Urban Meyer reminds us there are bigger things than games
Urban Meyer near the end of the SEC championship game. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
The funniest thing Vince Dooley ever said wasn’t funny at the time. It was as serious as a coronary. Because that’s what Dooley thought he was having.
Oct. 17, 1987: Georgia had contrived to fall two touchdowns behind in Nashville, and the head coach began having chest pains. And Dooley said to himself: “I’m having a heart attack, and we’re losing to Vanderbilt.”
The next day he was at Emory, where he would undergo angioplasty. He was back on the sideline the next Saturday, when the Bulldogs — who had rallied to beat the Commodores one week after losing narrowly to Tommy Hodson and LSU — would need a late touchdown to subdue Kentucky. Some life, huh?
“We won one for the ticker,” a merry Loran Smith said afterward, but it must be noted that Vincent Joseph Dooley coached his last game not 15 months later. At age 56. And he’s still alive today.
The best coach in the country is stepping aside not to coach somewhere else but simply not to coach. Urban Meyer is 45. He’s a high-energy guy. Big-name college coaches have to be. A big-name college coach gets home late and leaves early. He recruits and he coaches and he schmoozes with alums and he briefs the media and he answers the 2 a.m. calls that inform him one of his players has done something silly.
Yeah, the big-name coaches make a ton of money, but they live a life of stress beyond measure. As skilled as Urban Meyer is, would we view him quite the same today if his Gators hadn’t blocked that South Carolina field goal back in 2006? (He’d have been 0-2 against Spurrier and the 2006 Gators wouldn’t have won the BCS title and if they don’t win the first one maybe there’s not a second one.)
The point being: Big-name coaches are all control freaks, and yet they exist in a realm where so much cannot be controlled. The wonder isn’t that one of them has been suffering health problems. The wonder is that they all don’t.
Being human, Georgia fans will view Meyer’s leaving as the sound of a window opening. And it well may be. But before we get excited about what might (or might not) happen on the field, we need to pause to consider these sobering circumstances: Here’s a man at the peak of his profession, a man with two BCS titles, a man not yet 50 … and he’s walking away because he felt to keep coaching was to die young.
It was reported that Meyer had checked into a Gainesville hospital the day after Florida lost the SEC title game to Alabama for what was called “dehydration.” We now know that he’d been having chest pains. We now know those chest pains were dire enough to drive him away from the best job in the country, and that’s about as dire as it gets.
All coaches are strivers — striving for the next big win, the next big job, the next big trophy. Urban Meyer had won everything there was to win, but when the doctor shows you the cardiogram, all that striving and winning becomes a secondary concern. Job 1 is to stay alive.
Because this is a sports column, we need pay some attention to sports. Who’ll be next as the head Gator? Well, Charlie Strong just left for Louisville and Dan Mullen is coming off his first year in Starkville. Would they be interested in turning around so soon? Would Bob Stoops’ interest be piqued this time? Would Chris Petersen leave Boise for Gainesville? Is Gary Patterson of TCU an option?
I don’t know the answers. Ninety minutes ago, I didn’t know Florida would be looking for a coach. And to be honest, I’m not really thinking about the next coach just yet. I’m thinking about Urban Meyer.
We’ve had some fun with him in this space over time, but there was never a doubt he was a talent and a force. (His game-planning for Ohio State in the desert in January 2007 was coaching at its finest.) And now he’s leaving the job of jobs at age 45. If that doesn’t make you think, you don’t have a heart.
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657 comments Add your comment
D&D fan
December 27th, 2009
5:46 pm
Hey Mark you still think there isn’t more to this story? Man, you must be blind; now Meyer decides to throw his OC to the wolves for a year and see how things play out instead of stepping aside for his health reasons, LOL! Yea Mark the loss of this graduating class has nothing to do with this situation. This whole mess is going to backfire in Foley’s face; why would any top tier recruit want to play in the “Unknown” that will be the UF coaching situation in 2010?
