Florida fans: Stop whining about Meyer going to Ohio State
Before Florida fans complain, they should remember Urban Meyer won this thing for them -- twice. (AP photo)
(Updated: 10:35 a.m.)
Urban Meyer just went from savior to Satan in Gainesville. Sorry, but did Florida fans really expect he was going to spend the rest of his life sitting in a climate-controlled studio and planting pansies?
Welcome to reality, Gator fans. You’re apparently the last one to figure out that Meyer is no less disingenuous than any other college coach, and he might be worse.
The former Florida coach reportedly has taken the head coaching job at Ohio State, confirming the worst kept secret in sports. Kudos to the blog sites ElevenWarriors and SportsByBrooks, which were way ahead of this story on Nov. 18.
(For what it’s worth: Meyer’s agent denied to cbssports.com’s Dennis Dodd that Meyer has accepted the job. But at this point, we’re probably talking semantics.)
Gator fans are upset. They believe Meyer betrayed them, and, well, maybe he did just a little. They believe he was dishonest, and, well, maybe he was just a little.
But Meyer won two BCS and two SEC championships. He went 65-15 in six seasons, resuscitating a program that had slipped under Ron Zook following Steve Spurrier’s departure. Urban Meyer owes Florida fans nothing.
My pal, George Diaz, of the Orlando Sentinel had an excellent column on this and he was right on point when he wrote: “In Columbus and other Ohio outposts, Urban is a saint. In Gainesville and neighboring communities, he is a sinner. Labels are funny. If Meyer had quit on Ohio State and was returning to coach at Florida, the sentiments would be flip-flopped.”
Now, about Meyer: My belief is that the health scare he suffered nearly two years ago was legit. It probably freaked out his family more than him but that’s the way most coaches are wired. He resigned one day and un-resigned the next, saying he would take only a leave of absence.
The 2010 season was a mess. Meyer couldn’t be as driven (psychotic?) as he wanted to be. The fact Florida slipped (4-4 in the SEC after going 32-9 in the previous nine years) didn’t help. He was worn down. He wasn’t having fun. He needed a break. So he quit. That’s what I believe.
One popular conspiracy theory: Meyer left because he realized he had made some recruiting mistakes and the Gators would be mediocre this season. That could’ve played a role. But if Florida had been better in 2010, maybe he wouldn’t have seemed as worn down, either.
Regardless, the “I just want to spend more time with my family” excuse never washed with anybody. That’s not to say Meyer doesn’t love his wife and children but that never seemed the No. 1 motivating factor in him quitting.
If he really felt that, he wouldn’t be back now. What, after 12 months, he got all of the hugs out of his system?
Meyer just needed a break. Now he returns to Ohio State, where he was a grad assistant for two years. He is a Ohio native. This is as close to a dream job as he will get. (My guess is “dream job” will be mentioned at his introductory news conference.)
None of this means he is making the right decision. If he starts suffering from chest pains again, you will have your answer.
As far as how this affects his family, that’s between them. But nobody should be stunned that Meyer is going to be back on a sideline next season. And if any Florida fans have hard feelings about it, maybe they should take a walk past the trophy case.
By Jeff Schultz
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401 comments Add your comment
Give me a break
November 28th, 2011
11:46 am
The BCS game will have the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the nation play regardless of how much whining the dog fans do about 2007. Just think, if you had beaten BS and SC you would be not only playing for the SEC title but also a chance to win a NC.
murfdawg
November 28th, 2011
11:50 am
As a true Dawg fan, “It is better to have played for the SEC Championship and lost, than to have never played at all.” If LSU wins so what? Nobody else can beat them.
I see the SECCG as a reward for the Dawgs for winning 10 straight games. LSU and Houston are the only other teams in the country to win 10 straight. Also, we are very young. stay thirsty my friends.
UGA man, class of 71 & 73
November 28th, 2011
11:51 am
Here is where UGA is right now. On a % basis, UGA will lose to LSU and end up in a very nice bowl, win it and then be pointed toward the future. NEXT YEAR ought to be UGA’s year and yes, the schedule will be tougher but UGA will ALSO BE TOUGHER, unlike last September.
UGA should be very happy knowing that wea re headed in the right direction AND that the next two years could offer some excitement. ONe exmaple is that UGA will be 3 DEEP in QUALITY QBs with Murray, Mason and LeMay.
Our D line and 80% of the D will be back and we have some red shirt O linemen ready to contribute AND we have good coaches all around the ball with a system and coaching style in place.
