Urban Meyer Waffles on Resignation Decision

Less than 24 hours ago, college football fans everywhere were stunned by University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer's announcement that he was resigning from his position with the Gators after five seasons and two national championships. Now it appears that he has changed his mind, telling the media that he will only be taking a break following Florida's Dec. 31 Sugar Bowl game against #4 Cincinnati. Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will coach the team during Meyer's absence. While Meyer has not said how long he expects to be gone, the coach did say that he plans to return to coach the Gators next season.

The 45-year old coach complained of health problems, perhaps relating to an early incident this season where he was hospitalized for what was reported to be dehydration following a game. While nothing has been officially released concerning the coach's health condition, he did tell reporters that he had not experienced a heart attack during the season. Meyer currently has a cyst on his brain that can cause headaches during times of stress or excitement, but it is not considered to be fatal. He has also complained of chest pains for the past four years.

While we don't know the true extent of Meyer's health problems, it is clear to many that he's overworked himself over the past nine seasons. While the man is still relatively young by head coaching standards, the past decade has certainly taken its toll on him.

Florida better hope that Meyer will be involved enough in the recruiting process this spring to compete with other top universities in the country for recruits and that he returns before the beginning of the 2010 season. If he doesn't, the university will be firmly mired in between a rock and a hard place. Do they get rid of Meyer and go after another prominent coach, or do they grit their teeth and wait for their star coach to come back? Hopefully for the Gators, they won't have to make that decision.

But, more importantly, Meyer has a family to worry about, and he's won enough and made enough money in the past nine seasons to retire, if only for a little while. While it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of national titles and New Year's Day bowl games, both fans and University of Florida adminstration have to recognize Meyer's leaving is not the end of the world, and it might actually be the best thing for the man. Regardless, the Gators' game agaisnt Cincy will be a great one to watch, and might be Meyer's last as a head coach, at least for some time.

Meyer came to the University of Florida after two highly-successful stints at Bowling Green (17-6) and Utah (22-2) and immediately turned the program into a national power. In his nine years a head coach, Meyer has gone 95-18, including five bowl victories to only one loss.