Meyer’s flip-flop is bad sign for Florida, opening for Georgia
There's no telling what voice Urban Meyer was listening to when he de-boarded a plane in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl.
I’ve been gone for a week. Thank you for taking in my mail. But who left Melky Cabrera on my doorstep?
There was no shortage of strange developments locally after I went underground (Javier Vazquez went where for whom?). But with college bowls underway and Georgia closing out its season tonight in the Independence Bowl, let’s stay with what’s timely.
Florida just got vulnerable.
If Urban Meyer was a player — effectively flip-flopping on a retirement decision — many of us would be second-guessing his level of motivation and commitment for next season. Committed people don’t make emotional decisions. Committed people are driven 24/7 and don’t flip-flop. That’s one thing that makes Meyer a great head coach, much like the guy he lost to (Nick Saban) in the SEC championship game.
No, Meyer isn’t a player. He’s a head coach. That makes what just happened worse. A player changing his mind on retirement can still sometimes get himself up for game week and squeeze out one more season. To some degree, his sudden flaws can be covered up by teammates around him. A college football head coach is always on the clock: recruiting, coaching, game-planning, guiding, leading. There is no escape.
It says here Florida fans should be worried, and Georgia fans should be happy. Why? Because Meyer isn’t so much on the clock now as he is looking at it.
There was nothing wrong with his initial announcement to step away from coaching because clearly he had given the decision a lot of thought. But everything is wrong with his decision to come back because it came out of emotion.
Don’t misunderstand. I’m not projecting the Gators’ program is going to implode. But odds are, the Gators take a significant step back. A program led by an emotionally drained head coach who’s preoccupied with concerns about his health and quality of life is one that is in danger of losing its edge.
On top of that, the Gators: 1) Are losing quarterback Tim Tebow after the Sugar Bowl (you might’ve heard something about this); 2) Lost defensive coordinator Charlie Strong (who has taken the head coaching job at Louisville; 3) Lost offensive coordinator Dan Mullen last year (he went to Mississippi State); 4) Now will be run in the interim by offensive coordinator Steve Addazio, whose offense relatively sputtered for much of this season and hasn’t been a head coach since high school.
Some hits can be overcome if a determined and resolute head coach is running things. But that clearly isn’t the case.
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
548 comments Add your comment
Even Independence Bowl can tell us something about Georgia | Jeff Schultz
December 28th, 2009
1:28 pm
[...] But I’m here to tell you that tonight’s game does mean something for Georgia’s season. Besides, it’s worth watching if for no other reason than more updates from the minds of Urban Meyer. [...]
Time
December 28th, 2009
1:30 pm
Got to love the Techies and their neverending array of “UGA grads running gas stations” type of banter. I didn’t even go to UGA, I went to a lesser, more party oriented type of school in state, and I’ve got two Tech grads working for me.
But the good news is, all the Tech people should be in heaven hanging out at some of the more “rainbow” colored bars down there in South Beach.
Bobbi Dud
December 28th, 2009
1:32 pm
I agree with Sam Adams! Coaching football is an easy job with only the made-up stress you make for yourself! Stress is not having money to pay bills, food and everything that a four million a year salaried person doesn’t have to worry about! Be a soldier, a cop, a nurse or all the others who have to work and scrap a living! Yeah try living on faith and give that four million away to charities and maybe you might get a little respect! Man up you sissy!!!!!!!
Just to point out...
December 28th, 2009
1:33 pm
to our friend ‘$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl’ – ok nerd…you DO KNOW that bowl proceeds +are SPLIT among conference members…yes? You realize this? So your bowl payout is higher individually, but collectively the ACC’s is less. (i know you nerds can do fractions) Also…how many BCS games has GT played in? Ever? Oh…that’s right…this is the FIRST!!
Collect your thoughts, grab your calculator, take a few breaths from the paper bag you use when a GIRL approaches to speak to you at your drafting table, and realize that you’ve had one (very) good season…which will be extremely difficult to repeat, as the teams in your conference start to catch up to your cute, little, high-school, trick-play offense. Enjoy your one season of relevance, b/c it will be short lived.
that is all.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
December 28th, 2009
1:39 pm
When they told me they were going to tattoo “We Run This State” on the running backs’ arms I was apprehensive because I am still new on the job. I realized a lot of people from Tech and the SEC schools would be joking a lot about that. I did talk them out of black helmets again. We’re going to be seeing pictures of those black helmets for a long time. Surprise uniforms can be effective though. We have a surprise uniform today that should really take A&M out of their game.
Call it Like It Is
December 28th, 2009
1:40 pm
Total BS Jeff as the Gators own GA and will continue to out recruit and win when it comes to these things.
Hell, we will take Spurrier back!
