Comments on: Urban Meyer farewell forum http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/10624/urban-meyer-farewell-forum/ Get knee-deep in The Swamp with our UF football guru Fri, 17 May 2013 12:27:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: quickenedspirit http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/10624/urban-meyer-farewell-forum/comment-page-6/#comment-6956 quickenedspirit Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:43:50 +0000 http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/?p=10624#comment-6956 For the record: Though that final comment ALLEGEDLY posted by "quickenedspirit" (two comments above) makes an interesting point, I - quickenedspirit - did NOT submit it. GatorSports.com should provide for exclusivity of usernames! ------------ IGTBAG! Ciao For the record:
Though that final comment ALLEGEDLY posted by “quickenedspirit” (two comments above) makes an interesting point, I – quickenedspirit – did NOT submit it.
GatorSports.com should provide for exclusivity of usernames!
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IGTBAG!
Ciao

]]> By: floridafrankie http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/10624/urban-meyer-farewell-forum/comment-page-6/#comment-6790 floridafrankie Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:09:42 +0000 http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/?p=10624#comment-6790 Thanks coach Meyer, you're the greatest in Gator History. Please stay on with the Universty of Florida in some capacity. Every future Gator Coach will be measured against you. Congratulations! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Thanks coach Meyer, you’re the greatest in Gator History. Please stay on with the Universty of Florida in some capacity. Every future Gator Coach will be measured against you. Congratulations! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

]]> By: quickenedspirit http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/10624/urban-meyer-farewell-forum/comment-page-6/#comment-6741 quickenedspirit Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:51:06 +0000 http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/?p=10624#comment-6741 Or to summarize, don't let the door hit your butt on the way out. Does it seem really weird that our 47 year old coach is resigning for "health" reasons. And our next opponent's head coach is asking for a 5 year extension at the age of 84. Huuummm! Or to summarize, don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out.

Does it seem really weird that our 47 year old coach is resigning for “health” reasons. And our next opponent’s head coach is asking for a 5 year extension at the age of 84. Huuummm!

]]> By: quickenedspirit http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/10624/urban-meyer-farewell-forum/comment-page-6/#comment-6650 quickenedspirit Mon, 13 Dec 2010 04:43:18 +0000 http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/?p=10624#comment-6650 That's all I got... for now. ------------ IGTBAG! Ciao That’s all I got… for now.
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IGTBAG!
Ciao

]]> By: quickenedspirit http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/10624/urban-meyer-farewell-forum/comment-page-6/#comment-6649 quickenedspirit Mon, 13 Dec 2010 04:24:37 +0000 http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/?p=10624#comment-6649 My Closing Farewell Thoughts: URBAN MEYER'S DELAYED RETIREMENT A (STRATEGIC) BLESSING IN DISGUISE? -- Someone asked: what established coach would want the "snake-pit" HC job at UF after watching half of GatorNation throw Urban Meyer under the bus after one mediocre season, and where did our fan-base acquire this entitlement attitude? First, I'd say that, by my observation, of the minority who were critical of Urban, very few "threw him under the bus" at all. If anything, critics and proponents alike were confident he'd "turn the bus around" in short order. Virtually none of GatorNation, however, was critical of him merely for a mediocre season, per se (in fact, some made the case for an expected "down" year after graduating so many star players), but rather a perceived stubborn aloofness, if not willful ignorance (which, if premeditated, dovetails nicely with my theory below). I believe the seeds of this so-called "entitlement attitude" that GatorNation has "acquired" can be traced back to when Urban jerked-around our emotions last year when he stunningly un-retired (less than 24 hours after blindsiding us with his SHOCKING retirement announcement) -- allegedly because, INCONGRUOUSLY, he was inspired by and thought he would "miss" the players' dedication, hard work and camaraderie, and didn't want to let them down (or some such gobblety-gook), even though his health and LIFE as well as family relationships were supposedly on the line(!) -- all AFTER Gator Nation had already entered into the sporting equivalent of mourning AND the standard fuss over who would be the next HC! We were saddened by his initial decision and concerned for him, but excited with anticipation over his would-be successor. Then he flip-flopped on us! The whole debacle was inconsiderate and selfish!! That’s what I thought THEN, but NOW I wonder if his “return” wasn’t orchestrated with a view toward mitigating adverse circumstances surrounding his eventual retirement & replacement, which, if so, rather would make it quite the opposite: sacrificially considerate and selfless (in a very big and dedicated way!). Again,...IF so. Think about it! Think about the would-be storyline (had Urban stayed retired): “Beloved Super-Coach suddenly and unexpectedly retires due to potentially life-threatening, stress related ailment which may have adversely affected his ability to successfully lead undefeated Gators to second straight, and third in four years, SEC & BCS Championships!” The empathy for him, even outside of GatorNation, would have been palpable! Now imagine you’re Jeremy Foley, and you’ve got to replace said person (on short notice, no less!)!!! GOOD LUCK finding a SANE coach who’d be willing to step into THAT would-be “snake-pit," to use their term. Just WHO or WHAT might have we ended up with, then?!?!? Foley and Machen are obviously smart and savvy. They MUST HAVE perceived the writing on the wall!! It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they had privately painted the following scenario to Urban: “Delay retirement until next year; take leave of absence instead; Addazio will retain the recruiting class; delegate everything when you return; coach on cruise-control (“phone it in”=what we witnessed!); if the team does good – fine, that’s great; BUT, if we have a slight ‘down’ year – ALL THE BETTER to be able to find a viable replacement when you announce NEXT year (because right now, especially with your announcement yesterday, you are akin to a football god; we run the risk of the program being set back years if we struggle to find a legitimate replacement willing to step into your shadow; we can discuss further how to “tweak” things to get acceptable results for all – for instance, Addazio as OC might be one, shifting any blame away from you in the event of poor results, and also, John Brantley, Sr. has called with a request that just may play into our hands!); in the mean time, we’ll have a year to survey the landscape for the next Gator Head Coach; then, if you’re interested, you can move into the UAA as Asst. or Assoc. AD, and my (Jeremy Foley's) heir apparent!” Conspiracy theory? Yeah. A stretch? Not so much. Regardless – orchestrated or not – the above scenario(s) actually did happen (with the exception of that final clause, which remains to be seen), and the past year, this past season, these past days have surely played-out to our benefit compared to the alternative suggested above, had Meyer stayed retired last year. Some are howling herein that we could’ve done better than Muschamp. Maybe. Time will tell. Since I'm convinced that our "selling" position would have been MUCH weaker - the HC job less desirable - following Urban's initial retirement last year than it is this time around, I have to (and do) believe that Jeremy has been, as some have posited (and in the spirit of the season), "making a list and checking it twice!" Therefore, logically, he undoubtedly has had an eye on Muschamp, as well as select others, for quite some time now, and respectfully, I believe him when he says that Muschamp was "his guy" - his "first and only offer" (I think I read that that was the case). Regardless, considering that only three days transpired between Urban's re-retirement and Muschamp's hiring, he clearly had to at least have been near the very top of any list!! Merry Christmas Jeremy Foley! Merry Christmas GatorNation! ———— IGTBAG! Ciao PS: Urban says he wants to stay in G'ville. Who knows, MAYBE he'll replace Foley as AD someday. Or, maybe he'll leave to fulfill his dream of Coaching Notre Dame one day. Then again, he could get that Swamp itch again too, even if he becomes AD; he may miss the action and opt to trade, health permitting, the office phone for the headset once again,... one last time! ...hhmmmm.... PPS: "That's all I've got to say about that" (... till next time). --------------- Ciao Ciao My Closing Farewell Thoughts:
URBAN MEYER’S DELAYED RETIREMENT A (STRATEGIC) BLESSING IN DISGUISE? —
Someone asked: what established coach would want the “snake-pit” HC job at UF after watching half of GatorNation throw Urban Meyer under the bus after one mediocre season, and where did our fan-base acquire this entitlement attitude?
