When the definitive biography of Urban Meyer is written (not by me, I believe it’s safe to say), the bizarre doings and undoings of Dec. 26-27, 2009, will be a footnote. The man who quit and then decided instead on a leave of absence says he’ll take a bit of time off after Signing Day. But apparently nothing more.
Meyer said Saturday he plans to coach his Gators in spring practice. If that’s indeed the case — with Meyer, any declaration must carry a disclaimer — then there seems no chance he won’t coach Florida in the 2010 season. And if he coaches Florida next season, that restores some semblance of order to an SEC East in deep-dish flux.
You’d have to say Florida is again the prohibitive favorite to take the division and play for the SEC title. And you’d have to say those reports of the Gators being in disarray after Meyer’s volte-face would, in the blush of recent developments, seem overheated. Doesn’t seem to be hurting recruiting, does it? (Rivals.com ranks Florida No. 1 for its 2010 class, of which 21 of the 25 commitments are rated either 4- or 5-star.) This despite the latest smear campaign from the crown prince of dirt.
A year ago Lane Kiffin accused Meyer, incorrectly, of cheating. Being based three time zones away apparently hasn’t slaked the Kiffin thirst: According to GatorCountry.com, Kiffin and henchman Ed Orgeron have been telling recruits that Meyer is planning to succeed Lee Corso on ESPN’s “Gameday.”
In 1995 Mike Krzyzewski took a leave of absence after back surgery. It was a big deal at the time, but he returned the next season and coaches Duke still. It’s not a big deal anymore, hasn’t been for 15 years. It’s a footnote in a career that has totaled three NCAA championships. Urban Meyer has won the BCS titles twice. Not predicting another anytime soon, mind you. Just sayin’.
402 comments Add your comment
Urban Meyer
January 23rd, 2010
10:14 pm
Hey what was UGA’s new DC name again? Oh well, doesn’t matter because I will always refer to him as Boy. I own UGA!
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
January 23rd, 2010
10:14 pm
What a space case. Meyer’s a good coach but he’s also a total space case.
Either way, Florida loses at least three regular season games next year. No, they don’t have bad talent. Quite the opposite, in fact. It’s just that THEY HAVEN’T PLAYED. They lost 4 games in 2007 with good yet INEXPERIENCED talent, including Tim Tebow. Funny how everyone (conveniently) forgets that.
GaGator
January 23rd, 2010
10:14 pm
Before you start trashing the Gators, congradulations to the Georgia
B-ball team for smashing Tenn. That is one ugly school.
Gatorzip74
January 23rd, 2010
10:15 pm
Urban Liar,
I want to make sure that I’m not misreading your post, did you say that the Gators will lose 4 games next year? If so, name the games (spare yourself the embarassment, for your sake don’t place UGA on that list).
By the way there is a huge difference between UF class and UGA’s, and we’re probably going to get Henderson and the Green boys out of Tampa Catholic. Don’t kid yourself with that ranking. Our entire recruiting class would start for UGA right now.
GaGator
January 23rd, 2010
10:20 pm
Mr. Liar,
All of the Florida coaches recieved promotions, 1 to a head coach and 1 to a DC,
the other two improved their status. You see, people want Florida coaches, I don’t see anyone beating down the door to hire Georgia coaches, especially Bobo the clown.
It all has to do with the quality of a program and Meyer can give Richt the 8 and the break.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
10:21 pm
Be careful Gator buddies; you give them responses they cannot come back on and they start throwing out the Gay remarks.
GaGator
January 23rd, 2010
10:22 pm
PS Mr liar,
Did you happen to notice that the Gators fill all their openings, weeks before
Richt could get anybody to come to his sorry program. You will be better off
when you finally figure out Richt is just too nice a guy to be a head coach.
Sometimes you need to kick a$$ and he won’t.
Urban Liar Caught in Lies
January 23rd, 2010
10:22 pm
Here are some of the many statements Urban Liar has made in the past, you can judge for yoursewlf whether he’s REALLY coming back in Spring Practice or not:
http://www.utefans.net/lies.php
Yes, Meyer loses at LEAST 4 games a year 2 out the 5 seasons. Florida has 6 tough games, they’ll lose at least 4 of these:
LSU, Bama, Georgia, Tenn, SC, FSU
Losing 4 games a year is nothing new to Meyer, he’s done it twice in 5 years.
