Urban decay? Sporting News examines a ‘broken’ Florida
The former Florida head ball coach has been taken to task by Matt Hayes. (AP photo)
The Georgia Bulldogs haven’t had the sunniest of offseasons — and there’s still a whole summer to go! — but Matt Hayes of Sporting News offers a bit of reading guaranteed to warm the Red & Black heart. It’s about Urban Meyer and Florida, and if you happen to hate the Gators this will serve as the feel-good story of the spring.
It commences with a killer anecdotal lead (or lede, as we say in the trade): The Urban Crier, who’s now coaching Ohio State, tells the family of recruit Stephon Diggs he wouldn’t let his son go to Florida because of “character issues in the locker room.”
Writes Hayes: “[Those] character issues … we now know were fueled by a culture Meyer created.”
And then Hayes has at it, detailing — mostly via unnamed sources, we should note — just how the Urbanator created a two-tier system in Gainesville: Either you were a star and a member of his “Circle of Trust,” or you weren’t. (Meyer to Hayes: “I’ve never heard of Circle of Trust before in my life.”)
Hayes reports that Meyer pushed aside an injured player to clear scholarship room and that Florida covered up one-game suspensions for failed drug tests by having stars — Percy Harvin and that Georgia fan favorite Brandon Spikes among them — feign injury. The charming Harvin, Hayes recounts, once threw receivers coach Billy Gonzales to the ground. (Meyer to Hayes: “Something did happen and something was handled. I don’t think it’s fair to Percy Harvin or Billy Gonzales to talk about it.”)
Enough with the teasers. (I’m sorry. Here’s just one more: A former player calls Meyer a “great coach” but “a bad person.”) Just go read the story. It’s a dandy.
By Mark Bradley
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306 comments Add your comment
Dawg Whisperer
April 10th, 2012
9:29 am
The Sporting News article is yet further evidence that college football has evolved into a minor league of sorts for the NFL. It is big time sports driven by big time money. It is pure hypocrisy for any fan base to point fingers at another school because all fans welcome wins at the cost of the original intention, i.e., lest anyone forget, college is about education. Take big revenue out of the equation which means coaches paid roughly equivalent to college professors and you’ll probably have a sport on a level that fans won’t embrace. The moral of the story… everyone needs to shut up, you get what you ask for.
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:29 am
I love how some, not all, UGA fans rejoice when other teams fall apart. UGA can not compete with the big boys of the SEC which is why they schedule cupcakes to avoid the LSU’s and Bama’s. I know that UGA has had current success against Auburn but still, UGA is NOWHERE near LSU or Bama.
With that said, Mark Bradley is a curse to GA sports. The Atlanta Braves for instance.
Facts
April 10th, 2012
9:29 am
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:26 am
“Nothing new here. Tebow was the only thing Meyer or Florida ever had.”
Yeah, except UF won without Tebow in 06. Try again.
Remove the Name “Tebow” insert Newton, Remove the Name “Meyer” and insert Chizik, remove the name “Florida” and insert Auburn and you have the exact same thing.
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:29 am
“Sounds like Ohio State just hired “Jim Tressel” 2″
Urban Meyer has never gotten a team put on probation. Try again.
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:30 am
“Remove the Name “Tebow” insert Newton, Remove the Name “Meyer” and insert Chizik, remove the name “Florida” and insert Auburn and you have the exact same thing.”
Yes, you have a national championship. Also, Newton is doing quite well in the NFL in case you forgot about that.
Try again.
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:31 am
Facts
Here’s a nice fact for you.
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton broke Peyton Manning’s single-season rookie record for most yards passing in a season in Carolina’s 48-16 win over Tampa Bay Saturday.
Manning’s record was 3,739 yards.
Newton came in needing 18 yards to break the record and did it with a 7-yard completion to Brandon LaFell on the game’s first drive. Newton was 3 for 3 on the opening drive for 20 yards as the Panthers scored on a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.
Source: ESPN
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:32 am
“The Georgia Bulldogs haven’t had the sunniest of offseasons”
Nope, so quit crying about about other schools.
