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Urban Meyer was officially introduced as Ohio State's next football coach. Luke Fickell, who's served as the Buckeyes' interim head coach, will be retained on Meyer's staff.
North Carolina Tar Heels interim head coach Everett Withers will join Urban Meyer's Ohio St. Buckeyes staff as an assistant coach, according to the Gainesville Sun's Pat Dooley. As he's a defensive coach by trade, it's not exactly clear what his role in Columbus would be, since Luke Fickell retained defensive coordinator duties after Meyer took the head coach title.
@pat_dooley Ohio State's hiring of Everett Withers will be announced later today. Big hire for Urban Meyer. He loves the guy.
But former Arizona Wildcats coach Mike Stoops was reportedly a co-defensive coordinator target. That sort of arrangement could still be the plan, or this could be a sign that Fickell is leaving for the Pittsburgh Panthers job or elsewhere.
Withers fashioned a 7-5 record out of a UNC team that lost head coach Butch Davis just before the season began. His 2009 defense ranked No. 6 in the country, while his 2010 squad ranked No. 30.
Other than a year with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, he's yet to coach outside of the Southeast since 1988.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation, and here's our 2011 Coaching Carousel Tracker.
Not a repeat from last year, actually:
Ohio State asked for and received NCAA approval to exceed the limit of football coaches on staff through the Buckeyes' bowl game.
The existing staff, under Luke Fickell, will prepare the Buckeyes on the field in the days leading up to and including their Gator Bowl game against Florida on Jan. 2. Then there is incoming coach Urban Meyer, who will handle only recruiting while hiring his own assistants.
The Ohio St. Buckeyes coaching staff is starting to come together under Urban Meyer. According to reports from FootballScoop.com and CBS Sports, Iowa St. Cyclones offensive coordinator Tom Herman will be named the next Buckeyes quarterbacks coach.
Under Herman, Iowa State ranked No. 56, No. 99, and No. 73 in total offense over the past three years, though Herman's 2008 Rice offense ranked No. 10 in the country. That's also more or less par for the course in Ames, so let's not judge too harshly.
Meyer may retain certain members of the current staff beyond defensive coordinator Luke Fickell, such as linebackers coach Mike Vrabel. He's also reportedly looking to pick off from Florida's staff, having already grabbed strength coach Mickey Marotti.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation, and here's our 2011 Coaching Carousel Tracker.
New Ohio St. Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer didn't land his designated offensive coordinator, Chad Morris of the Clemson Tigers, but he is picking up at least one former Florida Gators staffer. Strength coach Mickey Marotti will join his former boss in Columbus.
Gators coach Will Muschamp knows replacing Marotti is an important task:
"That's a critical hire. Mickey did a great job at the University of Florida and I appreciate his efforts," Muschamp said. "But again, we need to get stronger. We need to get physically and more mentally tough, and it starts there in the weight room. That's a critical hire for me."
Florida receivers coach Aubrey Hill has reportedly been another Meyer target, and the Orlando Sentinel lists linebackers coach D.J. Durkin as another.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation, and here's our 2011 Coaching Carousel Tracker.
Ohio St. Buckeyes target Chad Morris picked up a contract extension from the Clemson Tigers Sunday, sending Urban Meyer elsewhere in his search for a new Buckeyes offensive coordinator. And please, someone, help him find an OC, so he doesn't have to run the entire offense himself.
"I am excited about the future of this program," Morris said in a statement. "We have outstanding young players on this offense this year and I know we have some outstanding student-athletes who will be joining the program next year. We have a bright future and we feel we will continue to be one of the most explosive offenses in the nation."
Morris will turn to the task of prepping Clemson for its Orange Bowl against West Virginia.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation, and here's our 2011 Coaching Carousel Tracker.
Clemson Tigers offensive coordinator Chad Morris was bound to be a popular coaching target after turning one of the nation's lesser offenses into the key unit for a BCS conference champion. The North Carolina Tar Heels head coaching spot, among others, would make sense as a potential ambition for Morris. He admits he's been contacted:
@travis_sawchik Chad Morris: "I am committed to Clemson. It is crazy right now. It's the time of year....Have there been people who have contacted me? Yes."
And Tiger Illustrated, Rivals' Clemson side, reported that the Ohio St. Buckeyes were one of those schools.
@TIinClemson BREAKING NEWS: Ohio State has now contacted Chad Morris, a source toldTigerillustrated.com Sunday. For further details, check out TI now
Urban Meyer had previously been reported elsewhere as being interested in bringing Morris aboard as his Ohio State offensive coordinator.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation, and here's our 2011 Coaching Carousel Tracker.
New Ohio St. Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer wants to make Columbus a little more Florida Gators-y, looking to add current UF strength coach Mickey Marotti and recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach Aubrey Hill to his first OSU staff, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Marotti coached with Meyer in Gainesville, then stuck around as part of Will Muschamp's ranks. The Dispatch notes he and Meyer met at Ohio State in 1987. Scout's Ohio State site reports Marotti is essentially a done deal, for what it's worth.
Hill played for the Gators in the early '90s, returning as a graduate assistant in 1996. After stints elsewhere, he returned this year to the Gators. He'd previously coached on Randy Shannon's Miami Hurricanes staff.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation, and here's our 2011 Coaching Carousel Tracker.
New Ohio St. Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer (you'll get used to reading it within a couple weeks) has indeed met with former Arizona Wildcats coach Mike Stoops about a position on Ohio State's staff, Stoops confirms to the Oklahoman. Stoops doesn't specify the role, and isn't saying whether he was offered anything, but previous reports pegged him as a co-defensive coordinator.
Post-Jim Tressel interim head coach Luke Fickell is to be retained as the team's defensive coordinator, making for one crowded staff indeed.
Stoops and Clemson Tigers offensive coordinator Chad Morris are the only widely rumored potential candidates for Meyer's first Ohio State staff at this point. If those rumors are to be believed, Meyer's aiming to construct an all-star crew. Do those work?
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation, and here's our 2011 Coaching Carousel Tracker.
Wednesday night I was fortunate enough to chat with Tyler T. of Along The Olentangy, the excellent Ohio State site on the SB Nation network. Our main topic of conversation was, of course, Urban Meyer. And specifically Urban's plan to recruit at Ohio State.
And it's safe to say that Tyler believes Meyer is going to be a major hit.
"Meyer is bringing that SEC aggressiveness that hasn't been seen in the Big Ten. And I think he'll have immediate success with it because people haven't been exposed to it," said Tyler.
After all, Meyer is the coach who admitted to texting Florida Gators recruits while in church. The endless effort Meyer put in is believed to have contributed to his health issues that led to his retirement from Florida. So far this time around, some of the work is already done.
As I covered yesterday, Meyer already has a solid recruiting class thanks to Luke Fickell.
And the group left by Fickell is pretty good. Currently, the Buckeyes have 16 verbal commitments. By Rivals' star rating, the class is 18th in the country, with a 3.3 average. That's also good for fourth in the Big Ten, behind Nebraska, Michigan and Wisconsin.I'd personally place this class second in the Big Ten, behind only Michigan, as Nebraska has only eight commitments and Wisconsin only 12.
