So much for R&R: Urban Meyer to coach spring practice
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’.
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402 comments Add your comment
Ocala and my lil room of rehab and quietitude
January 24th, 2010
10:59 am
I can soak my feet into Silver Springs on hot day, vs walking all over the hot asphalt of U of F’s athletic grounds and I can watch Opra all day long in my lil rehab room. If I need to sob, they prop my feet up and I sob thinking about the SEC CG and how tebow is bye bye.
I like it here in rehab and I might stay or I might go or I might sob, or I might go recruit or I might stay or I might go sob. Stability is the hallmark of Florida football. right??
Urban
john
January 24th, 2010
11:01 am
wait a minute God and family……..i gave you all that you deserve……..now my team needs me………..it comes around UM…….beware of the consequences…….life decisions that apparently have little value to you
Not Disappointed
January 24th, 2010
11:01 am
Time will tell for Coach Myer.
Ramblin Wreck!
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
11:02 am
Ocala and my lil room of rehab and quietitude, quit changing your handle and grow a pair. Please don’t quit your day job though, your humor even makes me laugh.
PTC DAWG
January 24th, 2010
11:02 am
So here come the “Brantley is better than Tebow guys”…give me a break…
Dandy Dawg
January 24th, 2010
11:06 am
Personally, I don’t care if Meyer coaches or not. It’s his choice and it’s a free country. However, you have to ask yourself, why did he make this whole big deal about family and health, cry on TV, say he’s going to quit, and then less than a day later, reverse himself after watching practice? Something’s not right, he’s either very ill, or he made this up to get attention after getting his defendiong champion and number one rated team embarassed by Alabama. I for one think it’s the latter, granted the guy is a great football coach, but he’s insecure and was only looking for some attention because he felt sorry for himself. The key point is that it was for him, not his family, not his health, and not his team. The guy has a serious problem, just like all you inferior UF posters who spend your days trolling UGA sites.
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
11:06 am
PTC DAWG, Brantley will be a better passer and the offense could be better than in 09, but Tebow is a better football player; right next to Hershel the 2 best of all time.
For cyring out lound
January 24th, 2010
11:08 am
Come on Meyer, Did your moma not give you enough attenion?
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
11:09 am
Dandy Dawg, dude I live in Georgia now, this is an AJC SPORTS site not a UGA site. We like college football just like you; grow up you shouldn’t feel threatened.
FUGA
January 24th, 2010
11:09 am
Guys –
The reality is the dwags will continue to be the Gators beatch!
But there’s always the Independence Bowl! Shreveport’s a great town!
lovin the UGA love
January 24th, 2010
11:12 am
Meyer’s momma gave him enough attention, and Richt can’t coach without his wifey on the sidelines.
Buckhead Bulldog
January 24th, 2010
11:14 am
TampaGator:
Maybe, the reason so many UGA fans are commenting here is because the title of the article reads: “So much for R&R: Urban Meyer to coach spring practice”, UF is the main team in the East to beat for UGA, and this IS the major paper in the capital city of GEORGIA.
Get your FACTS straight
January 24th, 2010
11:18 am
Meyer has lost 4 games ONE time in his entire Head Coaching career
The Gators lose ONE offensive linemen from the 2 deep OL. ONE and that’s it.
Yes the 2010 class is number one, the rest of the players on the team are from #1, #2, #3 and a #11 class (that had the highest avg. star rating that year)
The Gators lost 11 starters, UGA lost 8, UT loses 13. The players replacing UF’ starters DO HAVE a good bit of experience compared to those replacing the starters at UGA and UT.
UGA owns the overall series record vs. UF, so what, I doubt ANYONE here has seen a winning record vs. UF in your lifetime. UF has more National Titles than UGA does.
DawgNation
January 24th, 2010
11:19 am
Skipper,
Yea the same old song is repeated through the 90’s and 2000’s but I remember the sounds from 1970-1989. 15-5 Georgia and the Florida fans as frustrated as Georgia fans are now. Just like musical styles, football programs change and tables are turned.
