O-town Gator
Gator Fan
Great blog post from Ben Volin at he Palm Beach Post: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/ufblog/entries/2009/01/06/jeremy_foley.html
These questions and answers should shut the doubting Thomases and other Gator fans who think Urban Meyer is set to bail on Florida up:
Q: Every year there are always three or four NFL openings. This year, the Cleveland job is open, and Urban is from northern Ohio. Do you hold your breath that Urban will get that itch to take that NFL challenge?
A: “You always want your quality coaches to be around forever. Forever is a long time. I don’t hold my breath. I know Urban’s commitment to the University of Florida, I think I know what challenges and motivates him. He’s only been at UF for four years, he’s trying to build something special. Obviously, so far so good. He’s done a heckuva job with that.”
Side note: Urban Meyer has stated time and time again that he has no interest in going to coach in the NFL, and he made that clear from Day One. What part of that do some folks fail to understand?
Q: So you don’t worry about him leaving any time soon?
A: “I don’t worry about things I can’t control. My job is to make the situation as good as it can be for Urban Meyer while he’s at Florida. That’s my job, and I try to do that every day I go to work, and at the end of the day, if Urban says the next phase of my life is taking on another challenge somewhere else, I can’t control that. I would be disappointed, because I love working with the guy, and I love what he’s done at the University of Florida. I know how he feels about the University of Florida, I know what he’s trying to build, I know how he lives his life every day working 24-7 to make this program great. I think the fire burns inside very, very strong for him to be a Gator for a long time.”
Q: You don’t mind when he goes on Miami radio and says Notre Dame is his dream job?
A: “I think people made more of that than it was. I know how he feels about Notre Dame, I know what type of respect he has for that institution. He’s given his life to the University of Florida, and I see it every day. I know you guys see it, but you don’t see it like I see it, his office is right next to mine. I know how hard he works to build this program and I know the resources we’ve provided for him. He bleeds orange and blue. His comments were taken way out of context. Gator fans don’t need to worry, he loves the Gators.”
Q: If Urban wins a second championship in three years here, his stock is going to go through the roof. Every program in the country is going to want him, and probably some NFL teams.
A: “Good. He’s a Gator. I never quite figured out why people don’t think University of Florida is a destination job. Billy Donovan is going to go here to Kentucky, this and that. We’ve got a pretty good situation. We’re very supportive of our coaches and we’re going to continue to do that. And I hope his stock goes through the roof, I got no problem with that. Those are the type of coaches you want in your program.”
These questions and answers should shut the doubting Thomases and other Gator fans who think Urban Meyer is set to bail on Florida up:
Q: Every year there are always three or four NFL openings. This year, the Cleveland job is open, and Urban is from northern Ohio. Do you hold your breath that Urban will get that itch to take that NFL challenge?
A: “You always want your quality coaches to be around forever. Forever is a long time. I don’t hold my breath. I know Urban’s commitment to the University of Florida, I think I know what challenges and motivates him. He’s only been at UF for four years, he’s trying to build something special. Obviously, so far so good. He’s done a heckuva job with that.”
Side note: Urban Meyer has stated time and time again that he has no interest in going to coach in the NFL, and he made that clear from Day One. What part of that do some folks fail to understand?
Q: So you don’t worry about him leaving any time soon?
A: “I don’t worry about things I can’t control. My job is to make the situation as good as it can be for Urban Meyer while he’s at Florida. That’s my job, and I try to do that every day I go to work, and at the end of the day, if Urban says the next phase of my life is taking on another challenge somewhere else, I can’t control that. I would be disappointed, because I love working with the guy, and I love what he’s done at the University of Florida. I know how he feels about the University of Florida, I know what he’s trying to build, I know how he lives his life every day working 24-7 to make this program great. I think the fire burns inside very, very strong for him to be a Gator for a long time.”
Q: You don’t mind when he goes on Miami radio and says Notre Dame is his dream job?
A: “I think people made more of that than it was. I know how he feels about Notre Dame, I know what type of respect he has for that institution. He’s given his life to the University of Florida, and I see it every day. I know you guys see it, but you don’t see it like I see it, his office is right next to mine. I know how hard he works to build this program and I know the resources we’ve provided for him. He bleeds orange and blue. His comments were taken way out of context. Gator fans don’t need to worry, he loves the Gators.”
Q: If Urban wins a second championship in three years here, his stock is going to go through the roof. Every program in the country is going to want him, and probably some NFL teams.
A: “Good. He’s a Gator. I never quite figured out why people don’t think University of Florida is a destination job. Billy Donovan is going to go here to Kentucky, this and that. We’ve got a pretty good situation. We’re very supportive of our coaches and we’re going to continue to do that. And I hope his stock goes through the roof, I got no problem with that. Those are the type of coaches you want in your program.”