Enough Said!
Jim
December 28th, 2009
1:40 pm
When I first heard the news about Urban Meyer’s health problems my thoughts were for him to get better. But as I watched the events unfold and his interview on ESPN I saw the old Ubran Meyer who called time with seconds to go in a game that was well beyond reach. I think the boy is really worried he is going to get a worse whipping than Alabama gave them and he is grasping at straws to motivate his players anyway he can. Hopefully I am wrong and if he really has problems they can be corrected and he can go on coaching but the whole thing smells like a rat to me.
Gatorgirl
December 28th, 2009
1:41 pm
UA Alum92…I will definitely keep that in mind!! I will be with a few other family members and we would love a place to go have some fun before the game. Thank you so much for the offer and maybe we’ll run into each other next year!
Bamma Jamma
December 28th, 2009
1:43 pm
Meyer’s trying to find a way to explain the blowout loss to Bama in the SEC title game, and setting up for an excuse for the beatdown he will get next year in Tuscaloosa. Bama beats Texas easy for title #13, then wins another one in 2010 (warning to SEC fans: Bama’s 2010 team will be better than the 09 team—bank on it.)
Paul Johnson
December 28th, 2009
1:47 pm
I’m still trying to figure out how Willie Martinez outcoached me this year. Sure., we won the ACC, but we couldn’t beat the worst Ga. team in 20 years. Just damn!
William
December 28th, 2009
1:48 pm
What is the difference between the Independence Bowl and the Rose Bowl (inconsequential bowl)?
Jeff Schultz
December 28th, 2009
1:48 pm
Call it Like It is — I’ll pass it along to Spurrier that you would take him back. It’ll make his day.
Jeff Schultz
December 28th, 2009
1:51 pm
Russ, The Temp: What are you going to do now when you’re out of a job. And will you still get free tickets when a new Uga is named?
Gatorgirl
December 28th, 2009
1:52 pm
Bamma Jamma–It is fans like you who make fans look so bad. How about showing a little respect to a great coach. And please don’t bank on winning a NC in 2010–as Florida I’m sure can tell you, winning back to back is no easy task. Don’t think Alabama will roll it’s way to another title that easy.
Gatorgirl
December 28th, 2009
1:54 pm
also Ua Alum92..I am a college student so I hope you don’t mind–I will be other adults though so no worries!! haha!!
Jeff Schultz
December 28th, 2009
1:54 pm
Gators take a hit — “Everything Jeff says is true. The Gators will not come close to matching this year’s success. At most they’ll only beat Georgia by 17 points next year.”
Gotta say, that was pretty funny.
Jeff Schultz
December 28th, 2009
1:56 pm
Carty Seay: I didn’t make the trip to Shreveport . . . I’m happy to say.
Gatorgirl
December 28th, 2009
1:57 pm
haha that was pretty funny.
I have to ask Jeff, in what ways do you see us really going down as a program? Just recruiting takes a huge hit? Or just the interim coach situation?
Jeff Schultz
December 28th, 2009
1:58 pm
Here we go again — Thinking about it.
UA Alum92
December 28th, 2009
1:59 pm
Gatorgirl, no worries. More the merrier! Always WAY too much food, drinks, etc.
Bamma Jamma, I disagree about Meyer, NCG, and next year. I hope we beat Texas, but the Tide has to stay focused. When we waltz in expecting an easy win, it gets ugly quickly, e.g. Utah last year.
Offensively, we should be pretty deep next year, but we’re losing seven senior starters on Defense plus Rolando. We do get Hightower back, though.
The monster challenge next year is going to be how many SEC teams we play coming off bye weeks. Four out of our five SEC West opponents will be coming off byes as well as UT and USC for a total of six teams! No one else in the SEC has to play more than one other SEC school coming off a bye. IF we make it back to the SECCG next year, it will be damn near miraculous.
John
December 28th, 2009
1:59 pm
The only thing wrong in Athens is the coach. He can’t or won’t control his thugs.
Jeff Schultz
December 28th, 2009
1:59 pm
Tim — Thanks. Good to be back. Maybe next time I take a week off, I’ll just post my cell phone number so you guys can call me at any time. … Or maybe not.
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
December 28th, 2009
2:03 pm
As a Ga fan I hope for nothing less than a full recovery for Coach Meyer. He has kicked our butts on the field and I don’t like him for that but I wish him a quick recovery and a return to the sideline. I do have respect for what he has done at Fla and Utah, he is a ball coach pure and simple. I for one will keep him and his family in my prayers. Now the Gators……not so much
Gatorgirl
December 28th, 2009
2:05 pm
Jeff, have you heard any inside sources talk about big recruits decommit? I haven’t been able to get much recently. Do you see this really take a hit in a few weeks?
