Tag: Urban Meyer

Urban Meyer: ‘I think this is the year’ that Florida beats Georgia

Former Florida Gators HC Urban Meyer thinks this is the year Dan Mullen and UF beat Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs football program.

During his tenure at Florida, former Gators head coach Urban Meyer went 4-1 vs Georgia, with his only loss being the famous 2007 “Gator Stomp” game.

Meyer’s success against the Bulldogs has not yet been replicated by another Gator coach since.

Now, with Dan Mullen as the head guy in Gainesville, Florida is playing catch-up to Kirby Smart and Georgia. The Dawgs are 2-0 against Florida since Mullen took over and have won the last three vs the Gators.

Georgia has taken control of the series, holding a 6-3 record since 2011.

But Meyer, now a college football analyst with Fox Sports, thinks that this is the year that Mullen gets Florida back into the national spotlight, beats Georgia and navigates the Gators to their first playoff appearance.

“I think (Florida) should be in the playoff. I think it’s time,” Meyer told GatorBait’s Buddy Martin. “Dan’s built a good program. But I spent six years at Florida. Georgia is a big game. Until you beat Georgia you can’t say a thing. And I think this is the year.”

Meyer looks at 2020 as a transition year for Kirby Smart and the Dawgs.

He’s not wrong, but Georgia fans see the transition as a good thing. The Dawgs got an upgrade at offensive coordinator with Todd Monken, a fresh face at quarterback in Jamie Newman and what could even possibly be a boost at offensive line coach with Matt Luke coming into replace Sam Pittman.

There’s a lot of player talent to replace other than Fromm, but Kirby’s landed the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class in each of the last three years. I have no doubt that Florida will give Georgia a challenge the year, but I’m getting the sense that Kirby has Mullen’s number, and that’s not changing.

Florida is coming on strong, and many do expect the Gators to dethrone Georgia as SEC East champs in 2020. If that happens, it would make Florida the first team other than Georgia to win the division since 2016.

Retiring Big Ten official compares Jim Harbaugh to child, speaks out on J.T. Barrett spot

Retiring B1G official Dan Capron sat down with Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune. He spoke of Jim Harbaugh and the J.T. Barrett spot.

Dan Capron has been working Big Ten college football games for twenty years. The time has come however for him to make a decision to call it quits after doing a bushel of very big games. He’s done some Ohio State vs. Michigan games, a national championship game, and a slew of other big-time tilts throughout his career.

That means he’s got some behind the scenes stories and perspectives not many have from on-the-field moments and battles that only someone in his position has access to.

The Chicago Tribune’s Teddy Greenstein sat down with the officiating veteran to pick his brain on some things the public may not know. It’s a fascinating read, and there are some things in there that Buckeye fans will get a kick out of, and one that they may not.

Some of the most interesting nuggets come from the Ohio State vs. Michigan game in 2016 that went to double overtime. You know the one. The game in which there was a “controversial” spot that J.T. Barrett received on the winning drive of the game, and the same one in which Jim Harbaugh got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for throwing his playbook on the field in disgust. Yeah, that one.

When discussing the unsportsmanlike penalty, Capron compared Jim Harbaugh’s antics to a fourth grader.

Next … Capron’s take on Jim Harbaugh’s antics in the 2016 game

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Zach Smith sentenced to 180 days in jail stemming from violation of Civil Protection Order

Former Ohio State assistant Zach Smith was sentenced to 180 days in jail Friday for violation of a Civil Protection Order.

Just when you thought this story was dead, it just keeps going. Former Ohio State and Urban Meyer assistant Zach Smith was sentenced to 180 days in jail Friday for violation of a Civil Protection Order back in December. This, according to The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach.

Though the sentence is set at 180 days, 160 of those will be suspended — meaning Smith will spend just 20 days in jail. As a part of those conditions, he will also have to take part in an anger management program, perform forty hours of community service, and will also receive three years of probation with “drugs and alcohol conditions.”

Smith was fired by Ohio Stae in the summer of 2018 for allegations of domestic abuse after Brett McMurphy broke the news of an alleged pattern of trouble stemming from his days at Florida and beyond.

The report was a polarizing one that resulted in the suspension of both Urban Meyer and athletic director Gene Smith. Myer would end up coming back from suspension, coaching the team through the remainder of the 2018 season before announcing his retirement after the Michigan game in late November.

 

Urban Meyer comments on MSU Football head coach Mark Dantonio’s retirement

Long-time rival Urban Meyer commented on Michigan State Football head coach Mark Dantonio’s surprising retirement.