First, I’d say that, by my observation, of the minority who were critical of Urban, very few “threw him under the bus” at all. If anything, critics and proponents alike were confident he’d “turn the bus around” in short order. Virtually none of GatorNation, however, was critical of him merely for a mediocre season, per se (in fact, some made the case for an expected “down” year after graduating so many star players), but rather a perceived stubborn aloofness, if not willful ignorance (which, if premeditated, dovetails nicely with my theory below).
I believe the seeds of this so-called “entitlement attitude” that GatorNation has “acquired” can be traced back to when Urban jerked-around our emotions last year when he stunningly un-retired (less than 24 hours after blindsiding us with his SHOCKING retirement announcement) — allegedly because, INCONGRUOUSLY, he was inspired by and thought he would “miss” the players’ dedication, hard work and camaraderie, and didn’t want to let them down (or some such gobblety-gook), even though his health and LIFE as well as family relationships were supposedly on the line(!) — all AFTER Gator Nation had already entered into the sporting equivalent of mourning AND the standard fuss over who would be the next HC! We were saddened by his initial decision and concerned for him, but excited with anticipation over his would-be successor. Then he flip-flopped on us! The whole debacle was inconsiderate and selfish!!
That’s what I thought THEN, but NOW I wonder if his “return” wasn’t orchestrated with a view toward mitigating adverse circumstances surrounding his eventual retirement & replacement, which, if so, rather would make it quite the opposite: sacrificially considerate and selfless (in a very big and dedicated way!). Again,…IF so.
Think about it! Think about the would-be storyline (had Urban stayed retired): “Beloved Super-Coach suddenly and unexpectedly retires due to potentially life-threatening, stress related ailment which may have adversely affected his ability to successfully lead undefeated Gators to second straight, and third in four years, SEC & BCS Championships!”
The empathy for him, even outside of GatorNation, would have been palpable!
Now imagine you’re Jeremy Foley, and you’ve got to replace said person (on short notice, no less!)!!!
GOOD LUCK finding a SANE coach who’d be willing to step into THAT would-be “snake-pit,” to use their term.
Just WHO or WHAT might have we ended up with, then?!?!?
Foley and Machen are obviously smart and savvy. They MUST HAVE perceived the writing on the wall!!
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they had privately painted the following scenario to Urban:
“Delay retirement until next year; take leave of absence instead; Addazio will retain the recruiting class; delegate everything when you return; coach on cruise-control (“phone it in”=what we witnessed!); if the team does good – fine, that’s great; BUT, if we have a slight ‘down’ year – ALL THE BETTER to be able to find a viable replacement when you announce NEXT year (because right now, especially with your announcement yesterday, you are akin to a football god; we run the risk of the program being set back years if we struggle to find a legitimate replacement willing to step into your shadow; we can discuss further how to “tweak” things to get acceptable results for all – for instance, Addazio as OC might be one, shifting any blame away from you in the event of poor results, and also, John Brantley, Sr. has called with a request that just may play into our hands!); in the mean time, we’ll have a year to survey the landscape for the next Gator Head Coach; then, if you’re interested, you can move into the UAA as Asst. or Assoc. AD, and my (Jeremy Foley’s) heir apparent!”
Conspiracy theory? Yeah.
A stretch? Not so much.
Regardless – orchestrated or not – the above scenario(s) actually did happen (with the exception of that final clause, which remains to be seen), and the past year, this past season, these past days have surely played-out to our benefit compared to the alternative suggested above, had Meyer stayed retired last year.
Some are howling herein that we could’ve done better than Muschamp. Maybe. Time will tell.
Since I’m convinced that our “selling” position would have been MUCH weaker – the HC job less desirable – following Urban’s initial retirement last year than it is this time around, I have to (and do) believe that Jeremy has been, as some have posited (and in the spirit of the season), “making a list and checking it twice!” Therefore, logically, he undoubtedly has had an eye on Muschamp, as well as select others, for quite some time now, and respectfully, I believe him when he says that Muschamp was “his guy” – his “first and only offer” (I think I read that that was the case). Regardless, considering that only three days transpired between Urban’s re-retirement and Muschamp’s hiring, he clearly had to at least have been near the very top of any list!!
Merry Christmas Jeremy Foley!
Merry Christmas GatorNation!
————
IGTBAG!
Ciao
PS: Urban says he wants to stay in G’ville. Who knows, MAYBE he’ll replace Foley as AD someday. Or, maybe he’ll leave to fulfill his dream of Coaching Notre Dame one day. Then again, he could get that Swamp itch again too, even if he becomes AD; he may miss the action and opt to trade, health permitting, the office phone for the headset once again,… one last time! …hhmmmm….
PPS: “That’s all I’ve got to say about that” (… till next time).
—————
Ciao Ciao

]]> By: quickenedspirit http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/10624/urban-meyer-farewell-forum/comment-page-6/#comment-6647 quickenedspirit Mon, 13 Dec 2010 03:47:03 +0000 http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/?p=10624#comment-6647 Some (more) Farewell Thoughts: URBAN MEYER: EMPTY SUIT? KING WITH NO CLOTHES? ...hhmmmm -- The “Ole/Head Ball Coach” (S.O.S.) was the OC at UF his entire tenure, and he still is at S.Car.. Why doesn’t Urban take the reigns of OC?? I thought the Spread Option was his brainchild?! It appears, however, that it was Dan Mullen’s all along. He was with Meyer at both Bowling Green and Utah (as OC & QB Coach) before coming with him to UF. After Mullen left for MSU at the end of the 2008 season, the 2009 Offense was decidedly less productive – undoubtedly saved by Tebow’s sheer talent, determination and will along with a particularly stingy Defense. It’s been suggested that he, Meyer, has been a shell of the Coach he used to be before he “retired;” that he returned from his Leave of Absence absent,… returned in body, not in spirit. Is it possible, though, that it could be something FAR worse,… …MIGHT he be an “EMPTY SUIT?!?” He inherited an under-coached Gator team brimming with talent, then basically “walked into” the soon-to-be ordained “greatest college football player ever” in Tim Tebow, who was NEVER GOING ANYWHERE BUT FLORIDA! And Percy Harvin – did he “follow” the already legendary Tebow to Florida?? What quality, option oriented, WR/RB speedster wouldn’t want to? And was he part of a Gravy Train?! Could it be that this was not – GIVING HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT (counterintuitively, here) – a stroke of genius on Meyer’s part, but of luck?!? (follow me now). A quirk of temporal fate, if you will, in regards to the proximal “timing” of both their arrivals (Tebow’s and Meyer’s) at UF?! At least with Meyer’s, because Tebow’s was a lock all along! That being true, ANY potentially interested party – such as Meyer – COULD coordinate such “timing” themselves – that is, their availability with Tebow’s arrival – but NOT the job opening itself. Right??? Welllllll,… let’s look at that, shall we?! NOT GIVING HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, on the other hand, being HC at Utah, it’s certainly not a stretch to assume he’d be aware of a prospect like Tim Tebow, and what Schools he was considering, even favoring. In THIS scenario, the “fated [?!] quirk of timing” would be the proximity of ZOOK’S FIRING to Tebow’s availability – his recruitment window and subsequent arrival. When Zook was fired (during Tebow’s Junior year in HS), I remember favoring Butch Davis (I’ve always liked him), who was an applicant for the job. I was disappointed and quite surprised when UF chose Urban Meyer because I hadn’t heard of him, yet Davis had an established, respected and successful record from when he turned UM around in the late ’90′s. I discovered a short time later, though, and it is most assuredly not a coincidence, that UF’s President at that time was the former President of none other than The University of Utah! VOILA!!! Obviously, he was in a supreme position to “put in a good word” for the Utah Coach. An understandable bias, mind you,… vindicated LATER, as it turned out, for Urban ultimately led Utah to an eventual 12-0 finish that season. Of course, that level of success in the Utah HC’s second season was neither predictable nor foreseeable, and thus couldn’t have been a factor early-on in the selection process. Meyer & Mullen were known as the gurus of the Spread Option Offense, manned by eventual #1 NFL pick, QB Alex Smith. Up and coming HS Spread Option QB phenom, Tim Tebow, already a legend in his own time, obviously would have had EVERYBODY’S attention, particularly Meyer & Mullen, NO DOUBT!!! They wanted him when they were here (UF), would they not have wanted him to be the heir apparent in Utah?!?!? There was one insurmountable obstacle though. Tebow was an Orange & Blue blooded Gator through and through, and CLEARLY – even then – Gainesville bound! Anyone who sought him out and researched his “story” – again, even back then – would have known as much. His story – as most now know – was, and is, available to all in video form on YouTube, entitled “The Chosen One” (I believe). Quite simply, if anyone wanted to coach Tim Tebow in college, they would have known, or strongly expected, that they would HAVE TO BE working or hired as a Coach in the UF Football program. Period! Being a self proclaimed fan of Gator Football (version S.O.S.), surely Urban knew of Ron Zook’s struggles. Having a kindred spirit in UF’s President, he “COULD” have been privy to insider info.. Why would he be interested in that? Oh, I don’t know,… maybe because a certain 17-18 year old SUPERMAN was coming to town soon, and he, Meyer, MIGHT want to keep tabs on The Zooker’s status! Why? Well, anyone with a vested interest and EYES TO SEE would easily have discerned an impending opportunity to pursue the HC job at UF, with the added and notable reward to the victor (hiree) of winning the Tebow-sweepstakes by default!!! Meyer would be in a unique position to possibly “help” the former Utah President and current UF President (at that time; not sure if he’s still there) to “better understand the situation.” Maybe he could even “suggest solutions” to cure the angst of Gator Nation extant at that time, if you catch my drift?! Conspiracy theorist??? Sure sounds like it, doesn’t it? The truth is, I don’t know,… BUT, it absolutely COULD have happened, because there WAS potential motive and there WAS definite opportunity! [Where does that leave temptation?!?!?]. That said, I don’t believe any such surmised actions would be illegal or even immoral (ethical might be another thing). In fact, I’d go so far as to say that anyone who were ever to find themselves in the midst of such a harmonious convergence of fortuitous and otherwise benign circumstances would be down-right guilty of sin-of-omission if they were to neglect to utilize such strategically placed assets so obviously arranged by the God of No-Coincidences! [ie: stupido!]. Oh great, now I’m calling Meyer a sinner if he DIDN’T do this! Wait, that’s something we probably CAN agree on – Meyer being a sinner!! We’ve ALL been witness to that ALL season long!!! Haven’t we?!? Which brings me back to my original question: are we witnessing the unveiling of a KING WITH NO CLOTHES,… we ourselves, however, being the unwitting subjects of such grand delusion?!?!? …hhmmmm. We’ll have to, you know,… "wait till next year" (or the following?), perhaps. If we (Jeremy Foley and Gator Nation) gave Ron Zook 2 & 1/2 years, or so, to “get his act together,” then Coach Meyer, it would SEEM, having won two BCS Titles, obviously would (should?) receive no less opportunity! THEN AGAIN, with the inception of the BC$, the “$TAKE$” (and PRESSURES) spiral ever higher! PLUS (attention: corny, convoluted mixed-metaphor alert!), Gator Nation has grown accustomed to BEING the 800 lb. gorilla in the (SEC) room. We – like any top-tier-sports FOLLOWING – have LONG since acquired a liking to the sweet FRUIT of consistent VICTORY, so when this (our) beastly sojourner’s palette is deprived of it’s regimen of veritable “trail mix” (victories), expect some nutty “screaming” and “beating of the chest!” [sorry; couldn't resist!]. Spurrier raised the bar, Meyer upped the ante. Last man standing MUST feed the beast (or throw in the cards)!! [dittos!]. HOW long Gator Nation’s, Jeremy Foley’s, and Urban Meyer’s BP’s (blood pressure AND breaking point) can be maintained remains to be seen? Only TWT. Again, ...hhmmmm... ------------ IGTBAG! Ciao PS: In the end, this “empty suit” theory may be without merit (Time Will Tell,… hopefully sooner than later), but consider that such a scenario is not entirely without precedent. While not an exact parallel, recall UM’s Larry Coker. A REALLY nice guy, but… well,… let’s just say he too “walked into” good fortune (extant talent – players & perhaps staff), which eventually ran out! Someone might bring the Zookster to remembrance also – another REALLY nice guy. He “walked into” a fortunate situation himself, perhaps merely lacking, however, HIS “Dan Mullen!” And it’s too early for the jury to return a verdict on Gene Chizik, whose hiring prompted criticism of Auburn’s Athletic administration, but who now are looking like football geniuses! He CERTAINLY finds himself in a MOST FORTUITOUS situation, as well! Does HE have a “Dan Mullen,” though? … IS he a “Dan Mullen?” Again,… TWT. For now, however, any latent need HE might otherwise have for his very own “Dan Mullen” is easily being more than compensated for by HIS very own “Tim Tebow, II,” in the person of none other than Cam Newton!” AKA: “Superman, No. 2.” Some (more) Farewell Thoughts:
URBAN MEYER: EMPTY SUIT? KING WITH NO CLOTHES? …hhmmmm —
The “Ole/Head Ball Coach” (S.O.S.) was the OC at UF his entire tenure, and he still is at S.Car.. Why doesn’t Urban take the reigns of OC?? I thought the Spread Option was his brainchild?!
It appears, however, that it was Dan Mullen’s all along. He was with Meyer at both Bowling Green and Utah (as OC & QB Coach) before coming with him to UF.
After Mullen left for MSU at the end of the 2008 season, the 2009 Offense was decidedly less productive – undoubtedly saved by Tebow’s sheer talent, determination and will along with a particularly stingy Defense.
It’s been suggested that he, Meyer, has been a shell of the Coach he used to be before he “retired;” that he returned from his Leave of Absence absent,… returned in body, not in spirit.
Is it possible, though, that it could be something FAR worse,… …MIGHT he be an “EMPTY SUIT?!?”
He inherited an under-coached Gator team brimming with talent, then basically “walked into” the soon-to-be ordained “greatest college football player ever” in Tim Tebow, who was NEVER GOING ANYWHERE BUT FLORIDA!
And Percy Harvin – did he “follow” the already legendary Tebow to Florida?? What quality, option oriented, WR/RB speedster wouldn’t want to? And was he part of a Gravy Train?!
Could it be that this was not – GIVING HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT (counterintuitively, here) – a stroke of genius on Meyer’s part, but of luck?!? (follow me now). A quirk of temporal fate, if you will, in regards to the proximal “timing” of both their arrivals (Tebow’s and Meyer’s) at UF?! At least with Meyer’s, because Tebow’s was a lock all along! That being true, ANY potentially interested party – such as Meyer – COULD coordinate such “timing” themselves – that is, their availability with Tebow’s arrival – but NOT the job opening itself. Right??? Welllllll,… let’s look at that, shall we?!