According to Tyler, Meyer plans to honor all current Buckeye verbal commitments. And that should be easy to do, Tyler points out, because Fickell didn't take fillers. Pretty much every current commitment is of Ohio State caliber. It's smart strategy to honor these commitments, because failing to do so could get Meyer off on the wrong foot with the tight-knit coaching community in Ohio.
Tyler identified three major needs for the Buckeyes: wide receiver, offensive line and linebacker.
With four receiver commitments, Luke Fickell already filled this need. But Meyer's spread attack requires a lot of receivers, and he is known to overload the position. Tyler expects Meyer will take another receiver if he can grab one who is elite. Joel Caleb out of Virginia might be just that player. The 6'2", 200-pound athlete has drawn comparisons to Percy Harvin. Tyler expects Meyer to push hard for Caleb, who was heavily considering Penn State before the sexual abuse scandal.
Tyler also expects that some current receivers on the team will not fit Meyer's spread offense. He expects some to transfer and others to move to defensive back. This will open up more scholarships Meyer can use on the type of receiver he wants.
On the offensive line, Meyer will be going hard after Kyle Dodson -- a player once ignored by the Buckeyes. According to Tyler, Ohio State thought it had time with the late-blooming Dodson and waited to offer. Wisconsin did not, and Dodson jumped. The 6'6", 315-pound Clevelander may be open to Ohio State once again.
Meyer also likes another player to whom Jim Tressel showed very little interest: Taylor Decker, an offensive lineman committed to Notre Dame. This would be a tough pull for the Buckeyes, as the Ohioan has been committed to Notre Dame since March.
The Buckeyes may have an easier time with offensive tackle Jordan Diamond of Chicago. The 6'6", 300-pound tackle has been completely open in the process, leading several fan bases to believe he was favoring their team at one point in the process. Diamond had an offer from the previous staff, and Tyler expects Meyer to be in contact shortly.
And Tyler expects Meyer to throw an unsuccessful hail mary at the one-time Buckeye commitment Kyle Kalis. After Tressel departed, Kalis pledged to remain with the Buckeyes, but instead made the switch to the arch-rival Michigan Wolverines. The Ohio native has been hampered by injury this year, but if he fully heals, he will be a fantastic prospect.
Tyler is unsure of any changes to be made on the defensive side of the ball, because he isn't sure if Ohio State will land former Arizona Head Coach Mike Stoops to be its co-defensive coordinator. If Stoops does come aboard, Tyler expects Ohio State to emphasize speed a bit more, as Meyer did at Florida.
And despite it not being a position of drastic need, Meyer is going hard after a few talented defensive ends. "You never pass on elite defensive linemen," says Tyler.
Se'von Pittman was once a heavy Ohio State lean before Tressel left. He then committed to Michigan State. Tyler now expects the 6'4" Ohioan to be a Buckeye "before signing day."
Noah Spence is widely considered one of the top defensive ends in the country. Tyler anticipates Meyer making a run at the Pennsylvania native, though this would be a very difficult pull for the new Buckeye coach. If Spence visits Columbus, Tyler will take the Buckeye's chances more seriously. Update: Spence tweeted this afternoon that after speaking with Meyer, Ohio State is at the top of his list.
And while skeptical, Tyler also discussed Ohio State's chances with Dante Fowler, an attention-loving Florida State commitment. Tyler wasn't sure if Meyer had reached out to Fowler, or if Fowler was simply expressing interest in being contacted by Meyer in order to keep his name in the news. As with Spence, Tyler will take Ohio State's chances seriously if Fowler makes it up to Columbus for a visit.
Meyer also has to worry about keeping the gem of this class, running back Bri'onte Dunn, from flipping to Michigan. The 6'2", 215-pound Ohioan has made multiple visits to Michigan, including last weekend when, dressed in Wolverine garb, he saw Big Blue defeat the Buckeyes. Dunn has expressed some concerns about playing in the spread offense, and stated that he wanted to play in a pro-style, I-formation offense. Tyler isn't sure if this is a real desire by Dunn, or if it is just an excuse to decommit. Meyer apparently reached out to Dunn, and for now has prevented a switch to the Wolverines, but Tyler describes Dunn as "totally up for grabs."
There's also the issue of Meyer's recruiting in Florida. Tyler thinks it is significant, but is being overplayed by some in the media because Ohio State has always had a strong presence in the Sunshine State, and because there is plenty of talent in the Buckeye's backyard of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Meyer won't want to alienate the local coaches by passing on their players for some from thousands of miles away who are only marginally better, if at all.
And speaking of alienating high school coaches and Florida, how should we expect Meyer to deal with the high school coaches he alienated in Florida? By cherry-picking, of course. Tyler acknowledges that some coaches had a bad taste in their mouths after the way Meyer told kids he was returning and then retired, but says Meyer will focus on the schools that are still friendly to him. Since Ohio State isn't a state school, he doesn't have to be on good terms with every coach in Florida.
Expect Ohio State to take between 20 to 22 players this cycle, and for the next class to be the class in which Meyer truly makes his mark, as the Buckeyes will likely have room for a full 25.
For more potential Ohio State commitments, visit Along The Olentangy
Is new Ohio St. Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer going to compose a staff entirely of former coaches? He's already retained 2010 Buckeyes interim coach Luke Fickell as his defensive coordinator, and, according to Dean Blevins, wants former Arizona Wildcats coach Mike Stoops to help out with the D.
A former head coach, whose brother is the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, considering a co-coordinator position under someone besides his brother? Life is strange sometimes. There are regional ties -- Stoops hails from Youngstown, Ohio.
According to Blevins, Stoops has been in Columbus this week and has other schools interested in hiring him for other spots.
Stoops coached as an assistant at Iowa, Kansas State, and Oklahoma before taking over the Arizona program.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation, and here's our 2011 Coaching Carousel Tracker.
People in Columbus are justifiably excited about the hiring of new head football coach Urban Meyer. From his time in Gainesville, Meyer is known as an excellent recruiter. And while he says he won't work at the level that drove him to health problems and a brief retirement, he'll still be expected to haul in blue-chip talents.
But Meyer only has about 60 days until signing day, so a large part of his first class will be comprised of what was left for him by Luke Fickell, Ohio State's interim coach.
Clemson Tigers offensive coordinator Chad Morris will be one of the nation's hottest properties during this year's coaching do-si-do. In one year, Clemson's offense has improved from a sluggish No 88 in the country to a lightnin' quick No. 29. Much of that is due to Sammy Watkins, you say? In C.J. Spiller's senior year, Clemson ranked No. 74, so there you go.
Urban Meyer's hiring at Ohio State means it's time to buzz about Morris in Columbus, as the two have been tight since Utah coach Meyer met with high school coach Morris in 2003. The offense they could put together with Braxton Miller at quarterback -- it tantalizes the mind.
For what it's worth, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has denied the rumor, as has Morris himself.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation, and here's our 2011 Coaching Carousel Tracker.
Nope, Urban Meyer's new Ohio St. Buckeyes contract doesn't quite reach the $40 million figure that had bounced around from local TV stations and eventually appeared on ESPN. But it is a sizable salary: $24 million over six years, plus $2.4 million in "retention payments" more if he sticks around for the entire term and a $250,000 signing bonus of sorts. Here's the entire contract in PDF form, and here's a complete text transcript.