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Michigan State Football head coach Mark Dantonio retired in shocking fashion this week and the sports world is still reacting to the news. The Columbus Dispatch caught up with former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer to comment on the news of Dantonio’s retirement and he had nothing but kind things to say about his former rival.

“Mark and I have been friends since his Cincinnati days,” Meyer told Bill Rabinowitz of The Columbus Dispatch. “I think he’s one of the best tacticians in the game of football that I ever coached against.”

Meyer would go on to say that Mark Dantonio’s era at MSU was the greatest in modern history. You can’t really argue with that. Give me Dantonio’s era over Saban or John L. Smith’s any day of the week.

“I’ve always had respect for the Michigan State community and football program,” Meyer said. “I love Michigan State. Since my Notre Dame days (in the 1990s), I’ve thought Michigan State is a great place. They’ll find a great coach.”

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Urban Meyer comments on Mark Dantonio’s shocking retirement announcement

Urban Meyer had many tough battles against Mark Dantonio and Michigan State. He spoke to the Columbus Dispatch about Dantonio’s retirement.

In case you haven’t heard, Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has decided to call it a career. He announced his retirement on his Twitter account Tuesday. The timing and fashion in which it was done came as a shock to many, but Dantonio was clear in his intention to spend more time with family and leave the stress and time commitments behind.

If anyone knows about those demands, it’s one of his fiercest former combatants, former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.

The Columbus Dispatch spoke to Meyer about the shocking news, and he had nothing but good things to say about Dantonio and the Michigan State program under his guidance.

Mark and I have been friends since his Cincinnati days,” Meyer told The Dispatch. “I think he’s one of the best tacticians in the game of football that I ever coached against.”

That’ some high praise from a future Hall of Famer that’s gone against some pretty remarkable coaches during his career in the SEC and Big Ten. When asked about the Michigan State program under Dantonio, he went on to say that it was a golden era.

“Arguably the greatest era of Michigan State football — the modern era — is Mark Dantonio’s,” Meyer said.

Meyer also touched on some of the heartbreaks administered by Dantonio during the time in which the Spartans and Buckeyes were arguably the two best programs in the Big Ten going toe-to-toe.

The former OSU coach said the 2013 loss to Dantonio’s Spartans in the Big Ten Championship game was a gut punch. It ruined a shot at a national championship for Ohio State. But the 2015 one that was dealt to OSU by the Spartans in the ‘Shoe still haunts him “to this day.” That Buckeye team will go down as one of Ohio State’s most talented teams in the history of the program, but that single loss kept it out of the conversation for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Sometimes the best combatants end up having the most respect for each other, and that’s clearly the case for Meyer as he reminisced about those battles against Dantonio and Michigan State.

“I’ve always had respect for the Michigan State community and football program,” Meyer said. “I love Michigan State. Since my Notre Dame days (in the 1990s), I’ve thought Michigan State is a great place. They’ll find a great coach.”

Ohio State seems to have found a great one in Ryan Day, now it’s Michigan State’s turn. Could that guy also have Buckeye ties?

 

Kobe Bryant: An everlasting impact on the world

Kobe Bryant might have a complex legacy, but there’s no denying the positive impact he has had during his time on this earth.

Okay, sure we’re an Ohio State site, but Kobe Bryant and his story transcend just one team or one sport. In fact, tragedy and sports are two aspects of life that have been known to bring human beings together. In a world filled with political division and war, our communities are often divisive over a variety of topics. Tragedy or more specifically the deaths of many or an individual bring us together through grief and healing.

So yeah, we’re game in writing about something so very important. And while Bryant may have a complicated past, there’s no denying the good that he’s done.

We all make some impact during our short, fragile time alive, but some individuals are simply larger than life. Some individuals are powerful enough to inspire generations. Kobe Bryant is one of these individuals.

The tragic details of Kobe’s crash

At 9:06 on January 26, 2020, a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter departed from John Wayne Airport in Orange County California with 9 people aboard. Among these nine people were Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. Nearly 40 minutes later, at 9:45 am, the helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California.

All nine passengers sadly perished to their deaths. The helicopter was on its way to a basketball game in which Gianna and two of her teammates who were also on board were to play in, and Kobe was to coach in.

A media frenzy ensued the crash. Sadly, TMZ reported the news before authorities could notify the victims’ families, and many other news outlets recklessly debated who else was on the helicopter. There were false claims that former Laker Rick Fox was on there, or that the entire Bryant family was on the helicopter.

Authorities would eventually confirm that Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were on the helicopter and passed away, and identified the other 7 passengers. The entire world fell into shock, sadness, and mourning.

