Urban Meyer: An Urban Legend to Come to an End

Urban Meyer is stepping down as the Head Coach of the University of Florida. The successful 45 year old coach will apparently retire after he coaches his Florida Gators against The University of Cincinnati Bearcats in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2010. Could this be the beginning of what comes to be known as the curse of the Sugar Bowl? Since the Sugar Bowl invited the University of Florida to play the University of Cincinnati in its BSC game, the Head Coaches of both schools have indicated that they will not be back to coach their respective schools next year. Brian Kelly the Ex-Head Coach of Cincinnati even opted to get out of dodge before the actual festivities of the game took place.

The early word is that Meyer is stepping down, because of his concern that the stress of his job was adversely affecting his health. ESPN reported that Meyer was hospitalized after the Alabama Crimson Tide toppled Florida in the SEC Championship Game because of chest pains. The word is that Urban has not suffered from a heart attack and does not have a damaged heart. He is expected to make an official statement to be aired on ESPN on Sunday December 27, 2009 at 4pm EST.

The statements that ESPN are attributing to Urban Meyer's colleagues such as Bobby Bowden and Nick Saban, indicate that Meyer is held in high esteem and will be missed. Tim Tebow, the standout player during Meyer's reign, referred to Myer as his "dad away from home".

It is hard to find fault with Meyer's success. In his five years as Head Coach with the Florida Gators he led them to a 56-10 record, 2 SEC Titles and 2 BCS Championships. Prior to coaching at Florida, Meyer was the Head Football Coach of the Utah Utes. In two years he led them to a 22-2 record. In the second year, the Utah Utes were ranked #6 in the BSC standings and received an at large bid to the 2004 Fiesta Bowl. They used this opportunity to pulverize the overmatched Pittsburgh Panthers 35-7 and finished the season 12-0.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4772952

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=4773206

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bowls/2005-01-02-fiesta-bowl_x.htm

http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter