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
rxdawg79
December 26th, 2009
10:20 pm
funny, make it 196th. fricking computers.
Ray Goff
December 26th, 2009
10:20 pm
i’ve been offered the florida job
i hope the fans wont sob
its not a key
thats been given to me
its only just a fob
The Ghost Of Erskine Russell
December 26th, 2009
10:21 pm
Mmmmm…..
My prediction is that after a cooling down period…..Urban will have a change in heart and want to return.
It’s hard to walk away.
AltamahaDawg
December 26th, 2009
10:22 pm
You know what……if I were a Gator Fan (and thank the good Lord I am not) I would look at this as an exciting time. There is no way that UF is not going to hire a top notch HC, and that whole process, and watching what he does over the next few years will not be dull, to say the least.
And as odd as it sounds, Fl was in danger of going stale. Not bad, just, “what have you done for me lately?”. Obviously if Meyers was reaching this point, I don’t think it’s a given that the next couple of years were guaranteed sucess at the level of the past 2. New guy doesnt win a NC right out of the box (or maybe he can) but so what? I would think that part of fun is watching it get there, and now you get some new hotshot hell bent on it.
I do see this as a totally different situation than when Spurrier left. First of all, it seemed to me that SOS was going through the motions for his past 2 yrs and the program is left in much better health now. And that was a situation of following the legend. You dont want to be that guy, you want to be the next guy. Following Meyers is tough too, but the lids off now. They will lined up this time.
You’ll got to give Fl credit for one thing. Ol’ Ben taught them how pick the fruit at the peak of ripeness.
Felix the Cat
December 26th, 2009
10:25 pm
i will take the freakin job… screw heart disease
Nick Satan
December 26th, 2009
10:26 pm
The thought of running that offense without Tebow would make my chest hurt too. I vote for Danny Ford!!!!!!
Tailback U
December 26th, 2009
10:26 pm
Mark
I suggest Pete Carroll for the next Gator coach.
The guy has the track record and watching his defense work I
believe he might would want a new challenge right about now.
Some guys just can’t thrive in the same place for a long time.
Carroll strikes me as one of those guys who needs a change of
scenery from time to time. I know it will be stated he is looking
for an NFL opportunity instead but you don’t hear his name mentioned
for an NFL job as much as was once the case or so it seems.
I kow it’s inlikely but stranger things have happened haven’t they?
Oh well just wondering if Foley would dare think “out of the box”.
Felix the Cat
December 26th, 2009
10:26 pm
Some body wake Spurrier up cause his dream has come true
DAWGDAZ
December 26th, 2009
10:28 pm
I’m sure that Dan Mullen had it written into his contract that he could leave Miss.St. if a certain head coaching job became available. Guess it’s, wait and see.
Matt
December 26th, 2009
10:28 pm
Tebow rarely even played his freshman year. Take away his 5 td’s that year and he still beats it. Everyone knows Tebow is the best to play the game.
UGAFan
December 26th, 2009
10:29 pm
Best of luck and good health to you Urban.
willie martinez
December 26th, 2009
10:30 pm
Mark, you off the blog?
willie martinez
December 26th, 2009
10:31 pm
first bobby bowden and now urban meyer. next thing you know tommy tuberville will get fired at auburn.
Meanwhile...strange direction
December 26th, 2009
10:32 pm
A Florida real estate broker has just been named the Florida coach?
I know this Meyer thing is news but I’m surprised no one else is reporting on the other story out of Gainesville.
Turns out U.S. fighter jets were scrambled to intercept over two dozen Russian MiG fighters seen over Gainesville right after the announcement. Citizens were understandably worried, the freeways were becoming jammed in mass panic, until the governor issued the followed statement on the state’s Emergency Broadcast Network.
Please be assured, despite the abnormal activity you see in the skies, there is no need to panic. We have confirmed with AD Foley that Willie Martinez is not being considered to replace Urban Meyer. Repeat, Willie Martinez is NOT being considered.
jellybeandawg
December 26th, 2009
10:32 pm
Dr Urban,
Get well
get well soon
we want you to get well….
Love,
Jellybeandawg & his family.
Frank Wren
December 26th, 2009
10:32 pm
Take away his 5 td’s that year and he still beats it
And he still would have played in about 7 more games than Herschel.
Again per game AVG Herschel wins. Game Over.
messin with sasquatch
December 26th, 2009
10:33 pm
Have to admire Meyer for knowing when a game is secondary on the list of importance. Perhaps he learned a life lesson from Tebow.
I suggest for his next calling he will be sitting near Lou Holz and company on sportscenter.
GTOption
December 26th, 2009
10:33 pm
Here’s hoping all works out well for Meyer and he can lead a healthy and happy life. Concerning his replacement, I think it’s a no-brainer…it will be Dan Mullen if he will leave MSU!
Frank Wren
December 26th, 2009
10:34 pm
Everyone knows Tebow is the best to play the game.
Why? One national Title? Youve been watching a little too much gameday.