UA Alum92
December 28th, 2009
2:06 pm
Gatorgirl, no worries. More the merrier. Always WAY too much food, etc. My wife’s cousins are Florida grads so you wouldn’t be the only ones.
Ed
December 28th, 2009
2:12 pm
The Meyer story is just weird. He changes his mind because of a single “spirited practice?” So, if the practice had just been average, then his status would still be “resigned” rather than “leave of absence?” What if the practice had been terrible, with no spirit at all – maybe Meyer would be finished forever with the game of football. Never has so much ridden on one practice.
If that makes sense to anyone, help me out here. It’s more likely that UF gave him a sweet incentive to remain the head coach at least through signing day in Feb.
Also, there are some seriously deep pockets among Bull Gators. It’s possible that a contract renewal that is even bigger than Mack Brown’s might be in the works. Wouldn’t surprise me at all to Meyer come back this fall “refreshed” and armed with a new $6 mill per year contract.
Alan
December 28th, 2009
2:13 pm
“$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl” I beg you, please get a life. I know you are probably some 19 little nerd who sits in his dorm all day who does not have a girlfriend but you really need some help. Please do me a favor and look at UGA’s bowls since 2002 vs. Tech’s. This is Tech’s first major bowl since when? Wow.
Gatorgirl
December 28th, 2009
2:13 pm
That’s great to hear. I will definitely write down the area and save it until October! We would love to be able to have somewhere to go while there–as we will be quite outnumbered! When I get there I’ll just remind you that I’m gatorgirl!!
SouthKnoxvillian
December 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
Schultz and most of you yoyos would never say it but this is a huge opportunity for Kiffin as well. This will change the whole landscape of the east.
The good news for Meyer is he’s finally getting some press. If you check Google Labs, rookie coach Kiffin has TWICE the hits of Meyer over the last 12 months. Meyer has a decent spike at the end with the SECCG and the pseudo-retirement but Kiffin is still 2x as interesting this year.
Worst Georgia team since '96: 30
December 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
Enter your comments here
Hey Tampa Gator..
December 28th, 2009
2:16 pm
Build yourself up buddy and keep talking about how good Addazio was in high school…us Georgia fans thought Joe Cox was gonna be ok based on what he did in high school too. KleenexBoy and everybody else is gone and now your beloved “Legend” is walking too. It’s about to be back to normal at the University of Since 1991
Ed
December 28th, 2009
2:22 pm
Worst Georgia team since ‘96: 30
Tech’s best team since ‘90: 24
Man, that’s gotta hurt.
I agree with Bobbi Dud and Sam Adams: how much stress does one really have when their job is to get incredibly rich coaching football? Once these guys sign a big contract, they can pretty much be lousy at their jobs and do no worse than to get fired into a life of luxury and leisure. Their main concern at that point is a bruised ego and maybe boredom, but if they have any personality at all they can usually land a color commentator or studio analyst job somewhere. Sorry, that’s not stress as most people know it.
Jeff Schultz
December 28th, 2009
2:23 pm
Southknoxvillian — Agreed. It’s a bonus for everybody.
Jeff Schultz
December 28th, 2009
2:25 pm
Gatorgirl — So far nobody has jumped.
Not Disappointed
December 28th, 2009
2:25 pm
I hope Urban gets his health in order. Mental and physical.
Ramblin Wreck!
Not Disappointed
December 28th, 2009
2:26 pm
Jeff, I’m disappointed you didn’t blog the day of the news. What do you have to safe for yourself. You’re one of the big Guns for ajc? Oh…….”Happy Holidays!”
Paul From Milton
December 28th, 2009
2:33 pm
I just don’t get how this is going to work. I used to suffer from stress related ailments so severe that people called 911 because they thought I was having a heart attack. This isn’t something where you can take a month’s vacation and declare yourself cured. It stays with you all your life and you have to make major changes in how you live your life and how you eliminate or manage those issues that cause you stress and anxiety. You can work long hours in a stressful situation without suffering attacks if you can keep a perspective. Listening to his press conference and subsequent interview on ESPN showed me how far he really has to go. You can’t fool your body, it is telling him that he needs to make some major changes and unless he truly devotes the time and effort needed to do that, these attacks will get worse and more frequent. I made the changes and it has been 20 years since I have had a severe attack, but every now and again my body gives me a reminder that I am not managing some issues as well as I need to and I have to reset myself. I wish him the best and I hope he really does put his family first.
Joe Fan
December 28th, 2009
2:35 pm
Mark it down GT will win a National Championship before GA even gets close enough to sniff one and FL will continue to beat GA like a drumb. Only GA fans could revel in the glory of going 7-5 and getting to play in Shreveport on a Monday afternoon.