Dr dawg
January 23rd, 2010
10:22 pm
I still say that he is sick and the chest pains are anxiety attacks. His family will pay and what about the comments at the press conference that the AD said that we will not allow him in the football office after the sugar bowl. Just remeber Billy D did a dumb thing with Orlando and they have been home the last two years and Georgia will spank them in Gainesville Wednesday, billy is on the Hot Seat and I am a doctor and I know
Technophobia
January 23rd, 2010
10:22 pm
ga gator, you’ve obviously been here before.
GrowlDawg
January 23rd, 2010
10:23 pm
Technophobia, you have it backwards. I meant that he is NOT coming back yet he is suggesting he is in order to keep up the recruiting game before signing day and to bouy the hopes for this years prospects (and commits).
Urban Meyer a Known Liar
January 23rd, 2010
10:25 pm
The 4 coaches ALL could have stayed, the 5 Juniors who went to the NFL could have ALL stayed. Many stayed at North Carolina. NONE DID at Florida. Spin it anyway you want, they all left voluntarily and quit on the team because they know 2010 is a rebuilding year for UF.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
10:27 pm
Urban Liar Caught in Lies, I know you would rather have your consecutive 13 seasons with at least 8 wins. Remember when we represent the East again your prediction. We beat LSU at home, Georgia at home(hahaha), Tenn because they have a totally new program trying to recover from Kiffin, SC because Garcia is a Head case and FSU because they will continue to fold under backstabbing Jimbo Fisher. Have fun in Shreveport if you are bowl eligible.
Technophobia
January 23rd, 2010
10:27 pm
Don’t forget, Dooley had chest pains too. Eventually got cathed and had some coronary disease treated with balloon angioplasty, but he came back.
Gatorzip74
January 23rd, 2010
10:28 pm
Gator Fans,
No need to fear. There is no way in Hell that UF loses that many games. The Gator’s toughest game will be in Tuscaloosa, acceptable loss. LSU and SC at the SWAMP, I’ll take those games. UT will be a cakewalk, I’m not even going to mention UGA. The game that scares me next year as the unknown is FSU in Tally.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
10:29 pm
Keep wishing boys, we still like our coach almost as much as we like yours.
Urban Liar Caught in Lies
January 23rd, 2010
10:29 pm
Urban Liar has NEVER stayed in one place longer than 5 or 6 years. What makes anyone think the leopard will suddenly change its spots? It won’t, neither will Urban Liar.
When the going gets tough, Urban Liar quits. He’s a quit-a-holic who has quit 7 times in 24 years volunatirily walked away, said goodbye to recruits, players, friends, family, adios amigos.
7 times. Quit. Urban Liar. 7. times.
GrowlDawg
January 23rd, 2010
10:29 pm
Meyer may not yet know if he’ll be back this year or next or not at all. But, he’ll keep throwing out hope for any of his recruits that still may be on the fence. That is fairly obvious.
Mark Bradley
January 23rd, 2010
10:30 pm
Technophobia, Dooley didn’t miss a game. He had chest pains against Vanderbilt in 1987 and was back against Kentucky seven days later. But he retired 13 months later, I should also note.
GaGator
January 23rd, 2010
10:31 pm
Mr liar,
If this is the best you have to offer(http://www.utefans.net/lies.php) then you’re are pitiful.
These are nothing but jilted lovers, you have heard of a woman scorned?
Also mr. liar Meyer’s has lost 4 games at Florida once! The next year he won the National
Championship–now that’s coaching.
Urban Meyer Says God Told Him to Stop
January 23rd, 2010
10:31 pm
In the NY Times article, Urban Meyer says God told him to stop and slow down.
Urban Meyer says he’s a man of faith. Would Urban Meyer go against what God told him to do and come back and coach? I don’t think so. If he does, that’s a whole bigger problem.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/sports/ncaafootball/27florida.html?_r=1
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
10:32 pm
Urban Liar Caught in Lies
He never stayed that long because he was trying to get a better job. Probably the only better job out there now would be UGA where they don’t fire unsuccessful coaches.
GrowlDawg
January 23rd, 2010
10:34 pm
support vs. report?
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
10:34 pm
The NY times also supported Obama, I guess that makes it gospel.
Mark Bradley
January 23rd, 2010
10:34 pm
OK, folks. Time for me to watch Howard Hughes’ favorite movie — “Ice Station Zebra.” (It’s on TCM.) Thanks for hanging with me on a Saturday night.
Technophobia
January 23rd, 2010
10:35 pm
Thanks Mark, I knew Dooley didn’t miss a game but didn’t realize he retired that soon after. Meyer had a clean cath though from what I understand. Don’t know if he has any other health problems but apparently he doesn’t have coronary artery disease.
Wall St. Journal: Top Recruits Won't Help Florida
January 23rd, 2010
10:36 pm
Gator fans are in la-la land if they think a good recruiting class will get them into a BCS Bowl.
