Coach Meyer [Florida Gators] steps down for health reasons.

[bassrique]

I thought the dehydration story was fishy a couple weeks ago.

Anyway, this is a real blow to Florida fans. Total bummer. I wish Meyer a full recovery, even if that means not coaching another game, as he has a family history of cardiovascular disease. I imagine any media company would pay him well to broadcast for them.


http://www.gatorsports.com/article/2...n-and-stop-it-

Meyer: 'God was telling me I have to slow down and stop it'

By Pete Thamel
The New York Times

Published: Saturday, December 26, 2009 at 11:28 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, December 26, 2009 at 11:28 p.m.

The night that Florida lost to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference title game, Florida Coach Urban Meyer awoke in the middle of the night with severe chest pains.

He had suffered from severe chest pains the past two years, but this time was different. He lost consciousness, went to a hospital in an ambulance and underwent more than nine hours of testing.

That night was the tipping point for Meyer, 45, who stunned the college football world Saturday by announcing that he was stepping down from coaching.

“There was no heart damage,” Meyer said. “But I didn’t want there to be a bad day where there were three kids sitting around wondering what to do next. It was the pattern of what I was doing and how I was doing it. It was self-destructive.”

Meyer said in a telephone interview late Saturday night that that the hospital trip prompted weeks of soul searching that ended on Christmas night. He told his family he would be leaving his job at Florida. He said that his 18-year-old daughter Nicki hugged him and said, “I get my daddy back.”

“I saw it as a sign from God that this was the right thing to do,” Meyer said of his daughter’s reaction. “I was worried about letting people down. I was feeling so awful and concerned about my health. That was among several other signs that said it’s time to back away.”

Meyer led Florida to two of the past three national titles and has a career record of 95-18, including a 56-10 mark at Florida.

If there was a hallmark to Meyer’s coaching style, both on and off the field, it was his relentlessness. He said he found himself e-mailing recruits in church. He said that his 16-year-old daughter had told him that she had not felt like she talked to him in the past two years. In a 10-day period around the SEC title game Meyer said that he had lost 20 pounds.

“When your health flashes before your eyes, what’s before you means more than anything,” he said. “I have a strong faith that there’s a reason for everything, and God has a plan for us. I just don’t know what it is.”

Asked if he would return to coaching in the future, Meyer said he had not thought about it. But it appeared clear that he would not return anytime soon. He said his main concern was winning the Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati on Jan. 1 and making sure he took care of his coaches and his players.

“I just want to win this game for these players and make sure that the University of Florida is in good shape,” Meyer said. “I haven’t even thought about anything after that, other than I’m a Gator and I’ll always be a Gator.”

The decision came as a surprise to many of those close to Meyer. He said he broke down in tears multiple times when addressing his team Saturday. He said they took the news well, understanding that he was putting his health first.

“I was very concerned about that,” he said. “They were awesome. They stayed 45 minutes afterward.”

Even his father, Bud, did not know until a phone call on Saturday night. Bud Meyer said his son had to choose his family.

“He just doesn’t take losing very well,” Bud Meyer said. “He feels he has an obligation to raise his family. He takes it extremely hard. That’s what happens.”

Mississippi State Coach Dan Mullen said he was stunned by the news, which he heard when he was on an elliptical machine while watching bowls games at his house Saturday. Mullen said that building a successful program consumed Meyer.

“When he commits to doing something, it consumed him,” Mullen said. “I think that takes a toll on you after a while. Putting that much in. It burns you out pretty quick.”

The news sent shockwaves through the college football world and raised a fascinating question: Who will replace Meyer in what some consider the best job in college football? The two top candidates will be Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops and Mullen. Both are former Florida assistant coaches: Stoops was defensive coordinator during Steve Spurrier’s reign and Mullen left after last season to take over at Mississippi State. It is unlikely that the Gators will look to the N.F.L. after Ron Zook’s miserable tenure. Other names to be considered would be Boise State’s Chris Petersen, Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh, Louisville’s Charlie Strong and Utah’s Kyle Whittingham.

A Florida spokesman, Steve McClain, said that Meyer will be involved in the choice for his successor.

In the high-stakes coaching world, Meyer’s decision was met with shock and understanding. Many coaches respected his decision.

“Being a college football coach, especially at the level of Florida, is like being on Wall Street,” T.C.U. Coach Gary Patterson said. “It’s a pressure that multiplies when you consider all the different things that go along with it. You’re talking about millions of dollars, the pressure to win, the fan base. It’s a seven-day evaluation.”

In SEC circles, the news was met with disbelief.

“Who would have ever thought waking up this morning that Urban Meyer would step down?” Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said. “It’s a shame. It really is.”

For Meyer, it was the only decision.

“I made the decision that had to be made at this time,” he said. “There were all the warning signs. I felt like God was telling me I have to slow down and stop it.”

[Gard]

Wow.

Just....wow....what a bummer for the Gators.

I hope Coach Meyer recovers and is OK, and comes back - I hate the Gators (LSU fan) but totally respect them, their program, and their coach.

