Urban Meyer

saturdaydownsouth.com

     Urban Frank Meyer III just stepped down as head coach of The Ohio State University Football program. I am not what you would call a fan of Urban Meyer and certainly not a fan of Ohio State University Football. I am, after all, a Michigan fan… a Michigan man. But, I have to tip my hat to Coach Meyer. From the Ohio State perspective, he was awesome, he was a football god, and he never lost to Michigan in the seven years he coached there. Michigan fans really don’t like him because of this. The really don’t like borders on hate actually.
     Urban Meyer stepped down for health reasons. He has an arachnoid cyst in his brain. Some sources say it is inoperable and has increasingly caused him headaches and episodes where his memory is suspect. The headaches have been noticeable on the sideline as he has been caught on camera bending over and clutching his head. He even passed out at a game against Indiana this year. The rumors were prevalent on social media that he was going to retire because of this at the end of the season. So, his retirement was not a total surprise.
     A football coach the caliber of Urban Meyer is married to his job. It makes for lengthy work days both in and off-season. I imagine the stress levels equal the lofty pay that great coaches like Urban Meyer command. Furthermore, the elite coaches clearly know the game of football but, maybe more importantly, they are excellent managers of every aspect of the game, even the parts they delegate. The best coaches have developed and refined great systems. And, boy oh boy, did Urban Meyer have a great system. They never had a lull year. He recruited great talent, made them better, and devised game plans that made this teams unbelievably good. I recall a commentator, maybe a reporter, say that under Urban Meyer, “Ohio State doesn’t rebuild, they reload.” The one their only National Championship under Meyer in 2014, they did it with their playing their third string quarterback for the entire post season. I blogged about it in August of 2015. Braxton Miller went down in the pre-season, no problem, reload and move forward with J. T. Barrett. Barrett gets hurt in the Michigan game? No issues. Reload and win the National Championship with Cardale Jones. Unbelievable indeed. I was astonished and impressed but I shouldn’t have been. It was Urban Meyer’s system of recruiting, coaching up his players, and preparing them for games.
     Even during half-time and in press conferences after the game. He was infuriatingly matter of fact and irritatingly calm as he explained, and I paraphraise, “we recruit good player, teach them their role in our system, expect them to do their jobs, and they do.” I hated hearing that smug, confident, speech in countless variations, after Ohio State victories. His record was 82 – 9 in Columbus. Urban Meyer was clearly at the top of his game.
     There are rumors coming from every corner, except from Ohio State fans, that Urban Meyer is a cheat and often has the best team money can buy. As a Michigan fan, I would love to believe that just to justify our dismal record versus Ohio State. But, let’s face it. Elite college programs are money machines and the minor leagues for the NFL. The rah-rah, win one for the Gipper, spirit of student-athletes fails on the word student. The emotion is there for sure with both athletes and fans. But the vast majority of these gifted players are not really students. Many of these players probably would not have gotten into Michigan or Ohio State on their academics. So, really it is a degree of cheating, bending, or breaking the rules. I imagine the same thing is said about Alabama, Oklahoma, Clemson, and others. I am certain rivals would blow the whistle if there were evidence of such.
     I watched Urban Meyer on a TV interview a few years ago. He was talking about the stress of the job and how it kept him from quality time with his family. He seemed very open and heartfelt in his comments and desire to want to add some “normalcy” to his life. I believed him because he was so different, personable, and believable than in any other presser I have ever seen him. For all the success and incredible salaries, he seems like a guy truly struggling with work/life balance. I don’t believe he is that good an actor, so I believed him.
     Lastly, regarding Michigan and Ohio State. I often say, there is no rivalry without the rival. There is no rivalry, really, when the wins are lopsided as they have been in Ohio State’s favor this century. Nothing matches a great and grand rivalry such as this as when the record is closer to 50/50. We revere the Ten Year Hayes vs. Schembechler war for that very reason.
   Again,I tip my hat to Urban Meyer and wish him well.