October 16, 2005
Meyer, Gators players cry over LSU loss
Everyone knows that there's no crying in baseball. And I thought that there was no crying in football, but apparently there is. Florida football coach Urban Meyer couldn't contain himself following the Gators loss to LSU.
Urban Meyer got a few minutes into his postgame autopsy of the 21-17 loss before it happened. First, he talked about how LSU was very good, like Alabama and Tennessee, and how the SEC was a "tough conference." He mentioned the great stadium environment, some great Florida defense and …"And our punter did an excellent job," Meyer said. "I'm not sure what our net was … I think it was a 43 net."
Then someone asked the first question. It was about Chris Leak, Florida's equally lost quarterback. Meyer began, "You know, I got to watch …"
He paused. He choked on his words. He fell silent. It got weird. After 24 seconds, Meyer went on with red-rimmed eyes. He choked up again a few minutes later.
Was this really happening?
...
It was as if LSU had studied game film and Florida hadn't. When the Gators went to an empty backfield and spread five receivers out wide, LSU blitzed. And blitzed. Just like Georgia will. LSU didn't disguise a thing.
"Blitzed every time," Meyer said.
And covered Florida's receivers one-on-one.
"You're really not supposed to be able to do that," Meyer said.
And you can't -- in the Mountain West.
Want a mountain?
This is a mountain.
...
The shame was that this game was there to be stolen and help Meyer's team back onto the SEC stage and national picture. Florida fell behind 14-0, Alabama-like, but rallied to take the lead. The defense took it back. LSU tried to give it back. But the Florida offense would have none of it.
LSU had five turnovers, three of which set up Florida's points. The Gators had no turnovers. How do you win that stat, 5-0, and lose?
But you didn't need a stat sheet in this one. You only need have followed the tracks of Florida's tears. Meyer consoled Leak.
"Chris is a tough nut," Meyer said. "I just gave him a big hug. He's bawling his eyes out like some of those other guys."
Urban Meyer is a tough nut, too. He'll bounce back. He'll have to learn from this. But he must know just how far he has to go. His cracking voice said it. His eyes said it. Gator Nation is shattered right along with him. The Answer had no answers. Again.
It gets worse, the Florida football team broke down in tears in the locker room.
The Florida team and fans are disappointed. It will be interesting to see if the Gators are able to get up off the mat or if they're down for the count.
Comments:
posted on October 16, 2005 2:17 PM — 68.35.231.61 — link — abuse?Mike Boone said:
"You're really not supposed to be able to do that," Meyer said.
This is the best explanation you can come up with, that LSU somehow broke the cosmic rules of football when they won the game by playing man-to-man coverage? Is he serious?
Terence said:
posted on October 16, 2005 3:33 PM — 70.112.167.99 — link — abuse?
He's probably talking about playing physical man to man coverage. this happens almost every time a spread offense plays a good/physical defense (like when Purdue plays Mich or Tx Tech plays Tx).
the spread offense is looking for mis-matches in receiver/defender match-ups in 1-on-1 situations. jam the receivers at the line and pressure the QB to throw the timing off and the spread offense breaks down.
Terence said:
posted on October 16, 2005 3:35 PM — 70.112.167.99 — link — abuse?
the headline's also a cheap shot. makes it sound like Meyer and the Gators are complaining about the outcome of the game. they're emotionally drained after a hard-fought loss, just like half the other teams that played Saturday.
ute4ever said:
posted on October 16, 2005 3:38 PM — 68.107.57.108 — link — abuse?
Meyer is a very emotional coach. He also got red-eyed when Utah lost to New Mexico.As for his comment about the LSU defense ("You're really not supposed to be able to do that"), it doesn't make any sense. Think about it. It appears to be out of context. I think what he was saying is he expects his top receivers to be better than succumbing to single coverage, such as when they outplayed Tennessee.
posted on October 16, 2005 7:16 PM — link — abuse?
The headline isn't a cheap shot - Meyer and the Gator players literally cried. If you want to read more into it, that's your thing.
As for the coverage, Meyer said exactly what he meant - it's very difficult to blitz on every play & still be able to cover the spread man-on-man. LSU did just that (so did 'Bama, btw).