Bonuses include $100,000 to $150,000 for good APR scores, the same range for solid graduation rates, $100,000 for a Big Ten title, and $250,000 for a national championship. A Big Ten championship would also add a year to the contract. Interesting to note a national title would mean no such automatic addition, though that's the kind of thing that gets contracts manually extended anyway.
His perks include a golf club membership and budgeted personal use of his private plane, which he'll otherwise use for recruiting trips.
The transcript of his deal, via CBS Sports:
Page 1
The six-year contract agreed to by Urban Meyer and the university includes $4 million in annual compensation. Additionally, Coach Meyer will receive supplemental compensation bonuses based on achieving certain milestones including academic accomplishments for the football program, and retention payments of $450,000, $750,000, and $1.2 million payable if Coach Meyer is still employed as head coach on January 31, 2014, January 31, 2016, and January 31, 2018, respectively. In concluding this agreement, the university undertook certain benchmarking of comparable contracts.
Page 2
Head Football Coach -- Terms of Employment
The Ohio State University, on behalf of its Department of Athletics ("Ohio State"), and Urban F. Meyer ("Coach") have had certain discussions regarding Coach's employment as Ohio State's head football coach. The parties recognize that Ohio State shall present Coach with a more thorough employment contract addressing additional terms of employment in the near future. Until that time, the parties hereby agree to the following terms as follows:
1. Ohio State shall employ Coach as head football coach for a term commencing on November 28, 2011, and terminating, without further notice to the Coach, on January 31, 2018.
2. Ohio State shall pay Coach total cash compensation in the amount of Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000) per year for the term commencing on November 28, 2011 and terminating on January 31, 2013. Coach shall receive compensation increases as approved by the Board of Trustees for contract terms beginning February 1, 2013. The total cash compensation for the initial contract term shall be allocated as follows:
a. Base compensation: $700,000;
b. Media, promotions and public relations: $1,850,000;
c. Apparel/shoe/equipment: $1,400,000;
d: Retirement contribution payment: $40,000;
e. Coca-Cola appearance payment: $10,000
Coach may elect, prior to execution of the formal employment agreement between the parties, to defer a portion of this total compensation into a deferred compensation account.
3. Ohio State shall pay Coach a one-time transition payment of $250,000 upon the execution of the agreement. Ohio State shall also pay Coach an additional $250,000 for transition purposes, which shall be payable upon execution of this agreement, but which Ohio State shall deduct in substantially equal amounts from Coach's base salary payments for the first twelve (12) months of the agreement.
Page 3
4. Ohio State shall pay a retention payment as follows:
a. $450,000 if still employed as head coach on January 31, 2014;
b. $750,000 if still employed as head coach on January 31, 2016; and
c. $1,200,000 if still employed as head coach on January 31, 2018.
5. Ohio State shall pay Coach bonuses as supplemental compensation as follows:
a. Yearly Academic Progress Rate ("APR") as calculated by the NCAA:
APR of 990-999 - $100,000;
APR of 1000 or above - $150,000;
b. Graduation Success Rate ("GSR") for football as reported to Ohio State by the NCAA:
GSR of 70-79.99% - $100,000;
GSR of 80% or above - $150,000;
c. Big Ten Leaders Division Champion - $50,000;
d. Winner of Big Ten Championship Game - $100,000 plus an additional one year added to contract term. [If Big Ten discontinues the championship game during the term of the agreement, then Coach shall earn $100,000 plus an additional one year added to contract term if Ohio State is the regular season Big Ten Champion or Co-Champion]
e. BCS bowl game (not National Championship game) appearance - $150,000;
f. National Championship (#1 vs. #2) BCS bowl game appearance - $250,000;
6. Ohio State shall pay Coach a stipend of $1200/month, which shall be used to cover automobile costs for two automobiles.
7. Ohio State shall provide Coach a full golf membership at a mutually-agreed upon golf course. Ohio State shall pay the monthly dues, but Coach shall pay his personal expenses associated with such membership.
8. Ohio State shall fly Coach by private (not commercial) aircraft when Coach is making recruiting visits and other mutually-agreed upon University business. When such recruiting visits or University business are more than 200 miles from the City of Columbus, Ohio State shall fly Coach by private (not commercial) jet aircraft. Ohio State agrees to let coach use such jet aircraft for his personal use for thirty-five (35) hours [in-air and dead time inclusive] each year during the term of this agreement. Coach's use of such private aircraft for recruiting and other mutually-agreed upon University business shall not exceed fifty (50) hours [in-air and dead time inclusive] during each contract year.
Page 4
9. Ohio State shall provide Coach twelve (12) football tickets in Ohio Stadium to each home football game, as well as five (5) press booth credentials. Ohio State shall also provide Coach the use of a suite in Ohio Stadium for use by Coach's spouse and family. Coach shall receive two (2) parking passes for each home football game. Ohio State shall provide Coach two (2) tickets to each home men's basketball game. Ohio State shall also provide Coach with the opportunity to purchase an additional twenty (20) tickets to each home football game.
10. The parties agree that Ohio State has the exclusive right to its youth athletic camps, but Coach shall have the opportunity to earn supplemental compensation by assisting in the marketing, supervision, and general administration of summer football camps.
11. Coach shall appear on television and radio coach's shows and other media programs as requested by Ohio State. Coach shall assign to Ohio State all right, title and interest in his name, likeness and other indicia identified with Coach in connection with such media programming.
12. Ohio State will commit to working with Coach to create the Urban Meyer Fellowship for Ethics and Leadership in Sports for one or more students at The Ohio State University. Coach agrees to teach and support the fellowship initiative and work with the University to secure additional financial support to endow this initiative.
The parties recognize that this term sheet represents a preliminary understanding of the parties and shall form the basis of a formal agreement. Final agreement is subject to completion of a satisfactory background and compliance check, as well as approval of the Ohio State Board of Trustees.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation.
Urban Meyer was officially introduced as Ohio State University's new head football coach on Monday. Ohio State Athletics Director Gene Smith and President E. Gordon Gee introduced their new coach.
"This is the right time for Urban Meyer to lead our football program," said Smith. "He is without a shadow of a doubt one of the premier leaders in football."
"I am deeply honored and humbled ... to lead the Ohio State University football program," added Meyer. "I plan on assembling the best coaching staff in college football and winning Big Ten championships. It's good to be home."
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Asked about his health and why he's returning so soon after leaving Florida due to health issues, Meyer said, "I didn't feel right, but I feel fantastic now."
Meyer also said, "If it were not for the coaching opportunity at Ohio State, I would not have coached this year ... A year ago, in my mind, I was convinced I was done coaching."
"I dont want to be one of those guys that sleeps in his office and thinks, 'I missed this, I missed that."
Meyer said that interim coach Luke Fickell would remain on the staff as an assistant. "Shelly and I prayed on it and ultimately I want him as part of the team."
Fickell's specific position on Meyer's staff has yet to be determined. He will remain in his current role as interim head coach through the end of the bowl season.
Meyer took special time to make note of his new quarterback, Braxton Miller. "The highlight of my day was easily meeting Braxton Miller. That was the highlight of my day ... shaking hands with that good-looking quarterback."
Meyer, who led Florida to national championships in 2006 and 2008, started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio State in 1986.
"My six years in Florida? That was my dream job. ... I will always be a Gator."