PMC
April 10th, 2012
9:33 am
Urban is a very good football coach. He’s just Phony. He’s always been full of it and himself but he’s won championships too and they aren’t taking them away just like they aren’t striking Tressell’s from the record for Maurice Clarett and his cheating at Youngstown.
It’s not really the shady dealing that bothers me, that’s big time college athletics. It is what it is. If we wanted a clean system we would have one (and it would be terrible to watch)
When the guy goes through all this BS about quitting for his family/health…. to watch volleyball games etc I want to punch them in the face. Coaches do not care about their families… otherwise they wouldn’t have a career that affords them no time to spend with family. Urban took his year off in freaking Bristol. Stop peeing in my cheerios and telling me it’s milk. Just be genuine for once in your life.
Facts
April 10th, 2012
9:34 am
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:30 am
“Remove the Name “Tebow” insert Newton, Remove the Name “Meyer” and insert Chizik, remove the name “Florida” and insert Auburn and you have the exact same thing.”
Yes, you have a national championship. Also, Newton is doing quite well in the NFL in case you forgot about that.
Try again
And you have 3 players, one whose jury selection started yesterday who committed armed Robbery, and another player kicked off and sent to Arkansas St who sold dope all over East Alabama….9 arrest in one year at Auburn…..and Auburn tried to cover it up..too funny….buying a BCS title…..way to go….
DawginLex
April 10th, 2012
9:34 am
Facts
Yeah Richt lets them run wild. That’s why we have so many players suspended.
Other schools turn their heads and ignore the problems so the kids can play.
Richt actually punishes them and gives them an opportunity for a life lesson.
But you keep believing what you want to believe in your little delusional “I Hate UGA” existence you call a life.
We've been pretty fortunate
April 10th, 2012
9:34 am
Dodd, Dooley, Rogers, Ross, Richt, Curry – all good character coaches
DawginLex
April 10th, 2012
9:36 am
Facts
UGA grad rates have risen exponentially since Richt arrived.
PMC
April 10th, 2012
9:36 am
I wish more coaches were honest rather than spout flowery BS when asked questions.
Paul Johnson may be acerbic, but I trust him a little more than most to be telling the truth. I guarantee you Bobby Petrino preaches ethics and character for his players…. while providing the absolute model for how not to live your life.
Facts
April 10th, 2012
9:36 am
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:31 am
Facts
Here’s a nice fact for you.
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton broke Peyton Manning’s single-season rookie record for most yards passing in a season in Carolina’s 48-16 win over Tampa Bay Saturday.
Manning’s record was 3,739 yards.
Newton came in needing 18 yards to break the record and did it with a 7-yard completion to Brandon LaFell on the game’s first drive. Newton was 3 for 3 on the opening drive for 20 yards as the Panthers scored on a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.
What does that have to do with the article, your initial comment or the facts of the case..Nothing….
Tebow never got into trouble, he never had an NCAA investigation for 10 months and is now in the NFL….history…you are an idiot…this is about the coaches of the college teams allowing players to run the program.
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:37 am
“And you have 3 players, one whose jury selection started yesterday who committed armed Robbery”
And that has what to do with Newton?
“9 arrest in one year at Auburn”
12 arrests in one year at UGA.
“buying a BCS title…..way to go….”
So where’s the probation? Where’s the evidence?
Try again.
Facts
April 10th, 2012
9:38 am
DawginLex
April 10th, 2012
9:36 am
Facts
UGA grad rates have risen exponentially since Richt arrived.
Maybe since they arrived….but in the past 4 years( while the program has gone through some major difficulties) the graduation rates have fallen…
Herschel Talker
April 10th, 2012
9:38 am
MB:
Urban is an embarrassment of a human being. The lowest form of pond scum. Mark Richt is a terrible coach, but he is about as good as they come as a human being.
HT
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:39 am
“Other schools turn their heads and ignore the problems so the kids can play.”
Really? Auburn kicked all three of those guys off the team. Chizik kicked Dyer off the team.
Not every school caters to thug life.
Joe 12-Pack
April 10th, 2012
9:39 am
It is well worth your time to read that article. And not just for Gator haters. More fuel against the smuggest team in the nation: Ohio State.
I wonder how well Urban would’ve done without Tebow to keep things calm.
