Florida coach Urban Meyer will pretty much disappear after Friday’s Sugar Bowl when he begins his indefinite leave of absence to take care of his health issues.
Florida coach Urban Meyer changed his mind Sunday and said he was taking an indefinite leave of absence instead of resigning. Despite ongoing concerns with his health, he expects to be on the sideline leading the Gators when next season opens.
“I do in my gut believe that will happen,” he said Sunday at an Allstate Sugar Bowl news conference. Read full story here
See VIDEO here “Urban Meyers Will know when to Return”
But quarterback Tim Tebow, who has called Meyer his father away from home, plans on spending some quality time with Meyer after the season. Tebow said he expects to get Meyer out on the golf course.
“Hopefully, I’ll beat him in golf a few times,” Tebow said.
Tebow and Meyer are very close, and Tebow said he’s confident Meyer will slow down and do what he has to do to regain his health in the coming months.
After the Southeastern Conference championship game three weeks ago, Meyer spent several hours in a Gainesville, Fla., hospital because of chest pains. Meyer said Sunday he had experienced similar problems at times this season but had not had a heart attack.
“He needs to for himself and for his health,” Tebow said. “He needs to take a lot of that burden off and just rejuvenate, just let himself recover and let his heart recover. I think he needs it. Because of that and the love he has for his family, I think he’ll be able to do that and walk away at least for a while and recover. It will be good for him to get away and rejuvenate and get ready to come back. I think it will be good for him.”
Gators quarterback Tim Tebow said he and several of his teammates cried when they found out Meyer was stepping down Saturday and were elated when he told them he changed his mind.
Tebow said he also thinks it’s a good thing that offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will be the interim coach in Meyer’s absence. Read full story here
Urban Meyer sits down with Tom Rinaldi to discuss his future plans with Florida, his health problems and his family’s reaction Tags: Florida Gators, NCF
ESPN.com has reported: Florida coach Urban Meyer, who was admitted to the hospital because of chest pains following the SEC Championship game against Alabama, is stepping down because of health concerns.
Meyer resigned Saturday, calling it quits after five seasons in Gainesville and two national titles. He leaves Florida with a 56-10 record that includes a 32-8 mark in league play and a school-record 22-game winning streak snapped early this month against Alabama. Read full story here
STATEMENTS RELEASED BY COACH MEYER:
“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 statement. “I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to re-evaluate my priorities of faith and family.
“After consulting with my family, Dr. Machen, Jeremy Foley and my doctors, I believe it is in my best interest to step aside and focus on my health and family.
“I’m proud to be a part of the Gainesville community and the Gator Nation and I plan to remain in Gainesville and involved with the University of Florida.
“I’m very appreciative for the opportunity I’ve had to be a part of a tremendous institution – from Dr. Machen to Jeremy Foley and the entire administrative staff at UF. I’m also very thankful for the chance to work with some of the best assistants in college football and coach some of the best college football players and watch them grow both on and off the field as people. I will cherish the relationships with them the most.”
Meyer says he consulted with his family, his doctors, school president Bernie Machen and athletic director Jeremy Foley before deciding it is in his best interest to focus on his health and family.
Meyer helped the Gators win two national titles in five years at Florida. He is the only coach to win two BCS titles.
A three-time national coach of the year, Meyer is 95-18 in nine seasons.
Meyer, 45, holds a 32-8 mark in SEC play at Florida, which is the top career SEC winning percentage among head coaches who spent five years or more in the conference.
Meyer will hold a news conference in New Orleans on Sunday afternoon and will coach his final game in the Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati on New Year’s Day. Read full story here
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Urban Meyer has suspended Brandon Spikes for the first half of Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt after the All-America linebacker attempted to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey.
♦ Georgia’s Ealey says Spikesshouldn’t be suspended.
A most unlikely person came to the defense of Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes, who was suspended for half a game for apparently trying to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey.
Ealey said Tuesday he doesn’t believeSpikes should have been suspended.
With No. 1 Florida about to attempt the winning field goal with 13 seconds to play in Saturday’s game against Arkansas, Gators quarterback Tim Tebow stood on the sideline holding backup quarterback John Brantley’s hand.
“I was praying,” Tebow said afterward. “I was holding Brantley’s hand and saying, ‘Tell me if it’s good. Tell me if it’s good.’ I couldn’t watch. Soon after, I heard the crowd and he didn’t have to tell me it was good.”
As sophomore Caleb Sturgis’ 27-yard field goal sailed through the uprights with nine seconds to play to give the Gators a 23-20 victory over the Razorbacks, most of the sellout crowd of 90,508 fans breathed a sigh of relief. Read full story here
TimTebow released from Kentucky hospital headed back to the swamp! Current Standings and SEC Rankings
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was out of the hospital and on his way home Sunday, about 12 hours after sustaining a concussion during the team’s 41-7 victory at Kentucky.
ESPN: Tebow was released from the University Medical Center in Lexington, Ky., Sunday morning. He was held for precautionary reasons. Coach Urban Meyer spent the night in the hospital with Tebow.
“Tim is doing fine this morning,” Meyer said. “His CT scans came back and indicated that Tim suffered a concussion. Our medical and athletic training staff will continue to monitor him to determine how much rest and recovery he needs. We will have additional information and updates this week.”
Tebow was expected back in Florida later Sunday.
The top-ranked Gators (4-0) are off next week, then play at LSU on Oct. 10. It might be several days, maybe even longer, before Tebow’s status becomes clearer for what could be the toughest game on the defending national champions’ schedule. Read full story here