PowerDawg
December 27th, 2009
5:47 pm
P.S.
AD Foley made the comment twice I think that Meyer taking a LOA instead of resigning would be in the best interest of ALL involved.
Resigning “wouldn’t be fair” to his players, staff or the University of Florida!… The university?
Wouldn’t be fair? To a guy in poor health? WTF?!?
Sounds like they really want “what’s best for Corch Meyers”!
That school and that coach deserve each other.
SEC fan
December 27th, 2009
5:55 pm
Oops, family and health just became secondary once again. So much for his daughter saying she has her daddy back and so much for Urban saying what she said was a message from God. Amazing what losing a couple of recruits will do to quickly change ones life priorities. Hope his wife and family understand that family first was just something that played well with the media.
Dawg Central
December 27th, 2009
6:01 pm
Mark….these coaches make an ass load of money and will never have to work a “real job” so get off the stress stuff…..more like “greed anxiety”…….give me a freaking break…….if i made three million bucks a year and only had to worry about winning football games…..life would be great……so enough with the….”its really hard on them” pitty story!!!!
Slayme Date
December 27th, 2009
6:55 pm
“According to Florida’s spokesperson, Meyer did not quit due to health reasons, they said he had no life-threatening health situation, it was more about his lifestyle and ability to manage stress.”
Sounds like alcohol abuse to me. Dehydration? Code for “three sheets in the wind.” Ya not gonna find Jesus in coo coo land.
But more importantly. Thanks for the NOW POINTLESS column Mark Bradley. Perhaps thy should not opine until the story is fully known in the future? You are, after all, a professional. You do not get a pass for being an idiot amateur running off at the mouth. You get paid to be a professional.
Urban Meyer reminds us that some things are more important than a ball game? Are you sure you want to keep leaning on him for that reminder now? Seems to me the most important thing to Urban Meyer is Urban Meyer.
LOL. How is that Meyer- burn mate? And, how did that “Tiger was in a car accident (only)” headline work out for you and your media professional buddies? LOL. Seems there was a HELLUVA lot more about that story.
Professional clerks at best.
God bless people with REAL LIFE THREATENING ISSUES.
God bless Mark B too. I am happy he gets paid for his drivel. At least he has a job and tries to be a productive citizen.
Amen.
Jeff
December 27th, 2009
6:57 pm
blah blah blah blah blah blah. Make up your mind. At first I felt bad. Now I think he is doing nothing more than drawing attention to himself.
PowerDawg
December 27th, 2009
7:20 pm
I believe I stated that very thing just a little while ago…
Just a ploy to get more money…or a bigger house for his ole lady…
or both…anything to bring attention to himself.
DAWG07
December 27th, 2009
7:26 pm
I was truly impressed with his decision to put health. With the reversal may just be plot to retain current recruiting class. Head coach in waiting doesn’t seem quite fair for Florida, too much uncertainty. Regardless, wish him the best and a speedy recovery.
HamptonDawg
December 27th, 2009
7:37 pm
Bigger things than football huh? That was yesterday, today he’s decided against all that altruistic stuff in favor of a vacation. I guess everyone in the media can quit drooling over Urban the magnificent now, turns out he just needed to know Bradley and the ESPN gator huggers still loved him after the loss to the Tide.
Ed
December 27th, 2009
7:59 pm
Don’t matter – did you bother to read my reply, or are you just confused?
GATOR HATER
December 27th, 2009
8:11 pm
Meyer’s change of mind tells us that he felt there was more important things than his family just like the rest of them.
jason
December 27th, 2009
9:11 pm
looks like you should have given the drama queen at least 24 hours before making this ridiculous article
jason
December 27th, 2009
9:13 pm
what a joke
Timbo
December 27th, 2009
9:17 pm
So much for all that . . .
Pit bull
December 27th, 2009
10:16 pm
Meyer got talked into staying by Foley and ESPN. They will both feel bad if he drops dead, well, probably not. But they will give him a big funeral.
Why did Meyer quit?
