Live blogging the Meyer announcement

Just kidding… but a few thoughts on listening to ESPN’s Three Wise Men (or Stooges, take your pick) analyze the Meyer resignation:

  • Lou Holtz is a consummate asshole.  Leave it to him to spin a decision that sounds like it was driven by health concerns into something caused by negative media and internet commentary – because that’s what Holtz claims happened to Holtz.
  • I wondered about what happened in the wake of the SECCG with Meyer’s admission to a hospital and was skeptical about the dehydration story.  Now we’re told he has a heart defect and has been in the hospital on several occasions.  The man is making the right choice for himself, as tough as it may have been to make.  Health and family come first and I hope for nothing but the best for Meyer and his family.
  • This obviously wasn’t an overnight decision – which makes me wonder what, if anything, Charlie Strong was told.
  • A job opening in Gainesville and with the immediate speculation about a successor, zero mention is made of Steve Spurrier.  How interesting.

47 Comments

Filed under Gators, Gators..., Just Ask Lou Holtz About Lou Holtz

47 responses to “Live blogging the Meyer announcement

  1. heyberto

    Good point about Spurrier, but I’m assuming Meyer will be involved with athletics at Florida going forward in some capacity. I think they’ll try to stick with a spread/option type of coach. We’ll see.

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    • Mayor of Dawgtown

      Spurrier is now seen by FLA fans and alumni as: (1) the enemy coach at another school in the SEC East; (2) a turncoat; and (3) an inferior coach that the Gayturds beat with regularity. Spurrier also was apparently insulted by Foley the last time FLA had this opening and is not the type of guy to forget easily. No chance for a Spurrier return. Frankly, Spurrier’s decision to leave FLA in the first place has got to be one of the biggest FUs in the history of college football. Everything that happened with the Gayturds’ program the last 5 years likely would have happened with Spurrier at the helm if he had stayed. He could have stayed a few more years and retired as the greatest coach in FLA history and one of the all time greatest in NCAA history. Now he is reviled at his alma mater and living in coaching purgatory in Columbia, S.C., the graveyard of coaches. This is what happens when a coach starts believing that “genius” BS pundits write about him. Personally, I think he is getting what he deserves. How many times has UGA beaten the Cocks since Spurrier showed up there? 4 out of 5? That must be particularly galling to him.

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  2. UFTimmy

    While this was not an overnight decision, Meyer was still recruiting very hard the past week. It was not decided long ago, though I imagine he has been contemplating it since the hospitalization.

    No thanks to Spurrier.

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  3. Turd Ferguson

    ESPN’s Chris Mortensen is reporting that, whatever Meyer’s condition really is, it’s not life-threatening. So can I officially begin relishing this news without feeling like a douchebag?

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    • Mike

      Just remember Turd, you rejoiced when Spurrier left too. Since then, UGA is 2-6 against Florida

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      • 2-6 is a helluva lot better than our record against Spurrier!

        Still, I would not mind another crack at Spurrier as a Gator.

        Meyer could out recruit Spurrier in his sleep!

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      • Turd Ferguson

        True. But I think it’s also safe to say that the Urban Meyers of the world are a rare breed. Can Florida replace him with someone who will be just as successful against us as he’s been? Sure. But has that kept me from enjoying this celebratory bourbon? Nope.

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        • heyberto

          If what they’re saying is true about Meyer having heart trouble, is it really worth having a coach that pushes himself so hard and neglects his personal life to win at any cost? I’m not sure the kind of message that sends to young men.. balance in your life is just as important. A bit of a minor point, but an important one, I think.

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  4. Macallanlover

    As I said in my comments in the other thread, Stoops has to be a front-runner but I am not sure he wants to be in Gainesville with Meyer still there (along with the Prez who came from Utah.) Wittingham from Utah will be a top candidate as he has ties with Meyer and the UF prez. If I had an opening at any school, Chris Peterson at Boise would be one of my first phone calls. Patterson will get a lot of ink, but I don’t see him in Gainesville. Harbaugh at Stanford will get mentioned for any top job, but I also don’t see him at UF. I definitely do not see SOS going there, no chance.

