Urban Meyer announces his retirement from OSU after the Rose Bowl.
keets
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It's been a pretty bad year for Meyer and it seems to me that he's probably had enough. Despite his various health concerns he's taking quite a beating at some other sports chat-rooms. I find that very troubling. For whatever reasons he seems to inspire a level a contempt in fans that is right up there with the expressed contempt by fans and even members here towards the Ohio State Buckeyes. At the end of the day it's only Football.
I wish him well, he grew up/lives about 20 miles from me in Ashtabula, Ohio. For my own part I think the health concerns are legitimate and some of his more recent behavior may be explained by the cyst/tumor putting pressure on his brain. Family is certainly more important than College Football and it seems he may have arrived at that difficult choice sometime during this last year.
I wish him well and thank him for what he has done. Many young men owe him for his help and I suppose we'll hear from them in the near future.
Al H.
Comments
With Meyer's health issues, he has obviously gotten medical advice which most likely led to his actions today.
For whatever reasons he seems to inspire a level a contempt in fans that is right up there with the expressed contempt by fans and even members here towards the Ohio State Buckeyes. At the end of the day it's only Football.
His handling of the Zach Smith domestic violence issue, to which he had personal knowledge, will always dog him, and rightfully so, and that is where the rub is. There must be solid evidence for the Ohio State Administrators to have given him a 3 game suspension early in the season. I can only guess that he hoped it would be left dormant, but, not so. Had he pursed the allegations more strongly, and taken action against Smith, not just "reported it to authorities", I suspect his time at OSU might have been more pleasant.
I, as a "member here", have ZERO contempt for anyone associated with, related in anyway to OSU, nor any player, past or present. BUT, I do have some contempt for Meyer for his gross lack of dealing with a difficult issue. It's called leadership, of which, in the Smith case, he was sadly lacking.
Let us not forget the icon, Joe Paterno and what all that led to.
Not surprised - with his health and 3 game suspension for knowledge of OSU coach/domestic violence issue, it was time to retire. I see him returning to the sports arena if his health improves in a few years, only 54 years old and very competitive.
If he is as sick as he seems I think he is doing the right thing for himself, his family and the OSU nation.
What do you OSU fans think of Coach Day? Do you want him or somebody else?
Here's my prediction: In a year or two U$C will fire Helton and Urban will show up in LA to lead the Trojans back to glory. I realize it's a lesser team than OSU but can't really go to a higher level college team but it would be a new challenge to restore the glory at U$C. Just my guess.
I think there are three things necessary at the College level of Football --- the University/Football program, Coaching ability on the field and ability to recruit.
I think the first is known and we have a small body of evidence on Day's coaching. it will be his ability to recruit and what he says to Coach Meyer's recruited players that matters, and we don't know about that yet. I think a HC's ability to recruit is the most important part of his resume.
Keets, Saban is after Jordan Battle, an Ohio State commit, a 4-star safety, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas. Saban is supposed to see him soon and we need him.
Saban is a monster on the recruiting trail. He does not stop, ever. He is the hardest working coach I've ever seen, including Coach Bryant. I never thought I'd say that.
keets posts...
I think a HC's ability to recruit is the most important part of his resume.
And, what about integrity?
From Miriam Webster...Integrity
Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, or moral uprightness. It is colloquially a personal choice to hold oneself to consistent moral and ethical standards.
Is it your position that Urban Meyer lived up to this definition, OR, will you continue to defend "the local guy" and rah, rah the coach? I say he was morally and ethically bankrupt with regard to the Zach Smith episode. To overlook this is to be somewhat dishonest in the overall assessment of ANY college coach, employer, or any other person with direct oversight of another person, persons or groups of people. Evidence appears to indicate Urban Meyer was dishonest in his knowledge of the aforementioned case...that is what got him suspended...gross lack of integrity.
Looks like I was right when I said Meyer would be done after this season. He's had an amazing career - crazy levels of success at three schools (and good success at a fourth), something even Tricky Nicky hasn't done. 7-0 against his #1 rival while at Ohio. 3 national titles. The resume looks amazing.
But a large part of his legacy will also be his willingness to look the other way on character issues so long as success was the end result. The endless list of behavior problems at Florida, the obvious cover-up and lying regarding Zach Smith, etc - these are not things that are easily overlooked.
So, at the end of the day, his legacy will be a mixed one. But he has achieved success at the college level that hardly anybody can even imagine let alone approach.