Read the arguments from Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan about which story they believe had the best 2009.
As Bleacher Fan noted on Monday, rarely, in sports, are seasoned fans or media surprised. We all crave the unexpected in some manner, but rarely do we experience it. Thanks to Florida head football coach Urban Meyer, not only has he allowed us to experience the unexpected here at the end of 2009, but he has gifted us the best story of the entire year. I’ll let my colleagues battle it out about who gets to write about Jon and Kate Plus Eight.
When the news initially broke – that Urban Meyer was stepping down as Florida head coach – details were sketchy. Sometimes in the media when details are sketchy, that is because reporters are sorting through conflicting reports, and building up anger about forced speed and the mandate of bring the FIRST to report something, rather than the most accurate. In this case, the clouds around the details appear to have originated with Meyer. For some reason, the media was informed of his decision to step down before the university was prepared to make a statement or deal with the aftermath.
As details slowly emerged, and Meyer was reported to be stepping down for stress related health issues – which he stated gave him the opportunity to properly align what he values most in life as his faith, his children, and his wife – it was surprising but understandable. In fact, I will go one step farther – it was admirable. Professionals know how easy it is to let a job consume your life. It is hard to say no because you want the job. You need the job. The family needs you to have the job. Priorities start to get muddy. Even though Meyer made millions, he still had a lifestyle and family to support, one that was accustomed to and built around the provisions he earned.
Then, overnight, everything changed. Supposedly after one practice – where the seniors gave a substantial effort (you know, the players that will not be with the team any more after the upcoming bowl game) – Meyer decided he would not take a leave of absence, with his “gut” feeling that he would be the head coach next season. Overnight the virtues of family life and preserved health again took a back seat to coaching – the aspect of his life that is apparently creating health problems. An NPR interview with Orlando Sentinel beat writer Jeremy Fowler revealed that Meyer visited an area hospital several times with tightness in his chest, and recently visited more frequently. With real health issues staring Meyer in the face, it is difficult to understand his reversal. Rather than stepping down, he is taking a supposed “indefinite” leave of absence from the team.
The cynic in me was tough to quiet down upon hearing Meyer’s “gut feeling” remark (that he has a “gut feeling” he’ll be coaching the Gators next season). Cynics speculate in dangerous ways. “Meyer is trying to keep a sex scandal quiet” … “Meyer is trying to engineer an exit from Florida” … “Meyer was just trying to motivate his team and it got out of hand.” What could have been a revelation of virtue from a principled person, or a reality check from an admired person, crumbled back to reality, and tarnished the legacy of a brilliant, still young coach. Right now, the optimist in me is being tamped down by the cynic. Can it really be true that Meyer is just struggling in getting his priorities in life aligned with what he believes? Are these health issues overblown? Could the entire story really be that simple? I’m not sure. Yet.
Not only does this story for Urban Meyer have the element of surprise, it also has the most impact of any story this year. The action of a single person in sports has likely transformed an increasingly less competitive recruiting battle in the state of Florida and the SEC into a free-for-all once again. In fact, his indecision is a real gift to competitive recruiters because it finally – FINALLY – gives those coaches a way to create a compelling counter to the Gator recruiting pitch.
“Urban Meyer is indecisive.” “I’m not sure he’ll stay for your entire eligibility, do you want that?” “Are you prepared to have to play for a coach that didn’t recruit you if Urban Meyer steps down – again?”
Suddenly those sure-win recruiting battles do not look as assured. It is fair and proper to ask, if Tim Tebow were being recruited now, would he want to play for Urban Meyer?
The SEC is primed for a real talent shift. Florida has enjoyed the lion’s share of talent not just from the state, but from the entire country. Florida is a championship program. But, introduce a measure of instability into that program, and the paradigm shifts. It is plausible that the talent will be more evenly spread around the SEC, and the return to a tenuous parity may be in development, all launched by this single indecisive coach.
The story of Urban Meyer is a prime example of the sad case of college football coaching from a real, human perspective – the job is the coach’s life, no exceptions. There is no doubt in my mind that, if Meyer says he has some health issues resulting from stress, then he has health issues resulting from stress. It is true that coaches get paid huge sums of money, but the job is a year-round, 80-hour a week, all-consuming vacuum where the culture of sustainable success seems to require a person to turn their entire life over, wife, kids, religious faith, and priorities included… no exceptions. If a coach does not go all in, he ends up on the unemployment line. Even a coach like Meyer.
I admire Urban Meyer for his initial noble intentions. But I am disappointed in him for reneging. He has the opportunity to make a statement bigger than the game of college football itself… that family matters. That health matters. Instead he allowed himself to be sucked back in to the vortex of college football coaching. I am sure he was “convinced” by more than just a healthy practice from the players. There are future recruits to think about, the university’s “brand” and image to uphold, the current players, and the many sponsors and boosters have opinions, too.
In the end (if this is the end of this interesting story in sports and humanity), Meyer chose between coaching and his family and health. With his “gut feelng,” he picked coaching.
No other story from sports in 2009 has created such a short-term furor, or will have as large of a long-term impact as Urban Meyer’s decision to coach or not. The balance of power is shifting in Southern – and national – college football as a result – provided competing coaches and recruiters prioritize football over everything else.
Story’s teach lessons. This story has only begun to teach, making it the best of 2009.
Posted by Sports Geek 