    Top 3 Candidates:

    1. Kyle Wittingham–Utah
    2. Bob Stoops–OU
    3. Chris Peterson–Boise

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  5. 69Dawg

    This seems like a no brainer. It is either Mullins from MSU or Willingham from Utah. Orson at EDSBS is calling it now.

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  6. NRBQ

    Mark May predicts confidently that Petrino will be the choice of The Gatuh. He’s the only one, it seems.

    Looks like Strong got screwed, although I’ve heard it suggested that he got out just ahead of an NCAA investigation, which is the real story with Urban.

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  7. Mayor of Dawgtown

    Sorry, not buying this as sold. Why not wait until after the bowl game? Or if it really was a situation requiring action now, why not immediately after the SECCG? Something has happened that we do not know–yet. Stay tuned.

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  8. Aligator

    there are no NCAA investigation at UF?? he is not well and he will stay on and mullen will pick up where he left off. he will be a behind the scenes coach for the next few years, helping with recruiting and so forth.

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  9. Aligator

    do you honestly think that foley will turn over the program to strong? he has got no clue about offense!

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  10. Pingback: The Grit Tree

  11. I doubt Strong knew. If Meyer was considering walking away, he had to keep this to himself and his wife and almost no one else because…if he stayed no one could know he ever wavered.

    I can’t wait to hear the time,line when Foley and their president knew.

    Personally – I think Strong is a more viable candidate because he’s at Lville than if he were still on campus at UF.

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    • Mayor of Dawgtown

      While the temptation is great, it is actually smarter for Strong to leave the FLA job alone and go to Louisville. The pattern in NCAA football is that when the great man leaves there is a drop off and the successor is punished because of fan expectations (see Ron Zook). The smart thing to do is work elsewhere, do a great job and wait ’til next time which will undoubtedly be in 3-5 years or so. Same goes for Mullen. Will they do this? Absolutely not!

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    • Hogbody Spradlin

      I could see Foley/Meyer telling Strong and him still going to Louisville. Strong gets his offer from Louisville and goes to the bosses to notify and get their blessing. They say Charlie we wish you the best but it’s fair we tell you things may be happening here. Charlie says you mean THAT, and they say yes. It’s not 100% sure yet, and you would be like any other candidate. And of course keep this under your hat.

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  12. Mike

    It is very unlikely that Florida will hire someone with no previous HC experience. Foley made that mistake once and I doubt he will make it again.
    Florida is one of the premier coaching jobs in the country.

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  13. Paul's Johnson

    Top money is on Whittingham from Utah. Evidently all those prayers for the ever-tanned one are paying off. Richt got a major reprieve and opportunity here.

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    • Mayor of Dawgtown

      Do you know what Paul’s Johnson is? Nothing but a dick–and a small one at that.

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      • Paul's Johnson

        Your boy now has an historic opportunity to garner a losing record against FOUR Florida coaches. Something to look forward to, eh?

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        • Turd Ferguson

          How a Tech fan would find it appropriate to do anything but curtsy in the presence of Georgia fans is beyond me.

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          • Mayor of Dawgtown

            Little Dick above forgot to mention that CMR is undefeated against the previous 2 GTu head coaches and 1-1 working on going up in the series against the current GTu HC. A win next year would give CMR a winning record against 3 GTu HC’s. Fancy that.

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    • NM

      With Meyer gone, I think Richt now has to WIN the East next year or he’s gonna be facing a lot of questions. As it was, we had to compete, and at least get a Kiffin-style moral victory against Florida… something like 6-2 or 7-1 in conference to show progress and remind us that Richt will have us in the conversation 9 times out of 10.

      But in a post-Tebow, post-Meyer era, our East opponents are a depleted and rebuilding Florida; a Kiffin-led Tennessee probably without Eric Berry; and the “Wait Til Next Year” Cocks. Our West rotators are Arky and Miss State (one of which might be getting a new coach courtesy of UF). Our OOC is a joke. The table is set. If we can’t win next year, when can we?