UGA signs two very high quality running backs and they can augment Richard Samuels, Ken Malcome and Crowell and then UGA will be a LOAD.
5150 UOAD
November 28th, 2011
11:52 am
IF uga beats LSU, then LSU will have just 1 LOSS. UGA will still have 2 losses. LSU is still the better team.
murfdawg
November 28th, 2011
11:53 am
Hey Rolltide,
Do you still have those STRIPED tee shirts from being in the NCAA jailhouse for five years? And how much are the Mike Price shirts selling for now?
Give me a break
November 28th, 2011
11:53 am
So the dogs were the best team at the end of 2007. I think LSU the 2007 National Champions would disagree. But at least GA was the Pre-Season #1 ranked team in 2008 but we all know how that worked out.
ROLLTIDE
November 28th, 2011
11:56 am
@ Murfdawg,
That’s funny!!!! Yea I still got all of them how about you? Seems ya’ll had a few hit the slammer here recently too. Mike Price – LOL!!!! They are a collectors item now!!
D Fence
November 28th, 2011
11:57 am
With your recent 6-6 record and with Will “Just another Orgeron” Muchamp as head coach I’d be nervous too Gators. Couldnt have happened to a finer bunch with Urban shoving it in your face.
PreyDawg
November 28th, 2011
11:58 am
What is happening to me??!! I have agreed right down the line with Schultz for like ten articles in a row??!! I’m melting….meeeelllllttttiiiinnnggggg….
LawDawg
November 28th, 2011
11:59 am
I find it interesting that everyone just assumes that OSU with Meyer will be great. I’ll believe it when I see it (assuming Meyer does not die of a heart attack on the sidelines during the first game). Between coming sanctions and a lousy area to recruit in, I will not be surprised if Meyer does not even sniff the success he had at UF.
That said, it is ridiculous that UF fans feel “betrayed.” Even if he had not taken a year off, you can not blame a guy for wanting to coach where he is from.
FlorGator
November 28th, 2011
12:01 pm
As a life long Gator fan, and a graduate with about 30 Gator family members….I wish Urban the best and thank him for serving UF……..He’s a great Coach with a great family and will do well wherever he Coaches.
And yes, every Dawg will have their day…UGA is having theirs now and I wish UGA the best in the SEC Championship game!
PreyDawg
November 28th, 2011
12:02 pm
As to this weeks game. If Samuel could come back and run like he did against Florida it would change everything. That is a lot to ask of a kid that just had ankle surgery though. Les Miles seems downright cocky after watching film of us. Richt seems nervous. That makes me nervous. I don’t think either coach believes that our big soft linemen can block their front 7. If they cannot, we get blown out. If they can, we will win the game.
I wonder if as many DAWGS go to the LSU boards and Alabama boards as kitty cats and pachaderms show up here to talk their smack? I bet not. We are too busy supporting our team.
SSIgator
November 28th, 2011
12:05 pm
Jeff -
Not whinning about anything. Meyer did what he was paid to do (and he did it very well) which was to rebuild UF after the Zooker disaster. Anyone who follows college sports and thinks that coaches are loyal to a fault to the institutions that hire them were either born yesterday or the day before. And anyone on this site that has had only one job in their work career and did not look for new opportunities to build upon their previous successes is either a government employee or works in a family owned business.
PreyDawg
November 28th, 2011
12:05 pm
I wonder if this many DAWG fans go to LSU and Bama blogs and talk all this trash. I am thinking not. I am thinking their fans just want to do that instead of support their own team.
The game comes down to our O-line versus their front 7. I want to have a good feeling but I dont. We have only run blocked well twice all year, SC and Auburn. I think Miles and Richt have seen this on tape. Miles seems cocky, Richt seems nervous after their Sunday film watching. I am afraid our big line is soft. Hope they prove me wrong.
ATLien
November 28th, 2011
12:10 pm
I see we’ve got a 5150 idiot sighting. Go back to your HS blog, err I mean Tech blog.
I could care less what the BCS numbers say. If I believed those numbers, I’d believe it when I hear a politician talking about integrity.
Again. If UGA beats LSU next week. That will be eleven, count em, eleven straight wins, a victory over the current and perceived best team in the country and the championship of the very best conference in this country. I don’t care if you’re a Bama homer, or one of the fire Richt loons, or a total loser of a tech fan…but 11 straights, beat #1 team in last game, SEC champion looks like the resume of a NC contender to me.
