Urban Meyer

Yesterday, the college football world was hit with completely unexpected news.  Urban Meyer resigned from his head coaching position at Florida.  When asked about the sudden timing of his decision, he said that there were no immediate life-threatening health concerns, but said “I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to reevaluate my priorities of faith and family.”  Also, he said that many of his coaching practices were becoming “self-destructive.”  But it was stressed that none of these health developments were “immediate.”  Meyer said that there is no timetable for his return, but will stay coaching through the Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati.

What should fans think about this sudden resignation?  Even though Meyer said that it wasn’t an immediate health condition, I believe he could very likely have a impacting health issue facing him.  First, he made this declaration before the bowl game January 1st, and only 1 week before the game.  If it wasn’t an immediate health concern, he could have waited a week to make such a startling and probably unnerving declaration to his players.  To give an example, when coaches are considering taking another job, they wait and bide their time, avoiding questions from the media and players until it is almost obvious that they are taking the job.  Meyer, if the problem wasn’t immediate and health threatening, would have done the same.  Meyer would have waited until after the Sugar Bowl to tell his players and the media, in order that Florida plays its best and does not worry about its coach’s resignation.  Since he did feel the need to make the statement of his resignation 1 week before the game, it is probable that there is something more that he and the Florida athletic department are not saying. 

Also, to those that argue that the decision was stated now because of the impact on recruiting, I just have one question.  Would Florida have any trouble finding a coach?  It is arguably the most desirable coaching job in the country, and many big name coaches would drop everything to coach at Florida.  In addition, since Meyer is coaching through the Sugar Bowl, Florida can not hire a coach until after the Sugar Bowl anyway.  Therefore, the timing actually has a negative impact on Florida, as recruits now have at least 1-2 weeks without knowing who their coach is, meaning they have more of a reason to choose a different school.  There would be no reason for Meyer to make this decision now unless it was due to an extremely threatening health concern.

In addition, this decision had to be fairly recent and unexpected, and could not have been a methodical decision like it was made out to be.  Former Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong left Florida for the head coaching job at Louisville just two weeks earlier.  However, Strong would have been a top choice to replace Meyer if he were to resign.  In fact, it has been reported that Florida is now trying to bring Strong back to Florida to become the head coach.  So why would Strong have gone to Louisville if Urban Meyer’s health issues were known, and not immediate and unexpected?  Why would Strong leave if Meyer’s decision was a “methodical” one?  The development with Charlie Strong gives convincing evidence that Urban Meyer and Florida are not delving all the details about Meyer’s resignation, and that the decision was prompted by a recent health development.

What would the recent and threatening health developments be?  While I have no direct knowledge of Urban Meyer’s health, I do know that Meyer has suffered from persistent headaches caused by an arachnoid cyst that becomes inflamed by stress, rage and excitement (Sports Illustrated).  However, in the past these headaches have never been enough for him to miss any games or cut back on coaching.  His life has never been threatened by these headaches.  Therefore, it is difficult to believe that these headaches were the sole reason that he is leaving.  There almost has to be something more from this to make sense.  He is the most beloved and renowned coach currently in college football and makes $4m per year.  There needs to be a hidden reason for his sudden and untimely departure.

The future for Florida and the rest of college football will be impacted greatly by Meyer’s sudden departure.  How will the power within the SEC be shifted.  Will Alabama become the Florida of the last 5 years with no true competitors?  Will Lane Kiffin bring Tennessee to the top of the SEC by landing recruits that may have otherwise gone to Florida?  Will coaches like Bobby Petrino have more opportunities to grow their program within the SEC without the Florida cloud drafting over the rest of the SEC?  Or will a coach like Dan Mullen or Charlie Strong return to Florida, and with their familiarity with the Florida program return it to the top of college football without any rebuilding years?  I can not wait to see how the SEC specifically is affected in the coming years by this change, because it provides opportunities for so many teams to rise up and reestablish themselves within the conference.

The other big question is about the replacement.  Florida has the option of either bringing back Dan Mullen, former offensive coordinator, or Charlie Strong, former defensive coordinator.  Both men know the Florida system very well and would most likely provide a seamless transition into next season.  The other option is to go after a big name head coach, regardless of affiliation with the university.  In this case Florida could attempt to bring in Chris Peterson of Boise State, Bob Stoops of Oklahoma, or even Pete Carroll of USC.  The next few months at Florida will redefine the balance of power within the SEC and within college football.

The Notre Dame Coaching Job

There are many rumors circulating about the future of Notre Dame football, and which coach the university will hire.  Big names such as Urban Meyer, Bob Stoops, Tony Dungy, and John Gruden have been brought up.  However, the majority of people around the country believe that Urban Meyer and Bob Stoops would not take the job if offered, because of the great programs they are already involved in.  I think these people are correct in that Bob Stoops and Urban Meyer would laugh at such an offer.  The conversation has now turned to names such as Brian Kelly from Cincinnati, and Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern.  Now I am going to tell you why Brian Kelly should NOT take the Notre Dame job, contrary to popular belief that it would be a step up for the coach.

Notre Dame has become a middle of the road program.  Since Lou Holtz left as Notre Dame coach after the 1996 season, Notre Dame has had three coaches in 13 years, with none of those coaches having more than a +10 win loss ratio.  Charlie Weis was supposed to be the savior, the man coming from the best system in the world, the Bill Belichick system.  He was supposed to be the man who turned around the program and bring it back to prominence.  However, Notre Dame remained a mediocre program and actually became worse under Weis.

So what made Notre Dame such a big program back in the day?  The television coverage.  Notre Dame was a team all kids dreamed about playing for because they were on national television every week.  However, as television coverage has improved, and many teams were then on national television, the value of going to Notre Dame then decreased.  Coupling with the fact that Notre Dame isn’t in a conference, has high academic standards, and is extremely cold compared to similar level programs like Texas and Oklahoma (yes, temperature matters when you are practicing every day in sub freezing weather), the top high school players are no longer as attracted to Notre Dame and some do not have the academic ability to go to Notre Dame.

Therefore, Brian Kelly would not be taking a huge step up by taking the Notre Dame job.  It is an overrated job at the present time and it would be extremely tough for the next coach to return the Irish to prominence.  However, if Kelly stays at Cincinnati, he will become a legend.  He will redefine the program, he will become worshipped.  He would be able to run for governer of Ohio.  He could become a Joe Paterno-like figure, a staple of what Cincinnati is all about.  Compare that with the prospect of Notre Dame.  Even if he does do well and brings the team back to the marquee level (which will be extremely difficult), he will just become another name beside that of Lou Holtz and Frank Leahy and other great Notre Dame coaches.  But if he stays at Cincinnati, he will become the definition of Cincinnati football, and he will certainly be better off by staying.