BREAKING: URBAN MEYER STEPPING DOWN

by Joel Hollingsworth on Dec 26, 2009 6:55 PM EST in College Football

Via Florida's official site, Urban Meyer is stepping down as Florida's head coach due to health concerns.

"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," said Meyer. "I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to re-evaluate 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.

"I'm proud to be a part of the Gainesville community and the Gator Nation and I plan to remain in Gainesville and involved with the University of Florida.

"I'm very appreciative for the opportunity I've had to be a part of a tremendous institution - from Dr. Machen to Jeremy Foley and the entire administrative staff at UF. I'm also very thankful for the chance to work with some of the best assistants in college football and coach some of the best college football players and watch them grow both on and off the field as people. I will cherish the relationships with them the most."

Meyer will coach the Gators in the Sugar Bowl. More as it develops.

[Note by Joel, 12/26/09 6:58 PM EST ] Okay, off the cuff reaction:

First, best wishes for Meyer. Hope the health thing isn't as serious as it sounds. As much as we've loved to get on the good old sports hate for Meyer and the Gators, I'm sure I'm not the only one at RTT who hopes he makes a full and complete recovery. They're saying now that there's no immediate health concern, but what are we to make of his decision being based in part on his health? We'll just have to wait and see on that.

Second, this will sound crass, but is it inevitable that folks will minimize Meyer's legacy at Florida because it coincides so nicely with Tebow's time there?

Third, the SEC East is wide open now. The Gators will still be talented. They'll also likely get a fantastic coach to replace Meyer. But change takes time. Look at Monte Kiffin's defense this year compared to John Chavis's last year. No matter how good you can be, change takes time.

Fourth, wow.

[Note by Joel, 12/26/09 8:16 PM EST ] ESPN is now citing a source in reporting that Meyer's health condition is a heart valve muscle defect. It's apparently not life-threatening, but certainly sounds serious, as it has caused Meyer to be in the hospital multiple times since the day after the SEC Championship Game when he was admitted for chest pains.

[Note by Joel, 12/26/09 10:49 PM EST ] Well, ESPN's news crawl is now citing Meyer himself for the point that all of Meyer's health problems are "stress-related" and that his heart is healthy. So again, we'll just have to wait and see.

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[jaw. floor.]

Phone’s been ringing off the hook, and I can only answer it and sit there with my mouth open like a very shocked fish.

________________________________
I will give my shirt for Tennessee today.

by Holly Anderson on Dec 26, 2009 7:10 PM EST reply actions

No kidding.

I’ve been herding the masses over on Yahoo (heard about it from the Doc) after the news broke and navigating the phone… meanwhile, I have no idea what’s going on. To say I’m in shock would be an understatement.

Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.

by Chris Pendley on Dec 26, 2009 7:21 PM EST up reply actions

Me, too

It’s bizarre. There has to be more to it.

Rocky Top Talk

by Joel Hollingsworth on Dec 26, 2009 7:11 PM EST reply actions

I feel the same way. The timing is off.

by davy on Dec 26, 2009 8:59 PM EST up reply actions

just trying to keep UF on the front page...any press is good press......ain't it?...............

by pLANEolG8RB8 on Dec 28, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions

Valid point

…but. Jacking around with the HC position is not; I repeat NOT; a smart way to do it. Yes, that will get you “press”—all kinds of it for sure—but with that type of announcement and subsequent reversal, the long-term harm far outweighs the short term feat of being “Breaking News” on Sportscenter.

If the plan was to just put your program on the front page, Urbz should have done so like Kiffin. We all know that you can ripple more than a few waves by lobbing a few verbal jabs at a rival program (“I have video-proof that Kiffin and Saban are lovers!”), “guarantee” a win over Cincy in the upcoming bowl game, or even do something so clever as to proclaim that “Timmay T was granted another year of eligibility due to his sheer awesomeness!” Resigning your post as HC, only to change your mind 20 hrs. later is a terrible decision. If, indeed, that was the plan…the brainchild should go ahead and resign unconditionally.

by Aerobab on Dec 29, 2009 7:40 AM EST up reply actions

Maybe a combination

of not enough Tebow and too much Kiffin for the next……..forever = ulcer. All kidding aside, I hope the health concerns are not serious.

by TnseVol10 on Dec 26, 2009 7:14 PM EST reply actions

Someone close to Urban, i believe the AD, said it was not an immediate health concern

so its most likely nothing life threatening, i hope

RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Hard-on for Hardesty!

by Pride of the Southland on Dec 26, 2009 7:32 PM EST up reply actions

Wow.

by bsmithinc on Dec 26, 2009 7:15 PM EST reply actions

Whoa. And whaaa???