George Stein
April 10th, 2012
9:39 am
Head Corch Irvin Meyers may have created his own damn headaches.
bucket
April 10th, 2012
9:40 am
Since the name Cam Newton has been brought up I will ask the question that has never been adequately answered: We know that Urban Meyer, though a good coach, is a win-at-all-cost kind of guy. If he had held onto Cam he would have been almost assured another national championship the year after Tebow left. We know that Urban Meyer was not a dummy and that he knew that Cam Newton was better than any other QB he had at Florida not named Tebow. So why would Urban Meyer allow Cam Newton to leave? What did Cam Newton do that was so bad that even Urban Meyer couldn’t cover it up and keep him @ Florida for another MNC run?
DawginLex
April 10th, 2012
9:40 am
Facts
You said the inmates are running the asylum in Athens. That Richt has no control.
I challenge that big time
Donnan?
Different story.
Overall in the 11 years Richt has been there, he has made every effort to improve the academics and the character of these kids. Some listen some don’t.
You bash him like he is Petrino.
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:41 am
“What does that have to do with the article, your initial comment or the facts of the case..Nothing….”
Ok, you’re not a smart person. First, you compared Newton to Tebow. I showed a fact to back up my point about Newton not being Tebow.
Newton can actually throw the ball.
“Tebow never got into trouble, he never had an NCAA investigation for 10 months and is now in the NFL….history…you are an idiot”
Ok retard, you wanna really go there? Geez little girl, you have the IQ of a carrot.
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:42 am
“So why would Urban Meyer allow Cam Newton to leave?”
Because he went with Brantley. He thought Brantley was the better QB. No one knew Cam would be that good. Urban was bitter when Cam shined at Auburn.
DawginLex
April 10th, 2012
9:43 am
Auburn fan
Has “Facts” shared with us who his team is since apparently Jesus Christ is the Head Coach and Moses is the Offensive Coordinator??
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:44 am
DawginLex
You seem like the only sensible UGA fan on this blog.
DawginLex
April 10th, 2012
9:44 am
Pretty sure Urban didn’t have the final say in Cam leaving UF. The school kicked him out didn’t they?
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:44 am
DawginLex
Facts is an angry human being.
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:45 am
“The school kicked him out didn’t they?”
There’s never been a story, I don’t think there has, about Cam getting kicked out. From what I’ve heard, from UF students, he left on his own because he would have sat behind Tebow.
If Cam is so bad, why has he been squeaky clean ever since that incident?
Facts
April 10th, 2012
9:46 am
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:41 am
“What does that have to do with the article, your initial comment or the facts of the case..Nothing….”
Ok, you’re not a smart person. First, you compared Newton to Tebow. I showed a fact to back up my point about Newton not being Tebow.
Newton can actually throw the ball.
“Tebow never got into trouble, he never had an NCAA investigation for 10 months and is now in the NFL….history…you are an idiot”
Ok retard, you wanna really go there? Geez little girl, you have the IQ of a carrot.
Are you stupid are what? The comment was about Urban Meyer winning because he had TEBOW, and you commented that without Tebow that Urban does not win a BCS title at Florida and my comment was that Chizik does not win a BCS title without his one year wonder NEWTON….now is that clear enough for you or do we need to draw you a picture.
GSUTodd
April 10th, 2012
9:46 am
To much “me” in lieu of “we” nowadays. That pertains to Urban Meyer, Sean Payton and most of the kids from the current generation. Florida should turn it around though…too much talent in that state.
GaStateBen: How about we win some sort of championship before stirring up the UGA and Tech fans. Their scout teams would whip us good if a game was played today.
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:47 am
“Are you stupid are what?”
OH THE IRONY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ma’am, if you’re going to insult me, at least use proper english.
Have a nice day, troglodyte.
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:48 am
“Chizik does not win a BCS title without his one year wonder NEWTON….now is that clear enough for you or do we need to draw you a picture.”
Yes little girl, draw me a picture of Newton winning the championship. I’ll give it to your mom when she leaves.
