Epitaph for Urban
Urban Meyer won two national championships in his six years as the head coach of the Florida Gators. At any other school, he would be celebrated for this in the national press and on campus. In Gainesville, we ask, “That’s it?”
Gainesville fancies itself Titletown, and not without reason. The Gators won two football titles and two basketball titles in a three year span, and cheered for the best college football player and best basketball team ever during that time. Naturally then, it’s easy for the fans to get spoiled, to expect national title year after year, when most schools are lucky to see one in a decade, or a lifetime. I myself felt that the Gators did not live up to their potential, squandering the most dominant offense in college football in 2007 and 2009, with offensive playcalling that would get most Madden players laughed off their Xbox controllers.
Nevertheless, Urban Meyer was an excellent football coach. He took a team flatlining under Ron Zook and won the national title two years later, after recruiting Percy Harvin, Tim Tebow, and a host of NFL talent. Urban surely made his mistakes (promoting Addazio over Billy Gonzales and Brantley over Newton come to mind), but he also helped his players grow as men. You can point to the arrests of the Gator football players during Urban’s tenure all you like, but Urban is no more responsible for the conduct of his players than a parent is for his son. You can teach a child all you want, but people make their own decisions. The test of a parent’s measure comes in how he helps the child weather adversity, not just in how he celebrates the good times. And believe it or not, Urban has helped players turn their life around, players like Jarvis Moss, who went from physically debilitated to first round pick with Urban’s help. Like Dallas Baker, who improved his grades and his receiving skills with Urban’s assistance.
All that said, I am happy to see Urban go, both as a Gator fan and a human being. Urban really put his heart and soul into coaching, and after twice reaching the top of the mountain, the man needs a rest. He hasn’t looked the same since 2008, really. With all of his top assistants gone, Urban looks tired, and I am glad he is taking a long deserved rest.
The Gators will benefit from Urban’s early retirement also. With a new, hungry coach (like Dan Mullen), the Gators will bounce right back to the top of rankings. For Gators fans, this is a dangerous proposition. We should not feel entitled to titles, that the Gators owe us championships. Look at Auburn. They are a great football program, and this is their first shot at the national title. Greatness takes hard work and good luck, and deserves appreciation. So look to the future, Gator Nation. Just don’t forget to see how you got there.
Happy Tidings, Urban Meyer. Rest easy.
