meyer to step down as gators coach

[Big C]

very surprising. hope he ends up ok. as for florida, its a shame charlie strong left for louisville already, otherwise the job would have been his imo. but since hes gone now, if i were florida, id look at whittingham from utah (where meyer came from, led utah to undefeated season and bama win in sugar bowl last year), or peterson from boise state. he runs an offense that would be very successful at florida, plus hes had great results with boise. but just my two cents, those would be my guys.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Big C

very surprising. hope he ends up ok. as for florida, its a shame charlie strong left for louisville already, otherwise the job would have been his imo. but since hes gone now, if i were florida, id look at whittingham from utah (where meyer came from, led utah to undefeated season and bama win in sugar bowl last year), or peterson from boise state. he runs an offense that would be very successful at florida, plus hes had great results with boise. but just my two cents, those would be my guys.

Actually Strong isn't gone yet. He's coaching in the Sugar Bowl. Also, Strong has only signed a "term sheet" with Louisville, and not an actual contract. If Florida wants Strong to take over, they'll get him.

[Dirtbag59]

Didn't see this coming but after the "dehydration" episode earlier in the year it definitely makes sense. Hope he gets better, but man this sucks for Florida. You think you have your coach for at least the next ten years only to get this bomb dropped on you.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Didn't see this coming but after the "dehydration" episode earlier in the year it definitely makes sense. Hope he gets better, but man this sucks for Florida. You think you have your coach for at least the next ten years only to get this bomb dropped on you.

I'm totally blown by this. UF is my school, and I love them like I do the Redskins. Unconditional. Coincidentally, Mark May said on ESPN that the only thing more shocking to him than the Meyer announcement was when Gibbs retired prematurely from the Skins the first time around.

If I had to guess, I'd say Meyer sticks around UF in some capacity for a few years (hopefully recruiting- he's the best at that), recharges the batteries, and comes back to coaching. Depending on how the new coach does, he may either return as Florida head coach, or maybe the NFL somewhere.

On a side note, Mike Freeman at CBSsports.com is reporting that multiple NFL sources say Jon Gruden wants to coach the Gators, and that the Gators are interested in him. He makes no secret about being a Gator fan, and said he would have taken the job when Spurrier left if Florida had offered it to him. Interesting....

[Big C]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Actually Strong isn't gone yet. He's coaching in the Sugar Bowl. Also, Strong has only signed a "term sheet" with Louisville, and not an actual contract. If Florida wants Strong to take over, they'll get him.

i wouldnt bet on him quitting on louisville before coaching a single game. not a good way to start out a head coaching career. and if you dont consider him gone because hes coaching the bowl game, then i guess meyer isnt gone since hes coaching the game too. point is strong is going to louisville.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Big C

i wouldnt bet on him quitting on louisville before coaching a single game. not a good way to start out a head coaching career. and if you dont consider him gone because hes coaching the bowl game, then i guess meyer isnt gone since hes coaching the game too. point is strong is going to louisville.

He may well end up in Louisville. My point is he has yet to sign his contract, and if Florida wanted him as HC, he'd take it over Louisville 8 days a week. He's been in Gainesville for 8 years as DC. He wouldn't have to relocate, and honestly, between the two programs, there's really no comparison. Florida is one of, if not the best program/HC job in the nation. Louisville? Ummmmm.....

Not a good way to start a coaching career you say? What's a better way to start your career as a D-I head coach? Florida or Louisville? Come on.

[Big C]

Originally Posted by GMScud

He may well end up in Louisville. My point is he has yet to sign his contract, and if Florida wanted him as HC, he'd take it over Louisville 8 days a week. He's been in Gainesville for 8 years as DC. He wouldn't have to relocate, and honestly, between the two programs, there's really no comparison. Florida is one of, if not the best program/HC job in the nation. Louisville? Ummmmm.....

Not a good way to start a coaching career you say? What's a better way to start your career as a D-I head coach? Florida or Louisville? Come on.

yes, everyone knows florida is a million times better than louisville. it doesnt take a rocket scientist to realize that. but thats a shitty thing to do to say you are the new louisville coach and then just back out a month later and go to florida. thats not how id want to build my name up.

[mlmdub130]

Originally Posted by Big C

yes, everyone knows florida is a million times better than louisville. it doesnt take a rocket scientist to realize that. but thats a shitty thing to do to say you are the new louisville coach and then just back out a month later and go to florida. thats not how id want to build my name up.

pretty unique circumstances here though, i doubt anyone would second guess a move like this.

gm, i feel for you man, atleast he is gonna stick with the team, i couldn't beleive when i heard his i had no idea he had anythigng like this goin on

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Big C

yes, everyone knows florida is a million times better than louisville. it doesnt take a rocket scientist to realize that. but thats a shitty thing to do to say you are the new louisville coach and then just back out a month later and go to florida. thats not how id want to build my name up.

Agreed that it's not cool from Louisville's perspective. But I think you could call these extraneous circumstances. If Charlie Strong had any idea that Meyer was leaving, I'm sure he wouldn't have taken the Louisville spot so soon. The UF job is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Anyway, one thing I haven't said is I wish Urban all the best. A lot of coaches can step back and kind of be a "CEO" type guy and delegate everything in order to prolong their careers. That's just not Urban's style. He's 24/7/365, and has been that way for 9 years as a head coach. He's also always been the special teams coach, and is a viscous recruiter. He's knee deep in all things, and even sprints all around the practice field. He doesn't know how to take his foot off the gas pedal, and it's caught up with him. I wish Urban and his family nothing but the best. As a proud Gator, I am sad to see him go, and I hope he gets right health-wise. I'll never forget what he did for this program. It's great to be a Florida Gator (but sad today).

[Rajmahal33]

The only thing that i am concerned about regarding this whole situation is the implications it has on Shanahan's availability. It could just be speculation but they are throwing his name around for the UF job. He is a gator alum, so that could be something.

Otherwise, this is a great development for the rest of the SEC and parity in college football.