Urban Meyer’s Circle of Trust

When you have a story that starts out with this…

The uproar and controversy of Urban Meyer’s stunning recruiting coup at Ohio State settled in and Stefon Diggs, still on the Buckeyes’ wish list, was debating his future.

Diggs, the second-highest rated wide receiver in the country, had narrowed his list of potential schools to Maryland, Florida and Ohio State. For more than a week following National Signing Day on Feb. 1, and before Diggs eventually signed with Maryland, Meyer relentlessly pursued Diggs.

Multiple sources told Sporting News that Meyer—who won two national championships in six years at Florida and cemented his legacy as one of the game’s greatest coaches—told the Diggs family that he wouldn’t let his son go to Florida because of significant character issues in the locker room.  [Emphasis added.]

… and goes downhill from there:

But multiple former players and others close to the program say the timing of his departure was also tied to the roster he left behind. Remember it was Meyer who hinted the program that won 13 games in 2006, 2008 and 2009—and lost only 10 games from 2005-09—was flawed beyond the unsuspecting eye.

Now those issues have surfaced for all to see. Left in the wake of Meyer’s resignation were problems that can destroy a coaching career: drug use among players, a philosophy of preferential treatment for certain players, a sense of entitlement among all players and roster management by scholarship manipulation.

The coach who holds himself above the seedy underbelly of the game; who as an ESPN television analyst in 2011 publicly berated the ills of college football; left a program mired in the very things he has criticized.

“The program,” former Florida safety Bryan Thomas said, “was out of control.”

… all you can say is wow.  (Meyer is probably saying something much stronger.)

I don’t know what the Ohio State equivalent of Seat 37F is, but this piece is so damaging that I think Matt Hayes should consider himself extremely fortunate if that’s as far as Corch banishes him.  In the meantime, I expect to hear that this article is being handed out to parents on the recruiting trail like candy.  It’s brutal.

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The ultimate Gator compliment

Florida running back Mack Brown, on getting hit hard in Florida’s spring game:

The Florida Gators had their spring football game yesterday and running back Mack Brown, after getting nailed, said, “He picked me good.  He Goldberged me.”  [Emphasis added.]

Sometimes even a Gator can only measure something by the way a Georgia player does it.

And, yeah, I’m thinking that may have to be the next Lexicon entry.

Approval voting and the new postseason format

I’ve had this bouncing around in my head and we at the Mumme Poll received an e-mail on the subject, so I thought I’d toss it out there for some thought:  assuming the BCS is about to expand in one form or fashion, why not use approval voting to select the playoff field?  We’ve long pitched approval voting as a means of addressing the flaws inherent in the Coaches Poll, but I can see it serving the needs of a selection committee either picking two teams to play in a title game after the bowl games are played or selecting four teams to play in the semi-finals.

Obviously, this gets funkier if the format is a mish-mash of conference champs and at-large picks, or if the format ultimately chosen doesn’t go the selection committee route (although it’s still something the coaches should adopt), but I see some real merit to the idea.

It’s something to watch as things develop.  It’s likely we’ll incorporate some change into the voting down the road if we feel it’s appropriate.  If you have any thoughts on this, please share in the comments.

When a complicated man meets an uncomplicated fan base

Brace yourself, world – there’s a Bobby Petrino support group, and it’s about what you’d expect.

Arkansas Football: It’s the players running through the A, Hog Hats. It’s more than 70,000 fans calling, “WOO PIG SOOIE!”

Arkansas Football: It’s the State of Arkansas banding together behind one team, and a mascot like no other. Those select few who put on the jersey are, chosen. They wear the colors, they pay the price, and they succeed. They are exceptionable, they are Razorbacks.

Together we stand as tall as the tower of Old Main. Our memories are etched in stone like names on Senior Walk. And our blood flows Razorbacks Red. For 100 years we’ve been Hogwild, and today we continue the tradition.

We are, Arkansas Razorbacks!

SAVE OUR COACH!

I’d ask what tradition they think is being continued here, but I’m afraid I’d laugh too much at the answer.