December 27th, 2009
10:29 pm
Interesting to see Meyer backpedaling on his decision today. Which begs the question, if this was about his heart, why would he change his mind? Now people will be wondering about why Meyer quit since it was not his heart? Lack of drive? Didn’t want to rebuild? Level of competition in SEC? Lack of love for the game–looks a lot like burnout–you can’t burn out on something you love, Bill Gates went 10 years without a day off.
Cindy Hendrix
December 27th, 2009
10:36 pm
so now Meyer decides to take a leave of absence while he see’s how long before he can go back to being HC at UF it will be tough on the interm coach I don’t think he is the tyoe of man who can give much control over to his assistant coaches he likes to be in control of it all too much unless his dr. says he has too also the stress will still be there fl fans have got used to winning national champs sec champs & very few losses still wish him the best of luck with his health & family despite the fact that fl is 1 of UGA:S biggest rivals. It will be intresting to see how it all plays out when the season opens as always GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cindy
PHIL
December 27th, 2009
11:05 pm
I think its a good time to realize that these coaches, all of them, and players as well, are just human beings, They are not perfect, the fan base doesn’t deserve what they get out of these people much less the more that they demand. We love to rip these people for things we perceive as mistakes or character faults. But this is a time to realize that fans who respond to blogs know nothing about the men they continually criticize nor the situations or circumstances they are in. People should just appreciate and enjoy the jobs these men do and leave the criticism of them to their superiors who are informed and the ranting and raving uninformed should shut their traps.
BuLLdawg
December 28th, 2009
4:40 am
Mark Bradley, you need to update your story. Or remove this URL Link.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 28th, 2009
4:46 am
Shreveport by the numbers
2 Wal-Mart’s,
4 Waffle Houses
1 Motel 6
11,693 deer stands
48,545 seat Stadium (no kidding)
6,230 of 12,000 georgia ticket allotment sold
5:00PM start time
Peachtree TV # 2
#5 offense nationally facing #70 defense with 2 grad assts at the helm
7 recruits likely switching
Unlike Georgia, Texas A & M does not think the Herschal Walker and Lindale Scott led, 42-0 win in Athens on Sept. 13, 1980 will play a role in this game.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 28th, 2009
7:20 am
Isn’t it awesome how I post clever things like what I posted above on a blog about Urban Meyer that has nothing to do with UGA? I am so jealous of them. At least I have the gigantic tickle pile to look forward to after the football contest that my favorite team will participate in against those big beefy Iowa guys. Yummo!
Johnny Test
December 28th, 2009
8:59 am
For the record.. this mental Tech fan $1.4 Million etc. was poating at 4:46 am and is back at 7:20 and is pasting his post on every sports blog. Now that is one sick dude with not much of a life. My guess is he watches a lot of porn on the internet as well and probably has few if any friends. Can you say obsessive compulsive disorder… only from a Tech fan.
I am NOT taking a leave of absence - just a vacation | Mark Bradley
December 28th, 2009
9:52 am
[...] of absences being all the rage, I did want to say this. I don’t understand how the health issues Urban Meyer faces were serious enough to make him fear for his life Saturday but not so serious as to prevent him from [...]
Why did Meyer quit?
December 28th, 2009
11:19 am
#1 reason: “I-can’t-beat-Mark-Richt-for-4-more-years” itis. Meyer is no idiot. He knows his lucky streak has come to an end. He fears the winningest coach in the land. His quitting was more a testament to Mark Richt than anything. Meyer knows how hard it is to beat Richt. He sees the talent Georgia has, believes Kirby Smart is coming to Georgia, looks at the coaching staffs, and the reality of the situation scared him into quitting. That’s what REALLY happened, regardless of the Meyer spin.
Ed
December 28th, 2009
12:20 pm
Don’t matter – I’ll concede your two national titles if you concede that Dooley’s 3 SEC titles in 4 years beats Meyer’s 2 SEC titles in 5 years and that Dooley’s 4 consecutive major bowls beats Meyer’s 3 in the same time period. Also, that UF (with Meyer or any other coach) has never had a perfect season like Dooley’s 12-0 in ‘80.