Regan said:
posted on October 16, 2005 10:50 PM — 64.53.66.17 — link — abuse?
zippy (#7):
I really want to disagree with you, but I can't. I watch my teams every Saturday and when they lose, I'm down. The players work hard 7 days a week and coaches put in the long hours during the day and spend long hours watching film all night. It hurts them a heck of a lot more than it hurts us.All the added hope for the Florida players and expectations on the fans, geez. Does anyone want tell me you didn't get choked up at the end of "Rudy"? I hope the road gets better for the kids on Florida's team...
posted on October 17, 2005 9:02 AM — link — abuse?
Florida has averaged just 260 yards against ranked teams this year. Yikes.
posted on October 17, 2005 10:06 AM — link — abuse?
AD Foley OK with Meyer's tears:
Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley watched his football coach fight back tears following the Gators' loss to LSU on Saturday, and he understood exactly what Urban Meyer was feeling.
He was in the locker room after the 21-17 loss in Baton Rouge and saw how hard the players were taking it. He saw how that affected Meyer, and that is why he is quick to defend his coach being near tears."Urban has lost games before," Foley said as the Gators (5-2, 3-2 SEC) began an open week before playing Georgia at Alltel Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 29. "It had nothing to do with losing a game. It has to do with the relationship he has with his players."
Defensive tackle Joe Cohen said there were a lot of players crying in the locker room. One of those was quarterback Chris Leak, who had the worst performance of his career (11 for 30, 107 yards). That affected Meyer, Foley said.
"You should have seen our athletes in the locker room," Foley said. "He's emotional because of his feelings about his players."
Meyer said he became so emotional because he saw, for the first time, his players showing passion. That moved him because of all the work he and the players have invested in the season.
At some point, I think your team looks to you for leadership and strength. Now, I guess you could make the case that Meyer was showing strength by allowing himself to cry in such a public forum, but the Dick Vermiel theory doesn't always work.
I think there's a lot for a team to gain by looking at a coach who says, "We lost, but that means we haven't done enough to win at this level."
NOTaNOLE said:
posted on October 17, 2005 12:48 PM — 24.110.37.252 — link — abuse?
The only thing I have gotten from this entire post is that Kevin Donahue has probably never played sports to any capacity in his life. The thought of giving so much of yourself to a cause to only watch it slip through your fingers time and again maybe the hardest thing some of us will ever deal with in life. Any athlete has those moments in a career where he came so close and and gave so much to only not succeed that they were devastated. I said ATHLETE, in case some of you still don't understand wich people I'm refering to. But this is just that, A cheap shot at a group of men when they are down. Ask yourself this, how many of you would be willing to stand in the face of any of these men and make your boo hoo jokes? Probably find out real quick what kind of man you are, tears or not!
posted on October 17, 2005 1:17 PM — link — abuse?
OMG. I cannot believe that anyone would stand up & even suggest that the Gator nation wouldn't have been posting about this for DECADES if Fulmer had broken down crying. Give me a break.
My points, which I would think would be of interest to you, were: Will Florida be able to get up after this kind of emotional loss? and At some point does the coach have set the tone for the team & show some courage under fire?I gave Meyer credit for showing his emotions, but I think that it might be a bad message for his team. The players can cry all they want, I'm OK with that because it's their blood, sweat, and tears. But for Meyer, he's supposed to be LEADING. Is that the example that's going to get UF ready for Georgia?
NotANole, don't start talking about someone taking a "cheap shot" when a "team is down". You & I both know that Florida fans can dish it out better than most.
If someone thinks this is a cheap shot, then they're missing the forest for the trees.
NOTaNOLE said:
posted on October 17, 2005 2:23 PM — 24.110.37.252 — link — abuse?
"This headline isn't a cheap shot- Meyer and the Gator players literally cried." Does that somehow mean what your follow up comment said about that it was "The Coach" and not the players you were reffering to. Please, If you were not making fun of the players and the coach with your post than might I recommened a warning to accompany all your further post to read: "Author may or may not know how to express his true feelings in print and sometimes writes things that will be taken out of context by rational people."
posted on October 17, 2005 2:32 PM — link — abuse?
Point taken, I will try to cut that down a bit so it will fit on a business card, NotANole. But, for grins, look at my words:
Everyone knows that there's no crying in baseball. And I thought that there was no crying in football, but apparently there is. Florida football coach Urban Meyer couldn't contain himself following the Gators loss to LSU.
...
t gets worse, the Florida football team broke down in tears in the locker room.
The Florida team and fans are disappointed. It will be interesting to see if the Gators are able to get up off the mat or if they're down for the count.
Is that inflamatory? I don't think so. The rest of the text is from the Tampa Tribune article. linked above.