NOT GIVING HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, on the other hand, being HC at Utah, it’s certainly not a stretch to assume he’d be aware of a prospect like Tim Tebow, and what Schools he was considering, even favoring.
In THIS scenario, the “fated [?!] quirk of timing” would be the proximity of ZOOK’S FIRING to Tebow’s availability – his recruitment window and subsequent arrival.
When Zook was fired (during Tebow’s Junior year in HS), I remember favoring Butch Davis (I’ve always liked him), who was an applicant for the job. I was disappointed and quite surprised when UF chose Urban Meyer because I hadn’t heard of him, yet Davis had an established, respected and successful record from when he turned UM around in the late ’90′s.
I discovered a short time later, though, and it is most assuredly not a coincidence, that UF’s President at that time was the former President of none other than The University of Utah! VOILA!!!
Obviously, he was in a supreme position to “put in a good word” for the Utah Coach. An understandable bias, mind you,… vindicated LATER, as it turned out, for Urban ultimately led Utah to an eventual 12-0 finish that season. Of course, that level of success in the Utah HC’s second season was neither predictable nor foreseeable, and thus couldn’t have been a factor early-on in the selection process.
Meyer & Mullen were known as the gurus of the Spread Option Offense, manned by eventual #1 NFL pick, QB Alex Smith.
Up and coming HS Spread Option QB phenom, Tim Tebow, already a legend in his own time, obviously would have had EVERYBODY’S attention, particularly Meyer & Mullen, NO DOUBT!!!
They wanted him when they were here (UF), would they not have wanted him to be the heir apparent in Utah?!?!?
There was one insurmountable obstacle though. Tebow was an Orange & Blue blooded Gator through and through, and CLEARLY – even then – Gainesville bound! Anyone who sought him out and researched his “story” – again, even back then – would have known as much. His story – as most now know – was, and is, available to all in video form on YouTube, entitled “The Chosen One” (I believe).
Quite simply, if anyone wanted to coach Tim Tebow in college, they would have known, or strongly expected, that they would HAVE TO BE working or hired as a Coach in the UF Football program. Period!
Being a self proclaimed fan of Gator Football (version S.O.S.), surely Urban knew of Ron Zook’s struggles. Having a kindred spirit in UF’s President, he “COULD” have been privy to insider info..
Why would he be interested in that? Oh, I don’t know,… maybe because a certain 17-18 year old SUPERMAN was coming to town soon, and he, Meyer, MIGHT want to keep tabs on The Zooker’s status!
Why? Well, anyone with a vested interest and EYES TO SEE would easily have discerned an impending opportunity to pursue the HC job at UF, with the added and notable reward to the victor (hiree) of winning the Tebow-sweepstakes by default!!!
Meyer would be in a unique position to possibly “help” the former Utah President and current UF President (at that time; not sure if he’s still there) to “better understand the situation.” Maybe he could even “suggest solutions” to cure the angst of Gator Nation extant at that time, if you catch my drift?!
Conspiracy theorist??? Sure sounds like it, doesn’t it?
The truth is, I don’t know,… BUT, it absolutely COULD have happened, because there WAS potential motive and there WAS definite opportunity! [Where does that leave temptation?!?!?].
That said, I don’t believe any such surmised actions would be illegal or even immoral (ethical might be another thing). In fact, I’d go so far as to say that anyone who were ever to find themselves in the midst of such a harmonious convergence of fortuitous and otherwise benign circumstances would be down-right guilty of sin-of-omission if they were to neglect to utilize such strategically placed assets so obviously arranged by the God of No-Coincidences! [ie: stupido!].
Oh great, now I’m calling Meyer a sinner if he DIDN’T do this! Wait, that’s something we probably CAN agree on – Meyer being a sinner!! We’ve ALL been witness to that ALL season long!!! Haven’t we?!?
Which brings me back to my original question: are we witnessing the unveiling of a KING WITH NO CLOTHES,… we ourselves, however, being the unwitting subjects of such grand delusion?!?!?
…hhmmmm.
We’ll have to, you know,… “wait till next year” (or the following?), perhaps.
If we (Jeremy Foley and Gator Nation) gave Ron Zook 2 & 1/2 years, or so, to “get his act together,” then Coach Meyer, it would SEEM, having won two BCS Titles, obviously would (should?) receive no less opportunity!
THEN AGAIN, with the inception of the BC$, the “$TAKE$” (and PRESSURES) spiral ever higher!
PLUS (attention: corny, convoluted mixed-metaphor alert!), Gator Nation has grown accustomed to BEING the 800 lb. gorilla in the (SEC) room. We – like any top-tier-sports FOLLOWING – have LONG since acquired a liking to the sweet FRUIT of consistent VICTORY, so when this (our) beastly sojourner’s palette is deprived of it’s regimen of veritable “trail mix” (victories), expect some nutty “screaming” and “beating of the chest!” [sorry; couldn't resist!].
Spurrier raised the bar, Meyer upped the ante. Last man standing MUST feed the beast (or throw in the cards)!! [dittos!].
HOW long Gator Nation’s, Jeremy Foley’s, and Urban Meyer’s BP’s (blood pressure AND breaking point) can be maintained remains to be seen? Only TWT. Again, …hhmmmm…
————
IGTBAG!
Ciao
PS: In the end, this “empty suit” theory may be without merit (Time Will Tell,… hopefully sooner than later), but consider that such a scenario is not entirely without precedent.
While not an exact parallel, recall UM’s Larry Coker. A REALLY nice guy, but… well,… let’s just say he too “walked into” good fortune (extant talent – players & perhaps staff), which eventually ran out!
Someone might bring the Zookster to remembrance also – another REALLY nice guy. He “walked into” a fortunate situation himself, perhaps merely lacking, however, HIS “Dan Mullen!”
And it’s too early for the jury to return a verdict on Gene Chizik, whose hiring prompted criticism of Auburn’s Athletic administration, but who now are looking like football geniuses! He CERTAINLY finds himself in a MOST FORTUITOUS situation, as well!
Does HE have a “Dan Mullen,” though?
… IS he a “Dan Mullen?”
Again,… TWT.
For now, however, any latent need HE might otherwise have for his very own “Dan Mullen” is easily being more than compensated for by HIS very own “Tim Tebow, II,” in the person of none other than Cam Newton!” AKA: “Superman, No. 2.”

]]> By: quickenedspirit http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/10624/urban-meyer-farewell-forum/comment-page-6/#comment-6645 quickenedspirit Mon, 13 Dec 2010 03:31:50 +0000 http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/?p=10624#comment-6645 CRAP!!! ...Made a mistake... Ignore the comment immediately above; it's an inadvertent duplicate of the one immediately above it. The correct one follows below this post (I hope). ------------ IGTBAG! Ciao PS: You can imagine that I invested some time in these, so I saved them. It seems appropriate to post them again in a "Farewell" forum to Coach Urban Meyer. CRAP!!! …Made a mistake…
Ignore the comment immediately above; it’s an inadvertent duplicate of the one immediately above it.
The correct one follows below this post (I hope).
————
IGTBAG!
Ciao
PS: You can imagine that I invested some time in these, so I saved them. It seems appropriate to post them again in a “Farewell” forum to Coach Urban Meyer.