Lord of the Lizards
January 24th, 2010
11:21 am
ga gator, those of us close to the program know the real story. First, the immediate goal is to secure and sign another outstanding recruiting class and then work out the details of the time between then and fall practice. Expect Coach Meyer to take strategic time away while still being involved with coaching spring ball and Friday Night Lights in July. Don’t look for him on the speaking circuit this year unless he decides to do one or two of them like maybe Atlanta Gator Club. Those decisions are yet to be made and may be somewhat fluid. But expect the assistant coaching staff to take alot more of the load, including Junior day and spring evaluations. Jeremy I think will be keeping an eye on this and will be prepared to step in if he does not think Urban is not taking the necessary steps. Shouldn’t be a problem though…
FUGA
January 24th, 2010
11:24 am
Those recordings of run lyndsey run are getting pretty old and distorded from being played so many times aren’t they?
DawgNation
January 24th, 2010
11:30 am
Ga gator,
True this is the AJC Sports page but the powers to be there have made separate sections for UGA, Tech, Hawks, Braves, Falcons, High School with blogs for each section. Sometimes a blog for a specific team is placed in the main Sports section that has interest more so than other stories but they are usually placed under the heading of the specific team. So yes in a sense this is a UGA blog since it was linked in the UGA section. I for one welcome fans from other teams as they do bring different perspectives but the greater than though trash talkers should find another blog to post on. Maybe one that is from their home newspaper. I promise I wont jump on it any more than I jump on the Tech blog here in the AJC.
DawgNation
January 24th, 2010
11:32 am
FUGA,
Not anymore than “The sugar is falling from the sky”. It is the moments in history that make us fans. Enjoy your your history now as it may have to hold you over soon.
FUF
January 24th, 2010
11:32 am
It is “Run Lindsay, 25, 20, 15, 10, Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott” NOT “run lyndsey run”. Get your facts straight, Forrest Gatorgump, if you are gonna talk junk.
Denver Dog
January 24th, 2010
11:32 am
Someone hit a sore place on the underbelly of some of the Gator Fans. Meyer is a great coach, and has a great system. He has great players, a great fan base, and his team plays in the best division of the best conference in the NCAA. According to one of the bloggers, there is not less than a number 1 recruit playing at UF. The question would be, why would he even consider not coaching at UF? If UF wins the next 2, then they will pull even in the series as I have seen it in my lifetime of watching UGA football. No doubt they have dominated the Dogs since 1991. I hope you guys can stop the slurs at each other and talk about footbal or something more relevant. My question to you Gators is if your program is on top, and people like me are saying so, why are you on here running down UGA to try and make your case about UF, and the Mighty Gators.
Cecil34
January 24th, 2010
11:33 am
I wonder what school’s helmet Richt will have UGA wearing next year since the Grambling State University helmets failed to lead the team to victory?
DawgNation
January 24th, 2010
11:36 am
Cecil34,
Expect to see the red helment, white face mask, and black G on white background with red outline. Like the black jearsy from the Alabama game I don’t think you’ll see it again.
Which helment were your guys wearing in the SECCG?
lovin the UGA love
January 24th, 2010
11:37 am
DawgNation, we can talk series records all day and UGA is still ahead. I was born in 52 and in my lifetime UF is slightly ahead, but who cares. This is a AJC blog, not a UGA blog or a UF blog. I have gone to all the home UGA games with my girlfriend for the last 3 years and actually root for them except in Jax. I actually think the UGA pregame when they show Lindsey run and Tebow get sacked is quite amusing and was at the game when Lindsey made his historic run; was a great game although I didn’t think so at the time. My whole point is you love your coach and we love ours. Spurrier got into your heads and it continues still. I don’t think the UF fans would tolerate coaching that consistently lost to his main rivals and suffered home losses to Ky and Vandy; but that is UGA and it is none of our concern. Coach Richt is a fine man just as Tebow is and Meyer also, so let’s stop the name calling and act like adults.
