MLK’s Mack Brown still a Gator ‘at this moment’
AJC Super 11 tailback Mack Brown said he’s sticking with Florida “at this moment” but also said that he’s surprised and hurt by the unexpected news that coach Urban Meyer is stepping down.
“Everybody’s shocked right now,” Brown said shortly after hearing the news Saturday night. “I know I’m in shock.”
Brown, a senior at Martin Luther King High School, chose the Gators over Georgia before the season started. I asked him shortly after the news broke if it affected his decision.
“Not at this moment,” he said in a text message. “It just hurts right now ’cause I have a strong relationship with Coach Meyer. He recruited me. But at this moment I’m still a Gator.”
A little later I spoke to Brown by phone and he told me how he heard about it.
“Me and a friend were fixing to come in and watch some bowl games when my coach (Corey Jarvis) called,” Brown said. “He said the were saying on ESPN that Coach Meyer was resigning. We went in and turned on the TV and, sure enough, that’s what it said. Then I called Coach Carter.”
‘Coach Carter’ is Florida running backs coach Kenny Carter, Brown’s primary recruiter.
“He told me to stay cool, think positive and stick with Florida right now,” Brown said. “I’m still a Gator and going to stay a Gator until I meet the new coaching staff.”
Meyer, citing health issues, tendered his resignation Saturday night.
“I have given my heart and soul to coaching college football and mentoring young men for the last 24-plus years and I have dedicated most of my waking moments the last five years to the Gator football program,” Meyer said in a statement. “I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to reevaluate my priorities of faith and family. After consulting with my family, Dr. Machen, Jeremy Foley and my doctors, I believe it is in my best interest to step aside and focus on my health and family.”
There were indications something might be amiss. The night Florida lost to Alabama in the SEC championship game in Atlanta, Meyer checked into a hospital the next morning for what Florida officials said was a dehydration issue. But there were also reports he had experienced chest pains.
In addition, Meyer has had to replace his offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator, respectively, the last two seasons. He also had to deal with several player-discipline issues and was fined by the SEC office for talking about game officials.
Defensive end Neiron Ball of Jackson also is committed to Florida but could not immediately be reached for comment. His coach, Mike Parris, said he’d talked to Ball but that the player was “going to let me know” if Meyer’s resignation would affect his decision.
Meyer, 45, led the Gators to national titles in two of the last four seasons. He is 56-10 in five seasons at Florida heading into the Sugar Bowl, in which he will coach.
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207 comments Add your comment
Go Dawgs
December 26th, 2009
8:59 pm
Enter your comments here
kb
December 26th, 2009
9:01 pm
It’s not funny and I mean it.
Jason
December 26th, 2009
9:01 pm
Hope Coach Meyer can get fixed what’s wrong with him. But, great news for us Georgia fans! The Savior and his 12 disciples are leaving, can’t be good for the new head man, whoever he is(sorry TCU)
Go Dawgs
December 26th, 2009
9:01 pm
Have to agree with kb, amonst all the fun and silly blogs, have to wish the Meyer family well. To give up his love of coaching is heart hurting. Every coach thats produce winners, eventually has to step down, Dooley, Bowden, Dodd, among others.
Dawgtime
December 26th, 2009
9:04 pm
I do hope Coach Myer is okay. Health issues are scary things to deal with. He was a very successful coach that could not achieve much more in the game. As a UGA fan, I won’t miss him because they kicked our butts most of the time. As a human being, I wish him well and God speed. I encourage all UGA fans to have class with this matter. Go DAWGS.
roll jackets = nerd
December 26th, 2009
9:04 pm
Florida will go get Dan Mullen from Mississippi State
YELLOW FUZZ
December 26th, 2009
9:05 pm
I do not want to talk about Florida or about Urban.Lets talk about Paul (Big Drawers) Johnson and the Jackets.
roll jackets = nerd
December 26th, 2009
9:07 pm
Yellow Fuzz there is nothing to talk about with the Jackets. Tech plays in a crappy conference and still cannot beat UGA. Yes they got into a BCS Bowl by the ACC being pathetic.
dawg snit on buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
December 26th, 2009
9:07 pm
sylvester croom to be next coach at flahrida. seen it on histery channall
GT MAN
December 26th, 2009
9:07 pm
Yellow Fuzz, I’m a GT grad, and after being out-coached by Richt, I cant assist you tonight. I’ll leave you on your own with the Dawg fans. I admit, we stunk that night. really a big embarrasement.
kerryb
December 26th, 2009
9:08 pm
Who wants to talk about that porker with the pitted face.
