Utah’s Urban Meyer Next Florida Gators Football Coach
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James Joyner | Friday, December 3, 2004 |
Source: Utah’s Meyer picks Gators over Irish (ESPN)
The University of Florida has offered its coaching job to Urban Meyer, who accepted today, ESPN.com’s Pat Forde has learned. Florida papers reported the offer to Meyer, who has coached Utah to a 11-0 season and a BCS bowl bid, on their Web sites Friday morning. The Gainesville Sun, citing anonymous sources, reported on its Web site that Meyer had agreed to coach the Gators but that the details of the contract were still being worked out. The newspaper said Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley was in Salt Lake City on Friday to close the deal.
When asked about the report, Utah athletic director Chris Hill, deferred. “My position is to let the other parties in these things — the schools and the coach — speak for themselves,” Hill said. “Any kind of confirmation would have to come from other sources.” When pressed, Hill offered no further comment.
Meyer met with his players Thursday and told them what schools are pursuing him, but he would not be specific when asked about the meeting. “There’s too many things involved right now to have any comments,” Meyer said after a practice at Utah’s new indoor practice field. Florida officials were in Utah on Thursday, as were Notre Dame officials.
Meyer will replace Ron Zook, who was fired but coached the team through the end of the season. The Utah coach has said he wants to coach the Utes in their bowl game. Zook has not yet decided whether he will coach the Gators in the Peach Bowl.
Meyer is obviously the guy everyone is after this year, after a suprising performance by the typically lackluster Utes. Of course, the SEC is a whole different ballgame.
(via Mark Hasty)
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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The fact that a man who has publicly said that Notre Dame is his dream job looks like he's heading elsewhere should tell coaches everywhere that they aren't going to have carte blanche of ANYTHING when they come to that school. Those of us who love college football continue to realize that Notre Dame is not only NOT culturally relevant anymore, but they are still thinking they are, and can do whatever they want.
I'd look at Pitt's Walt Harris to be the next best thing, if Meyer goes this route.
Meyer goes to Florida, thus preventing Notre Dame from repeating their mistake of three years ago. Some guy out West has a smattering of success and suddenly he's pursued by schools, the scope of which he is ill prepared for.
I don't think Notre Dame has completely jumped the shark just yet. There is hope but the window certainly is closing. This could well be their last chance to lure a blue chip coach to South Bend, and even now it will probably take a lot of work and open wallets.
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