Let a few years go by and proper perspective will be put on his career. ( And after he flops in the pros)
James
December 26th, 2009
10:34 pm
He is quitting because he knows Florida’s glory is over for a while. He has had college footballs best player for most of his time there and now he is actually going to have to coach. In addition, it is clear that FSU beat him in recruiting this year…the tide is turning there and he knows it…The Alabama game also brought reality to Florida…they are definitely on the way down now.
That's punny James
December 26th, 2009
10:36 pm
The tide is turning? Pun intended?
NO to PETRINO
December 26th, 2009
10:37 pm
I love my Gators more than anything, but if they hire Petrino (after what he did to the Falcons), I won’t watch a game until he’s fired… or, well.. disappears like he did to Atlanta.
Kentucky Guy
December 26th, 2009
10:37 pm
who cares? basketball is king.
Nick Satan
December 26th, 2009
10:38 pm
Hershel Walker never lost an SEC game. Tebow lost more games as a starter in one year than Hershel lost in his entire college career. ENOUGH SAID ABOUT THAT
Matt
December 26th, 2009
10:38 pm
Meant to say 8. If needed, he would have gotten the record anyway. It’s no comparison between them. He’s broken nearly every record a qb can break.
Bit of advice to Frank Wren @ 10:34
December 26th, 2009
10:40 pm
A guy who just traded for Melky Carbrera might ought to hold off on talking about things overrated for the time being.
messin with sasquatch
December 26th, 2009
10:40 pm
and Brian Kelly needs to think it through – clean up after roundman or go to the promised land.
mgdawg
December 26th, 2009
10:41 pm
Well, as a UGA fan I have mixed feelings. Part of me knows that meyer leaving gives uga an easier road no matter who they get, but on the other hand I want UGA to face the best that a team has. That’s what is so great about the SEC, they have richt, spurrier, meyer (until now), Saban, and miles, then there are young coaches with some good resumes like nutt, petrino, kiffin, and chizik. Personally if I was UF, I would swallow my pride and do anything I could to bring back spurrier. I know it ended badly, but he is a great coach (as much as I hate the guy) and with recruits what he could do would be dangerous. As for paul johnson getting a call, you have to be kidding me. I think just about everyone in the sec knows that there is no way that offense would work against a sec defense week in, week out. This was uga’s worse defense in a long time and they slowed the offense down, look at what lsu did last year. I think everyone in the country knows that tech won’t win a NC with that offense, and especially with the defense that he has at all the schools he’s been to. GT will upset some teams, and in the acc might compete, they will not be able to get over that hurdle. A good gameplan and lack of talent will only get you so far, eventually talent will prevail and the truth is tech won’t get the talent with that offense not being able to translate to the nfl. Truth is if that offense was that great, everyone would be running it.
All that really means nothing though, I hope the guy gets healthy and has a healthy life ahead of him whether that is coming back and coaching or whatever else.
South Ga Dawg
December 26th, 2009
10:42 pm
HAHAH! We were going to get back to the top of the SEC one way or another! I speak for all Dawg fans—GO DAWGS!
willie martinez
December 26th, 2009
10:43 pm
Mark, your piece is dead on. The coach is a very talented guy. this just shows that college football, for all its intensity, fun and tradition, is a voracious meat grinder that eventually chews all its participants into fodder.
BIG TECH FAN
December 26th, 2009
10:43 pm
If June Jones and Jerry Glanville go to Florida, you overrated dawgs will continue your whining an excuse making….
Hershey Walker
December 26th, 2009
10:43 pm
I sho do luv my chakalit.
Irrelevant since 1980!!! 30 years and counting for the rednecks. Have fun in Shreveport mutts.
Frank Wren
December 26th, 2009
10:43 pm
It’s no comparison between them.
I agree Herschel stands above Tebow head and shoulders.
I cant wait till Tebow flops in the pros.
Frank Wren
December 26th, 2009
10:44 pm
Irrelevant since 1980!!! 30 years and counting for the rednecks. Have fun in Shreveport mutts.
Hey it beats playing in the ACC. Talk about irrelevant.
Epaminondas
December 26th, 2009
10:46 pm
Meyer made his announcement BEFORE the bowl game. Yet another sneaky way to gain a psychological edge and get your players motivated. Meyer can’t help it. Even headed into retirement he tries to gain a step on the other team. He could easily have shown class by waiting until the game was over before making this announcement. The guy is a born jerk.
Frank Wren
December 26th, 2009
10:46 pm
A guy who just traded for Melky Carbrera might ought to hold off on talking about things overrated for the time being.
We will see in the long run. I gave up a guy coming off a career year which are WAY above his normal totals for a 25 year old OF with a ton of upside.
Yankee fans feel like THEY were robbed.
Steve
December 26th, 2009
10:46 pm
Bryant and Doolie helped to make Southern football what it currently is today .. the best in the world (Bryant), and so profitable that Southern schools make enough money on football to build entire athletic programs that can compete with the schools in the much wealthier portions of the country (Dooley).