]]> By: quickenedspirit http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/10624/urban-meyer-farewell-forum/comment-page-6/#comment-6644 quickenedspirit Mon, 13 Dec 2010 02:52:36 +0000 http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/?p=10624#comment-6644 Some Farewell Thoughts: URBAN MEYER: EMPTY SUIT? KING WITH NO CLOTHES? -- "What's 'Old' is [made] New Again" (adjusted for talent-inflation) -- Currencies from different years have to be adjusted for inflation (changing values) to be evenly compared. Likewise with athletes, teams and coaches. If the likes of these were instantly transported from their time to some other to play their counterpart, the match would be unfair and the result meaningless. If they were born and raised in their counterpart's generation, however, they will have been subject to the same training, equipment, strategies and tactics, etc. (same standards), which then would make the match-ups fair and the results meaningful. If the vaunted Yankees of yore were instantly transported here today in their prime, they very likely would not fair well against their namesake's competition (nor against their namesake themselves). Likewise Babe Ruth and Mngr. Casey Stengel; their numbers would be greatly reduced. How about the 1960's G.B. Packers, or even the '70's Pitt. Steelers? Or the 1960's Boston Celtics? What about Jim Thorpe? The same end; all! Conversely, if today's top performers instantly transported back in time in their prime, the record books would be reset for another 100 years! But if they were born and raised therein, they simply would be comparable contenders. Spurrier is somewhat unique (perhaps not exclusively so) in that, while we speak of him as being the standard of the '90's SEC, he has "crossed over," so to speak, and is "representin'" [still!] in the '00's and now the '10's. We don't have to extrapolate or speculate as to how he would fair in Meyer's SEC (or Saban's SEC, as it were), because he's here now competing head-to-head against those namesakes! Guess what?!?!? He defeated BOTH of them this year - handily!! [It may have taken him several years, and he may not be "regular" about it, but consider what he started with, and where]. Not only so, but he beat Meyer in their respective first years on their new teams, and came within a last-second blocked FG of winning their second contest and ruining Meyer's Championship season! Take away that fortuitous block, and not only is the 6-game series thus far split at 3 apiece, but Meyer has one less BCS Title to his name, complements of none other than the SEC's "nineties" guru - the "OLD" Ball Coach! - [disparagingly called "old" by some]. Alas, that was not meant to be,... BUT FAR LESS SEPARATE THEM THAN PEOPLE SUPPOSE! There've been three blowout games and three close games between them. Meyer won 2 out of 3 of each of those groupings, giving us a 4-2 advantage, but that "squeaker" could just as easily have made it 3-3. HAD that occurred, 2 out of each Coach's 3 wins WOULD have been on the other's field. As it is, half of each Coach's victories have been won on each field. Neither requires a Home Field advantage. While Meyer had a four game winning streak, two of which were critical to his Championship seasons, Spurrier's two victories are the typically sentimental & monumental ones at any point in time (with the most recent possessing the added dimension of championship implications itself, as well): namely, the first one and the last one; the inaugural and the latest - the latter propelling them into the SEC Championship game, while simultaneously denying us. Yeah, we sucked this year, but our - and Meyer's - incentive couldn't have been much less than theirs, if at all, plus we had Home Field advantage! Yet they owned us in our own house. No surprise though, considering they handled the likes of Alabama - no slouch themselves! Does the "OLD" Ball Coach have more and better talented players than Meyer? No. Is player age and experience a factor? Don't k(no)w; probably a wash. That leaves coaching, which starts and ends at the top - a universal fact that should be universally accepted, but won't be in this particular case by the Spurrier-doubters herein! [Note: This is NOT a "dis" of Meyer, per se, but a defense of Spurrier. I've said in here - on this site - before that I've recovered from my long-standing ANGER at Spurrier for the way he suddenly left AFTER his final Bowl game. I would've preferred he announce it beforehand so the players and Gator Nation at large could have been aware of the sentimental import of his last game, thus being able play and participate accordingly, both physically and emotionally]. What I'm saying is, the old, deposed King - a mere blocked FG away from achieving a six-year "draw" with the young, reigning King (with inferior talent, no less, a moral victory thus far if there ever was one) - seemingly refuses to allow himself to be swept into the dustpan of irrelevancy (where some would have him relegated), but rather adjusts, adapts and reloads accordingly. This ought not be,... should it?!?!? - [some might think]. South Carolina is the SEC team that the Gators have their second highest all-time winning percentage against (.790), behind Arkansas, followed by Vanderbilt and Kentucky. We have winning streaks of 8, 19, and 24 games, respectively, against those other three teams, but S.Car. has won two - ALMOST three - of the last six against us, including, obviously that last one. WHAT, pray tell, is preventing Meyer from doing to S.Car. what he's been doing regularly - like clockwork - to those other teams?!? ...hmm? ...hhmmmm?!?!? ...HUH!!! Every Coach has their proverbial "thorn in their flesh;" the nemesis that they just can't seem to master. Spurrier certainly had his: Bobby Bowden! Steve's overall record against Bobby was a dismal 4-7-1, with a 0-5-1 record at "'Ron Zook' Field!" Meyer will have his too. I would have suspected, though, that it would have been Nick Saban, and may yet be, but wouldn't it be ironic if "the ghost of Swamp past" continues to confound him, even if only semi-regularly?!? I neither wish it nor invite it (just thinking out loud). I didn't like Bowden being Spurrier's nemesis, and I won't like Meyer's either! ------------ IGTBAG! Ciao. Some Farewell Thoughts:
URBAN MEYER: EMPTY SUIT? KING WITH NO CLOTHES? —
“What’s ‘Old’ is [made] New Again” (adjusted for talent-inflation) –
Currencies from different years have to be adjusted for inflation (changing values) to be evenly compared. Likewise with athletes, teams and coaches.
If the likes of these were instantly transported from their time to some other to play their counterpart, the match would be unfair and the result meaningless.
If they were born and raised in their counterpart’s generation, however, they will have been subject to the same training, equipment, strategies and tactics, etc. (same standards), which then would make the match-ups fair and the results meaningful.
If the vaunted Yankees of yore were instantly transported here today in their prime, they very likely would not fair well against their namesake’s competition (nor against their namesake themselves). Likewise Babe Ruth and Mngr. Casey Stengel; their numbers would be greatly reduced.
How about the 1960′s G.B. Packers, or even the ’70′s Pitt. Steelers?
Or the 1960′s Boston Celtics? What about Jim Thorpe?
The same end; all!
Conversely, if today’s top performers instantly transported back in time in their prime, the record books would be reset for another 100 years! But if they were born and raised therein, they simply would be comparable contenders.
Spurrier is somewhat unique (perhaps not exclusively so) in that, while we speak of him as being the standard of the ’90′s SEC, he has “crossed over,” so to speak, and is “representin’” [still!] in the ’00′s and now the ’10′s.
We don’t have to extrapolate or speculate as to how he would fair in Meyer’s SEC (or Saban’s SEC, as it were), because he’s here now competing head-to-head against those namesakes!
Guess what?!?!? He defeated BOTH of them this year – handily!! [It may have taken him several years, and he may not be "regular" about it, but consider what he started with, and where].
Not only so, but he beat Meyer in their respective first years on their new teams, and came within a last-second blocked FG of winning their second contest and ruining Meyer’s Championship season! Take away that fortuitous block, and not only is the 6-game series thus far split at 3 apiece, but Meyer has one less BCS Title to his name, complements of none other than the SEC’s “nineties” guru – the “OLD” Ball Coach! – [disparagingly called "old" by some]. Alas, that was not meant to be,… BUT FAR LESS SEPARATE THEM THAN PEOPLE SUPPOSE!
There’ve been three blowout games and three close games between them. Meyer won 2 out of 3 of each of those groupings, giving us a 4-2 advantage, but that “squeaker” could just as easily have made it 3-3. HAD that occurred, 2 out of each Coach’s 3 wins WOULD have been on the other’s field. As it is, half of each Coach’s victories have been won on each field. Neither requires a Home Field advantage.
