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By B.J. Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor B.J. Bennett discusses Urban Meyer's last two months with the University of Florida. Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin. Become a fan of us on Facebook at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page
The day was Saturday, December 26th. College football was looking ahead to a key stretch run of bowl games and fans were enjoying the holiday season. Controversy and debate was at an all-time high as two mid-major teams were in the BCS and an undefeated Big East team was in the Sugar Bowl. As fans bickered back-and-forth and media pundits previewed the big bowl games, news broke that immediately stopped the chatter; Urban Meyer was stepping down as the head coach of the University of Florida due to concerns over his health.
The stories of Meyer's passion and commitment are well-known. His intensity, will to win and the relationships he has with his players are the pillars of the University of Florida's current football dynasty. Meyer views his program as an extension of himself, with win-loss totals and championship tallies validating the endless hours he puts in.
Meyer has accomplished more in his first five seasons than any coach in SEC history. He's won two national championships at a program that previously only had just one, he's coached a Heisman Trophy winner and he has won 26 of his last 28 games. For the last five seasons, Gator football has been Meyer's heartbeat. So much so that the stresses of coaching at the premier program in the SEC, combined with the internal expectations Meyer has of himself, started to take a significant toll on his health. Concerns had mounted during the 2009 season and, after Florida's Sugar Bowl victory over Cincinnati, he decided to take a leave of absence from the game and the culture he takes so seriously.
"I have given my heart and soul to coaching college football and mentoring young men for the last 24-plus years and I have dedicated most of my waking moments the last five years to the Gator football program," Meyer said in a statement. "I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to reevaluate my priorities of faith and family."
The days after the announcement were a trying time for the Meyer family as, with questions and rumors swirling, there was great uncertainty surrounding the future of the two-time national championship coach. Since coming to Gainesville after leading the Utah Utes to an undefeated season and BCS bowl victory, Meyer had conquered every foe placed before him. Not surprising considering his demeanor, the one opponent Meyer couldn't outwork was himself. With perfection being the ultimate goal, the margin for error was ultra-slim. The margin for rest was even smaller.
From a football perspective, the immediate concern over Meyer's strife was how the vagueness regarding his return would effect Florida's 2010 recruiting class. With Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow and multiple starters on defense off to the NFL, the pressure was on the Gator coaches to fill the roster with players as capable as the ones who were leaving. With veteran defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, an exceptional recruiter, taking the Louisville job, Meyer would have to sign an elite class without the ability to put in 20 hour days as he had so often before and minus his right-hand man Strong.
The most decorated player in the history of the SEC and one of the league's premier linebackers this decade were graduating. Five underclassmen had declared themselves eligible for the 2010 NFL Draft. Meyer was at a crucial point in his life and the Gators' top assistant coach had moved on. Rivals saw a crumbling foundation. Meyer saw opportunity. And perhaps more so, a chance to view football and life from with the same vigor and enthusiasm but wtih a different significance and approach.
Fast forward to Thursday, February 4th. Florida inked the premier recruiting class in the nation and landed a haul regarded by some as perhaps the best recruiting class we have seen in a couple of years. Networks spent the day after National Signing Day singing Meyer's praises, citing multiple reasons why UF was the trend-setter in recruiting this season. Top prospects signed from across the nation as the Gators extended their recruiting reach up to the northeast and out to the west coast. Meyer snagged elite tackle Dominique Easley from Staten Island, New York, mammoth interior lineman Sharrif Floyd from Philadelphia and 6'1'' defensive back Joshua Shaw from Palmdale, California. The 28-player class filled needs along the defensive line and in the secondary and was a resounding statement that the Gators aren't fading off into the distance; this winter isn't Meyer's swan song.
"I have to change some things, that's obvious," Meyer acknowledged. "I feel real good. I've been working out a lot. I'm over 200 pounds, so I guess that's how they gauge it a little bit because I was not good there for a while. Doing a lot better."
From shock to concern to optimism, the last eight weeks have been a heck of a ride for Meyer and the Gator nation. The end result is a recruiting class that will likely keep Florida in the drivers' seat of the SEC East for many years to come.
"The key to recruiting is a lot like the keys to making a great sale. The first one is having a great product and we obviously have that here at the University of Florida. From our academics to the football program to the success that we’ve had in the last five years here – it’s a product that a lot of guys would like to be a part of. But it goes much deeper than that. A big part of the product, which we make sure not to overlook, is the current players on our team," Meyer explained. "I’ve seen it destroy a recruiting class and I’ve seen it basically build a recruiting class. It’s more than just great facilities, although we have that, but more importantly our current players love going to school here and they love playing football here. A lot of people ask how a top-ranked recruiting class happens, it happens because of a great coaching staff that is able to sell our product to the guys who will be soon joining us on campus.”
Meyer has helped sustain Florida football at such a high level, in part, because of his emphasis on team chemistry and creating a family environment. Dedication, excellence, passion; these are traits that describe Meyer and the veracity with which he approaches his responsibilities. This winter has been a trying time for the nation's winningest BCS Conference coach (85%); just one month ago few projected a signing day finish like the Gators had, much less one compiled under Meyer's watch.
It's been said that the best medicine for many ailments is the support of family and friends. The veteran coached received a hearty pat on the back from 28 young men from around the country on National Signing Day, elite athletes who committed to a future at the University of Florida, a future with Urban Meyer at the helm.
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