YELLOW FUZZ
December 26th, 2009
9:09 pm
Ok, you have pissed me off for the last time.
See ya.
GT MAN
December 26th, 2009
9:10 pm
Still would be great to see UGA get Wommack as they’re defensive coordinator. Give credit to Martinez, he held Vandy to 10, Wommack gave up 31 to them. Please offer him something.
Tony Wade
December 26th, 2009
9:11 pm
The man resigned due to serious health issues and some folks are taking shots. Momma warned me about heartless folks like you.
roll jackets = nerd
December 26th, 2009
9:12 pm
What is funny is that when crappy schools usually go to BCS games, the media usually hypes their coach up by saying some big program will try to get them. Why does nobody ever mention Paul Johnson? It is not like Tech pays him a lot or he has a buy out clause. Buy out clauses do not exist when your stadium only seats 35,000 people.
Oh I know why that nobody talks about Paul, because he sucks along with Georgia Tech.
GT MAN
December 26th, 2009
9:13 pm
Yellow Fuzz. Are you a him or a shim? I might can help you out.
kerryb
December 26th, 2009
9:14 pm
I hope Coach Meyer will be fine. I have always hated FU but have admired what Coach Meyer has accomplished in the last 5 years. A former Braves minor league player and Braves fan can’t be half bad. Good luck to him and his family.
YELLOW FUZZ
December 26th, 2009
9:16 pm
GT MAN ,I am a tresvandyke, thank you. you still interested?
Snoopdawg09
December 26th, 2009
9:17 pm
what the hell is a tresvandyke?
Big L
December 26th, 2009
9:17 pm
Did I just read some loser say that the All Crap Conference was ripe for a comeback. The conference who’s champion has to use a gimmick to beat clemson and Duke. Who can’t beat mid tier SEC teams. How unsteeped in reality do ya gotta be to post here. And to whoever posted a Pic of Paul Johnson as a replacement at UF should be fired. Nobody wants a team pic with a head coach who’s face resembles a nut sack.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 26th, 2009
9:18 pm
Hard to believe there are actually members of the dog nation rejoicing tonight over Urban Meyer’s poor health. Actually it is not hard to believe!
Dawg man
December 26th, 2009
9:18 pm
Yellow fuzz——I am !!!!!!
GT MAN
December 26th, 2009
9:18 pm
Maybe.
$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl
December 26th, 2009
9:20 pm
AND. Yellow Fuzz gave his word that he would never post again if Tech lost to the dogs in November. My bet is that the YELLOW FUZZ guy on this thread is an imposter.
GT MAN
December 26th, 2009
9:20 pm
Shims mine,all mine.
roll jackets = nerd
December 26th, 2009
9:20 pm
GT Man who is Womack? Is that Georgia Tech’s pathetic coordinator. If it is he could not stop the worst UGA Team in 10 years, why would we want him?
Kirby Smart will be at UGA in a couple of weeks after the nation championship game. People can say Dawgs fans are dreaming, but the truth is that he is tired of Saban. UGA is going to pay him $700,000+. Bud Foster was never offered the job. Vic Koening was never offered the job. There is a coaching committe that is in charge of hiring the DC over Mark Richt. They told Richt to put out feelers to several coaches. Kirby has told UGA that he wanted the job, and he wanted to finalize everything after the game.
$14 Million Embarassment Coming
December 26th, 2009
9:21 pm
Hard to believe that Tech posters think that anyone cares what they post.
GT MAN
December 26th, 2009
9:21 pm
Whoever is using my name–please stop and use your own name. Sorry, Yellow Fuzz, it was not I that called you a transvesdyke, but I do have an idea who and I’m getting ready to contact AJC about it.
YELLOW FUZZ
December 26th, 2009
9:22 pm
I’ts me i’ts me i’ts Earnest T
Big L
December 26th, 2009
9:22 pm
Glad to see him go but i hope he gets healthy. God bless you bubba. No reason to hate on UF. How often does a player like Tebow come along. Florida just happened to get the special playe of our era. No reson for Richt not to rule the east now. This cannot just be a coinsidence.
