leave. It is hilarious. Thanks Jeff S. for stirring the pot.
When will Georgia win something?
July 20th, 2009
9:45 pm
Well when?
Carl
July 20th, 2009
9:56 pm
How can you compare a desire to leave after two national championships in three years (four years total) to a desire to leave Bowling Green and Utah.
Forgetting the fact that it is Florida which is the top recruiting state in the nation and where it is 80 degrees in late January early February- if Meyer had won two NC at Bowling Green and had the amenities that he has at Florida that are sorely lacking in Indiana, he would have stayed longer at Bowling Green also.
randyredblood smokes crack too
July 20th, 2009
9:59 pm
georgia only beat uf 3 times in the last 18 years? ohhhh yeah thats dominance for you mutts.HAHA 49 – 10
Flo-Ri-Duh!
July 20th, 2009
10:01 pm
As a UGA fan I hope Urban Meyer stays – he slipped in recruiting last year and UGA is out recruiting him this year…. there are signs of cracks and UGA will gain momentun after this upcoming season and will definitely beat Florida in “11 and for years to come.
KEEP MARK RICHT
July 20th, 2009
10:01 pm
HE HAS BEAT UF TWICE IN HOW MANY YRS?LOL
Flo-Ri-Duh!
July 20th, 2009
10:03 pm
Meyer is going anywhere – he has an unlimited supply of Escalades at his disposal.
don't care who uga recruits
July 20th, 2009
10:12 pm
they always choke…..richt never won nc crown or heisman @ uga….richt gets the state of florida leftovers….whoever uga recruits gators still beats them every year… if georgia recruit the so called best why can’t they win or make it to the bcs national championship game? or sec champ game? UGA OVER RATED!!!!!!
I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE
July 20th, 2009
10:15 pm
GEORGIA SUCKS !
gatordc09
July 20th, 2009
10:30 pm
It is possible Meyer may leave Florida. I think not next year, but the year after next. (Yeah, going out when you are at the top is there…we need to wait until we see florida win SEC and then NC this year…there is a good chance of it happening, not coach leaving)..
It just makes easy for Spurrier to come back and retire as a Gator coach….or J. Foley (AD) will go after Mike Shanahan (who will once again reject as he is slated to go back to NFL)…so, we have zooker #2…
Spurrier and Saban proved one thing – successful college coaches do not like coaching at NFL…their heart and soul seems to lie in college coaching..
gatordc09
July 20th, 2009
10:44 pm
I have an interesting “maybe situation”…
what if ND wins all its games and is chosen BCS #1..
What if FL wins all its games is chosen BCS #2…
If FL beats ND, would ND still want Meyer..
If ND beats FL, ofcourse not…
OR…ND goes to a BCS game, loses the game…will ND still go after Meyer?
One thing is for sure – Weiss is gone this year…and maybe belichick will hire him back in a heartbeat..
why wont ND go after pistol pete?
Mike T.
July 21st, 2009
12:15 am
Georgia sucks? Just remember Florida is Baja Georgia! 47-38-2 Dawgs!
Tom
July 21st, 2009
12:36 am
Sorry puppies, Urban is staying, More beatings to come.
Georgia is always over rated
July 21st, 2009
6:15 am
In 5 years at Florida, Urban has done more than Mark Richt 10 years at UGA. Every year Uga fans play that same broken record how they going to win it all. they fail as always. whine, cry why they didn’t do it. then they play their favorite song “wait till next year” when will georgia win a national title? Not with Mark Richt! HAHA LOSERS!
Cincinnati Gator
July 21st, 2009
6:58 am
Jeff – I suppose we could second guess everyone about everything they say or do. You for example could second guess President Obama 24/7, which in your case makes you eminently qualified, because after you’re the great Jeff Schultz. What I particularly object to is that fact that you in effect called Urban Meyer a liar, and you did it with such aplomb. Add to the fact that you’re also Nostradamus because Urban Meyer is certain to leave after one more season. Then in 2010, you’ll be able to spend your time picking apart the character of the Gator’s new football coach. You have such a fun job!
I love cold beer
July 21st, 2009
12:16 pm
Who cares where Crier goes? Yes he has won at Florida but he is a liar and a whiner. Anyone who actually cries about a endzone celebration in his book is pathetic, dont care what you have won.
Mullet
July 21st, 2009
12:18 pm
I agree, who give a fat dogs a$$ if Meyer leaves? That all you have to blog about?
chad
July 21st, 2009
6:17 pm
Jeff, this is just your lame way, to try and discredit Meyer in recruiting and help UGA.
I look forward to seeing your article the day after the game.
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Duluth Gator
July 22nd, 2009
7:30 am
I love cold beer… Anyone who cries over timeouts is pathetic
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