While Meyer had a four game winning streak, two of which were critical to his Championship seasons, Spurrier’s two victories are the typically sentimental & monumental ones at any point in time (with the most recent possessing the added dimension of championship implications itself, as well): namely, the first one and the last one; the inaugural and the latest – the latter propelling them into the SEC Championship game, while simultaneously denying us.
Yeah, we sucked this year, but our – and Meyer’s – incentive couldn’t have been much less than theirs, if at all, plus we had Home Field advantage! Yet they owned us in our own house. No surprise though, considering they handled the likes of Alabama – no slouch themselves!
Does the “OLD” Ball Coach have more and better talented players than Meyer?
No.
Is player age and experience a factor?
Don’t k(no)w; probably a wash.
That leaves coaching, which starts and ends at the top – a universal fact that should be universally accepted, but won’t be in this particular case by the Spurrier-doubters herein!
[Note: This is NOT a "dis" of Meyer, per se, but a defense of Spurrier. I've said in here - on this site - before that I've recovered from my long-standing ANGER at Spurrier for the way he suddenly left AFTER his final Bowl game. I would've preferred he announce it beforehand so the players and Gator Nation at large could have been aware of the sentimental import of his last game, thus being able play and participate accordingly, both physically and emotionally].
What I’m saying is, the old, deposed King – a mere blocked FG away from achieving a six-year “draw” with the young, reigning King (with inferior talent, no less, a moral victory thus far if there ever was one) – seemingly refuses to allow himself to be swept into the dustpan of irrelevancy (where some would have him relegated), but rather adjusts, adapts and reloads accordingly. This ought not be,… should it?!?!? – [some might think].
South Carolina is the SEC team that the Gators have their second highest all-time winning percentage against (.790), behind Arkansas, followed by Vanderbilt and Kentucky. We have winning streaks of 8, 19, and 24 games, respectively, against those other three teams, but S.Car. has won two – ALMOST three – of the last six against us, including, obviously that last one.
WHAT, pray tell, is preventing Meyer from doing to S.Car. what he’s been doing regularly – like clockwork – to those other teams?!? …hmm?
…hhmmmm?!?!?
…HUH!!!
Every Coach has their proverbial “thorn in their flesh;” the nemesis that they just can’t seem to master. Spurrier certainly had his: Bobby Bowden! Steve’s overall record against Bobby was a dismal 4-7-1, with a 0-5-1 record at “‘Ron Zook’ Field!”
Meyer will have his too. I would have suspected, though, that it would have been Nick Saban, and may yet be, but wouldn’t it be ironic if “the ghost of Swamp past” continues to confound him, even if only semi-regularly?!?
I neither wish it nor invite it (just thinking out loud). I didn’t like Bowden being Spurrier’s nemesis, and I won’t like Meyer’s either!
————
IGTBAG!
Ciao.

]]> By: quickenedspirit http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/10624/urban-meyer-farewell-forum/comment-page-6/#comment-6642 quickenedspirit Mon, 13 Dec 2010 02:40:41 +0000 http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/?p=10624#comment-6642 Some Farewell Thoughts: URBAN MEYER vs. STEVE SPURRIER (COMPARISON PRINCIPLE: Currency & Eras) - [Pt. 3] -- ("What's 'Old' is [made] New Again" [adjusted for talent-inflation]) -- Currencies from different years have to be adjusted for inflation (changing values) to be evenly compared. Likewise with athletes, teams and coaches. If the likes of these were instantly transported from their time to some other to play their counterpart, the match would be unfair and the result meaningless. If they were born and raised in their counterpart's generation, however, they will have been subject to the same training, equipment, strategies and tactics, etc. (same standards), which then would make the match-ups fair and the results meaningful. If the vaunted Yankees of yore were instantly transported here today in their prime, they very likely would not fair well against their namesake's competition (nor against their namesake themselves). Likewise Babe Ruth and Mngr. Casey Stengel; their numbers would be greatly reduced. How about the 1960's G.B. Packers, or even the '70's Pitt. Steelers? Or the 1960's Boston Celtics? What about Jim Thorpe? The same end; all! Conversely, if today's top performers instantly transported back in time in their prime, the record books would be reset for another 100 years! But if they were born and raised therein, they simply would be comparable contenders. Spurrier is somewhat unique (perhaps not exclusively so) in that, while we speak of him as being the standard of the '90's SEC, he has "crossed over," so to speak, and is "representin'" [still!] in the '00's and now the '10's. We don't have to extrapolate or speculate as to how he would fair in Meyer's SEC (or Saban's SEC, as it were), because he's here now competing head-to-head against those namesakes! Guess what?!?!? He defeated BOTH of them this year - handily!! [It may have taken him several years, and he may not be "regular" about it, but consider what he started with, and where]. Not only so, but he beat Meyer in their respective first years on their new teams, and came within a last-second blocked FG of winning their second contest and ruining Meyer's Championship season! Take away that fortuitous block, and not only is the 6-game series thus far split at 3 apiece, but Meyer has one less BCS Title to his name, complements of none other than the SEC's "nineties" guru - the "OLD" Ball Coach! - [disparagingly called "old" by some]. Alas, that was not meant to be,... BUT FAR LESS SEPARATE THEM THAN PEOPLE SUPPOSE! There've been three blowout games and three close games between them. Meyer won 2 out of 3 of each of those groupings, giving us a 4-2 advantage, but that "squeaker" could just as easily have made it 3-3. HAD that occurred, 2 out of each Coach's 3 wins WOULD have been on the other's field. As it is, half of each Coach's victories have been won on each field. Neither requires a Home Field advantage. While Meyer had a four game winning streak, two of which were critical to his Championship seasons, Spurrier's two victories are the typically sentimental & monumental ones at any point in time (with the most recent possessing the added dimension of championship implications itself, as well): namely, the first one and the last one; the inaugural and the latest - the latter propelling them into the SEC Championship game, while simultaneously denying us. Yeah, we sucked this year, but our - and Meyer's - incentive couldn't have been much less than theirs, if at all, plus we had Home Field advantage! Yet they owned us in our own house. No surprise though, considering they handled the likes of Alabama - no slouch themselves! Does the "OLD" Ball Coach have more and better talented players than Meyer? No. Is player age and experience a factor? Don't k(no)w; probably a wash. That leaves coaching, which starts and ends at the top - a universal fact that should be universally accepted, but won't be in this particular case by the Spurrier-doubters herein! [Note: This is NOT a "dis" of Meyer, per se, but a defense of Spurrier. I've said in here - on this site - before that I've recovered from my long-standing ANGER at Spurrier for the way he suddenly left AFTER his final Bowl game. I would've preferred he announce it beforehand so the players and Gator Nation at large could have been aware of the sentimental import of his last game, thus being able play and participate accordingly, both physically and emotionally]. What I'm saying is, the old, deposed King - a mere blocked FG away from achieving a six-year "draw" with the young, reigning King (with inferior talent, no less, a moral victory thus far if there ever was one) - seemingly refuses to allow himself to be swept into the dustpan of irrelevancy (where some would have him relegated), but rather adjusts, adapts and reloads accordingly. This ought not be,... should it?!?!? - [some might think]. South Carolina is the SEC team that the Gators have their second highest all-time winning percentage against (.790), behind Arkansas, followed by Vanderbilt and Kentucky. We have winning streaks of 8, 19, and 24 games, respectively, against those other three teams, but S.Car. has won two - ALMOST three - of the last six against us, including, obviously that last one. WHAT, pray tell, is preventing Meyer from doing to S.Car. what he's been doing regularly - like clockwork - to those other teams?!? ...hmm? ...hhmmmm?!?!? ...HUH!!! Every Coach has their proverbial "thorn in their flesh;" the nemesis that they just can't seem to master. Spurrier certainly had his: Bobby Bowden! Steve's overall record against Bobby was a dismal 4-7-1, with a 0-5-1 record at "'Ron Zook' Field!" Meyer will have his too. I would have suspected, though, that it would have been Nick Saban, and may yet be, but wouldn't it be ironic if "the ghost of Swamp past" continues to confound him, even if only semi-regularly?!? I neither wish it nor invite it (just thinking out loud). I didn't like Bowden being Spurrier's nemesis, and I won't like Meyer's either! ------------ IGTBAG! Ciao. Some Farewell Thoughts:
URBAN MEYER vs. STEVE SPURRIER (COMPARISON PRINCIPLE: Currency & Eras) – [Pt. 3] —
(“What’s ‘Old’ is [made] New Again” [adjusted for talent-inflation]) —
Currencies from different years have to be adjusted for inflation (changing values) to be evenly compared. Likewise with athletes, teams and coaches.