The 47-year-old Ohio native is a three-time national coach of the year with an overall record of 104-23. He took his first head coaching job at Bowling Green in 2001 and posted a record of 17-6 in two seasons with the Falcons before moving on to coach the Utah Utes, whom he guided to a mark of 22-2 in two seasons. Meyer closed out his Utah stint with 16 consecutive wins. He then spent six seasons in Gainesville and led the Florida Gators to a record of 64-15 with a pair of national championships.
Ohio State also released an official announcement of the hiring along with contract details.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation.
Urban Meyer was officially hired by Ohio State on Monday, and at least one member of his coaching staff has been decided. From the school's official announcement:
Luke Fickell, who has served as Ohio State's head football coach since May, will continue to serve as the current team's head coach through any possible bowl appearance. He will remain on Coach Meyer's staff.
"I want to express my enormous gratitude to Luke Fickell," said [athletic director] Gene Smith. "During the past several months, he has demonstrated true leadership and devotion to the University and his players. He will continue to be a great asset to our program."
Update: Fickell's exact role on the staff has yet to be determined, Meyer said during his introductory press conference.
Ohio State suffered through a rare down season following an unexpected transition from the Jim Tressel era, finishing 6-6 after a 40-34 loss to rival Michigan. Fickell played for the Buckeyes during the 1993--96 seasons, returning to spend one season as a graduate assistant in 1999 before moving to the University of Akron. He returned to Ohio State in 2002, eventually assuming co-defensive coordinator duties in 2005.
For more on the Buckeyes, visit Ohio State blog Along The Olentangy.
The Ohio St. Buckeyes are holding a late Monday press conference, probably just to talk about their upcoming game against nobody. Prepare to see new head coach Urban Meyer dressed in scarlet and gray in just a few hours, talking about how Columbus is his all-time, one-and-only dream destination.
@brdispatch
#OhioState press conference will be at 5:15 p.m.
It would be great if Meyer were to issue a formal denial at something like 5:05 p.m. that he's taken the job. He may offer clues and insights into potential compositions of his coaching staff, or he may not. The likeliest revelation there would be the pending status of current interim Luke Fickell, who's been rumored to be up for getting his old defensive coordinator position back.
Meyer will also be asked questions about his heart and his family. Tune in to see lots of that!
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation.
Urban Meyer's employer, ESPN, has reported the current TV analyst will become the next coach of the Ohio St. Buckeyes. A flurry of reports broke all at once earlier in the morning, citing Meyer's agent Trace Armstrong, who was said to have confirmed the news.
Not so fast, says Armstrong himself to CBS Sports:
When asked if he had told ESPN the deal was done, he responded ...
"In the spirit, we've tried to keep them in the loop, they've jumped the gun a couple of times. It's most unfortunate."
If you'd like to read between the lines, it appears Armstrong and Meyer were making the network aware of the coach's ongoing negotiations with Ohio State, but not necessarily relaying to ESPN news of a done deal, at least according to this side of the story. The matter of the NCAA's final verdict on Ohio State is still factoring into Meyer's decision, as had been reported last week.
But, again, if ESPN says an ESPN employee is taking a coaching job, it's happening.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation.
Former Florida Gators (AND BOWLING GREEN) coach Urban Meyer will become the next head coach of the Ohio St. Buckeyes, according to his agent and his current employer. That much we know. We don't know when he'll be introduced and who will make up his staff. We know the contract figures that have been thrown around, which also happen to be the numbers still being reported now that the deal's 99.9 percent official, so it would appear we have a good handle on that part, as well.
@SiriusXMCollege Urban Meyer has accepted the Ohio St job. 7 yrs, 40 mil
That's $5.7 million per year, which would make him the highest-salaried coach in the nation by about a half a million dollars if accurate. Ohio State has the money to pay absolutely anybody, not to mention needed a hire like Meyer to scoot the end of the Jim Tressel era a little further out of sight. That kind of money would bring pretty much anybody out of retirement, you'd think.
Meyer has proven himself an instant winner virtually everywhere he's been. He'll have the Big Ten's best set of resources to work with, plus a Meyer-friendly quarterback in Braxton Miller. And he's returning to his midwestern roots. If he were to stick around for all seven years of that reported contract, might he win the Big Ten in most of those seasons? He might!
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation.
If anybody would know whether Urban Meyer has accepted the Ohio St. Buckeyes job, it's ESPN. Not because they know everything about sports, but because they know much more about Meyer's current plans than does any other outlet. Meyer works for them, you see.
So while many publications are tumbling over each other to confirm the news that Meyer's agent has revealed a deal is in place, ESPN's confirmation actually matters much more than it would otherwise. There's simply no way the network would get this story wrong.
A conflict of interest and weird lack of transparency (SOURCES:), sure, but at least the observer got something useful out of it in the end.
Urban Meyer will be the next head coach of Ohio State football, meaning he took a one-year break from the sidelines. In recent weeks, as he's denied even having contact with Columbus brass, he's listed his life priorities as his family and his health.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation.
Urban Meyer has agreed to become the next coach of the Ohio St. Buckeyes, reports his agent, Trace Armstrong. The reported timeline all along, according to multiple outlets, had been for Meyer to show himself as the school's next coach shortly after the Michigan game. That game was Saturday, in case you're just now joining us.
@ramzyn It"s official: Urban Meyer has accepted the Ohio State job per his agent Trace Armstrong.
@MikeAndMike Per his agent, Urban Meyer has accepted the
#OSU head coaching job.
Other reports had Meyer being introduced at Tuesday night's Ohio State basketball game against Duke. We'll see if that part happens.
Meyer, an ESPN color analyst by trade at the moment, was placed on studio duty by the network for this past weekend's games before requesting to take the weekend off. Speculation was fueled.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation.
Earlier this week, ESPN pulled Urban Meyer from the broadcast crew working Saturday's Michigan-Ohio State game in Ann Arbor, MI, an unsurprising development given the rumors that Meyer may already have an agreement in place with Ohio State to take over as head coach following the game.
"We felt the studio in Bristol was the best place for him given the many storylines and top matchups going on in college football this weekend," ESPN publicist Mike Humes tweeted on Monday. "He can offer commentary about the season, contribute to GameDay from ESPN studios and also help preview and review the significant games on the schedule."
Plans have changed yet again, as Meyer is no longer scheduled to appear on ESPN at all this weekend, on-location or in the studio. "Urban Meyer won't be appearing on ESPN this weekend," Humes tweeted Friday. "He requested off his studio assignment and we obliged."
From the outside, it's natural to try connecting the dots between Meyer's absence and the Ohio State rumors, but that may not be accurate. As Ohio State blog Eleven Warriors points out on Twitter, Meyer's father passed away earlier this month, which was why he was not part of the broadcast crew that called Penn State-Nebraska on Nov. 12.
Meyer has since returned to work, but the family held a memorial service this week. Given that his focus has likely been on his family this week, he may have simply decided against returning to work so soon. Unless ESPN or Meyer releases a statement explaining his absence, it's impossible to know for sure.
Contrary to reports elsewhere, Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports is reporting that Urban Meyer has not agreed to coach Ohio State. The report cites an anonymous source who is "intimately involved" in the situation, who indicated that no deal is in place and seemed to suggest that any deal is much farther off than simply agreeing on a salary.
"People can throw out guesses," the person said. "Some may or may not know what they’re talking about. It’s [report] not true. That’s not the case. That is all there is to say."
Meyer himself has twice denied reports that he has been offered the Ohio State coaching job, but that does leave the door open for all kinds of other discussions that may or may not have happened. Somewhat fueling the speculation is his absence from the ESPN broadcast crew of this weekend's Ohio State-Michigan game. ESPN said that he would be better used as an analyst in Bristol, Conn.
For more insight into the Buckeyes' coaching situation, check out Ohio State blog Along the Olentangy.
Urban Meyer becoming the next coach at Ohio State is seemingly an inevitability at this point. All that's left for the two-time national championship-winning coach and the school he has been linked to for months are logistics and details. And the Columbus Dispatch reports that even that has been ironed out, to an extent, with two sources telling the newspaper's Tim May that Meyer will be announced as the Ohio State Buckeyes' next head coach next week.
The Dispatch is also reporting that there are no concrete details about Meyer's contract, simply because they have not been agreed upon yet. Thus, expecting Meyer's deal to be for seven years and $40 million would seem premature at this point.
Then again, this could all change in the next hour. And before the week is up, it is likely that everyone you know will have filed a report about Urban Meyer becoming the next coach at Ohio State.
For more on Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy.
Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes have been involved in quite a few rumored deals over the past week, but the former head coach of the Florida Gators and current ESPN college football analyst is still denying any sort of contract agreement. Meyer's latest denial came just a short while after the newest report regarding the Buckeyes' head coaching job.
Meyer was reported to have agreed to a deal that would pay him $40 million over the course of seven seasons to become the new Ohio State head coach on Wednesday morning, according to Orlando sports station WKMG. The television station even had details on Meyer's coaching staff, but the retired Meyer has once again went on record to deny anything involving the Buckeyes.
"I have not been offered any job nor is there a deal in place," Meyer said in a statement to ESPN. "I plan on spending Thanksgiving with my family and will not comment on this any further."
There are several rumors circulating that Meyer will be introduced as the Buckeyes head coach when Ohio State plays Duke in a men's basketball game next week. Until then, it seems Meyer will continue to deny all reports connecting him with the Buckeyes.
Last week, word somehow circulated that Scout.com was reporting Urban Meyer had agreed to become the next Ohio St. Buckeyes coach. Nobody could actually find the report anywhere on Scout.com. Eleven Warriors did report it, however, with ESPN adding a few days later that Meyer had indeed been in touch with the school. (ESPN would know.)
Scout's Bill Greene is now, finally, reporting the news. Noteworthy, since Greene has been described by an Ohio State media associate as "a mother------ in the know."
@BillBankGreene Meyer and OSU reach deal. Formal announcement next week. Signs deal after Michigan. It's done.
Other reports have had Meyer being announced at an Ohio State basketball game -- Clay Travis and Sports by Brooks mentioned the upcoming Duke game, which would indeed follow the football game against Michigan.
Meyer himself has thrice denied the reports, which may help explain why ESPN is keeping him in the studio this Saturday.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation.
After reports by Eleven Warriors and then ESPN that Urban Meyer is in touch with the Ohio St. Buckeyes -- Eleven Warriors added that he's essentially agreed to become their next head coach -- Meyer twice denied the news. Here's a third, and you know what that means!
In a brief interview with Pat Dooley, Meyer listed his health, family, and the state of college football as his concerns, but notes that if Ohio State came calling, he'd "have a decision to make."
The most important quote of his to note:
"I love football," he said. "It's what I am. I miss it."
For what it's worth, Clay Travis reports he'll be introduced at a basketball game next week. No word on if the entire ESPN staff alleged to be accompanying Meyer to Columbus will also be in the OH IT'S A DUKE GAME. In that case, yes, ESPN will be named defensive coordinator.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy.
Has ESPN analyst Urban Meyer agreed to become the next Ohio St. Buckeyes head coach? He denied it earlier in the day during an ESPN broadcast when asked by an ESPN associate, though neither of the other ESPN broadcasters in the booth asked whether he's been in touch with Ohio State in the first place.
Luckily, ESPN is now reporting he has. The network's report lines up with what Buckeyes blog Eleven Warriors reported earlier in the week -- that Meyer is waiting to see just how hard the NCAA comes down on Ohio State, but that there's strong interest on both sides.
No word from ESPN on whether half of ESPN will be joining Meyer in Columbus, as another Internet report alleged. But now that the network is reporting Meyer is in talks with Ohio State, you can go ahead and pencil it in as a done deal. Pencil, I said.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy.
The Urban Meyer to Ohio State rumors have been running rampant for a little while now, but the former head coach of the Florida Gators is still serving his duties as a college football analyst for ESPN. While working Saturday afternoon's game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Meyer addressed the rumors that he will be the Ohio State Buckeyes' next head coach.
Dave Pasch, one of the other men in the three-man booth for Saturday's game, took time during a break in the broadcast to have the following exchange.
"Urban, I just want to ask you, there have been reports indicating that you have accepted the Ohio State head coaching position," Pasch said.
Urban replied quickly and emphatically.
"Well there's no truth to that," Meyer said of the rumors. "I know it's that time of year, but I have not been offered any job and I have certainly not accepted any job."
This probably won't stop the rampant rumors from circulating until the Ohio State head coaching position is filled on a permanent basis. For those claiming it isn't true, however, at least there's now a public denial on the record from Meyer.
In the last 24 hours, we've seen reports ranging from Urban Meyer agreeing to a deal in principle with Ohio State to the former Florida head coach signing a contract. There have even been detailed reports of the staff Meyer is bringing to Columbus (more on those in a minute). However, despite the swirling rumors, Meyer is denying any deal with the Buckeyes, according to a report on Friday night.
The report comes from Pat Dooley, who received a text from Meyer about the latest round of rumors.
I can only tell you what Urban just texted me back about rumor that he has accepted job at Ohio State -- "No truth to it."
Ohio State and Meyer are waiting for the NCAA to deliver their verdict, after which time, the announcement of Meyer as the new head coach will take place.
Of that staff, sources indicate Meyer’s intial plan is to retain current Ohio State head football coach Luke Fickell and current Buckeye wide receivers coach Stan Drayton.
Meyer also aims to add Chris Spielman, Kirk Herbstreit, current North Carolina State linebackers coach Jon Tenuta and current LSU offensive line coach Greg Studwara to his Ohio State staff.
Wait, what? The ESPN All-Stars are coming to Columbus? All right! Aren't coaching rumors in November fun?
Right now, it would seem Eleven Warriors' assessment is correct. Just about everyone expects this to happen, but nothing is official at all right now -- and that includes whatever hypothetical staff he's bringing to this job he's hypothetically accepted. Settled? Good.
One day after plane-tracking Urban Meyer took over Ohio State Twitter, a cluster of tweets had the former Florida coach's statue about ready to be raised in Columbus. They did end with an actual report being made, though. Here's what you may have missed.
Mike Freeman of CBS Sports accidentally broke the world by passing along a report he'd spotted in his travels. You can see why the following would get retweeted like a hot cake (I don't know what a hot cake is), even though Freeman includes an "if true" caveat:
@realfreemancbs Scout.com is reporting Urban Meyer has agreed to coach OSU for 7 years, $35 million. If true, whoa.
Pay sites being pay sites, not everyone was immediately clear on who's reporting what, but after some huddling it was widely agreed that Scout was not actually reporting Urban Meyer to Ohio State.
Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples shot down the report, whoever it was that was doing the reporting. Freeman spent much of the next hour clarifying he wasn't the one who made the report in the first place -- you'll note he works for CBS, not Scout. It's in his Twitter handle.
But then!
@elevenwarriors We are 99.7% sure Urban Meyer has agreed to a deal to become the next coach of Ohio State. Solid sources. Plural.
That's ElevenWarriors.com, a reputable Ohio State fan outfit, staking a large portion of its name on Meyer becoming Ohio State's next coach.
If our nation's amateur air traffic controllers are sufficiently on their grind, it's not hard to imagine Meyer could've met with Ohio State and worked out an agreement that could eventually result in a contract. But it's just as easy to envision Meyer's tour of the country making a few more stops before it settles.
For more on the Buckeyes, visit Ohio State blog Along The Olentangy, plus Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire and SB Nation Cleveland.
Former Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer met with officials at the University of Arizona last week to discuss their vacant head football coaching job but declined the offer, according to the New York Times.
The person said that Meyer, who has expressed his desire to return to coaching, was intrigued but informed Byrne in a telephone call Monday night that he was not going to pursue the job.
Meyer is arguably the No. 1 free agent candidate for any college football program looking for a head coach. He is considered the leading candidate for the and , which are both expected to be open after this year. Both positions are currently held by interim head coaches (Luke Fickell and Tom Brdley, respectively).
Meyer released a statement last week stating that he was not interested in the Penn State position and was happy with his current position as a commentator at ESPN.
The Arizona Wildcats fired head coach Mike Stoops earlier this season after the team's 1-5 start.
Meyer won 65 games and two national championships in six seasons with Florida before leaving to spend more time with his family.
For more on the Arizona Wildcats, head over to the blog Arizona Desert Storm and SB Nation Arizona. For comprehensive coverage around the NCAA, check out SB Nation's College Football hub.
The Penn St. Nittany Lions still need to play a football game on Saturday against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. They also need a coach for next year. And, speaking of the game, somebody needs to announce the game, which is the first game in Penn State's post-Joe Paterno history.
Hey, Urban Meyer's calling the game! Might he also be interested in that oth-
"I am very happy with my role at ESPN," Meyer said in a statement. "I have no plans to return to coaching at this time."
Meyer hasn't bought a house in Pennsylvania over the past week, as had been rumored, but he did say "we" that one time in reference to Penn State's quarterbacks, which is actually an obscure Old Testament real estate law, so maybe he did.
For more on this game, which is actually pretty important as far as games go, visit Penn State blog Black Shoe Diaries and Nebraska blog Corn Nation, plus SB Nation Pittsburgh and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
Amid rumors that he'll be returning ANY MINUTE NOW to rescue any number of Big Ten programs from beheaded crumpling, former Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer had a few kind words with the St. Petersburg Times about his retirement and what's in store.
There's much about volleyball, which is great, and he waves off the sourced reports that have had him in contact with teams, but the portion most relevant to Penn St. Nittany Lions and Ohio St. Buckeyes fans is this one:
If I ever went back, I'd have to get back a little bit of balance I used to have. I don't know if I'm there yet. I went off the deep end. When I first went to Florida, my first Tennessee game, first SEC game, my son was playing that (Friday) night, was going to pitch. I'm in a hotel. I looked at the police officers: "I can't take this. Will you get in a car and drive me to go watch my son pitch?" Everybody thought I was nuts. I'm not going to let a job consume me. I think it did. I would have never done that at the end. I was so consumed about perfection. We created a monster. If I ever did get back, I would not let that control my life.
In my personal opinion, that's coachspeak for, "One program is about to get a little Urban renewal, if you catch my meaning." But we'll see.
For more on these schools, visit Penn State blog Black Shoe Diaries, Ohio State blog Along The Olentangy and Texas blog Burnt Orange Nation.
Urban Meyer works for ESPN. This means his day job places him somewhere in between commenting on news and making news. Though he's denied he's been in touch with the Penn St. Nittany Lions about a mythical upcoming head coaching job, he did offer up a piece of evidence to the contrary, for those who were really, really looking for evidence to the contrary:
Former Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer was reported to be in casual touch with the Penn St. Nittany Lions about a potential upcoming coaching vacancy. The ESPN analyst denied the report to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
"I'm not going to say anything about it," Meyer told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette upon arriving at Beaver Stadium to work the ABC/ESPN telecast of the Penn State-Iowa game. "There's no truth to the rumor."
Meyer has been linked via rumor and speculation with Penn State and with the Ohio St. Buckeyes job since, well, the moment he left Florida both times he left Florida. Though he's never really made a public comment that would lead one to conclude he's interested, it's hard to imagine he won't itch to coach another program at some point, especially one with which he already has personal connections.
For more on these schools, visit Penn State blog Black Shoe Diaries, Ohio State blog Along The Olentangy and Texas blog Burnt Orange Nation.
Rumors of Urban Meyer taking over as the coach of a major Big Ten program stirred up almost as soon as he left the Florida Gators. His personal ties to both the Ohio St. Buckeyes (he grew up in Ohio, plus his first gig was as a Buckeyes coach) and Penn St. Nittany Lions (he's a longtime Joe Paterno friend and admirer) made for the clearest storylines.
When Jim Tressel left Columbus, that made for UrbanWatch, Round 2.
Now a report by former Buckeyes beat writer Jeff Rapp, one of the more respected Ohio State media members according to Buckeyes fans, lists Penn State, Ohio State and Texas as potential destinations for Meyer. According to Rapp, the former two both share mutual interest. Though the Nittany Lions look like the front-runner at the moment:
Meyer was in State College to conduct a preseason interview with Penn State linebacker Mike Mauti, now out for the year with a torn ACL, and reportedly met with school president Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley while on campus. Those talks apparently were productive.
"Urban would love to have that job," the source said. "Keep in mind, though, that he doesn't want to be known as the guy who forced out Joe Paterno. It would have to be done in the right way. I think they could appeal to Joe Pa's best interests and allow him to be the king-maker."
All three programs have coaches, technically speaking, though one has to doubt Luke Fickell will be given much of a chance to remove the interim from his title. But Mack Brown and Paterno are getting up there in years (you might've heard?). Texas had its successor in place until Will Muschamp left to take over for Meyer in Florida, and we've gone full circle before we've ever actually gone anywhere.
For more on these schools, visit Penn State blog Black Shoe Diaries, Ohio State blog Along The Olentangy and Texas blog Burnt Orange Nation.
With Jim Tressel resigning as head football coach at Ohio State amidst myriad alleged violations, it didn't take long for chatter to start up about which coach would eventually replace him.
We know co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell will step in as the interim coach for the 2011 season. After that? Hard to say. Depending on what he does it stands to reason that Fickell will have a chance to earn the full-time gig moving forward.
However, if the administration wants to reel in a big fish to wash the stink off the program, these are some of the names being bandied about:
Urban Meyer - Contractually-obligated to be considered a candidate for any high-profile football coaching gig until he publicly decries it, Meyer has already said he's not interested, though he left a little wiggle room in his denial in a way that's so typically Urban.
Bob Stoops - The longtime Oklahoma coach is an Ohio native. After 12 seasons in Norman he might want to start somewhere fresh. But the likely violations and punishments to be bestowed on OSU don't make it too attractive to a coach in his position.