Again, UF didn’t invent college football, but you have taken it to a very high level since 1991. But UF is still the school that didn’t have a single conference crown (factoring in a stripped ‘84 title) from 1932-1990, a mind-boggling record of futility and underachievement that will always be part of the UF football legacy. Do you really want to argue football history on a UGA site?
Ed
December 28th, 2009
12:23 pm
“Unlike Georgia, Texas A & M does not think the Herschal Walker and Lindale Scott led, 42-0 win in Athens on Sept. 13, 1980 will play a role in this game.”
Wow.
Methinks someone is a little obsessed with UGA football…
I sure couldn’t tell you what Georgia Tech did on Sept. 13, 1980. Nor do I care. Is this Saint Simon’s new alter ego?
You have Georgia on the brain, my friend.
Original Bulldawg
December 28th, 2009
1:04 pm
Do not believe the hype. If this were a medical condition there would be a lot more specifics. Although, if it is a medical condition I wish him and his family the best. However, I feel that it is about money, sadly, as is everything. Urban Meyer will be the head coach and director of operations for the LA Jaguars.
Tron Carter
December 28th, 2009
1:24 pm
Paul Johnson reminds us every day that there are more important things than playing in a real conference, having a respectable stadium, having a majority of fans in your own city, and not looking like Susan Boyle.
30-24 douchebags
Fred
December 28th, 2009
9:15 pm
Oops, turns out his family wasn’t all that important.
SEC fan
December 28th, 2009
9:53 pm
UGA did the deed in their Bowl game. Now GT, try not to embarass the state again this year in your Bowl game.
THWGT
December 28th, 2009
11:08 pm
Big deal, just another instance of a classless coach making the story about him. Since this story broke the news cycle has been ALL Urban Meyer. I wish he would have delayed announcing his resignation er sabbatical until after the season. You media geeks would be just as interested in this story during the off season. wa wa wa Urban has panic attacks too bad. I know very few people who are CEO’s of a companies with a annual budgets of $100,000,000.00 who are not under considerable stress… it comes with the job… quit if you can’t handle it.
rj mcghee
December 28th, 2009
11:19 pm
Urban Meyer reminds us, once again, that there is nothing bugger than an over-inflated ego.
At least now we know what is REALLY wrong with him — he has Brett Favre disease!
Why did Meyer Quit?
December 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
This guy is a professional quitter, Meyer just qit for the 7th time in 24 years. Voluntarily walked away, said goodbye, quit. Who really cares what he does in the future, Meyer will always be a quitter. Meyer has never been able to stay in 1 place for more than 5 or 6 years in his 24 year coaching career. Meyer has the 1-5 year itch. When times get tough, Meyer quits.
Damon
December 29th, 2009
12:01 am
“What if the franchise quarterback isn’t quite a franchise quarterback? Is that good enough?”
Jesus. Is this the most eloquent way you can write?
Damon
December 29th, 2009
12:18 am
“The best coach in the country is stepping aside not to coach somewhere else but simply not to coach. ”
My 12 year old brother can write better than you. You are a complete joke to this paper, writing stuff this pathetically simple and useless
Dawg Central
December 29th, 2009
8:37 am
1.4 million vs 14 million……..you got to be the biggest retard of the blog retards…..you make fun of a 50 thousand seat stadium in Shrevport….how big is Ga. Tech’s home stadium??????? What an idiot!!! and I bet you Tech doesnt have 10thousand fans in Miami, you numb nutts couldnt sell out the ACC championship game… and oh yea…….30-24 and 8 out of 9……do those numbers ring a bell in your marble filled head?????? So shut your pie hole and remember , this is the best team Tech has had in 18 years and UGA still spanked that ass…….so say it loud and proud “nerd boy” “UGA is your Daddy”!!!!!
mark pricht
December 29th, 2009
9:33 am
I just heard that Wal Mart has a sale on Shreveport Championship shirts
Tron Carter
December 29th, 2009
9:42 am
I just heard that grass seed is on sale at home depot. Try to get the field that we kicked up repaired before we come back in two years and humiliate you again.