DawginLex
April 10th, 2012
9:48 am
NCAA never found anything on Newton so in my book it’s over
I said all along that Tebow is florida’s Herschel and that Meyer was smoke and mirrors and would flop without him
Dean
April 10th, 2012
9:49 am
Have to admit, Georgia state is on the way up. Babysteps! Miami was once the little, new kid on the block. In a few years they will own the Sunbelt and a bigger conference will come calling.
CMR
April 10th, 2012
9:49 am
Honestly, it was just a lucky coincidence that I suspended three tailbacks for the New Mexico State game even though they failed their drug tests before the Florida game. Honestly. Nothing to see here.
Facts
April 10th, 2012
9:49 am
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:47 am
“Are you stupid are what?”
OH THE IRONY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ma’am, if you’re going to insult me, at least use proper english.
Have a nice day, troglodyte
Yeah you need to get back to the SWAP SHOP, and see if the jury has been selected for your Football players trial in Auburn….the best thing to happen to AUBURN was getting VG as your DC and that still will not even be close to enough to make it to the upper half of the SEC….
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:51 am
“NCAA never found anything on Newton so in my book it’s over
THANK YOU!!!!!!!! My gosh, people have trashed that man for almost 2 years now. I still don’t think he took any money and if he did, he’d go down as the best liar ever in college football. Whenever a person has that much scrutiny thrown at him by the media, they usually crash and burn. Newton was fantastic and had the best year of ANY college football player outside of Walker.
DawginLex
April 10th, 2012
9:52 am
Here we go again
another idiot revisiting the UGA drug policy
UGA lawyers mandate that the policy be followed to the letter. That means nothing can be done until the results have gone through the lab. Dipstick tests show false positives all the time.
The test results were not vetted by the lab until the week after the florida game.
Now go crawl back in your hole
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:52 am
“Yeah you need to get back to the SWAP SHOP, and see if the jury has been selected for your Football players trial in Auburn….the best thing to happen to AUBURN was getting VG as your DC and that still will not even be close to enough to make it to the upper half of the SEC….”
Keep typing, troglodyte. You’re looking more and more like an idiot with every key stroke.
Believe me
April 10th, 2012
9:53 am
if CMR has to suspend someone, regardless of the opponent, he will do it.
CMR
April 10th, 2012
9:53 am
and another idiot swallows whole what his favorite school feeds him. Sounds like you’re in the market for a bridge!
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:54 am
There isn’t one single squeaky clean school out there. Coaches can only do so much to keep the teams clean. Boosters pay players and coaches have to deal with it.
Dean
April 10th, 2012
9:54 am
I think Meyer is a great coach with questionable character. I never thought that offense would work and while I was wrong, I think it only succeeded because he had Tebow. I think OSU will be good but not great and my bet is that Michigan starts to win the rivalry more often.
Gator Mike, rose colored glasses can be a bad thing. Unfortunately we all wear them in regards to our teams.
Bob
April 10th, 2012
9:54 am
Circle of Trust=Circle of the Black Thorn
DawginLex
April 10th, 2012
9:54 am
Don’t know where you have been but BVG was pretty darn good at UGA
He does still have sweet Willie coaching the secondary………….
Auburn Fan
April 10th, 2012
9:54 am
Things Meyer couldn’t do at UF.
1: Go undefeated.
2: Beat Auburn.
Joey
April 10th, 2012
9:55 am
You lost me at, “unnamed sources,” mr hayes.
bucket
April 10th, 2012
9:56 am
@ Auburn Fan – surely you jest! There’s no way that Meyer thought Brantley was the better QB. I think DawginLex is much closer to the truth on that one. Water under the bridge now, it just ticks me off when people get on the “UGA offered Cam Newton as a TE” crap again when they know that doesn’t even begin to tell the whole story. First, UGA already had a commitment from a guy who was a pretty good QB in Matthew Stafford and secondly, Cam didn’t stay out of trouble at Florida, so how was he supposed to stay out of trouble in Athens?
I do agree with you about Facts.
DawginLex
April 10th, 2012
9:56 am
CMR
Nah, just speaking facts
Lawyers tend to deal in facts and that is who is advising Coach Richt and Greg McGarity.
It is university policy.
You follow it or you get sued.
I know your brain can’t comprehend real world stuff so get your mommy to explain it to you.