The Wall St. Journal analyzed it and PROVE IT DOES NOT WORK.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704304504574610421544186330.html
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
January 23rd, 2010
10:37 pm
If you look closely at that photo you can see Coach Richt has a bald spot and could use some touch up with some hair in a can but nobody is going to paint him. Not like they painted me. Being a head coach is more powerful than be a temporary mascot.
Technophobia
January 23rd, 2010
10:37 pm
Lots of people interpret chest pain as a sign from God. Can’t really blame em. lol
Gatorzip74
January 23rd, 2010
10:37 pm
UGA’s keys to beating the Gators this year.
1. Wear 1980 National Champion T-Shirts under their pads for inspiration.
2. Go to the Clark and Fulton County Jails and recruit some convicts to develop some toughness and play with some intensity
3. Hire fast pick-pockets from Atlanta to match up with UF’s speed
GrowlDawg
January 23rd, 2010
10:37 pm
“support vs. report?” was supposed to follow your post ga gator.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
10:37 pm
Technophobia, I have emailed with Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun lately and he said that he has talked to Urban several times and predicted that he just needed a break from the season and would be back before summer. He also said though that he didn’t think he would coach past 50.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
10:39 pm
GrowlDawg sorry, big fingers on a laptop. Report
Urban Liar
January 23rd, 2010
10:40 pm
Does he have a malfunctioned heart or not? If he does, he can’t come back, if he doesn’t, he lied.
GaGator
January 23rd, 2010
10:40 pm
Meyers is working out now and sleeping late, something he never did before. He has gained 10 lbs. and says it’s the best he has felt in years. All he needs to do is delegate
more and he will be fine. H*ll he could cut 50% and still beat Richt.
GrowlDawg
January 23rd, 2010
10:41 pm
A “Dooley” working for the G’ville Sun? Hope he’s a spy for us and working some counter insurgency down there.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
10:42 pm
Urban Liar, when someone changes their mind it doesn’t always mean they were lying dude.
GaGator
January 23rd, 2010
10:43 pm
Wall St. Journal: Top Recruits Won’t Help Florida
What a stupid statement, all that article proved was that USC coaches as badly as Richt.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
10:45 pm
GrowlDawg, no he was born and raised in Gainesville and actually takes some flack from florida fans for telling it like it is sometimes. He actually picked Alabama to win this year and for the Tennessee game to be close. But he is still a loyal Gator. Gotta go, guys. Congrats on beating the creamsicles tonight, it looks like it will be a tough game wednesday in the O’dome.
Gatorzip74
January 23rd, 2010
10:47 pm
We’re not rebuilding folks, we’re just reloading!
UGA Fans – If you’re happy with your recruiting class, that’s great. I hate to see people constantly suffer and have no hope. Just remember that next Halloween weekend it’ll be another trick and no treat for you.
Joseph
January 23rd, 2010
10:48 pm
Why do you people keep saying Meyer and Saben will walk away? Is it wishful thinking?
Technophobia
January 23rd, 2010
10:49 pm
Urban liar, he had non cardiac chest pain. How does that make him a liar. You sound just like Kiffin.
GaGator, I agree and I think he just works too hard. A little medial marijuana might do him wonders, lol.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
10:49 pm
GrowlDawg, no he is actually a UF grad and born in Gainesville. He is a loyal gator but catches some flack from time to time for telling the truth. He predicted the alabama loss and the closer than expected game from the vols. gotta go guys. Congrats on beating the creamsicles tonight, I expect a dogfight (no pun intended) wednesday in the O-dome.
Gator's Tator
January 23rd, 2010
10:51 pm
Georgia fans hope Meyer DOES have the guts to come back and get his butt kicked by Grantham YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, JUST LIKE BAMA DID.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
10:51 pm
Technophobia, it would help the tension thats for sure.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
10:52 pm
Gator’s Tator, just like they did by the Great Van Gorder?
GrowlDawg
January 23rd, 2010
10:55 pm
No prob ga gator, but I meant that there is a difference between “reporting” and “supporting”.
Pete
January 23rd, 2010
10:56 pm
Junk, “We don’t get our daddy back now”
harry
January 23rd, 2010
10:56 pm
ga gator you are a ass hole you freaking gay bisterd
GaGator
January 23rd, 2010
10:57 pm
Gator’s Tator
Don’t get all excited and get your panties in a wad, just because you hired a DC.
The GATORS were #4 in total defense last year, the dawgs #38. You’re not going to catch
up for a long time, if you ever do, unlikely.