Now, Terrance said that the headline was a cheap shot & that I was making it sound like the Gators were contesting the outcome or something. I was not. I was pointing out that they cried. I don't know any other way to communicate that.That said, maybe I can change my signature text to "Posted By Kevin Donahue, who may or may not mean what is saying (or even realize what he wrote)".
Best wishes, bro.
Fan of the Game said:
posted on October 17, 2005 2:56 PM — 12.43.234.14 — link — abuse?
Sorry guys, I must really be missing the point of the article. What does Meyer's or the Gator's players crying have to do with anything. Are we supposed to assume that the tears brought on by the "agony of defeat" hold some key to the Florida Gators season. As I see it, the game was an emotional one, much like the USC/ND game were fans and players were crying. Now, whether or not a coach succombs to tears after a game such as this depends on the coach. Does it make him less qualified to coach? Less likely to win? Or is it that he is more intuned with his players than are other coaches around the country? Regardless, having an article written on this subject seems far more ridiculous than the subject of crying itself. Every coach is different and I could care less if mine cries everyday at practice as long as I believe in my coach and his abilities to lead us. The Gators believe in their coach so why is anyof this nonsense relevant?
pimpdaddy said:
posted on October 17, 2005 5:05 PM — 69.134.135.166 — link — abuse?
The posting was inflammatory and written so. You took your best cheap shot at Florida for whatever reasons you have against them. I'm not for crying in sports, Dick Vermeil-a little to emotional, but when you leave everything on the table and lose it can effect you. Like someone above mentioned I doubt you ever played sports competitvely, you probably the team manager or stat dork.
posted on October 17, 2005 5:58 PM — link — abuse?
Fan - you're telling me if Mack Brown broke down crying in the press conference after a loss that it wouldn't make the rounds in Aggieland?
ND78 said:
posted on October 17, 2005 5:58 PM — 199.72.87.51 — link — abuse?
The book is still out on Urban Meyer and it may simply take him awhile for his "system" to work. However, I am now a fan of no system and modifying your offense to the talent you have and direct it at the opponents weaknesses. aka Charlie Weis. And to think the Willingham staff didn't implement any of his suggestions when he paid them a visit. More importantly he brought an attitude adjustment and attention to detail.
Thanks again Shelly Meyer.
VOLPIMP said:
posted on October 17, 2005 6:59 PM — 208.0.27.10 — link — abuse?
I'm with you on this one Kevin. Like you said, if it would have been Fulmer 75% of these guys would have gone crazy posting about it. I feel for Meyer, much like I cried when I went from A Ball where I was really good, to Babe Ruth where I really sucked, it's called growing pains and the real world...the WAC and the SEC. Kevin just posted what happened with the coach, read into it what you guys want, but that's the pressure of big time coaching. Dick Vermeil cries dang near every game, do you guys blast ESPN when they show it 300 times a day? Keep it up Kev, and when Fulmer eats himself to death after Bama or ND get us, post it, because I want to comment on it
ATLGator said:
posted on October 18, 2005 10:33 AM — 142.245.62.65 — link — abuse?
I understand Gator fans...we don't want to look like we bash our coached the minute things go wrong...but a dose of reality is in order. Meyer was overhyped period. If the truth hurts, then say ouch. What I do like about Meyer is the team is a lot tougher and the defense is agressive. I preferred Tedford, but hey what are you gonna do.
Under Zook aka Goober, UF led the SEC in offense and Leak threw for over 3000 yards. His problem was playing NOT TO LOSE. This does not fare well for recruiting. What receiver wants to come to a school that doesn't stretch the field? Meyer MAY indeed have a great scheme (I'm being objective because I personally don't care for it), but a coach should have been hired that had an offense to compliment the talent. I mean, when Norm Chow left USC as O coordinator, did USC go looking for Switzer. The zone blocking and Leak running the option...c'mon. All we heard was how he tailors offenses to fut personnel. The option doesn't work w/o a qb that's a threat to run.
Also...what, did Manson make a pass at Urban's wife? I mean, what does he have against this kid? And...could you blame him or Leak if they transfered?
Plain and simple...lets line up in a pro set with a fullback, run some dives, counters, and play action. Lets' get back to footabll instead of gimmick offenses. unfortunately, this will go on for another 2 years. Thanks Machen for your tunnel vision in getting "your boy" Meyer here. Screw SOS, he only won 6 SEC championships and a National Title.