Heisenberg
November 28th, 2011
12:11 pm
I hate the idea of a Bama/LSU rematch. But if Boise St, Oregon, or OK St had a kicker that could make a FG when it mattered this would not be happening.
I would love to see UGA win Saturday not only for the Dawgs but the chaos it would cause. Imagine Bame/LSU playing for the mythical championship when niether one is conference champ. Maybe that would be enough to settle this on the field via the Mandel plan (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/stewart_mandel/11/17/mandel-plan-bcs-aq-revision/index.html)
poopdawg
November 28th, 2011
12:12 pm
Classy post FlorGator.
ROLLTIDE
November 28th, 2011
12:12 pm
@ ATLien,
It is what it is! And what it ain’t is UGA playing for a NC win or lose. Maybe next year!!!
Banned Poster
November 28th, 2011
12:15 pm
I agree that LSU and Bama are the two best teams in the country. However, the main excuse for a lack of a playoff is that it would dilute the regular season in college football which most say is the best in sports. Ok, well if that is true, then why is the current system going to allow a rematch of a game played just several weeks ago? Bama had their chance and lost. The nation was told back in 2006 that rematches won’t happen in the BCS and in 2007 we were told that you have to win your conference or at least play for your conference championship to be considered for the BCS NC game…..at least that is what the “World-wide leader” told us back then. However, today that same “World-wide leader” is telling us the complete opposite and it is coming from the mouth of the same person that told us these things back in 2006 and 2007 – Kirk Herbstreit. So I have finally figured out that ESPN and Kirk Herbstreit now own the BCS and decide who plays where and who is ranked. ESPN lacks any principles and engages in cronyism to protect their profits, which the BCS directly affects. The BCS should move Bama permanently to the #3 position and allow another team to play itself into the #2 spot this weekend – either Ok. State or Virginia Tech. Bama should be getting ready for a trip to New Orleans, but it should be to the Sugar Bowl instead.
riggo
November 28th, 2011
12:19 pm
When he start getting his butt whoop.. he’s gonna QUIT
bull-gator
November 28th, 2011
12:19 pm
What Gator fan really cares anyway? He was just another rent a coach. It was only a matter of time. He was on the down hill slide at UF anyway. He should have stayed “retired” after the 2009 season, but his super sized ego wouldn’t let him stay quit. His recruiting was head scratching at best. Perfect example: recruited Brantley to run his spread offense. What a joke.
Just My Opinion
November 28th, 2011
12:19 pm
All National Titles in college football are MYTHICAL ALL I SAY
Note to Florida Fans
November 28th, 2011
12:21 pm
Folks, Urban Meyer doesn’t owe you guys anything. He doesn’t have to answer to you, nor does he have to justify his actions. You’re just mad that you have a hot head for a head coach and a guy that should be on “Biggest Loser” as your OC. Get over yourself already. Meyer is from Ohio, and it is a great job. This is America, not Russia in 80’s. Meyer can do what he wants to do so get a life all you mad Florida fans.
MiamiDawg
November 28th, 2011
12:22 pm
what else would be urban cryer’s legacy other than a bunch of jean short wearing cry babies?
ROLLTIDE
November 28th, 2011
12:22 pm
We have 13 MYTHICAL Championships!!!! Anybody?Anyone?
5150 UOAD has sour grapes
November 28th, 2011
12:23 pm
Why are you still talking smack? Didn’t your little Jackets just lose yet again to UGA? Richt OWNS GA Tech, and I mean he absolutely OWNS you guys. Deal with it.
Randy Schwartz
November 28th, 2011
12:25 pm
Hey I’m a huge Gator fan but anyone who wins us 2 National Champions and has allowed us to kick our rivals butts-including UGA- gets a pass with me-I wish him the best.
Heisenberg
November 28th, 2011
12:26 pm
How many years did Meyer have on his contract when he resigned? If UF just let him walk with time still left, they got nothing to complain about. Unless they want to complain about UF officials not telling him he can quit coaching Gators but will not be allowed to coach anywhere else until the term is up. Maybe someone out there knows more about how that went down then I do.
ATLien
November 28th, 2011
12:27 pm
@RollTide – I agree it’s not going to happen. But, that doesn’t mean it’s right now does it. Again, 11 straight, victory over #1, SEC Champion. For the love of god, I listened to Herbstriet and the ESPN cronies talk up Stanford or OSU to play in the game should LSU lose. I’m sorry, UGA throttles either of them. Period, end of story. Don’t want to hear about 2 losses either. We’re being penalized for having the SACK to play the game that noone else will step up to play against Boise in week 1.
