Thanks a Bunch, Urban. Signed, Florida.
By Paul Myerberg // Dec 8, 2010
Why come back at all? Why put the Florida program — a program Urban Meyer loves, supposedly — through this old dance once again? Talk about a lost season: Florida’s now a year behind where it should be, where it would be today had it hired Dan Mullen last January, when Meyer first stepped down, instead of hiring Mullen at some point over the next month. Was it arrogance or self-confidence? Either way, Meyer made Florida take one for the team — Meyer came first, Florida second. Thanks, Urban. Signed, the University of Florida.
Part of Meyer’s statement from the university’s official Web site, which prepared a 1,500-word farewell to its former coach:
“I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, and I am a fierce competitor to my core. At this time in my life, however, I appreciate the sacrifices my 24/7 profession has demanded of me, and I know it is time to put my focus on my family and life away from the field. The decision to step down was a difficult one.”
Sound familiar? This statement smells like Meyer’s exit a season ago, when he cited both health concerns and a desire to be with his family as the rationale behind his decision to leave his team a week before its date with Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl:
“I have given my heart and soul to coaching college football and mentoring young men for the last 24-plus years and I have dedicated most of my waking moments the last five years to the Gator football program. I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to reevaluate my priorities of faith and family.”
So what changed? I’ll tell you: nothing. Meyer didn’t have the fortitude to return after last season; Florida State assumed as much in its lopsided win over the Gators late last month, when one could see running backs coach Eddie Gran telling Jimbo Fisher “He quit” — meaning Meyer — over and over again, to Fisher’s obvious delight.
The only difference between Meyer’s dual resignations is the timing: he should have stayed away after last season. His decision to return cost Florida a season, one that may alter the power structure in the Sunshine State for the near future. Florida State is a program on the rise; thanks to this season’s mediocrity — the Meyer-led mediocrity — Florida must dig itself out of a hole.
How deep is this hole? Not too deep, especially if Florida signs Dan Mullen as Meyer’s replacement. Mullen was the constant — along with Charlie Strong — during Florida’s two national titles under Meyer, of course. He has shown himself to be an extremely talented coach at Mississippi State, where he has led the Bulldogs from irrelevance to eight wins in the span of two seasons.
Mullen might very well be the real Urban Meyer, for all we know: perhaps Mullen was pulling the strings at both Utah and Florida. Florida will find out: Mullen might say no to Miami (Fla.), but he won’t say no to the Gators. Better yet, Mullen will provide offensive continuity to a program deeply tied to the zone-read system.
There’s the silver lining. Meyer is gone, but it’s no big loss. Florida was falling apart under the seams under his watch, thanks to the poor job his staff did in acclimating a talented 2010 recruiting class to the incumbent roster coming off a 13-win 2009 season. In addition, there were rumblings that Florida’s current class of verbal commitments were unhappy with the situation. As a whole, there was an extreme sense of trepidation surrounding the program — for good reason.
If your heart’s not in it, just walk away. But not now: trust your first instinct. Meyer deserved to return, I suppose: he did win two national titles in a four-year span, after all. Again, was it arrogance or self-confidence? Try a mistake, pure and simple, regardless of Meyer’s inner monologue when weighing the pros-and-cons behind coming back for the 2010 season.
In coming back, he leaves the program in a far worse place. Not when compared to when he arrived — Ron Zook did far more damage to Florida than Meyer ever could — but compared to where Florida was one year ago today.
Perhaps Meyer really wanted to leave after last season, only to be pulled back in through his relationship with athletic director Jeremy Foley and his feeling that there remained work to be done. In either case: Dan Mullen, please answer the orange and blue phone.
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Tags: Dan Mullen, Florida, Urban Meyer
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If Mullen steps over to Florida, Mississippi State should go with the steady leadership of Iowa Offensive Coordinator Ken O’Keefe.
Paul: You are all about O’Keefe.
Wow that’s harsh. No question Florida underperformed. No question Meyer wanted to leave. But was coming back really his idea alone — or was it pressure from the media, fans, players and Foley? In any event it cant be easy to walk away at the top – especially when you are only 46. To say the agtors are in afar worse place — from one 7-5 season? Thats over the top. But the monster recruiting class from 2010 is till on campus along with all the r other talent he assembled. whoever coaches (and especially if its Mullen) still has an advantage over Miami and FSU. Sure maybe the FSU win helps them catch up a little. Bu those 2 national titles in 4 years will sway some recruits.
