Spare me. I feel like I’m re-living a bad nightmare. Over and over and over again.
Rumor has it that Urban Meyer is contemplating a return to College Football.
And while we are at it, let me flash forward and write my lede for 2025:
“After being fired by the University of Texas for massive recruitment and ethics violations, Coach Urban Meyer is set to be named the next coach of Notre Dame after the university parted ways with Brian Kelly.”
Seriously. This is getting old. Nothing against Urban Meyer, who is undoubtedly the biggest opportunist in the universe, but this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I hate college football.
There are a handful of guys who could get any existing coach fired in an instant and be handed the keys to the university. I just have to ask: don’t we think we are giving them just a little too much power? Not to mention a little too much money – like several times more than university presidents! And these obscene contracts get paid whether the coach coaches or is excused early. See examples of Charlie Weiss, Will Muschamp, Charlie Strong, etc. etc.
Allegedly, Meyer is looking to jump back into coaching, and I can only imagining hearing the following: for his real “dream” job at the University of Texas. Let’s review his coaching history and tenure:
- 2001 – 2002, Bowling Green
- On his way up! Leaves BG to become Utah’s head coach
- 2003 – 2004, University of Utah
- Strike while it’s hot! Leaves Utah after perfect season to become Florida’s head coach, completely spurning Notre Dame in the process
- 2005 – 2010, University of Florida
- Wins two National Championships with Tim Tebow and the Gators before citing “health reasons” for departing abruptly. Translation: “It’s going to be hard to win against Nick Saban, I’d better find a better opportunity quick”
- 2012 – 2018, Ohio State University
- Coasts in the weak Big 10 leading the Buckeyes to a National Championship. Forced out during #MeToo era for knowing “things” and keeping “secrets”
- 2021, University of Texas??
- Please know. Please Texas, don’t do it.
There’s no doubt Urban is a great coach. But honestly, he’s more of a “sprinter” than a “marathoner.” And sadly, the problem with college football is that Athletic Directors are only looking for sprinters who can perform in the short-term to save their jobs to deliver for their boosters.
So while I don’t hate Urban; he’s just playing to his strengths and taking advantage of the system in the process. I just hope for the sake of football, he lands with the Detroit Lions and gets battered and bruised for awhile in the black and blue division in the NFL.