Again Bama fans, you should just keep quiet and hope the media doesn’t change it’s mind on the subject of conference champs and the NC title game…again.
realitycheck
November 28th, 2011
12:28 pm
Anyone who pays actual attention to Gator football knows how one dimensional the offense was this year, primarily because John Brantley just wasn’t good enough. Even when healthy he made bonehead plays. Rainey and Demps were great but they were predictable, take it inside, bounce to the outside. With Brantley’s abysmal passing, they were totally predictable. Muschamp will do fine, the team just needs time to come together. After all, 5/6 of the Gators losses came at the hands of Top 25 teams, including back to back losses against LSU and Bama.
Bill
November 28th, 2011
12:35 pm
I guess he is tired of his family or just a liar. Money always entices football whores.
Mark (another one)
November 28th, 2011
12:36 pm
There is no rule that says you have to win your conference to play for a NC. In fact, the rules allow for the fact that two teams that didn’t win their conference could in face each other for the NC. See BCS rules 1 and 2. The question becomes does LSU stay ranked in the top 2 should they lose to UGA. Simple. And, the voters will decide.
If LSU loses (unlikely but possible), they should still be ranked either 2 or 3. If enough voters put them in as number 2, and remember this puts them behind the team they beat, they will still qualify for the national championship bowl. Ok St. isn’t going to jump them and neither is two loss Stanford in the computer polls. So, its up to the voters.
The best the Dawgs can hope for is to win against LSU and play in the Sugar Bowl. With our luck, if they do, they will probably get to play Houston (think Hawaii).
As for UM going to Ohio, I understand. There are 6 million reasons each year. He’s had a year to relax and recharge, and now he can see if he can get Ohio straightened out. Who knows, maybe a Big 10 team will finally win against an SEC team.
ATLien
November 28th, 2011
12:38 pm
@Dawghater – you sir are the lowest of the lowlifes. You make guys like 5150 look classy. Nice job.
Big Albany Dawg
November 28th, 2011
12:41 pm
Don’t laugh UGA fans, I think Richt is next. But I don’t think he’ll come back.
Mike
November 28th, 2011
12:42 pm
Good column, Jeff. I think UF fans need to get over it. Meyer was not going to take them back to the same heights without Dan Mullen and Charlie Strong. UF’s offense without Mullen was a shadow of its former self even with Tebow. Strong leaving as well had an affect on the defense. If Meyer couldn’t replace those two properly, UF was going no where under him better than where they are going under Muschamp.
Which brings me to Ohio St. Meyer has always had Dan Mullen in tow running his offense. He doesn’t have him to lean on anymore. I just don’t see him doing as well in Columbus as he did in UF and Utah without Mullen. Meyer had never stayed anywhere that long…at least not long enough to go through the often painful process of replacing top assistants.
Dumb**s UGA Fans
November 28th, 2011
12:42 pm
Don’t worry about any chaos UGA fans. You will go down by at least 4 TD’s on Saturday. I cannot believe that you are not even a top 10 team and you think you have a prayer.
Dumb**s UGA Fans
November 28th, 2011
12:43 pm
….and then when you lose….you will calling for Richt’s firing again.
Athens Tider
November 28th, 2011
12:46 pm
Gosh, we’re sure getting a lot of whining from probably the fifth best team in the SEC. Nobody in their right mind thinks Ga could beat LSU, Ala, or Arkansas (just your good luck you got to skip all of them this year), and you proved that you couldn’t beat South Carolina. I think you should thank your lucky stars for your lucky schedule and be glad you won ten games while you watch the big boys play for all the marbles.
Mike
November 28th, 2011
12:48 pm
@Mark – there wasn’t a rule in 2006 or 2007 when Michigan and UGA were held out of the championship either. Just like Bama this year, Michigan was regarded as the second best team in the nation, dominating everyone but losing to #1 Ohio St. They were voted out to keep a rematch from happening. UGA in 2007 was widely regarded as the best team and hadnt even lost to LSU. THe were voted down heavily in the polls because they didnt have a conference title.
The 2006 decision turned out to be correct as UF whipped OSU. The 2007, not so much as OSU got whipped again. Point being, saying Bama is the only team that can beat LSU is presumption at best. As 2006 showed, you dont know what happens until you play the game.
No one is arguing the BCS rules. We’re just pointing out that the press and poll voters made it an unwritten rule, and now they seem content to go back on that all for TV rating and perceived Power Programs. If UGA beats LSU, by recent voter/media decisions, they should play for the NC.