If I'm wrong, I'll be the first to admit it, but I just don't see this offense working in the SEC. Go Gators!!
Fan of the Game said:
posted on October 18, 2005 12:57 PM — 12.43.234.14 — link — abuse?
I didn't say that at all, Kevin. If Mack Brown broke down crying after a loss, I am sure everyone in Aggieland would be talking about it. But what relevance would it hold? Would it really say anything about his credentials as a Head Coach? I think Mack Brown is an underachiever as a coach and whether or not he's crying isn't going to effect what I allready believe. I also believe he is one of the best recruiters in the country, crying or not. Everyone hear loves the game of football and for more or less the same reasons. I am sure if you made a list of 10 reasons you like the game and a list of 10 things you dislike about the game- that crying wouldn't make either list. Because it's not important or even worth noting. Now, with that said, I think these blogs are great and I find myself agreeing with you on most of your opinions. Your knowlege and insight create great topics for discussion and debate. I just feel this topic(allthough heavily discussed and debated)wasn't worth the effort put into it. Keep up the great work, Kev.
ATLGator said:
posted on October 18, 2005 12:59 PM — 142.245.62.65 — link — abuse?
And...the players crying is one thing...but the coach crying in his 1st season send a message of "hey, this SEC is far better than even I imagined..." I don't see how that's a good thing no matter how some of you try to spin it.
And guys...its just my humble opinion on Meyer's offense, for I never did the "running man" when he was hired...and yes..I've played sports before. I've loved the Gators for 30+ years...and will always love them. This "bootleg" version of the option called the spread..again, I hope I'm wrong...looks to be in serious trouble.
Fan of the Game said:
posted on October 18, 2005 2:51 PM — 12.43.234.14 — link — abuse?
ATLGator I think the Gator future looks extremely bright. I also think the team as a whole turned the corner after the LSU game. Although I'm not a Florida fan I think the Meyer is going to be an excellent fit with the University of Florida. Keep in mind this is his first year at UF. Once the players have completely bought into his system and trust it, they are going to have success. The SEC has 5 to 6 teams every year that are evenly matched. Meyer knows what it takes to be a winner, and he'll figure out what it takes to win in the SEC. I firmly believe that in 3 years Florida will forget all about Spurrier and fans will be completely sold on Meyer. Best of luck to the Gators and keep the faith.
posted on October 18, 2005 4:02 PM — link — abuse?
Looks like the Tennessee columnists are jumping on Meyer's trail of tears:
But you also have to wonder if this show of emotion was due in some part to the realization that Meyer's offense is not all it was cracked up to be.
The spread-option scheme that was so productive at Bowling Green and Utah in Meyer's previous coaching stops is meeting unexpected resistance against some of the better SEC defenses.
Meyer seems to have underestimated the team speed he is facing against opponents such as LSU, Alabama and Tennessee. The Gators are averaging just 259.6 yards and 12 offensive points in those three games.
Suggested new name for the Florida offense:
Urban Myth.
Hey, Tennessee, check the scoreboard.
ATLGator said:
posted on October 18, 2005 5:29 PM — 142.245.62.65 — link — abuse?
Fan of the Game...not a Gator fan (smile)???? Man, I hope for all of our sakes you're right. I just don't see how we turned the corner. Honestly, i knew we had a shot IF we put pressure on Russell. He turns the ball over with pressure. He single handedly spotted us 14 at the swamp last year before Randall took over and won the game. The huge play in this game was inexplicably not coming after him on 3rd & 9. If he has time...he's dangerous and he burned us.
All of the points were give to us by 5 LSU turnovers. I just don't see how the offense turned the corner in this game. I'm keeping the faith though man...I really am, but my spider senses tell me otherwise. Again...I'll be the 1st to say the naysayers including myself, were wrong for that means good seasons for UF!!
I truly think that Meyer completely underestimated the conference. He saw the talent he was walking into and said, "my offense and these studs can't lose"...but he sees now that other teams have those same studs. It's all on the defense this year. i mean as crappy as the offense is, the long ball has really hurt us this year. We're 6-1 at worse case scenario if the safeties don't bite on the play action.
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Hippster in KC said:
posted on October 16, 2005 12:31 PM — 64.126.69.75 — link — abuse?I guess we ND fans should be pretty happy that Meyer played us to get a nicer contract from Florida. I guess it's a little tougher to put up 50 points every game when you're not playing San Diego State.