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
11:38 am
sounds like something I would say; amen brother.
JASON
January 24th, 2010
11:39 am
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a78/nursetpd/Florida/Urban_Returns.gif
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
11:39 am
DawgNation, good point. Stay with tradition; I suspect Meyer believed he needed a motivational tool with Dunlap out and believed UA had the better team (which they did).
Bill E. Goat
January 24th, 2010
11:39 am
To answer your question “why are you on here running down UGA to try and make your case about UF”
For the most part people are going to react and respond to those running down their program ie. UGA fans talking smack about UF.
Let me ask you a ? If Meyer is such a headcase and UGA’s all-time series is some sort of trump in bragging rights then why are the UGA fans so concerned with what Meyer or UF does? Why all the vitirol?
Rob
January 24th, 2010
11:49 am
“Urban Liar Caught in Lies”
Get a life!
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
11:52 am
All gators, I have a suggestion; lets only respond to the Dawg fans who want to actually discuss football. It will cut down on our workload.
Meyer--Mr. 5-3 in the SEC, 40% of the time
January 24th, 2010
11:54 am
Ok, let’s see, 5 years at Florida, 40% of the seasons went 5-3 in the SEC.
2010 will be his next 5-3 in the SEC year, losses to 3 of these guys: Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Miss St., FSU, and South Carolina.
Cecil34
January 24th, 2010
11:55 am
DawgNation,
Not a FLA fan, just curious – truth is, that one you described is the one they should show up with next year, without question.
89EAGLE
January 24th, 2010
11:55 am
Ga fans that think Fl will suffer next year can keep on dreaming.
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
11:57 am
Meyer–Mr. 5-3 in the SEC, 40% of the time, dream on Bro. That was before he had only his recruits instead of the departed Zooks (who still had a winning record against UGA). Good try though.
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
11:59 am
Denver Dog, I forgot to tell you that you were wrong either earlier today or last nignt. Brantley’s parents weren’t from UGA or Georgia. His dad was a QB at UF and his uncle Scott was an all sec MLB at UF and also played about 6 years in the NFL. His Grandparents were Clemson people or as they say “Climpson”.
Richt's the Man
January 24th, 2010
12:00 pm
Urban ain’t had a year better than Richt’s yet.
Richt has gone 13-1 winning the SEC. Big deal. Been there, done that.
Richt has won the SEC 2 times (interesting that when Meyer wins the SEC, Meyer is invited to the Natl Champ, when Richt wins the SEC, Richt is NOT invited).
2002, 2005, & 2007 were all Natl Champ years IF Richt coached at Florida or LSU. Since the uniform is red & black, they’re just “unofficial” Natl Champs.
Richt has done something Meyer, Saban, Miles, will never do:
Win 90 games in 9 years in the SEC
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
12:01 pm
Denver Dawg you were wrong about Brantley’s parents being from Georgia. They were from Ocala and his Dad and Uncle played for UF.
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
12:03 pm
Richt’s the Man, if you are happy with that with a 2-7 record against us, knock yourself out. Meyer has already won over 50 in 5 years so if he stays 9 it should not be a problem. Who would you rather have at UF since you people seem so unhappy that he is staying? Spurrier, Zook?
Richt Is 2x Better Than Meyer
January 24th, 2010
12:04 pm
Funny, in 9 YEARS, Richt’s only had 2 seasons where he was 5-3 or 4-4, 7 other times he was better than that in the SEC.
In 5 years, Meyer has ALREADY had 2 seasons when he’s been 5-3 in the SEC.
Meyer’s % of 5-3 or worse seasons in Sec = 40%
Richt’s % of 5-3 or worse seasons in SEC = 22%
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
12:04 pm
Richt Is 2x Better Than Meyer, there you go changing your handle again; you need to man up. Don’t try to convince us that Richt is a great coach, we hope he stays at least 7 more years.