If the likes of these were instantly transported from their time to some other to play their counterpart, the match would be unfair and the result meaningless.
If they were born and raised in their counterpart’s generation, however, they will have been subject to the same training, equipment, strategies and tactics, etc. (same standards), which then would make the match-ups fair and the results meaningful.
If the vaunted Yankees of yore were instantly transported here today in their prime, they very likely would not fair well against their namesake’s competition (nor against their namesake themselves). Likewise Babe Ruth and Mngr. Casey Stengel; their numbers would be greatly reduced.
How about the 1960′s G.B. Packers, or even the ’70′s Pitt. Steelers?
Or the 1960′s Boston Celtics? What about Jim Thorpe?
The same end; all!
Conversely, if today’s top performers instantly transported back in time in their prime, the record books would be reset for another 100 years! But if they were born and raised therein, they simply would be comparable contenders.
Spurrier is somewhat unique (perhaps not exclusively so) in that, while we speak of him as being the standard of the ’90′s SEC, he has “crossed over,” so to speak, and is “representin’” [still!] in the ’00′s and now the ’10′s.
We don’t have to extrapolate or speculate as to how he would fair in Meyer’s SEC (or Saban’s SEC, as it were), because he’s here now competing head-to-head against those namesakes!
Guess what?!?!? He defeated BOTH of them this year – handily!! [It may have taken him several years, and he may not be "regular" about it, but consider what he started with, and where].
Not only so, but he beat Meyer in their respective first years on their new teams, and came within a last-second blocked FG of winning their second contest and ruining Meyer’s Championship season! Take away that fortuitous block, and not only is the 6-game series thus far split at 3 apiece, but Meyer has one less BCS Title to his name, complements of none other than the SEC’s “nineties” guru – the “OLD” Ball Coach! – [disparagingly called "old" by some]. Alas, that was not meant to be,… BUT FAR LESS SEPARATE THEM THAN PEOPLE SUPPOSE!
There’ve been three blowout games and three close games between them. Meyer won 2 out of 3 of each of those groupings, giving us a 4-2 advantage, but that “squeaker” could just as easily have made it 3-3. HAD that occurred, 2 out of each Coach’s 3 wins WOULD have been on the other’s field. As it is, half of each Coach’s victories have been won on each field. Neither requires a Home Field advantage.
While Meyer had a four game winning streak, two of which were critical to his Championship seasons, Spurrier’s two victories are the typically sentimental & monumental ones at any point in time (with the most recent possessing the added dimension of championship implications itself, as well): namely, the first one and the last one; the inaugural and the latest – the latter propelling them into the SEC Championship game, while simultaneously denying us.
Yeah, we sucked this year, but our – and Meyer’s – incentive couldn’t have been much less than theirs, if at all, plus we had Home Field advantage! Yet they owned us in our own house. No surprise though, considering they handled the likes of Alabama – no slouch themselves!
Does the “OLD” Ball Coach have more and better talented players than Meyer?
No.
Is player age and experience a factor?
Don’t k(no)w; probably a wash.
That leaves coaching, which starts and ends at the top – a universal fact that should be universally accepted, but won’t be in this particular case by the Spurrier-doubters herein!
[Note: This is NOT a "dis" of Meyer, per se, but a defense of Spurrier. I've said in here - on this site - before that I've recovered from my long-standing ANGER at Spurrier for the way he suddenly left AFTER his final Bowl game. I would've preferred he announce it beforehand so the players and Gator Nation at large could have been aware of the sentimental import of his last game, thus being able play and participate accordingly, both physically and emotionally].
What I’m saying is, the old, deposed King – a mere blocked FG away from achieving a six-year “draw” with the young, reigning King (with inferior talent, no less, a moral victory thus far if there ever was one) – seemingly refuses to allow himself to be swept into the dustpan of irrelevancy (where some would have him relegated), but rather adjusts, adapts and reloads accordingly. This ought not be,… should it?!?!? – [some might think].
South Carolina is the SEC team that the Gators have their second highest all-time winning percentage against (.790), behind Arkansas, followed by Vanderbilt and Kentucky. We have winning streaks of 8, 19, and 24 games, respectively, against those other three teams, but S.Car. has won two – ALMOST three – of the last six against us, including, obviously that last one.
WHAT, pray tell, is preventing Meyer from doing to S.Car. what he’s been doing regularly – like clockwork – to those other teams?!? …hmm?
…hhmmmm?!?!?
…HUH!!!
Every Coach has their proverbial “thorn in their flesh;” the nemesis that they just can’t seem to master. Spurrier certainly had his: Bobby Bowden! Steve’s overall record against Bobby was a dismal 4-7-1, with a 0-5-1 record at “‘Ron Zook’ Field!”
Meyer will have his too. I would have suspected, though, that it would have been Nick Saban, and may yet be, but wouldn’t it be ironic if “the ghost of Swamp past” continues to confound him, even if only semi-regularly?!?
I neither wish it nor invite it (just thinking out loud). I didn’t like Bowden being Spurrier’s nemesis, and I won’t like Meyer’s either!
————
IGTBAG!
Ciao.