[Rocker949]

After watching the way Alabama totally annihilated Florida, I am not really surprised by this decision to resign at all. I know people will just say it was only one game and that couldn't be it, but I think that game could have played a significant role. I don't watch football a great deal, but I've watched it enough. I had heard so much about Tebow and I was wanting to see for myself how great he was. What I saw instead was an Alabama quarterback--I don't know his name--who looked more like a pro quarterback than a college one. Tebow looked stunned the whole game. I've rarely seen a football game like that one. I'm sure Florida fans must be devastated by that game and also by Coach Meyer resigning. One of my new good friends is a Florida fan and I'll probably get a chance to talk to him about this some more in the future.

[Pilgrim]

This is clearly a health issue, not an abdication. All you have to do is read a few news stories and it's clear that Meyer has had some real health problems which have intensified over the past few months. I'm glad he's smart and is taking this step. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see him back soon in some capacity like athletic director at a major school, or even in a management-related capacity in the pros.

[TallLankyBastyd]

Seems he had a change of heart... no pun intended.

Personally, watching my "Heisman" quarterback cry like a wuss after getting beeyotch slapped all game long by Alabama would put me off coaching indefinitely as well. Man... that was just great television...

[GregC]

I'm always amused by the armchair tough guys who pop up all over the Internet when Tebow sheds tears. The dude throws his body, heart and soul into every game, including all the physical training and game-planning, to a degree that almost no one else ever has--and he's kicked ass on the field and taken thousands of hits for four years, all while facing an incredible amount of scrutiny. Yeah, God forbid he shows strong emotions in a loss. Ask the guys who've played with him or against him (y'know, actual football players ) if they consider him a "wuss".

[bassrique]

Originally Posted by GregC

I'm always amused by the armchair tough guys who pop up all over the Internet when Tebow sheds tears. The dude throws his body, heart and soul into every game, including all the physical training and game-planning, to a degree that almost no one else ever has--and he's kicked ass on the field and taken thousands of hits for four years, all while facing an incredible amount of scrutiny. Yeah, God forbid he shows strong emotions in a loss. Ask the guys who've played with him or against him (y'know, actual football players ) if they consider him a "wuss".

+1

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by GregC

I'm always amused by the armchair tough guys who pop up all over the Internet when Tebow sheds tears.

I'm with you Greg. Even more frustrating than losing to Alabama, was listening to the classles Bama fans laughing at him and making fun of him when they flashed up on the big screen a shot of Tebow crying for a few seconds.

Then I had to hear about it all the way to my car about how much of a pussy or fag he was for crying and how him and Urban were gay lovers.

-Mike

[Brad Barker]

well, if addazio is our head coach, that means that someone else might be the offensive coordinator?

[UnsungZeros]

Originally Posted by GregC

I'm always amused by the armchair tough guys who pop up all over the Internet when Tebow sheds tears. The dude throws his body, heart and soul into every game, including all the physical training and game-planning, to a degree that almost no one else ever has--and he's kicked ass on the field and taken thousands of hits for four years, all while facing an incredible amount of scrutiny. Yeah, God forbid he shows strong emotions in a loss. Ask the guys who've played with him or against him (y'know, actual football players ) if they consider him a "wuss".

Excellent post.

[TallLankyBastyd]

Sorry... but Florida "fans" have no room to blabber about "class"...

That said... Tebow has been a joy to watch... made it even more amazing to see the Tide dominate and make him cry.

Sorry... but one should only cry when Old Yeller dies or the mother in law comes to live with ya... nothing about losing in sports should warrant a tear.

[GregC]

Originally Posted by TallLankyBastyd

"Heisman"
"fans"

These things should not be in quotes.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by GregC

These things should not be in quotes.

I think he is taking a swipe at us.

-Mike

[Ground Pounder]

Originally Posted by GregC

I'm always amused by the armchair tough guys who pop up all over the Internet when Tebow sheds tears. The dude throws his body, heart and soul into every game, including all the physical training and game-planning, to a degree that almost no one else ever has--and he's kicked ass on the field and taken thousands of hits for four years, all while facing an incredible amount of scrutiny. Yeah, God forbid he shows strong emotions in a loss. Ask the guys who've played with him or against him (y'know, actual football players ) if they consider him a "wuss".

I hear his dad's name is Joseph and his mom is Mary, too...

All kidding aside, U.M. is an excellent head coach, so I'm interested to see how this plays out.

[TallLankyBastyd]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I think he is taking a swipe at us.

-Mike

Nahhh... just playful jabs.

As a Cornhusker and Washington Huskie fan I'm so used to getting thumped by any/all of the Florida schools that I have to get any enjoyment I can out of the few instances when things don't go a Florida school's way.

In fact... I just let "Bobby Bowden" slip into my head and am now trying to control my dry heaves.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by TallLankyBastyd

As a Cornhusker and Washington Huskie fan I'm so used to getting thumped by any/all of the Florida schools....

Florida was on the wrong end of the thumping in 1995. I still remember that butt whipping we got from Nebraska.

UW also put a hurting on Miami to end the nations longest home winning streak back in 1994. The streak had reached 58. Wow....

-Mike

[Staccato]

Gators? What's that, a new brand of bass? Oh, you mean a sports team. Bleh.