GT MAN
December 26th, 2009
9:24 pm
And I am pee peeing in the big potty now.
Big L
December 26th, 2009
9:25 pm
man folks are leavin Florida like it has VD or something.
roll jackets = nerd
December 26th, 2009
9:26 pm
Hey I wish the best to Urban Meyer and his family. The Dawg Nation will have you and your family in our thoughts and prayers.
Snoopdawg09
December 26th, 2009
9:27 pm
Got to go feed Russ, and put homecoming queen back in the barn–goodnight doggies.
YELLOW FUZZ
December 26th, 2009
9:27 pm
Yep, Big L set right next to me at Georgia Tech in english class and cheated off my papers.
GT MAN
December 26th, 2009
9:29 pm
I’m still mad.
Big L
December 26th, 2009
9:29 pm
Okay, I have regained my composure and still can’t stop giggling like a girl who just saw her first tallywhacker. 20 years of UF dominence ends with Tebow and Meyer leaving at same time. What u call coinsidence, I call UF’s contract with satan coming to an end.
GT MAN
December 26th, 2009
9:33 pm
Had enough fun, will sign off now.
Big L
December 26th, 2009
9:33 pm
Hey Yellah Fuzz, u dang right i did, and I took ur lunch money, gave u wedgies, and dated ur sister. Heh.
YELLOW FUZZ
December 26th, 2009
9:34 pm
I am a Tresvandyke not a Transvesdyke, thank you very much People like you mistake North Vietnamese for South Vietnamese.
Gator Fan
December 26th, 2009
9:34 pm
Those low life UGA fans that posted classless comments about Urban Meyer on this blog are the reason I hate UGA. There are some UGA fans who have class but unfortunately the majority are classless. I wish the best to Urban Meyer and his family. If the UGA fans think that this is the end of the Gators they have another thing coming. We may be down but we are not out. We will rebound.
YELLOW FUZZ
December 26th, 2009
9:36 pm
GT MAN , don’t leave me i’m just getting warmed up you big brute.
Big L
December 26th, 2009
9:37 pm
Pease do not take anything I say on here too seriously. I am having fun and since the college football season is basicly over, I am gonna have some fun. Unless ur Saint Simons, then I am planning your painful demise.l
YELLOW FUZZ
December 26th, 2009
9:38 pm
Who now would like to converse with me now?
YELLOW FUZZ
December 26th, 2009
9:40 pm
St. Simons and and I are like two pee pees in a condom…
Real tight.
Dawggie
December 26th, 2009
9:43 pm
Boy did C. Strong pick the wrong week to leave or what? While I think Dan Mullen is the perfect (and correct) choice here, wouldn’t C. Strong as HC been very interesting considering:
a) his proven success rate in the SEC
b) popularity
c) race
I realy feel that if a program like UF hired in an AA HC then many AA young men would follow just based on race. B.J. Butler (a UGA committ) has already stated that he would love to play and learn under CSS.
I’m just saying…
Coach Meyer: we have no choice but to hate you on gameday but we are all SEC junkies and so at the least we have interest. Best of luck to you.
YELLOW FUZZ
December 26th, 2009
9:43 pm
Gator Fan, go share a kleenx with Teblow . We do not want your whining on this blog ,ok.?
Big L
December 26th, 2009
9:44 pm
Then i say sir, death to you and your bug lovin’ ways.
Zerevon
December 26th, 2009
9:45 pm
I am a lifetime all the way BAMA fan. Here is the real deal, Meyer did an excellent job Tebow or not. Man has serious enough health issues that he is leaving. God bless him and his family and speedy recovery. He is young enough to come back to coach any place he wishes but if you don’t have your health,if you are dead you can’t coach anything. Some time you have to know your priorities apparently coach Meyer does. We all love our football teams and we all are passionate fans otherwise we wouldn’t be here chatting on a Saturday night. May God bless every one of you guys and good night. Go Bama, Go ACC. Go SEC…
YELLOW FUZZ
December 26th, 2009
9:47 pm
I’m heading over to St. Simons to call it a night. Making it a threesome with Buzz. Get to see his stinger in action. Wish you could see it. It’s a nice one.