Hope he makes a full recoery from his ails… But wow.

I can't hear you. Rocky Top is playing.

by RockyTopinKY on Dec 26, 2009 7:21 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I hope that this is nothing critically serious

I had the chance to get to know Urban’s son, Nate, at the boys camp where I work in the summer. He’s a great kid who must have come from a great family.

After my initial thoughts about his health, I quickly turned to his replacement…

I would imagine that anyone outside of Brian Kelly, Mack Brown and Nick Saban is a potential candidate. But I also thought, maybe this is only a temporary thing. Perhaps Urban takes a year or two off to full recover from his ailments. Therefore, only a short term coach would be needy. That would rule out every big name coach. Perhaps living the job to some internally in the Florida system…

Since they aren’t happy in Columbia, they give the old Ball Coach and encore performance at his alma mater. Spurrier’s getting up there in age and probably won’t coach but a few more years. He could have the chance to come back to UF for 2 to 3 years while Urban gets healthy. He could retire at Florida, and then gracefully walk away and allow Urban to resume his position.

Strangely, all would still be right with the world. We could hate the gators even more than ever.

by newportVOL on Dec 26, 2009 7:39 PM EST reply actions

Sorry, I can't proof read..

needy=needed
living=leaving
OR = or

by newportVOL on Dec 26, 2009 7:40 PM EST up reply actions

Wow.

Getting past the reaction for a second and thinking to the second level … how do you think Charlie Strong feels right about now? He might have been in line for replacement.

by David Hooper on Dec 26, 2009 9:16 PM EST reply actions

I was wondering that as well.

Talk about bad timing. Wonder if he can still come back.

Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.

by Chris Pendley on Dec 26, 2009 10:55 PM EST up reply actions

apparently he hasn't signed a binding contract yet

just a terms sheet.

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Dec 26, 2009 11:12 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, wow.

That could get very interesting.

by David Hooper on Dec 26, 2009 11:33 PM EST up reply actions

In other news...

…my new favoriate artist Bobby Ray (aka B.o.B) is finally getting some airplay (on an ESPN bowl week promo, no less).

http://www.youheardthatnew.com/2009/12/18/video-b-o-b-aka-bobby-ray-i-am-the-champion-espn-bowl-week/

Saw him at the 930 club this summer with Asher Roth and Kid Cudi. Siiiihiiiick!

...just apologize for not thanking me.

by kidbourbon on Dec 26, 2009 10:45 PM EST reply actions

Ugh. Herbstreit's right.

The Sugar Bowl is now the final game for both Tebow and Meyer.

I may skip that entirely. That’s actually very likely at the moment.

by David Hooper on Dec 26, 2009 11:36 PM EST reply actions

How glad is Brian Kelly that he got out of dodge?

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Dec 26, 2009 11:52 PM EST up reply actions

I almost wouldn't blame Cincy for not even showing up.

The game is no longer about the game, and they’re nothing more than a sideshow.

by David Hooper on Dec 27, 2009 1:20 AM EST up reply actions

Something smells fishy in gatorland

This is just too bizarre. I’m sure stress and health concerns are a factor but contributing to this great stress and health issue must be the thought of rebuilding after the massive player turnover coming this year. Trying to run his offense without a Tebow caliber QB and showing no ability to run a more conventional running and passing game.

I think he’s very narcissistic and has only known success and the thought of something much less relative to what he’s more recently experienced was just too much for him and his fragile ego to endure.