Bo Pelini - The Nebraska coach is a former Ohio State player. Considering the Huskers just jumped to the Big Ten, it might be sacrilige for Pelini to jump ship even if it is his alma mater.
Mark Dantonio - The Michigan State headman has spent a large portion of his professional career in Ohio, including stints at Akron, Cincinnati, Youngstown State and Ohio State as defensive coordinator. Again, it might be too much to ask that he jump to a rival and then there's his health issues to consider.
Jon Gruden - Just because.
Gary Patterson - TCU's head coach might want to try and cash in and trade up to the Buckeyes. Then again, he's about to head to the Big East where he's going to have a much easier time winning conference titles and playing for championships.
Greg Robinson - Because how much fun would that be? Especially for Michigan fans...
For more Ohio State, join Buckeyes community Along The Olentangy, SB Nation Cleveland and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
If you're already in the business of compiling future coaching candidates for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team, you can scratch Urban Meyer off the list. The former University of Florida coach who resigned from the Gators job for health reasons is perfectly happy with his job at ESPN and he won't be pursuing the Ohio State job or any other job in the near future, according to a statement he released today.
This is hardly surprising, but it does beg the question: How many times does Urban Meyer have to say he's not interested in taking any coaching jobs before people leave him alone about it? As a guy with a family, multiple titles, and medical problems, there's no reason not to believe that he's happy on television and that he's not interested in returning to coaching in the near future.
A relatively wild guess: It's too late in the game for Ohio State to nab a big name. Luke Fickell will coach Ohio State this season, then depending on his performance, be one of many candidates for the job next winter. In any event, the next Ohio State head coach will not be Urban Meyer.
For more Ohio State, join Buckeyes community Along The Olentangy, SB Nation Cleveland and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
The Outback Bowl featuring Florida and Penn State may be the strangest match-up of New Year's Day for many reasons. It's a matchup of two powers coming off less-than-satisfactory seasons; it will feature two dysfunctional offenses; and finally, it is sponsored by an "Australian" steak chain actually headquartered in "Tampa."
The weirdness of all weirdness is that 84 year old Joe Paterno will not be the coach just a few hours from retirement in this game. That would be Urban Meyer, Florida's coach, who earlier this month announced his second retirement due to health concerns.
Not outlasting Joe Paterno is no shame, since whole countries have come and gone in the span of his long and extremely productive life. The great question today is whether Urban Meyer will get to play the opposite of role he occupied against Michigan in the 2008 Capital One Bowl when a retiring Lloyd Carr beat Florida. It's a very different situation tactically--Florida's going to play three quarterbacks who barely add up to one whole signal-caller--but in the pregame motivational game, the advantage is clearly Florida's here.
Stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates. And for more on these teams, check in with our Florida blog, Alligator Army, and our Penn State blog, Black Shoe Diaries.
At different times this year, it wasn't difficult to see either Alabama or Michigan State playing for the BCS National Championship. After all, Alabama entered the year as the near-consensus favorite to repeat as champions after their 2009 run, and Michigan State was 8-0 with a big win over Wisconsin when they dropped a three-touchdown loss to Iowa in late October.
That loss to Iowa remains the only one on Big Ten co-champion Michigan State's resume, a distinction that the Spartans have won mostly by being solid at everything -- but not truly elite at much of anything. They rank first or second in the Big Ten in only two categories, both of them having to do with punting. Then again, there's very little that Michigan State does poorly, with the possible exceptions of passing defense, kickoff returns and tackles for loss. (And their passing efficiency defense is actually pretty good, meaning the passing yardage numbers might be skewed by opponents trying to catch up late.) Running back Edwin Baker rushed for 1,187 yards and 13 TDs on 195 carries, while QB Kirk Cousins was efficient, going 216-of-320 for 2,705 yards, 20 TDs and 9 INTs. Their coach, Mark Dantonio, is best-known for having a heart attack shortly after calling for a fake kick to win an overtime game against Notre Dame.
Alabama started out the season 5-0, looking for all the world like the national front-runner they were supposed to be before a two-touchdown loss at South Carolina. After that, the Tide would never win more than two in a row, and would lose at LSU and in a heartbreaker to archrival Auburn, who would win the SEC title and shot at the BCS championship that was supposed to Alabama's. Mark Ingram, fresh off a Heisman Trophy campaign in 2009, looked absolutely mortal in running for 816 yards and 11 TDs on 146 attempts, with his only 100-yard games coming against Duke and Arkansas. Backup Trent Richardson, who was potentially better than Ingram, was also a non-factor in several of the Tide's games. Greg McElroy was efficient -- 209-of-296 for 2,676 yards, 19 TDs and 5 INTs -- but he was sometimes flustered by opposing defenses, and he was never meant to carry the team by himself. Their coach, Nick Saban, is best-known for winning championships and leaving a job or two, including his former position as head coach at Michigan State.
The Capital One Bowl kicks off on Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. EST on ESPN.
The path to Will Muschamp becoming the next head coach at Florida was paved in part by Urban Meyer's abrupt resignation this past week. Meyer spoke about family being the reason for his departure, but it seems like his health played a role, too.
The Gainesville Sun's Pat Dooley reports that a source said health reasons make it "too risky" for Meyer to continue coaching, and that the esophageal spasms that plagued Meyer in 2009 — when he was hospitalized after the SEC Championship Game, then briefly resigned before later altering his resignation to a leave of absence — are just the start of Meyer's issues.
Meyer was told by doctors last week that the symptoms he continues to experience — including burning sensations in his chest -- would raise his cardiovascular risk factors, so he decided it necessitated his resignation, according to the source. Meyer had been told a year ago that if his symptoms continued, it would increase his cardiovascular risks if he continued to coach.
Meyer allegedly toned down his legendary intensity during the 2010 season, getting more exercise and eating better, but his Gators suffered on the field and he appeared more and more stricken on the sideline as his charges sputtered to a 7-5 record.
So, to Florida fans, a revelation that health figured into Urban Meyer's resignation is about as shocking as a Steve Addazio dive play.
Urban Meyer announced his resignation from Florida at a press conference on Wednesday in what was possibly the most emotionless farewell press conference you’ll ever see. He started with one line, saying he was resigning, and then when straight to questions. It’s probably a sign that Meyer is completely content with his decision, or that he’s just totally cold-blooded, or some mix of both. Regardless, here are the “highlights” of a pretty uneventful presser:
The full transcript of Meyer’s press conference responses to the questions can be found here. He was asked “why?” a lot of different ways, but the bottom line seems to be that he wants to spend time with his family.
Nearly a year ago, Florida coach Urban Meyer stunned the football world when he announced that he was resigning his post. However, "resignation" eroded into "leave of absence," which further eroded into, "okay, I'll coach spring ball." Sure enough, he returned to the Gators this season.
Apparently, Meyer will only extend his career as Florida's head coach for one more year, as he announced on Wednesday that the Outback Bowl will be his final game, ending a disappointing season in which Florida finished 7-5. Our Gators blog, Alligator Army, wonders whether adding one sub-par year to an excellent career will serve to tarnish Meyer's legacy.
Urban didn't quit last season. He came back and spent 2010 with an offensive coordinator universally hated, a quarterback who never had the skill set for the spread offense, and a team that never had the focus necessary to win. There are a lot of supposed Gator fans perfectly happy with throwing Urban under the RTS bus following an awful 2010. But I think it is fair to accuse Urban of having a lame duck season.