]]> By: quickenedspirit http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/10624/urban-meyer-farewell-forum/comment-page-6/#comment-6640 quickenedspirit Mon, 13 Dec 2010 02:26:46 +0000 http://andreu.blogs.gatorsports.com/?p=10624#comment-6640 Some Farewell Thoughts: URBAN MEYER vs. STEVE SPURRIER (COMPARISON ADDENDUM & EDIT) - [Pt. 2] -- (RE: my comment above: Meyer v. Spurrier; Comparison Stats., Pt. 1) — About 3/4 of the way down, in the “Versus Spurrier” opposing coaches List, I listed Nick Saban with MSU & LSU. He actually resigned from MSU a month before they played UF in the Citrus Bowl after the ’99 season. Spurrier beat Saban’s LSU in both 2000 and 2001. Regarding “JC in Ocala’s” comment that Spurrier was “top dog… simply [by] out-athleting people through the air,” obviously he preferred passing, but his “Fun-N-Gun” would never have worked without a strong running game, and we know he had several outstanding RB’s over the years. Because of Steve’s penchant for passing, these RB’s were somewhat overshadowed & unsung. If Spurrier left because “he knew his days… [as such]… were over,” then why did he return to the College ranks – to a LESSER program no less (unlike Saban)?!? It’s been said that Spurrier was “bored.” I’d say that he simply wanted a new challenge, and going to the NFL and then S.Car. are certainly that. Not only so, but he would be following on the heels of the great Lou Holtz, whom wasn’t able to sustain success at S.Car.. The juxtaposition would potentially add to his stature. Look at what he’s accomplished with “lesser” athletes! He beat Urban Meyer in both their inaugural seasons at their respective new schools in 2005, came within a blocked FG of ruining Meyer’s 2006 Nat’l. Champ. season, and eliminated us this year from the SEC Champ. game on Meyer’s home field! Speaking of which (the SEC-CG), he WAS the “top dog” in the Eastern Division THIS year! And NOT with his “Fun-N-Gun” either, but a well balanced offense with, again, an outstanding (FRESHMAN) RB! He’s not “out-athleting” people,… he’s OUT COACHING them!!! Unfortunately for him and S.Car., they had the fateful misfortune of “bad timing;” they ran into the buzz-saw that is Auburn – not too dissimilar to when he ran into Tom Osborne’s Nebraska buzz-saw, who, as I recall, had a pretty good QB themselves! Lastly, he clearly did help elevate the already superior (nationally) SEC (a rising tide raises all boats), as evidenced by the fact that his SEC winning percentage indeed fell – albeit by a mere 3.71% (from 89.13% [41-5] to 85.42% [41-7]) – and his number of appearances in the SEC Champ. was virtually halved in the 2nd six-year “half” of his 12 year tenure (if you include ’90 & ’91 in the numbers), YET his average end-of-year rank actually improved therein compared to his “first half,” as well as did his Bowl incidence & record! His “latter half” is also wherein he won his Nat’l. Champ.; in his FIRST season of the latter six. His FINAL season, he finished ranked 3rd (both AP and Coaches polls) – his highest rank since his Nat’l. Champ. season (’96) and his third best overall! Talk about finishing strong! In other words, for all intents and purposes, his performance essentially did not decline at all; rather, he forced others up to HIS level! [and he STILL appeared in 50% of the SEC Champ. games in the latter half of his tenure (3 out of 6), and won 67% of those (2-1)! - which, I might add, is the same record Urban has in his "FIRST" 6 years!]. In conclusion, I acknowledge that, for comparative purposes, Spurrier’s first six-year “half” may not be as fair a bench mark as his latter one. So, again, comparing Urban’s 6 years to Spurrier’s "latter six" – when the SEC “contenders” had been largely “brought up to speed” – it is noted that while Meyer won two Nat’l. Champs. to Spurrier’s one, Steve APPEARED in his earlier than did Urban (1st yr. vs. 2nd yr., respectively), and while they both won the East Division Title three times and each went 2-1 in their SEC Champ. game appearances, Steve never finished below 2nd in the Division as Urban has nor outside the Top-15 as Urban has twice. Additionally - continuing with Spurrier's "latter six" stats - while Meyer does have one more Top-3 ranking than Spurrier (3 to 2), Spurrier has one more Top-5 ranking than Meyer (4 to 3) and two more Top-10 rankings (5 to 3);... Meyer's "3" in each foregoing category being the same three seasons. And lastly, as noted above, Spurrier’s final season was a strong resurgent year in which he finished with a #3 ranking; his third highest! Meyer’s 6th year counterpart?!?!? A debacle of a season – lucky to finish above .500, barely Bowl-bound, and ranked who-knows-where outside the Top-25! Let’s hope Urban’s Gators can COMPLETE a cyclical pattern similar to what they established in 2006-’08! ------------ IGTBAG! Ciao Some Farewell Thoughts:
URBAN MEYER vs. STEVE SPURRIER (COMPARISON ADDENDUM & EDIT) – [Pt. 2] —
(RE: my comment above: Meyer v. Spurrier; Comparison Stats., Pt. 1) —
About 3/4 of the way down, in the “Versus Spurrier” opposing coaches List, I listed Nick Saban with MSU & LSU. He actually resigned from MSU a month before they played UF in the Citrus Bowl after the ’99 season. Spurrier beat Saban’s LSU in both 2000 and 2001.
Regarding “JC in Ocala’s” comment that Spurrier was “top dog… simply [by] out-athleting people through the air,” obviously he preferred passing, but his “Fun-N-Gun” would never have worked without a strong running game, and we know he had several outstanding RB’s over the years. Because of Steve’s penchant for passing, these RB’s were somewhat overshadowed & unsung.
If Spurrier left because “he knew his days… [as such]… were over,” then why did he return to the College ranks – to a LESSER program no less (unlike Saban)?!?
It’s been said that Spurrier was “bored.” I’d say that he simply wanted a new challenge, and going to the NFL and then S.Car. are certainly that. Not only so, but he would be following on the heels of the great Lou Holtz, whom wasn’t able to sustain success at S.Car.. The juxtaposition would potentially add to his stature.
Look at what he’s accomplished with “lesser” athletes! He beat Urban Meyer in both their inaugural seasons at their respective new schools in 2005, came within a blocked FG of ruining Meyer’s 2006 Nat’l. Champ. season, and eliminated us this year from the SEC Champ. game on Meyer’s home field!
Speaking of which (the SEC-CG), he WAS the “top dog” in the Eastern Division THIS year! And NOT with his “Fun-N-Gun” either, but a well balanced offense with, again, an outstanding (FRESHMAN) RB!
He’s not “out-athleting” people,… he’s OUT COACHING them!!! Unfortunately for him and S.Car., they had the fateful misfortune of “bad timing;” they ran into the buzz-saw that is Auburn – not too dissimilar to when he ran into Tom Osborne’s Nebraska buzz-saw, who, as I recall, had a pretty good QB themselves!
Lastly, he clearly did help elevate the already superior (nationally) SEC (a rising tide raises all boats), as evidenced by the fact that his SEC winning percentage indeed fell – albeit by a mere 3.71% (from 89.13% [41-5] to 85.42% [41-7]) – and his number of appearances in the SEC Champ. was virtually halved in the 2nd six-year “half” of his 12 year tenure (if you include ’90 & ’91 in the numbers), YET his average end-of-year rank actually improved therein compared to his “first half,” as well as did his Bowl incidence & record!
His “latter half” is also wherein he won his Nat’l. Champ.; in his FIRST season of the latter six. His FINAL season, he finished ranked 3rd (both AP and Coaches polls) – his highest rank since his Nat’l. Champ. season (’96) and his third best overall!
Talk about finishing strong! In other words, for all intents and purposes, his performance essentially did not decline at all; rather, he forced others up to HIS level!
[and he STILL appeared in 50% of the SEC Champ. games in the latter half of his tenure (3 out of 6), and won 67% of those (2-1)! - which, I might add, is the same record Urban has in his "FIRST" 6 years!].
In conclusion, I acknowledge that, for comparative purposes, Spurrier’s first six-year “half” may not be as fair a bench mark as his latter one. So, again, comparing Urban’s 6 years to Spurrier’s “latter six” – when the SEC “contenders” had been largely “brought up to speed” – it is noted that while Meyer won two Nat’l. Champs. to Spurrier’s one, Steve APPEARED in his earlier than did Urban (1st yr. vs. 2nd yr., respectively), and while they both won the East Division Title three times and each went 2-1 in their SEC Champ. game appearances, Steve never finished below 2nd in the Division as Urban has nor outside the Top-15 as Urban has twice. Additionally – continuing with Spurrier’s “latter six” stats – while Meyer does have one more Top-3 ranking than Spurrier (3 to 2), Spurrier has one more Top-5 ranking than Meyer (4 to 3) and two more Top-10 rankings (5 to 3);… Meyer’s “3″ in each foregoing category being the same three seasons. And lastly, as noted above, Spurrier’s final season was a strong resurgent year in which he finished with a #3 ranking; his third highest!
Meyer’s 6th year counterpart?!?!? A debacle of a season – lucky to finish above .500, barely Bowl-bound, and ranked who-knows-where outside the Top-25!
Let’s hope Urban’s Gators can COMPLETE a cyclical pattern similar to what they established in 2006-’08!
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IGTBAG!
Ciao

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