Troy
November 28th, 2011
12:49 pm
Meyer left because his boy Timmy left….plain and simple. And seeing what happended to the Hillbillies and now the “Holy Gators” I am LMAO…..could not happen to a better place.
BG
November 28th, 2011
12:50 pm
Meyer had a girlfriend at UF and his wife gave him no choice but to leave UF. Meyer left a sinking ship at UF and his ego would not let him hang around.
Really
November 28th, 2011
12:51 pm
what you see here is envy and jealousy. The SEC has won 5 straight BCS titles and has the chance to win it’s sixth but the list of winning teams does not include the GA bulldogs and for a fan base who are legends in their own minds it just eats at them.
Mike
November 28th, 2011
12:52 pm
Just thought I would point out a couple of things:
1) UGA is the only SEC school Les Miles has a losing record against (1-2). That one win came on a horrible A. J. Green celebration penalty.
2) In 2005, no one gave UGA a chance to beat LSU either. UGA drilled them in the dome. UGA matches up well with LSU. They always have.
3) UGA’s defense is the best defense LSU will face outside of Tuscaloosa. They will likely keep things close.
This is going to be a far better game than people think.
Dumb**s UGA Fans
November 28th, 2011
12:53 pm
Hey Really….by my count we will be 2012 Preseason NC’s for the 12th straight year
Richard
November 28th, 2011
12:53 pm
To Rick, who talked about all the mediocre coaches at UGA, he doesn’t know what he is talking about. Prior to Spurrier coming to Florida, UGA dominated!!
Dumb**s UGA Fans
November 28th, 2011
12:54 pm
Mike thinks UGA will drill LSU…..whatcha been smokin?
Caucasian Jesus aka Tim Tebow
November 28th, 2011
12:57 pm
13 Mythical Championships!!!!!!…………any football championship before segragation doesn’t count. The SEC is what the SWAC and MEAC was for 50+ years. You should be thanking integration because it killed our conference and enhanced yours
The BS, sorry, I mean the BCS is the dumbest thing in the world, that’s why they are making changes. Certain football fans believe in that dumb system, that would never work in the NFL, NBA, MLB, College Basketball, NASCAR, etc. I forgot, it’s all about money………..
FLA DAWG
November 28th, 2011
12:58 pm
Meyer did more than enough for UF but it was the way he left that has angered many UF Fans.
When you’re an alumn, student or big, big fan you feel stabbed in the back when a guy leaves the way this guy did.
I don’t think Muschamp can bring UF back to where it was as HC but he can do well in the solo role of DC. I also think Weiss is a good OC that should be given more time.
Back to Meyer – he’ll do a good job at OSU but he will not be able to recruit the caliber of talent in The SEC. And he won’t get much from the SE USA high schools either.
Silly Bloggers
November 28th, 2011
1:03 pm
Some good discussion today outside of a few trolls like Dumb**s UGA Fans. I get both sides of the argument. For the Gator poster, it is somewhat like a playoff so the highest ranked BCS team who has not played LSU should get to play. Then again, the BCS is made to put #1 vs. #2 and that would be LSU vs. Bama. In the NFL, a lot of teams meet again that already met in the regular season. So while we don’t have a playoff in college football, if the regular season equals one, then you take the next best in line.
If LSU were to lose to UGA, they still deserve a shot at the National Title. I am a Dawg grad, but we simply don’t deserve it. The body of work by LSU this year is simply amazing. They should be rewarded for navigating such a tough schedule. Teams are going to have hiccups and the size of the hiccup is what matters. Oklahoma State was a 27 point favorite over a six-win Iowa State team. Oklahoma lost to a terrible Texas Tech team and Baylor. Oregon was still in the mix after losing to LSU but that ship has sailed losing to USC. VT has one of the weakest schedules ever. If you look at it that way, Bama has the strongest case. They played LSU, Arkansas, and Penn State (on the road). They lost only to #1 LSU. Granted, the big blemish is it was a home game, but still a three-point loss in overtime only.
At the end of the day, the BCS is broken and you have arguments from both sides. My opinion is that even if UGA wins, LSU and Bama deserve the big game due to the body of work. Winning your conference is not in the rule-book…it is just something ESPN comes up with to steer the season where they want it to go. Don’t blame Bama, blame the BCS and ESPN.
Go Dawgs!
K Conway
November 28th, 2011
1:03 pm
HA! HA! Gators hire a Dawg to coach their team! ” How’s that working for you?” Ha! Ha!