Be sure to check out the rest of the post at Alligator Army. They've set up a poll asking whether the 2010 season impacts Meyer's legacy, and so far, the answer is, "no."
After resigning as head coach of the Florida Gators and releasing a statement in which he mentioned his family as a prime motivator, Urban Meyer spoke to the media Wednesday night.
He opened with, “I have great love for the University of Florida. I’m stepping down as head coach to focus on family and other interests away from the sidelines,” and then he took questions from the media. He did appear relieved and set in his decision.
On when he decided to step down: “Earlier this week i vist with [athletic director] Jeremy [Foley] about some thoughts I was having and made the decision yesterday.”
On how the timing is different this time around: “I love Florida. I’ve got the best bosses in the country. I’ve got a great staff, and that was a knee jerk reaction. The timing wasn’t right. The timing’s never perfect, but this way you get a new coach who can help recruiting and move forward.”
On how his family’s involvement in the decision is different this time: “Last year my daughter came home from college and found out what happened [and was surprised and upset]. This year is completely different. I’m doing what’s best for Florida, Florida players, and obviously for myself and my family.”
“Sometimes we make it far too complex. At the end of the day, you’re gonna be judged on how you are as a husband, as a father — not on how many bowl games you win. I’ve never seen my girls play sports, so I’ve missed those years. I made a commitment to them that I'm gonna enjoy the best years of their lives.”
On the impact of his resignation on recruiting: “I talked to a handful and I’m gonna make a bunch of phone calls tonight and tomorrow. Florida is Florida. We’ve put together a great class. I’m sure the coaching candidates will be great. Full speed ahead.”
On stepping down right before facing Joe Paterno, who may never step down: “Someone made a comment that if Joe Paterno stepped down at my age, it would be 1972. We’re actually great friends. I think I’m gonna see him tomorrow.”
On how Florida can turn it around: “The way you fix it is hard work. It’s because of a constant attrition of assistant coaches. [There are ten coaches throughout college football who were Florida assistants.] You lose five juniors to the NFL Draft, there’s a void. It’s Florida. We have the facilities. This is gonna be a great young team.”
On whether he consulted with associates: “Yes I did, and family discussions. My best friend’s up at Georgia Tech [presumably his daughter, not Paul Johnson], and my other best friends are high school seniors.”
On whether it’s hard to leave after a bad year: “I think Florida deserves the best, and I’m not sure we gave them the best this year. But there’s never a perfect time to leave.”
On breaking the news to players: “It was tough. I met with them today at 2. For the most part they were very gracious.”
On his legacy at Florida: “You look at the ‘06 team, they’ll go down as one of the most overachieving, hard working teams. The ‘08 team, you look at the stats, it’s hard to say that’s not one of the three best teams in the history of the game.”
On why he changed his mind last time: “I changed my mind as far as staff and players — the timing for my boss was not appropriate. It was not a good time.”
On Florida’s 2010 struggles: “I saw a dropoff. There’s a multitude of reasons from injuries to lack of execution.”
You can fix struggles. If it was different timing, and my family wasn’t involved in sports and all the things a dad should be at [I would stay]. My daughter is playing golf at Florida Gulf Coast, and I’ve not seen the school yet. I’m gonna go see it."
On his plans for the future: “Im gonna put a resume together, and I’m gonna try to be a Gatorball baseball assistant coach this spring.”
The last time Urban Meyer announced his resignation as Florida Gators head coach, he listed his health and his family as his two primary concerns. After the 2009 SEC Championship Game, Meyer was admitted into a Gainesville hospital with chest pains and dehydration.
The next day he stated his intention to step down, dialing down the decision on the following day to a leave of absence. He coached the team in the Sugar Bowl, did most of his recruiting work from home, and returned as full-time head coach in March 2010.
This time around Meyer hasn’t mentioned his health, only his family. Should we be putting two and two together and presuming his health is also a factor?
Central Florida’s Bright House Sports Network reports Meyer’s heart condition is getting worse, and that he told Gators players that he’s retiring from coaching.
If the stress brought on by an SEC East title run contributed to his 2009 health scare, the pressures of righting the Florida ship as currently constructed could indeed be even worse. If the Gators lose their bowl game, they’ll finish with the program’s worst record since 1987.
It’s official: Urban Meyer has resigned as head coach of the Florida Gators. There will be a press conference at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to announce the news.
Meyer and Athletic Director Jeremy Foley came to an agreement on the resignation Tuesday. On Wednesday, the university released a statement from Meyer, which reads in part:
“I have been a Division I football coach for the last 25 years and, during that time, my primary focus has been helping my teams win titles. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, and I am a fierce competitor to my core. At this time in my life, however, I appreciate the sacrifices my 24/7 profession has demanded of me, and I know it is time to put my focus on my family and life away from the field. The decision to step down was a difficult one.
“But after spending more than two decades motivating and celebrating the young men I’ve been so proud to coach, I relish the opportunity to cheer for my three terrific kids as they compete in their own respective sports. I know how fortunate I am to be in a position to make this choice and to have a family that is as loving and supportive as my amazing wife and children have always been.”
Meyer will remain the Gators’ head coach for the Outback Bowl, which Florida will participate in on New Year’s Day. After that, Meyer will walk away from the program to which he gave six seasons. During that tenure, Meyer won two National Championships and three SEC East titles.
According to FanHouse's Brett McMurphy, Urban Meyer is stepping down as the head coach to the University of Florida's football team. (Yes, again.) The official announcement is expected to come in a press conference at 5 p.m. EST Wednesday evening.
If reports are true, this would not be the first time that Meyer has stepped down. Last December, Meyer announced he would resign as Florida's head coach following a health scare earlier in the month (Meyer went to the hospital with chest pains and was released later the same day on Dec. 6). At the time, he said, "I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to re-evaluate my priorities of faith and family."
However, the next day, Meyer changed his attitude and his resignation became just a leave of absence. He coached the Gators in the Sugar Bowl on Jan . 1, a win over Cincinnati, and by March 17, he has completely resumed his duties as Florida's head coach.
Meyer took over at Florida in 2005 after two years at Utah. He led the Gators to two national championships, in 2006 and then again in 2008.
Plenty more as it develops here in this StoryStream and at our Florida blog, Alligator Army.
Everett Withers Joining Ohio State, Mike Vrabel To Remain On Staff
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer announced Wednesday that 24-year coaching veteran Everett Withers is joining his staff as co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
Withers is currently the interim head coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Withers has 17 years of college coaching experience along with seven seasons of NFL experience. He spent six years as the Tennessee Titans defensive backs coach and a year as the defensive quality control coach for the New Orleans Saints.
Withers' college experience includes stints with Austin Peay, Tulane, Southern Miss, Louisville, Texas, Minnesota and North Carolina.
Withers fashioned a 7-5 record out of a 2011 UNC team that lost head coach Butch Davis just before the season began. His 2009 defense ranked No. 6 in the country, while his 2010 squad ranked No. 30.
For more Ohio State, head to Buckeyes blog Along The Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire. For more college football news, stay tuned to SB Nation, and here's our 2011 Coaching Carousel Tracker.
Dec 21 4:11p by Sean Keeley - 0 comments