      (FWIW, I’m not one calling for Richt’s head now or anytime for at least the next few years. But I suspect I’ll be in the minority if 2010 doesn’t go very, very well.)

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      • Ridiculous! The difficulty Florida has replacing Meyer will buy Richt even more time than he has earned.

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      • Mayor of Dawgtown

        Enough with this “easy schedule” BS about 2010. First of all, next year is one of those years where the Dawgs get to play 5 SEC AWAY games (counting the WLOCC as an away game, which it really is). UGA has to play ARK (probably the 2nd best team in the SEC West next year), and gets UT the week after flying to Colorado to play the Buffs in Boulder. The Buffs are not the problem–playing UT after having to fly across the country is. And the Dawgs get Auburn and the Cocks at their places. Not to mention that 7 of the Dawgs’ 2010 opponents went to bowls this season. If Ohio State played that schedule the Buckeyes would be lucky to win 6 games.

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        • Mayor of Dawgtown

          Oh, did I fail to mention that the Gators get the week off before the WLOCP and the Dawgs do not. Instead UGA gets UK at UK. (Remember them, that team we used to own but which has beaten us 2 out of the last 4 games?) Yeah. Really easy schedule.

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      • fiasco

        So name everyone else’s warts and don’t point out we’ll most likely have a QB starting next year who hasn’t had a meaningful snap?

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  14. cookinandsmilin

    Devil calls his due on ‘soul deal’ with Meyer…

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  15. cookinandsmilin

    Meyer checked with foley before he walked…  His family keeps their jorts…

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  16. Bobby Bowden

    Do any of you guys know Jeremy Foley’s cel number?

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  17. Joseph

    Seantor, What do you think is happening here? I have zero love for Corch Meyer but I think that something must really be wrong if he is walking away from so much money and the chance to create even more of a legend(legacy).

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    • Meyer says it’s about his health and his family and I have no reason to doubt him. I’ve known driven people who couldn’t pull back and make a decision like that, so I give him a lot of credit for it. It couldn’t have been easy.

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      • Julie

        While I don’t wish anything bad on Meyer, I can’t say that I feel sorry for him, either. He is obviously someone who is so driven, it has destroyed his health. Who else would have taken The Celebration and twisted it into his own personal vendetta — “A big deal,” and “Will forever be in the minds of Urban Meyer and the Gators,” and a push up for each yard Moreno gained in 2007. This must have been like ingesting 365 small doses of battery acid. Meyer is someone (according to his father) who does not take losing well. He didn’t mention that neither is he a gracious winner. I guess it is a lot of pressure to have to keep Tebow in the game to score 60 points on powerhouses Troy and the College of Charleston. With Timmy leaving next year, along with Riley Cooper, who never met a defensive back he couldn’t slingshot for a 10-yard cushion, and all the senior defensive players (as well as numerous juniors thinking about leaving), Meyer was looking at a possible hell-on-earth scenario for himself. While Spurrier was a good coach, he was truly never a gracious winner and karma ultimately dealt him and his former Gator players a huge dose of humility while in Washington. If Meyer had come back for 2010, I don’t think even the staff at the Mayo Clinic could jolt his ego back from the looming flat line of several losses.

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  18. Hogbody Spradlin

    Occasions like this remind us that in college football and life in general we have opponents, not enemies.

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  19. Hogbody Spradlin

    The story contains speculation about a defective heart valve. Isn’t that what afflicted Lewis Grizzard?

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  20. Hogbody Spradlin

    Consider, my friends, just how syrupy the Sugar Bowl run up and broadcast will be. Tebow’s and Meyer’s farewell performances, and those poor orphaned Cincinnati boys.

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    • mike

      Good pt. I have vomit in my mouth just thinking about.

      Whoever follows Urban has some big shoes to fill, no doubt. It will be even more difficult, because it sounds as though Urban isn’t vacating the shoes fully. This job is a recipe for disaster for the next person that comes in. You not only have the pressure of running the program, but you’ll have Urban lurking over your shoulder and the fan base questioning decisions wanting Urban back. This is a dream in the making.

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