WTH is this?
December 28th, 2009
2:35 pm
Thought this blog was about Urban???? Seems to be he is either 1) a drama queen, 2) Nuts, or 3) both…. still a football genius I guess….maybe CMR should take a leave of absence as well…Urban sets the standards….
Get Real
December 28th, 2009
2:40 pm
Joe Fan, are you serious? Do you really believe what you just wrote or are you high? Come on man, Tech is not and will never be a football powerhouse. You do have a good coach, I will give you that. But do you, in your right mind, think that if something a little bit better comes along that he won’t jump ship? Dude, you want to get onto Georgia fans for us going to the Independence Bowl when any other year for you besides this year and the independence Bowl would be a major accomplishment for Tech. Get real, you may win 10-11 games every 5 or 6 years but realistically, you are not in the same league with the SEC and we proved that on November 28
Will Hill
December 28th, 2009
2:40 pm
Oh no, we might as well not even show up in Jacksonville next year! We are just terrified of the Dawgs. Newflash – Brantley was HEAVILY recruited by UGA and he would be your QB this year and next year………….too bad. You got Cox and then probably a guy who hasnt played in a game in almost two years……..in high school………against high school defenses. On second thought I think we will show up, what will be the gimmick this time, those black helmets or maybe a totally no-class endzone celebration?
BUZZ
December 28th, 2009
2:43 pm
Dang, the Russ was rough on my stinger. I was so excited to go the big bowl game that we get to go to because we are in the same conference as Miami and FSU. Then Russ stomped my pathetic azz all over this Bobby Dudd field. I hate you Russ, go back to Savannah and leave us alone.
Billy D.
December 28th, 2009
2:43 pm
Hey Urbie, you should check out the Orlando Magic, they’ll hire you for 10 minutes and then let you can go back to UF! This way you can keep a paycheck the whole time plus it’s how we roll in Gainesville!
SouthKnoxvillian
December 28th, 2009
2:43 pm
Schultz, I guess you aren’t a yoyo. Florida columnists are quoting the recruits who are a lock for Florida. The rest of the country knows that losing a head coach, even if it’s only temporary, will steer recruits to other schools. That’s the biggest no-brainer in the history of the Earth.
Get Real
December 28th, 2009
2:43 pm
Will Hill, tell us again about how Florida invented football in 1991. I’m too young to remember. Man you guys are the greatest thing since sliced bread.
how2fish
December 28th, 2009
2:54 pm
Joe Fan we were close enough to taste and smell it in 07 numbnuts..oh and even as bad as we have been in a decade we beat the hell out of the ACC “Champs”…
DawgsownGA
December 28th, 2009
2:58 pm
TECHS LAST 8 BOWLS- Peach, Humanitarian, Gator, Emerald, Champs, Humanitarian, Silicone, Seattle….UGA’S Last 8- Independence, Cap 1, Sugar, Chik Fil a, Sugar, Outback, Capitol 1, Sugar. Dont blame us for not settling for mediocrity like tech does year in and year out. We travel, we just expect more than the Independence Bowl from our Dawgs. We expect BCS bowls every year, however i understand the excitement of Tech squeezing into one if your a tech fan
Bama Man
December 28th, 2009
2:59 pm
Will HIll, are you still crying from that Bama beat down? You are so yesterday!!!!
Joe Fan
December 28th, 2009
3:01 pm
You are right how2fish, I forgot about 07. I really, honestly thought Reggie Ball would deliver us to the promised land and if he can’t do it we might as well bring back Chan and OWN Georgia State Univ (provided we don’t actually have to play them on the field!!)
mgdawg
December 28th, 2009
3:04 pm
I think this “indefinite leave of absence” could hurt UF recruiting more then retiring. If I was a recruit there are a few things about this that would worry me. First, there is no guarantee that meyer will be back. Second, lets just say he comes back in a month or two, maybe a month or two after that he rethinks his decision and retires. Now you are talking about going into spring practice or summer workouts without a head coach. Finally, lets say that he comes back and stays for next season, who’s to say he doesn’t leave then? He’s a great coach, but if he is physically unable to handle stress then he’s in trouble. If you’re a recruit do you want to go to a school that has this high of a probability of a coaching change?
I think what the guy needs to do is go ahead and retire, I think that will help uf more in the long run. After a year or so off, get an offensive coordinator job at a big time school with a big time head coach. There will be less stress, but you still get to do what you like to do and you can still get some good money. I think he would have to go somewhere with a proven big time defensively minded head coach, otherwise there would be talk of him taking over. Just imagine if he went to alabama, got about 1 million a year, and all he had to do was work with the offense while saban worked on the defense. It would be dangerous.