Kobe Bryant’s impact on the court and off

Yes, Bryant was a 5-time NBA champion and 2-time Finals MVP, and also win the Most Valuable Player Award once. Yes, he was an 18-time all-star, 11-time First Team All-NBA, and 2-time scoring champion. He has been dubbed the greatest Laker of all time by many, even other Laker greats such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson.

However, Kobe Bryant was so much more than an all-time great basketball player. He was Oscar winner, a writer, a philanthropist, a husband, and what he viewed as most important, a father. He was the next generations’ Michael Jordan, and inspired countless adolescents to the point where you had to shout “Kobe” when throwing a piece of trash away.

Some hated Kobe for his hyper-aggression with the basketball and mistake his tenacity with selfishness. Most, however, loved him for his passion for life, work ethic, desire to succeed, and his ability to inspire millions. Athletes and coaches alike revered him.

Not only in basketball was he respected, but in all sports. Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer posted a heartfelt tribute on his twitter just yesterday referring to Bryant as an “elite warrior” and someone he always used as an example to the Buckeyes as someone who was a great leader and competitor, who was tenacious with his legendary “Mamba Mentality”.

An all-time great like Meyer saw what everyone else in Kobe and what every person needs to succeed: a love for life, a passion that fuels your dreams, and work ethic to match.

Other notable athletes such as Shaq and Lebron praised Bryant for his ability to impact the world, and spoke of his character. Bryant was already accomplishing so many great feats post-basketball, as his writing of “Dear Basketball” won him an Oscar, and he had begun to build the game of women’s basketball up even more, investing in his “Mamba Academy.” Out of everything that Bryant accomplished, he always claimed that he was most proud of being a dad to his four daughters.

Putting it all in perspective.

Bryant spoke of Gianna’s love for the game of basketball and enjoyed coaching his daughter and her team, and went to great efforts to get women’s basketball more recognition and respect. Bryant was seen attending many pro games with Gianna, with some going viral with videos of him teaching her the game. Bryant’s efforts as a father have been recognized by almost every athlete and famous figure who made tributes to him as well.

The lasting impression

With so many disagreements over a variety of topics facing our world, we simply cannot disagree how Kobe impacted the world in a substantial way, and has inspired us to come together. ESPN analyst Jay Williams perhaps made one of the most important points speaking of Bryant and Gianna’s death earlier this week while speaking on air.

“I hope that everybody at home, you give the person next to you whatever thing you have wrong in your life with them,” said Williams. “It might be small or big — let that (expletive) go. It doesn’t matter… None of that stuff matters man. This is about life and being precious with every (expletive) second we have here.”

Kobe Bryant may have been viewed as immortal by many of us, a superhero-like figure. His death reminds us how precious and fragile life is, and how important it is to make things right with those we have a conflict with. It reminds us to tell the ones we love that we love them while they are here.

Bryant inspires us to strive to be a great parent, and inspires us to have a daily passion for life and desire to succeed in everything we do. Tell the people you love that you love them, solve the conflicts you have with others big or small, and be thankful for every day you have.

#MambaForLife #GirlsDad #RIPKOBE #RIPGIANNA

Urban Meyer pays his respects to Kobe Bryant via Twitter post

Urban Meyer has always respected the drive and determination of Kobe Bryant. He spoke out in respect to the Laker icon Wednesday.

Sometimes it takes elite champions to really know what makes others in that stratosphere tick. how often have we heard about the drive of some of the greatest competitors thirsting to learn from others that have traveled a similar path?

Urban Meyer has long admired Kobe Bryant. So much so that he had a quote from Bryant up in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. It goes right at the heart of the “Mamba Mentality.” One in which you set a goal or dream and work your every single day to achieve it.

“I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.”

Meyer so respected Bryant and his work ethic that he even put that quote in his leadership book titled “Above the Line.” He even drew leadership comparisons between the future NBA Hall of Famer and former Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett.

Suffice to say, Meyer admired Kobe and his drive and determination. And now, we have comments from Meyer himself on the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Bryant and eight other individuals on board. He shared his thoughts via his Twitter feed on Wednesday.

It continues to amaze all the outpouring of support and respect that continues to flock in from all corners of the sporting world — and beyond. Meyer is just one of the latest examples, and it won’t be the last.

Watch what Urban Meyer says is his greatest college football memory

Watch as former Ohio State and Florida head coach Urban Meyer describes his favorite college football memory of all-time.

There are college football memories from us common-folk, then there are college football memories from those that are icons of the sport. Recently, three members of the FOX College Football crew were asked to recount their favorite college football moments. The panel consisted of FOX analyst and former Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt, Former USC quarterback Matt Leinart, and of course former Ohio State and Florida head coach Urban Meyer.

