# Urban Meyer to Leave Florida? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 26, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658 "2009-12-26T23:55:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/1 "2009-12-26T23:55:33Z")
Just announced on Meineke Car Care Bowl at 6:55 pm. [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4772952](http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4772952) ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/2 "2009-12-27T00:00:09Z")
> **[Florida coach Meyer resigns for health reasons](https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=4772952)** > > Urban Meyer is stepping down as coach of the Florida football team, athletic director Jeremy Foley announced Saturday afternoon in a release. ESPN says its for health reasons. If someone as focused on football, and with that big an ego suddenly makes an announcement like that before a bowl game, I have to think he got back a doctors report with something really big. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/3 "2009-12-27T00:00:09Z")
ESPN is reporting it as well. Health reasons being cited. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/4 "2009-12-27T00:06:47Z")
Yeah, I got to think there is something big beneath the surface of this decision. Timing is really odd. He is 45 yrs old and looks to be in very good shape. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/5 "2009-12-27T00:10:48Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > [Meyer to coach final game at Sugar Bowl - ESPN](http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4772952) > > ESPN says its for health reasons. If someone as focused on football, and with that big an ego suddenly makes an announcement like that before a bowl game, I have to think he got back a doctors report with something really big. ☹ As someone who thinks very highly of Urban Meyer (I am a proud alum of the University of Utah) I hope this is not the case, but as you pointed out, he is about as intense of a competitor as anyone alive today, and for him to announce this before the Championship game is certainly alarming… ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/6 "2009-12-27T00:19:29Z")
I am going through my head trying to handicap the replacement for Meyer, and am coming up totally blank. Harbaugh? Doesn’t feel like a good fit either way. Weis? Bwhahaha. Stoops? Maybe, but again doesn’t feel likely. Gary Patterson? He fits the pattern of Meyers hire, but I know nothing about him. Jim Zorn? Maybe they offer Saban 7 Mil a year. Man I am just blank on predicting this one. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/7 "2009-12-27T00:21:23Z")
Steve Spurrier? ---
**Author:** ![Stringer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Stringer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringer)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/8 "2009-12-27T00:35:50Z")
Bobby Bowden? I kid! ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/9 "2009-12-27T00:39:29Z")
TV said no immediate health risk ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/10 "2009-12-27T00:42:45Z")
Mike Shanahan. He has Florida ties and they tried to hire him in 2002. Shanahan considered it but was given a sweet deal by the Bronco’s owner. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/11 "2009-12-27T01:27:17Z")
Meyer was admitted to the hospital with chest pains after the SEC Championship game. I’m guessing that some doctor spelled out the whichness of why to him, and made it clear that continuing coaching at this point would likely lead to a heart attack. He’s young enough he can step back, enjoy his life for a little without the pressure of a coaching job, then jump back in when he’s had a chance to address the health issues. I like Urban Meyer; I think Florida made an excellent move when they took him and made him head coach. I like him MUCH better than I like Steve Spurrier. I hope they replace him with someone as classy. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/12 "2009-12-27T01:35:00Z")
Oh, man. As a Bama fan, I have a lot of respect for Meyer. I hope he’s OK. I had looked forward to a number of years of an intense Meyer/Saban rivalry. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/13 "2009-12-27T01:38:22Z")
As a Gator, this would be sad, but if it’s a health issue then I hope he can get better and enjoy the life that his hard work has helped him to earn. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/14 "2009-12-27T02:08:30Z")
_cough_ soon to be revealed scandal/NCAA rules violation _cough_ ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/15 "2009-12-27T02:43:03Z")
ESPN earlier reported a heart muscle defect but Florida denied it. Tough break for Meyer, he does a great job with that team. I think he had to make the announcement now. Whoever takes over has to get out and do damage control with the recruits today. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/16 "2009-12-27T02:44:48Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > _cough_ soon to be revealed scandal/NCAA rules violation _cough_ _cough_With Crocodile Tears Tebow not at Florida next year, either, who would want to coach a team with its only star gone?_cough_ ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/17 "2009-12-27T02:46:40Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > _cough_ soon to be revealed scandal/NCAA rules violation _cough_ Knowing a bit (I think) about the way he runs his programs, I would be willing to bet you a cold beer (or a fiver) that there is no scandal/rules violation involved in his resignation decision. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/18 "2009-12-27T02:46:41Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Yeah, I got to think there is something big beneath the surface of this decision. Timing is really odd. He is 45 yrs old and looks to be in very good shape. Allow me to introduce you to [Heart Disease, the Silent Killer](http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/disease/heart-disease.htm). (Not saying this is what the guy has, I actually have no idea who he is, but heart disease is something a “healthy” 45 year old person could _very_ easily have.) ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/19 "2009-12-27T02:51:52Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Knowing a bit (I think) about the way he runs his programs, I would be willing to bet you a cold beer (or a fiver) that there is no scandal/rules violation involved in his resignation decision. While Meyer never struck me as a sleazy guy, it can’t be denied that he[hasn’t exactly recruited saints](http://bleacherreport.com/articles/197441-urban-meyer-and-the-florida-gators-arrested-again-fix-this-mess) during his tenure there. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658/20 "2009-12-27T04:40:59Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > While Meyer never struck me as a sleazy guy, it can’t be denied that he[hasn’t exactly recruited saints](http://bleacherreport.com/articles/197441-urban-meyer-and-the-florida-gators-arrested-again-fix-this-mess) during his tenure there. I read through the charges, but didn’t see anything that implied that Meyer ever sacrificed his reputation for a win. I saw a lot of > [@](#): > > Outcome: Atkins received pre-trial intervention and both cases were eventually dropped. > Team punishment: Meyer immediately suspended Atkins, who then transferred to Bethune-Cookman, found legal trouble there and died in July 2007 from a drug overdose." …and… > [@](#): > > Outcome: All charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence. > Team punishment: Johnson never missed any time. Coach Urban Meyer said Johnson would remain on the team as long as the investigation checked out. …and… > [@](#): > > Outcome: Charges were dropped. > Team punishment: No suspension for Doe. … but nothing to imply that Meyer was ever soft on crime. Is there an example in there that you think supports the idea that Meyer was soft on a criminal player? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-meyer-to-leave-florida/522658.md?page=2)