Urban Meyer Resigns…Again
If it seems that we were at this same point not too long ago, it’s because we were. Less than one year ago actually. Urban Meyer resigned last December saying the toll on his health was too much and he needed to step away from the pressures of running a powerhouse program. Now Florida is in the same situation and it’s probably for good. Meyer has resigned. Resigning for a second time in less than a calendar year makes it seem as if it’s the real thing this time around, not for just a day or two. Meyer is gone and someone new will be on the sidelines when the Gators open their season in 2011, someone heading up plenty of talent, but also someone that needs to provide the answers to oh so many questions.
The first reaction from Florida fans has to be disappointment. At least it was from this Gator supporter. We’re fresh off of a number of press conferences in which Meyer stated how committed he was to turning around the program after a disappointing 7-5 season. He was going to focus on recruiting and rebuilding an offense that had gone stagnant. Meyer would be there to get the ship headed in the right direction and get back to a championship level of football. Not so fast. Not long after making those statements, he’s gone. Resigned. Retired. Quit. Call it what you want. Feel how you want about it. The man is no longer the head football coach at the University of Florida.
If Meyer’s health is a factor, I’m not alone in wishing him well. He deserves to make the decisions that are best for him and his family. All of us do. But if there’s another reason, I’m not sure Florida fans want to hear it. We want to believe that he realized he’s just not in it 100% and with last year’s health scare now was the best time for him to step away and let the program rebuild itself. Even so some will be shaken at the thought that rebuilding will happen without the man who produced two National Championships in his first four years with the program, while others are excited at the thought of a fresh start after an undesirable season in many aspects.
Besides his health and over commitment though, what could it be? There are rumors about the Denver Broncos’ job. It’s available and they have a backup quarterback by the name of Tim Tebow. I can’t say I believe Meyer will be in Denver for the 2011 NFL season – he never seemed like the type that would make that move especially in such an abrupt manner – but these types of things have happened before. Does anyone remember Nick Saban? (That yell you just heard was Gator fans cursing me for having the gall to compare Meyer to Saban.) It may seem highly unlikely and most of us wouldn’t want to believe it, but you just never really know. First guess is that Meyer can’t commit to what is truly needed to run a program like Florida when even just last week he thought he could. He had a change of heart (no play on words intended), even if that change feels like a stomach punch at the moment.
It’s hard to imagine and many don’t want to believe it, but not everyone is cut out to be Bobby Bowden or Joe Paterno. Some aren’t even cut out to be Steve Spurrier. There are those who can only do it for so long. Even Bowden and Paterno had the support they needed over the years increase dramatically as time went on. Meyer may be one of those that was good at what he did, but never truly loved it. Or, on the other side of the coin, he loved it too much. Some live by the philosophy that if you can’t devote your all to it, then don’t do it at all. This may be true of Meyer. He’s a dedicated family man by all accounts and that is more important to him than his job. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s his choice to make and he’s made it. Most of us would do the same. To that I wish him the best and hope he can get out of life exactly what he wants from it. His run was a great one which we won’t soon forget.
But at the moment, it’s painful. It’s painful for many reasons. As mentioned earlier, he won’t be there to rebuild. 2010 isn’t the ideal season to go out on. For Gator fans, we’ve been through similar situations with Meyer and Billy Donovan and aren’t sure what to think. Is Meyer really out? Will we be hearing different tomorrow? As I said, my guess is no. This is it for Meyer at Florida, but we have seen the switch happen before. And finally, who’s next. If Meyer is leaving for health reasons and to be with his family, we want to think about that and not immediately turn our attention to the next in line, but as fans we can’t help it. Our passion for our team pushes us forward. We want to know who the next Gator head coach will be. You want to start planning the future. Bob Stoops? Dan Mullen? Charlie Strong? Chris Petersen? Gene Chizik? It’s anyone’s guess, but with the timing on Meyer’s announcement, there can be no waiting. Meyer is out and the next guy can’t be far behind.