30-24
Why did Meyer Quit?
December 29th, 2009
10:13 am
It wasn’t his heart, he would have stayed “retired at 45″ if that was REALLY the problem. All you have to do is look at his track record: In 24 years of coaching, Meyer voluntarily quits every 3-4 years. This is Meyer’s 7th time he voluntarily quit on a team. Meyer is a “quit-a-holic”. Meyer quit because he knows if he coaches in Florida in 2010, he’ll lose a lot of games. It’s a rebuilding year. Coaches and players made a mass exodus. His spread offense didn’t work in 2009. Bama killed the spread offense. Bama embarassed Meyer in his only top 10 match up of 2009. Meyer wants a lower level of competition, like his Utah days. He can’t handle the SEC for 9 years like a Mark Richt. That’s why he quit this time, for the 7th time, in 24 years. Meyer quit–again. Same story, different team. Meyer always voluntarily quits within 1-5 years. Different reasons, same result–Meyer quits. Every time.
Chris Humpherys
December 29th, 2009
10:53 am
Great piece, Mark. Really puts thing in perspective.
Here’s my one Florida alum’s take on the wild weekend that was.
http://sportschump.net/2009/12/28/should-i-stay-or-should-i-gutpunch-the-ebb-and-flow-of-urban-meyer/2574/
edudawg
December 29th, 2009
11:17 am
Apparently there aren’t bigger things than games to ol’ Urban Crier….. I guess his health is only so important. My bet is on him finally quitting after signing day…. The old bait and switch for FU’s recruits.
globeflyer
December 29th, 2009
12:08 pm
We still don’t have the whole story on this one….The Fat Lady may have other revelations in store….
Denver Dog
December 29th, 2009
1:42 pm
Yeah, and in his case mabye it is BI -Polar.
Urban Meyer
December 29th, 2009
2:15 pm
Somebody should’ve told me that Herschel Walker’s book on multiple personality disorder IS NOT a guide book. I thought it was and have followed it, or have I? Maybe not? I don’t know! What am I doing? What am I thinking? What am I going to do? Am I hearing voices in my head? Why are my fans a bunch of daisy duked, tank top wearing rednecks? I can’t remember what my daughter looks like. I text recruits while sitting in church…is that against NCAA rules. I can’t get Lame Kiffin off my mind. What mind? Someone help me!!!!!
King Gator
December 29th, 2009
3:04 pm
Welcome back Urb! Nobody leaves the family…and Yes, somethings are bigger than everything else – Gator Football is one of those things. kidding…hope it works out.
Tech is soft
December 29th, 2009
3:50 pm
I don’t know what’s in store for Urban Meyers, but I do know this: I Run This State.
Georgia owns Georgia Tech. Georgia has owned Georgia Tech for decades.
Why did Meyer Quit
December 29th, 2009
3:56 pm
According to the reports, I’m serious here, Meyer says God told him to quit. Now he’s decided to coach again in 2010? Not good. That’s one voice I would listen to VERY closely. If God tells you to quit, you best give that 2 weeks notice pronto. This is odd too, Meyer says he’s a person of faith, going to put God first now, yet he’s going against God’s direction and guidance for his life when God tells Meyer to quit by unquitting?
fan
December 29th, 2009
4:08 pm
like i said meyer is going down i will quit to no qb all this with the best class why no other qb have played
Why did Meyer Quit?
December 29th, 2009
9:30 pm
Here’s the NY Times article where Meyer says he felt like God told him to slow down and stop it, to me, that’s a very heavy statemnt that you don’t back up on within 24 hours:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/sports/ncaafootball/27florida.html?_r=1
GuthrieofGriffin
December 30th, 2009
11:25 am
Do you still believe that?