Maybe Urban Meyer doth protest too much
By Staff
How can I be a true Wildcat blogger in Florida if I don’t take the occasional shot at our great friends, the Gators? I really couldn’t refuse after I opened my Orlando Sentinel’s paper on Thursday morning and found Andrea Adelson’s article “The Urban Meyer to Notre Dame rumors are MAGICALLY DELICIOUS”. It is notable that despite all the denials and teeth gnashing among Gator fans, this story simply will not die. And as she points out in her article, “Coaches lie. It’s in their job description. They have to please their players, their recruits, and their fans. It’s a no-win situation”
Coaches lie??? In the words of the great Ralph Wiggums, “That’s unpossible“.
So to end all speculation, Meyer once again stated publicly that he was not interested in the head coaching job at the University of Notre Dame. The whole thing started on December 10, when Meyer said that Notre Dame was “still my dream job. That hasn’t changed… Once my kids are done, maybe someday I’ll go coach there”. After the gator Nation exploded, Meyers recanted that on December 16 and said he plans to be in Gainesville a “long, long time”.
Shortly thereafter former Gator coach Steve Spurrier took a shot at his rival and said “They’ve still got that rumor going on down there that if he has about one more big year he might be the Notre Dame coach”. Ah gotta love Spurrier for causing drama in the SEC.
This set off another spate of Meyer denials where he responded to Spurrier’s comment and said ” I don’t know what (Spurrier) was getting at. Here’s a quote for you — I am not going to Notre Dame. This was on May 15th. Then on July 11, Meyer reiterated his statement “I’m not going to Notre Dame. Ever”.
So it’s a closed case, right? Well usually when there is this much smoke, there is usually fire. Consider these recent circumstances:
Nick Saban (Miami Dolphins)
“Well then, I guess I have to say it. I’m not
going to be the Alabama coach”
Billy Donovan (Orlando Magic)
“I am very, very excited about this opportunity
and to be part of this Orlando Magic family”
John Calipari (Memphis Tigers)
“I want to be here (Memphis). This is where
I want to coach and my name will be tied to
every job that’s open”
Sorry, Cal
Urban Meyer (Bowling Green)
“I was contacted by one but I’m not
interested. I love it here. We have a lot
of work to do. That’s the bottom line.
6 days later. Meyer took the Utah job
Urban Meyer (Utah)
“All I keep saying is I plan on being
the coach here at Utah”
5 days later, Meyer took the Gator job
So there is a precedent on coaches (even Meyer) saying one thing and doing another when it comes to taking on new challenges. And you have to wonder what would happen if Charlie Weiss has a subpar season at Notre Dame and UF wins another title. Meyer may have some more retracting to do.
Consider this that Saint Tebow, the face of the program graduates this year. What would be the face of the Gator’s after Tebow leaves? That ugly 24 players arrested under his watch thing? A reputation as the “next Thug U?”
It could be in Meyer’s best interest to leave after a third national title at UF or risk becoming another Billy Donovan. And trust me, Gator fans will not accept another Capitol One bowl. And if our own beloved Coach Calipari can leave Memphis to come to the “Notre Dame of basketball”, why wouldn’t Meyers leave UF for the Notre Dame of football?
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