So what do you think Meyer picked as his favorite college football memory? There’s a slew of them for him to be sure, but it might be one a moment plenty of Ohio State fans think of fondly as well.

Of all the national title games, bowls, rivalry games, and other fantastic moments Meyer has been a part of, his favorite memory of all-time is the 2016 contest between Ohio State and Michigan.

“The best moment that I can remember that was a flashback as I was going — I have to go with 2016,” said Meyer. “You know the respect I have, I grew up in the ten-year war — Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler. You cannot lose that game, hardest game I’ve ever been a part of. Every yard, every second, every inch mattered, and it was double-overtime against That Team Up North. We scored in the second overtime after J.T. DID get that first down, and then he launches himself in the endzone for the big win, and that has to be the best moment that I can remember.”

Click on the below and listen to what Meyer says for yourself.

It’s interesting here that Meyer’s favorite memory comes from his time at Ohio State in a The Game instead of any of the national title games, or contests at the University of Florida.

Once a Buckeye …

The Browns are reportedly interested in Urban Meyer, which sure, why not?

What do the Browns have to lose by going after Urban Meyer? Nothing else has worked.

On Thursday morning, Fox Sports and The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman reported that the Cleveland Browns are interested in possibly hiring former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.

Whenever a report like this comes out, you have to think about who is getting the information to the reporter. Is this the Browns putting out public feelers to gauge if Meyer might be interested, and see how the fanbase takes it? Possibly. We also have to remember that Meyer works with Feldman at Fox now (he is an analyst for FS1). It could also be that Meyer really is their No. 1 target, and they’re trying everything they can to make it happen.

However it got out, let’s get to the big question: Should they hire him?

Forgive me for being cynical here, but honestly: Why not? Nothing else has worked in Cleveland. They’ve gone with hungry position coaches and disciplinarians and established veterans and they all failed spectacularly. So, sure, roll the dice with someone who’s never coached at this level.

Would Meyer be a great NFL coach? No idea. Dan Wolken made a pretty strong argument against him making a successful transition over at USA TODAY Sports, and he makes some compelling points. Meyer was an excellent recruiter, which has much less value at the pro level. (Other than convincing the occasional free agent, most talent recruitment is out of the coach’s hands.)

Meyer’s other great strength, Wolken argues, was in motivation — he knew how to get the most out of young men. This has some application at the pro level, but many coaches find that the “rah rah team!” stuff doesn’t work quite the same with seasoned pros as it does with teenagers.

I have no doubt the Browns would at least be interested in at least kicking the tires, here. The bigger issue: I just don’t think Meyer would be all that interested. Meyer has walked away from coaching twice now citing health issues, and has a good gig doing TV for Fox.

The Browns have run through coach after coach. They’ve got power structure issues (the GM John Dorsey was forced out this week, and it appears Paul DePodesta will be running the team now) and ownership issues and all sorts of other issues. Meyer has a nice job doing TV, and why on Earth would he walk away from that to deal with all of [gestures broadly at the Browns franchise].

Last note: This hire might not be a slam dunk with all Browns fans, either. Yes, Meyer did big things at Ohio State. But some fans may feel that Meyer hasn’t adequately answered questions about what he knew when regarding his ex-assistant coach Zach Smith, who was fired from Ohio State after multiple domestic violence allegations against him were made public. Smith was arrested in May for violating a protection order against him.

So, yeah. There are a lot of questions about Meyer here. Sadly, for the Browns, I’m not sure that’s enough to deter them. Nothing else has worked. Maybe this will. I don’t have many other, better ideas.

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Browns reportedly have strong interest in former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer

Per a report from Bruce Feldman of the athletic, sources have informed him that the Browns have very high interest in Urban Meyer.

It’s the gift that just keeps giving, even after the Christmas season has passed.

According to a report from Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, the Cleveland Browns have a strong desire to try and sway former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer to come out of retirement and head up the much-maligned organization. This is according to sources Feldman has been in contact with.

There were of course sources stating as much a couple of weeks back as well, but now that Freddie Kitchens has been fired, and the Browns and GM John Dorsey have parted ways, it appears as though things are beginning to heat up again in the Cleveland front office.

Meyer has been out of coaching since announcing his retirement after the Michigan game in 2018. Since then he has had his hand in several off the field projects and jobs ranging from being an analyst on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff Show, to helping to open a new restaurant in Columbus.

It’s clear Meyer’s name will continue to surface with high profile job opening, but as we’ve said all along, what is unclear is whether or not his health and desire will allow the stars to align with anything.

We’ll be on top of this news if anything further comes of it.