Yeah it is a little harsh. I will feel bad for Mississippi State if Mullen leaves, he was really building something special there. But if Florida does come calling, I don’t see why he wouldn’t go back. Easier recruiting, better facilities, better fan base, and continuity/familiarity. Mullen is a great fit, but you have to feel bad for the Bulldogs if he does leave. Nonetheless, Mullen is a great coach.
I agree that this is harsh. Meyer’s staff begged him to stay, and Foley spent a couple days trying to convince him it could work.
And, hindsight is 20-20. It obviously didn’t work this year, but given what Meyer had accomplished up to that point, keeping him was a much better bet than bringing in someone new.
Also, there is a good chance that Foley is much better prepared for this eventuality than he was a year ago. Let’s hope so. Mullen appears an excellent candidate, but Foley has seen him (and Strong) first hand, so I trust his judgment. And there is always the possibility of a more established name taking the job. It’s early for those of us who are surprised by this, but hopefully not for Foley.
You think Paul’s too harsh? Well I lost a lot of money on Florida this year and here’s my opinion;
Urban Meyer is an egomaniacle narcissist girlie-man phony whose heart broke watching Tim Tebow cry the tears of loss in the SEC CG. Tried to de-rail his team then just like he is now. Yeah, surprise surprise he couldn’t compete while coaching half-time in the SEC. Who’d have thought?
Wanna’ quit–just quit and walk you pansy, they don’t need your half-time leadership to prepare for another poor effort game to end the season.
I think you are being hard on the man. He may have had good intentions of staying several more years when he decided to come back last year, but recently something may have come up that is more important to him than football. People leave other jobs all the time. Other coaches leave all the time. Just ask Nick Saban or Bobby Petrino.
http://musingsandvisuals.blogspot.com/2010/12/who-will-replace-urban-meyer-at-florida.html
LOL, I love my fellow Hawkeye fan trying to get rid of O’Keefe.
Keep doing the Lord’s work, bro.
If Mullen wins 7-8 games a year at State, he will have a job as long as he wants one and the never ending love of the loyal Dawg fans.
If he wins 7-8 games at Florida, he will find himself coaching at somewhere like Illinois. There is something to be said for planting your feet and developing some roots in a small town college community. I doubt Grant Teaff ever regretted turning down USC to stay at Baylor where he is and will remain revered.
Plus, I think Mullen can win conference championships occasionally at State. Out of necessity, Mullen has done things trapping and running power out of the spread at State that you see nowhere else. I think Paul is on to something about who the true innovator is as between Meyer and Mullen.
I hate florida
It might be a little harsh, but I don’t think it’s unjustified.
I loved Meyer at Utah and early in his Florida tenur, but I tired of him pretty quickly. When he chose to suspend Brandon Spikes for a whopping two (2) quarters against mighty Vanderbilt after the disturbing eye-gouging incident in 2009, I hopped off the bandwagon at the next stop.
I am treating the Broncos job opening and this announcement as a coincidence.
Seriously though, with the personnel that Florida rolled out there to start the year on offense and defense, this was destined to be a transition year from go.
Florida fans will regret a hire of Dan Mullen if Foley chooses that route. I seem to be in the minority, but here’s why. Mullen or his staff have already been accused of offering money to Cam Newton. Florida’s offensive struggles were clearly due to Addazio’s ineptness and not the loss of a offensive mastermind. Addazio looked like a deer in headlights at the end of games. It s frustrating to watch him revert back to the dive play ever other call because he didn’t know what else to do. Mullen has won a few games in Starkville, but lets be honest – he didn’t beat Meyer and the Gators, Meyer and the gators just flat out lost. Vandy could have won that game. I’m not convinced that Mullen is all that everyone is making of him. If I’m Foley, I’m going after more established HC’s like Harbough, Mike Leech, Chris Peterson, or even Josh McDaniels.
Please not Mullen….Please.
I dislike Meyer, too. Especially lame is how he obviously tries to make his voice sound deeper than it really is. How embarrassing. Grow a pair.