November 20, 2008

Urban Meyer is the next Notre Dame head coach

Attention Florida Gator fans: you're days of 'Urban renewal' are numbered. Meyer is headed to Notre Dame the next chance he gets, so says Florida Times-Union columnist Pete Kerasotis.

And the weird thing is... Kerasotis makes a damn fine case for Meyer leaving Florida for Notre Dame.

A common contention in my e-mail in-box is that in 2004, Meyer turned down Notre Dame in favor of becoming Florida's coach. Why, then, would he leave a school he once chose over Notre Dame to go to Notre Dame?

Why?

Because things change.

After winning the 1996 National Championship, Spurrier went to bed prepared to wake up the next morning and take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' job. He didn't. But five years later, he did jump to the NFL. Things change.

In his authorized biography "Urban's Way," written with former FLORIDA TODAY sports editor Buddy Martin, Meyer refers to his Big Three coaching jobs, the only three his wife Shelley has no veto power to block him from taking a job at. They are Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan.

Of those three, Meyer's self-proclaimed "dream job" -- his quote, not mine -- is Notre Dame, where he was once an assistant under Lou Holtz, spending five years with the Golden Domers.

OK. Things change, people change. For everything there is a season. Turn, turn, turn... and all that.

But what things?

Kerasotis explains that Shelley Meyer talked Urban into the Florida job because he go out recruiting and be home within a couple hours. Notre Dame, as Irish fans will remind you, recruits nationally. The Meyers' young family won out. Urban consented and the rest is Gator football history.

"I wanted to go to Notre Dame," Meyer admitted, "but my family wanted to talk about going to Florida."

Shelley knew how tough the decision was for her husband because "he left his heart at Notre Dame when we left there last time -- he really, really, really loved Notre Dame."

That's "really" loved three times, if you're scoring at home.

...

Oldest daughter Nicole is 18, getting ready to leave the nest and head to Georgia Tech on a volleyball scholarship. Next oldest is Gigi, 15, a high school sophomore. Then there's Nathan, who turns 10 Monday. Soon, he'll only have one child at home, which makes it much easier for him to balance his professional and personal life -- i.e. the rigors of coaching the Fighting Irish.

All of this is relevant, of course, because Charlie Weis continues to struggle at Notre Dame. You just know that if Notre Dame could trade Weis for Meyer, they'd do it in a heartbeat.

If you're the Fighting Irish, you must have a short list of candidates in mind if you do make a coaching change. And if you're the Fighting Irish, Urban Meyer absolutely has to top that list.

Without question... you take Urban Meyer over Charlie Weis seven days a week and twice on Sunday. There's no comparison in what the two have accomplished. Meyer's cabinet was arguably more full than Weis's; however, you can never question the talent level at Notre Dame. It's Notre freakin' Dame.

And make no mistake... it still is Notre freakin' Dame -- the #1 coaching job in college football, period. Meyer could win 5 national championships in Gainesville... and UF will never be Notre Dame, ever.

Kerasotis explains that Notre Dame's dream coach -- Meyer -- longs for his dream job -- Notre Dame. Can a move be far off?

For what it's worth, I discussed the topic yesterday with Buddy Martin, author of "Urban's Way." Buddy's gotten closer to Meyer than any journalist I know, and he reiterated to me that "Notre Dame is Urban's first love."

Will it be his last love?

Martin said he doesn't see Meyer coaching the Gators beyond the length of his current contract, which has five years remaining.

Me?

I don't see him lasting that long.

One word of advise to Notre Dame: Take that big truck full of money and back it up at Meyer's doorstep. Give him the keys to the castle. Let him thrown down green uniforms any time he wants.

Whatever it takes... he's worth it.

Comments:

Urban Meyer is the next Notre Dame head coach
Attention Florida Gator fans: you're days of 'Urban renewal' are numbered. Meyer is headed to Notre Dame the next chance he gets, so says Florida Times-Union columnist Pete Kerasotis. And the weird thing is... Kerasotis makes a damn fine case for Meyer leaving Florida for Notre Dame.
A common contention in my e-mail in-box is that in 2004, Meyer turned down Notre Dame in favor of becoming Florida's coach. Why, then, would he leave a school he once chose over Notre Dame to go to Notre Dame? Why? Because things change. After winning the 1996 National Championship, Spurrier went to bed prepared to wake up the next morning and take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' job. He didn't. But five years later, he did jump to the NFL. Things change. In his authorized biography "Urban's Way," written with former FLORIDA TODAY sports editor Buddy Martin, Meyer refers to his Big Three coaching jobs, the only three his wife Shelley has no veto power to block him from taking a job at. They are Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan. Of those three, Meyer's self-proclaimed "dream job" -- his quote, not mine -- is Notre Dame, where he was once an assistant under Lou Holtz, spending five years with the Golden Domers.
OK. Things change, people change. For everything there is a season. Turn, turn, turn... and all that. But what things? Kerasotis explains that Shelley Meyer talked Urban into the Florida job because he go out recruiting and be home within a couple hours. Notre Dame, as Irish fans will remind you, recruits nationally. The Meyers' young family won out. Urban consented and the rest is Gator football history.
"I wanted to go to Notre Dame," Meyer admitted, "but my family wanted to talk about going to Florida." Shelley knew how tough the decision was for her husband because "he left his heart at Notre Dame when we left there last time -- he really, really, really loved Notre Dame." That's "really" loved three times, if you're scoring at home. ... Oldest daughter Nicole is 18, getting ready to leave the nest and head to Georgia Tech on a volleyball scholarship. Next oldest is Gigi, 15, a high school sophomore. Then there's Nathan, who turns 10 Monday. Soon, he'll only have one child at home, which makes it much easier for him to balance his professional and personal life -- i.e. the rigors of coaching the Fighting Irish. All of this is relevant, of course, because Charlie Weis continues to struggle at Notre Dame. You just know that if Notre Dame could trade Weis for Meyer, they'd do it in a heartbeat. If you're the Fighting Irish, you must have a short list of candidates in mind if you do make a coaching change. And if you're the Fighting Irish, Urban Meyer absolutely has to top that list.
Without question... you take Urban Meyer over Charlie Weis seven days a week and twice on Sunday. There's no comparison in what the two have accomplished. Meyer's cabinet was arguably more full than Weis's; however, you can never question the talent level at Notre Dame. It's Notre freakin' Dame. And make no mistake... it still is Notre freakin' Dame -- the #1 coaching job in college football, period. Meyer could win 5 national championships in Gainesville... and UF will never be Notre Dame, ever. Kerasotis explains that Notre Dame's dream coach -- Meyer -- longs for his dream job -- Notre Dame. Can a move be far off?
For what it's worth, I discussed the topic yesterday with Buddy Martin, author of "Urban's Way." Buddy's gotten closer to Meyer than any journalist I know, and he reiterated to me that "Notre Dame is Urban's first love." Will it be his last love? Martin said he doesn't see Meyer coaching the Gators beyond the length of his current contract, which has five years remaining. Me? I don't see him lasting that long.
One word of advise to Notre Dame: Take that big truck full of money and back it up at Meyer's doorstep. Give him the keys to the castle. Let him thrown down green uniforms any time he wants. Whatever it takes... he's worth it.