This will likely leave a bit of a question mark around how much of this success was really do to him or the confluence of a great Strong coached defense and a freak of a player in Teabow and of coarse having the pick of the top talent in one of the most talent rich states in the country with his two instate rivals down.

Now he faces games without Tebow, without a Strong lead defense, issues on offense, with rising FSU and UM competing for top players, rising Tennessee with a brash coach tweaking his ego, replacing half of his two deep when that two deep while good was somewhat suspect against legit teams this year.

Yea, there’s stress, apparently too much of it.

by phil g on Dec 27, 2009 9:15 AM EST reply actions

I tend to agree

Not with the last sentence about Kiffin and Tennessee being a contributing factor, but about him not being able to deal with the reality of what he had next year. To say he is an arrogant would be the understatement of this decade.

I am setting the ovr/under on number of years before he is coaching again at 2.5.

...just apologize for not thanking me.

by kidbourbon on Dec 27, 2009 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

Now he faces games without Tebow, without a Strong lead defense, issues on offense, with rising FSU and UM competing for top players, rising Tennessee with a brash coach tweaking his ego, replacing half of his two deep when that two deep while good was somewhat suspect against legit teams this year.

Yea, there’s stress, apparently too much of it.

I love how you left out any mention of Alabama or Saban.

What you're seeing is team spirit. It's like the Holy Spirit, but more powerful.

-Hank Hill

by Zoltar on Dec 29, 2009 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

Or Not...

Looks like “leave” was decided over “resignation”. Whatever.

We all knew it was too good to be true.

by Aerobab on Dec 27, 2009 8:32 PM EST reply actions

I wonder if this may be good for Florida's rivals

The coordinator of a non-impressive offense is the new head coach, rather than giving Florida a chance to go out and hire another all-star coach. I’d be more scared, for instance, if they’d gotten Dan Mullen back than having Addazio. And this has to hurt recruiting. I saw what happened to Arizona when Lute Olson tried this. It’s really hard to tell what the fallout will be though, just throwing out ideas.

by Incipient_Senescence on Dec 27, 2009 9:16 PM EST up reply actions

For what its worth, I know one recruit already said to the media that he was happy it was only a “leave of absence”. I dont know if he was considering leaving or not after the initial news, but it will be interesting to see how this plays out on the recruiting field.

RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Hard-on for Hardesty!

by Pride of the Southland on Dec 28, 2009 2:19 AM EST up reply actions

that's why he is saying it's just a leave of absence

he wants to keep these kids locked up until signing day. then he will come out and say, after much consideration, he is going to resign. it’s all too fishy. a “spirited practice” isn’t going to trump a doctor’s prognosis

by golfballs03 on Dec 28, 2009 11:23 AM EST up reply actions

Rivalry

I don’t know about you guys, but this makes the rivalry to me less significant. It’s bitter sweet now if we win and we never got to beat Meyer while he had the reigns.

by Travass on Dec 27, 2009 10:08 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

I dont know if it will lessen the rivalry, because Florida will most likely still be Florida even if Urban leaves; they’re still going to be strong, and have good recruits, but I was really looking forward to some great games between Kiffin and Meyer.

RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Hard-on for Hardesty!

by Pride of the Southland on Dec 28, 2009 2:21 AM EST up reply actions

Odd

I’d bet we find out in the long run health has nothing to do with this. Meyer is far to calculating and precise to just decide to quit a few days before his team plays an important bowl game. Seems selfish and self preserving to me. I smell scandal, maybe, maybe this isn’t up to Urban at all? Maybe Urban and Tebow had a love child or there is a sex tape…

All kidding aside, there is more to this than health.

by coopnjaxdad on Dec 28, 2009 8:51 AM EST reply actions

Another thing...

That press conference was very uncomfortable. It looked to me like Urban had no faith in what he was saying, like he didn’t even buy it and knew that others wouldn’t as well.

Don’t get me wrong, if he is ill I hope he get’s that straightened out and comes back.

by coopnjaxdad on Dec 28, 2009 8:57 AM EST reply actions

Agreed

I think there’s significant information out there that is not being shared…which is Urban’s decision, but that press conference did not tell the whole story.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Dec 28, 2009 9:26 AM EST up reply actions