Extremely surprising. Turns out he’s had a bunch of stress-related heart pain over the last few years - warnings signs if not actual problems - including the valve defect and a cyst in his brain that is not life threatening but can be very painful. While I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries coaching again a few years down the road, it’s never going to be the same and it does create some big questions around the Florida program. I hope Meyer will be okay, but if all of his problems are related to stress and he’s walking away from this very stressful job, he should be fine.
A recent SI article profiling him also talked about recurring migraine headaches during his coaching career. Although he certainly appears to be a healthy man, I guess that doesn’t hold up.
As a Gator Alum, I’m a fan, and it’s sad to see the era end, but it does somehow seem fitting that he and Tebow would walk out of the program at the same time (I think they kiss in the shower, but that’s just me).
I have no clue who will replace him, and I’m at a loss as to who I’d like to see.
I’d go straight back to the MAC for someone. You have two of the more successful coaches in big programs out of the MAC: Meyer from Bowling Green and Tressel from OSU. It appears to be a good breeding ground for coaches who can do a good job of properly evaluating talent and then recruiting it to the program.
Not sure if there are any current obvious MAC candidates, though.
ETA: Of course, that would actually make sense if Youngstown St. was in the MAC, which it ain’t. :smack:
Or if Tressel were still coaching at Youngstown State.
I’m clearly in the minority, but I couldn’t care less about him and am already very sick of the constant talk about it ruining otherwise enjoyable sports programming. Seriously, what the hell is the big deal?
I really wish he would have kept his mouth shut till after the bowl season. Now I have to watch all the games with the sound off instead of just the ones with Lou “Alz-Holtz-himers”.
The coach of the most successful college football team of recent years just quit at a young age. You’re surprised this is still news the following day?
EDIT: ESPN is now reporting that Meyer may not quit after all. So after that gets reported I’ll agree this should die down until he makes a decision.
That’s actually worse for Florida. Who is going to want to be coach where there is a guy sort of there and sort of not. But may claim his job at any time.
He’s not quitting? What about all those alleged NCAA infractions?
This is pretty confusing. He’s taking an “indefinite leave of absence” after the Sugar Bowl, with his offensive coordinator taking over, but he says he’ll be the coach again by the start of next season. So I guess the offensive coordinator will handle some recruiting and other organizing duties.
For a guy who seems to be all about control, this whole announcement/retraction/clairification business has been handled in a pretty poor fashion…
I thought that the silent killer was firecrackers.
Seriously, I hope everything is OK with Meyer, and he’ll be back coaching the Gators soon.
I bet Meyer’s family is feeling just peachy right about now.
'Honey, kids, gather ‘round. You know I get super stressed about my job and I even thought I was having a heart attack a few times. This is hard. I’ve decided I’m going to quit and take care of my health. I don’t have anything left to prove as a coach. I want to spend more time with you and make sure I’m around for a long time. So dad’s going to be around more to watch your games, help you with homework and be there for you.’
‘That’s wonderful, honey.’
‘You really mean it, dad?’
‘Nah, I’m just pulling your leg. It’s not like I had a real heart attack, and without this job I’m nobody. I’ll call the school and tell them I’m taking a leave of absence during the offseason - you know, the part of the year when I’m not really working anyway.’
Something that (I’m ashamed to admit that) just occurred to me: How hard is Charlie Strong kicking himself right now? (Or, at least, for the 24 hours after Meyer announced he was stepping down?) This guy waited YEARS for a head coaching job, and days after he finally takes one at a lesser school, he finds out his former boss is resigning.
That would be like Ed Zotti resigning from the SD to take the job as Editor in Chief at The Onion, and a week later finding out that Cecil Adams is retiring. Only O. Henry could have written this scenario.
Well, if and when Meyer does leave Florida, I guess Strong will have a crack at the job. Since he Favred on the retirement announcement I think he’s going to stay. Supposedly he always planned to retire young, but I suppose it won’t happen for a few more years at least.
You hope he isn’t committing medical suicide by unretiring. I can’t see how when you’re set for life, you’re unable to retire and enjoy and prolong your life. Maybe his next move will be hiring Brett Favre as Special Assistant for Retirement Planning.
It’s been confirmed that he went to the hospital for chest pains after the SEC championship game, not dehydration. Pretty scary stuff, actually. Apparently, he woke up in the middle of the night with his side tingling, and severe pains in his chest. He tried to get out of bed, and fell on the floor, and was largely unresponsive when his wife called 911.
When I heard about the 911 call on TV, I thought it sounded like the symptoms were heart-attack-like, but it was determined to be something else, like dehydration. This part of the story doesn’t clear things up.
[emphasis mine]
So… if I understand things correctly, we don’t know exactly what the diagnosis was, because, while 911 calls are free to the public, doctor-patient confidentiality means that we won’t find out the actual diagnosis unless and until Urban Meyer tells us, and he’s not planning to before the Sugar Bowl, if ever?