Bryant was a coach Meyer was hoping to be, and was on his way. Dooley was a complete athletic department builder that Meyer would be foolish to even attempt. Dooley was bigger off the field for Georgia than he was on it, which was no small task.
Too bad so many people only focus on W-L and Championships, as those are just small brush strokes in the masterpiece that Dooley painted. UGA went from a hick school to one of the most profitable schools in the country, and it’s academics have gotten much better along with that growth. Between Dooley and the tax breaks given in the late 70’s and 80’s to big companies that came into Georgia, the state went from Appalachia to the center of technology and commerce for the entire Southeast. Meyer’s impact on Florida and the Southeast is inconsequential in comparison to Dooley… but he was arguably already the better coach.
Frank Wren
December 26th, 2009
10:47 pm
We will see in the long run. I gave up a guy coming off a career year which are WAY above his normal totals for a 25 year old OF with a ton of upside.
Oh and I got two fantastic prospects in the deal as well and only had to throw in journeyman Boone Logan.
devin
December 26th, 2009
10:50 pm
Wish the dude well, but come on, does anybody REALLY believe for a moment that if Tebow had another year of eligiblity that this would still be happening?
Saint Dawg>>>
December 26th, 2009
10:50 pm
NEWS FLASH>>>> This just in the whole athletic dept. and what coaching staff is left at the UF,has been quarantined…! They have been diagnosed with TT syndrome,,{TIM TEBOW SYN.}symptoms are:not having tim tebow for four more yrs.,lost SEC CHAMP.,lost chance at NC,blurried visions of playin in the independence bowl next season,all there good players goin to the NFL:CURE QUIT WHILE YOUR AHEAD…CURE was found by DR. LOU…!!!lmao….Best wishes to coach MYERS if he is really sick..HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE…WWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!GO DAWGS
Bit of advice to Frank Wren @ 10:34
December 26th, 2009
10:51 pm
Well I’ll give you this much Frank Wren. Don’t know about Melky, but odds are one of those two prospects has better prospects for the Braves than Tebow does as a pro QB.
Seymour
December 26th, 2009
10:52 pm
I hope someone is keeping a good eye on Charlie Strong in hopes he doesn’t do anything rash. He could have probably had the UF top job, but instead he’s stuck in God awful Louisville.
messin with sasquatch
December 26th, 2009
10:53 pm
not to comment on the subject but….
to willie m –
or that only the strong survive…..
JR Punk
December 26th, 2009
10:53 pm
Hey Alt,
The 4 letter network says UF should go after a Stoops (Oklahoma Bob or Arizona Mike). Not a bad recommendation. But, if that doesn’t pan out, should those Gators get Dan Mullen back or go a different route? The UF job is one of the top 5 positions in all of sports. So, they’ll probably get anyone they want. But, Meyer will definitely be a hard act to follow.
Click on this link to hear what Meyer told Tebow:
norrist
December 26th, 2009
10:53 pm
Doug the Tennessee fan. You said Strong might leave Louisville before he even starts to go back to Florida, one of the best 3 jobs in the nation. After Florida and Alabama, whose third? Sure as hell ain’t Notre Dame (with their own network and all). Boy, I can’t remember which network bought those rights, but I’d want my money back. And Syrong will probably cry racism and conspiracy about Meyers qutiting. I can hear his phone ringing off the hook from J. Jackson and the Reverend (yea.right) Al now. Sorry Doug, but you stepped into that one. Thank God for Mt. Cody or we’d be in trouble.
JR Punk
December 26th, 2009
10:54 pm
My bad. Here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiR1XBGk0Xg
willie martinez
December 26th, 2009
10:56 pm
messin: only the good die young. or so the song goes. best, willie
Epaminondas
December 26th, 2009
10:56 pm
Let Strong stay in Louisville till he croaks. Those folks up there deserve him. We don’t want him back down here.
Mark Bradley
December 26th, 2009
10:57 pm
Back now, CWM.
D&D fan
December 26th, 2009
10:57 pm
Mark, if you think no one saw this coming, you’re the one in denial. It’s no secret that UF and Urban were going to have a tough road to hoe without Tebow, Spikes, Doe, Cooper, James, Pierre-Louis, and a few Jr’s bolting for the NFL, and a new DC. And with all attention UT has been getting by the NCAA, I’m sure Kiffin, is trying to deflect some of the heat elsewhere by whispering to NCAA to look closely at UF.
This is the one thing that sticks out in my mind; the quote that CUM condition is “NOT LIFE THREATING”. If this is true why quit? Meyer was diagnosed with the brain Cyst 11 years ago; why is it a problem now? Sorry Mark something doesn’t add up here.
And if you think Foley didn’t know about his HC’s medial history; that he’s paying millions to, your nuts. My guess is Meyer had assured Foley this wouldn’t be an issue, and he could do the job. Foley was operating on the assumption that this was true; Meyer saw the writing on the wall that the next two or three seasons would be even more stressful and difficult to live up to past expectations and said I’d better get out now.