A really long article about Urban Meyer on ESPN. I am not going to post a small part because taking any of it out of context could lose the point. In short it's about what led him to resign at Florida, his health, and the changes he is trying to make in his life and still be able to do what he loves, coach football, might play Florida of course. Urban Meyer
Bill, I just read that article yesterday. The part where his daughter says he was never there for her, had to be gut wrenching for a parent.
Great read....and it validates every perception I have had about Meyer's struggles with his health at Florida. I know I would be home for dinner.....I had the great pleasure of meeting and briefly chatting with Shelley Meyer during Urban's first season at Florida and she is worth going home to dinner to.... :wink:
I haven't read the article but coaches in general have a difficult time being a regular dad. They work 80 hours a week, I remember Charlie Weis saying college was a little easier than the pro's because you are limited to 20 hrs a week of working with the team while the Pro's there are no such limitations. But in college you do have to be recruiting 24-7 these days, and assistant coaches have to go on the road a lot to visit recruits, to watch their games, etc.
So....tOSU's Worklife Program will enable him to be a better Father/Husband while being the HC of a program that has a fan/alumni/booster base that is easily 20 times more "Enthusiastic" in regards to the wins and losses over the years compared to a Florida program? I ain't buying it....either is this guy....
I think the biggest personal hurdle at Ohio State for Meyer is how he meets his and everyone else's expectations without falling in to the same trap personally that he did in Gainesville. I mean....he won two NCs in 3 years and I don't think there is one Buckeye fan out there that will accept an Urban Meyer that only aspires to the Outback Bowl with an 8-4 record. Maybe his intensity level at Florida was overkill....overdone......or....conversely maybe he needed that approach to get it done. It will be interesting to see it unfold.
Let's see where to start??? Fist place I doubt seriously that the attitude toward winning is any more at Ohio State than it is at Florida these days, I would say a wash there. Then the article really has nothing to do with where Meyer coached, but what his attitude toward his job was/is. He needed to learn balance, has he? Who knows, but I hope for his sake and the sake of his family I hope he has. Steve Spurrier was one coach who always reminded his assistants that they had a family and to spend time with them. He was that way at Florida, and I imagine he is the same way at South Carolina. Bottom line is that Meyer's demons were of his own making and hopefully he has over come them.
Don, I can tell you that if my daughter said that to. or about, me I can tell you it would be like a spear to my heart.
Unfortunately for Michigan fans Meyer was brutal on the Big Three UF rivals.....Ga, Tenn and FSU. With no other big target rival for OSU I would say Michigan is toast.
Barring any injuries, I like our changes against Michigan here at home. This will be our bowl game! Urban will be more effective as a motivator than Tressel. Don
Meyer could only hope and pray that he will have the success vs. Michigan that Tressel did. That said.....I like Urb's chances. This year is probably the best chance Michigan will have to beat Urban......but my money's on Urban.
Both teams now have good coaches, I can see a rivalry between these two teams like the Bo and Woody years.
No question in my mind, that the rivalry between the Buckeyes and Wolverines, is in full throttle with these two coaches.
The point I was trying to make was that being a HC of a program that is one of the 20 you could name as being relevant in the sense of established major college football programs. In a nutshell---the ones that put a PREMIUM on winning. The teeth of all those fans, boosters, alumni, etc. WILL shred you apart, with no sympathy or compassion when it comes to losses. All that money means one thing; we pay you to win. You are paid big time money, to win. I'm sure most, if not all D1 programs have fantastic worklife programs....sure coach, take some time off, hell take a whole day off, you deserve it....oh BTW, how's your game plan for this Saturday?.....YOU (not the players) haven't beat those guys 2 years running now....anyway, give the wife our best!! It's not Government work. You as the head coach can decentralize your command and delegate down to your captains all you want...you still better have a game plan that works (WIN), and if not, well then maybe we (The powers that be) need to evaluate your time management skills...because with all that money we're paying you, we EXPECT (a much kinder word than DEMAND) a better outcome from YOUR team in the position your in. There is no other sport in America that demands perfection quite like football. Then again, most of these guys sign retirement contracts anymore...get fired, still get paid. I guess if your a Bill Callahan type, who gives a **** right?....then there's the other side of the coin...just how will that affect those that do give a ****? Sleep deprevation isn't a fun thing. One thing's for sure, it'll be interesting to watch.
Good points AJ. I do think that Meyer comes with a caveat......will he or can he reinvent his approach and still have the success he has had in his entire coaching career? If his approach is the same ol same ol I don't think he lasts 3 years at OSU. If he holds back....delegates.....takes time for the family...etc.....can he win with that approach which is foreign to him? Three 8-4 seasons in a row is not what the fans or Meyer himself will find acceptable. It will be interesting for sure but I'll pulling for him.....just like I have pulled for Ron Zook and for SOS after their departures from Gainesville. Once a Gator always a Gator is the saying and most of us Gator fans take that to heart. Meyer being at OSU is one thing but he is still well thought of by most Gator fans.....including me.
AJ, I have to agree with your thoughts as well. Winning is the name of the game and OSU fans can be pretty at times, like all the time. :lol: Due to the Tattoo Scandal and Luke Fickell being tossed into the arena, fans were very forgiving last year. This is a new year and while there are great expectations for Meyer, three losses will create a stirring the pot situation.
Three losses stirs the pot? Part of me really does wonder why Meyer thought he could handle this. I would say it's 50/50.......
Well AJ, I have to pretty much agree with all your points this time. Don, if 3 losses is the criteria then Meyer might be in trouble. The sanctions you got have to hurt.