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
12:06 pm
FUGA, that’s distorted; don’t make us look bad.
FUGA
January 24th, 2010
12:06 pm
like I said, old and distorded…
DawgNation
January 24th, 2010
12:09 pm
lovin the UGA love,
Though I wasn’t born in 52, my parents waited till 60, I as well could give two hoots about the past records. The beauty of college football is for the most part every 4 years things change. It is exciting to watch kids play a game they love and the desire they have to win. So no, I don’t care about the records either. I do disagree with you on the blog issue. If you want to talk about Braves baseball do you click on the Braves link or the UGA link? I come on here to read and talk about UGA football so fans from other schools who, as in your words, don’t act like adults want to spew their vile then find a blog that caters to their team and blast UGA all you want. Most just want to see how many people they get a rise out of anyway and have no knowledge about the subject of the story. Sir I won’t lie to you I don’t, nor will I ever, root for UF but I don’t go on to sites to bust their chops. I respect the accomplishments of even the most losing coach as they are doing something that most of us could never do and that is coach at that level. I can’t afford nor do I have the time to devote to going to the games but that doesn’t diminish my enthusazum for team I choose to support. I commend you and your girlfriend on the ability to be able to attend and I’m a little jealous that I can not be there in Jax for the UGA-FL game, but my memories of the Belue to Lindsey are as fresh as the day my new bride and I watched it from our apartment in Dahlonega while we were in college. Those are the moments that seal a fans loyalty. As far as coachs go I supported everyone fully and supported the changes that the AD had to make when changes were needed. I admire other coaches but some I don’t due to there actions on and off the field. I’m not sure if you were directing your adult comment to me or not but all you have to do is scroll back and read my past posts. I will poke fun when it is in fun but will not belittle anyone here.
Brantley = The Next Ron Powlus
January 24th, 2010
12:10 pm
Yes, believe the hype Gator knuckleheads, Brantley will turn out just like Ron Powlus, you heard it heere first.
Brantely = Ron Powlus
Buckhead Bulldog
January 24th, 2010
12:11 pm
Cecil34: Ummmm, UF went back to the traditional, Gator in cursive, scroll for the Sugar Bowl.
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
12:12 pm
DawgNation, good post but this particular blog is titled about Meyers R&R so I think it kind of includes us Gators.
ga gator
January 24th, 2010
12:15 pm
Brantley = The Next Ron Powlus, there you go again changing your handle. I bet you hope he turns out like Powlus and that Murray or whoever doesn’t turn into Stafford=Green=Shockley=Cox=losing record against UF.
Bill E. Goat
January 24th, 2010
12:19 pm
Richt is 2x’s you are a complete FOOL. Richt is 1-4 vs. Meyer. Meyer has gone 13-1 60% of his time in the SEC. Richt has done that 12% of his seasons at UGA. Case closed, Idiot.
FUF
January 24th, 2010
12:20 pm
FUGA
January 24th, 2010
12:06 pm
“like I said, old and distorded…”
So you are running your trap without even knowing what the hell you are talking about, huh? You have never even set foot on the campus in Gainesville for classes, right?
“distorded”?….try distorted. Get your facts AND now spelling correct if you are going to bring the smack!
DawgNation
January 24th, 2010
12:22 pm
ga gator,
No doubt about that my friend. This particular story is posted in the main Sports page but it is also linked in the UGA section. It has interest to UGA fans that is why it is posted there I would surmise. The story is very relevant for FL fans but unfortunately some on both sides can’t seem to stay on track with the story. We all have different opinions based on our affiliations and probably wont change for either side but I do enjoy the differing insights the opposing team’s fans have. Keep posting.
DawgNation
January 24th, 2010
12:23 pm
Have a good one ga gator