Urban Meyer answers Dan Patrick’s questions

By Adam Silverstein
December 15, 2011

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer appeared on the Dan Patrick Show Thursday morning and answered questions about deciding to take a new job, the reaction he’s received from Florida Gators fans and some of his thoughts about Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

Below are some of his most interesting responses from the interview. You can listen to the entire 11-minute segment by clicking here.

On if he has been surprised about the reaction he received from Florida fans: “Yeah, I was. I tried to say I didn’t watch or didn’t listen. I did. I heard some of it. Not from Jeremy or the president or the people that know that we put every ounce of everything we had or six years in there. There were fans that were upset when we beat Tennessee only by 10 points. I mean really upset. I tried not to let that bother me, but I would be lying to you if I didn’t say it didn’t bother me a little bit. I heard the word ‘dishonest.’ That couldn’t be the furthest thing from the truth. Yeah, that’s a shame.”

On if he ever thought of not taking the Ohio State job: “Oh yeah. The contact was made on that Sunday, but I kind of was watching all fall and this whole NCAA thing, you just don’t know until you know. I’ve always been an Ohio State fan as far back as I can remember, and a chance to go home [was great]. I’m not going to do something that’s not the right time. Once I was able to visit with people and do the homework I needed to do, it was kind of a no-brainer.”

On if he thought he would be back in the game this soon: “I was planning on giving it more time than one year. Who would ever imagine your home state, Jim Tressel is a great coach. They were doing great things here [so I] never even had any thoughts about that. And then when things started to move, that’s when it all changed.”

[EXPAND Click to expand and read the remainder of this post.]On if OSU is going to be his last job: “I think so. I’m never going to make…I’ve made some comments before that came back to haunt me because you just don’t know. I hope so.”

On how concerned he was about Tebow’s throwing motion: “Big-time. There were a lot of people that recruited him out of high school that said he couldn’t play quarterback, and I was one of them. When I first saw the high school film [from] his junior year, I was very concerned. As a matter of fact – and he gives me a hard time still about it – he wasn’t my top-rated quarterback. And then I watched him play a baseball game and I walked away saying, ‘That’s the most competitive human being I’ve ever seen.’ He moved to the top of the list real fast. And then we had him in a camp, and his competitive will [impressed me]. I’m not one of those guys who believes that because he’s got an elongated throwing motion that has any impact on him winning or losing a game. I’d much rather have that guy who’s going to find a way to get a first down. I was very concerned.”[/EXPAND]

18 Comments

  1. G8trpls says:

    One thing Meyer said speaking about Tebow was “Your actions speak so loud, I can’t hear what you’re saying”….To which I thought exactly, Urb, exactly! ……..Nobody believes a word you say.

  2. BF says:

    Blah blah blah ….a bag of wind. Face it, you bailed, you lied and that it. It all came out in the wash! Don’t think you’ll have anywhere near the level of success you had at UF. Good news, don’t have to play Bama.

  3. gators rule says:

    I would have thought he would have learned something from Tebow about being real,guess not! Adam please no more face time for this guy here

  4. Michael Richert says:

    I do not feel Urban lied. I am grateful for the incredible six year run he gave us. He was obviously no longer happy at Florida, so he should have quit. He has the right to change his mind. However, I do not like to see him feed off the few gator fans who had bad things to say. He should show more class and take the high road. There are many of us who are thankful for the six years he gave us. That being typed, I hope he never enjoys the same success at OSU!

  5. VAgator says:

    I will never wish success for Ohio state. Def feel like urban lied. To each his own I guess.

  6. g8ter27 says:

    I like Michael Richert am very grateful for the 6 years of success we had with Meyer here. you just can’t deny the 2 NC in 3 years and 3 13-1 seasons out of 4. Going back to your home state would be dream job for most people so most people in the world would not blame him for making that move, even if he did have o lie to do it I loved Urban as our coach from day 1 and still do as an ESPN guy. So until you start your job at OSU, I as a Gator fan love and respect you as a coach, but once you start there, oh wait you did already, then F@#% you Urban, I will pull against you even if you are playing the Taliban. Sorry, but I am a die hard gator, you are either with us or against us!

  7. Daniel M. says:

    Dance around the honesty questions anyway you like Mr. Meyer. In the end there is a perception that you lack integrity. That incredibly long statement about your love of Florida and Gainesville, and your heartfelt comments about wanting family time. I don’t begrudge you immediately jumping to the ESPN gig because that’s not really “work.” I truly love what you did at UF, we all do. But hopping over to tOSU leaves Gator Nation feeling like you took a dump on us. The perfect storm of assistant coaches, conference, and recruiting grounds that you enjoyed no longer are with you. Good luck to you. It is very unlikely that you will get back to the mountaintop. You can’t turn back time. No coach ever has.

    • GG says:

      You caught lightening in a bottle (called Tebow), it won’t happen again. As much as you (and assistant coaches) might have done here, you left the program in shambles that will take 3-5 years to overcome. Weasel!!!

  8. npgator says:

    You know what – I don’t think Meyer was lying in anthing he said. He came in here and went 13 – 1 for 3 out of 6 years! He had health problems and left. By him going somewhere else is his business and we need to move on and wish him well.

  9. Sammage says:

    Urban had obviously lost his edge his last season with us. I don’t begrudge him leaving. He did his best to make the transition a smooth one. What he’s done now is a mistake I think. I don’t believe he can be the success he was before without doing the things that made his health decline. But he does have the right to pursue his dreams. All that said, he’s just Gator Bait now.

  10. NYC gator says:

    I’m more offended by the fact that he zombie coached for a year and tried to shove that imbecile Addazio down our throats like he was doing Gator nation a favor.

  11. HardToKillGator says:

    Thank God none of urb rubbed off on Tebow.

  12. Tony says:

    Guys, you’re crazy if you don’t believe Urban will duplicate the successes he had with us. Remember, he’s going to the Big 10. No Bama, no Lsu, No usc, and I hate to say it, no FSU. He has essentially checked into the retirement home of college football. It pains me to say it but I believe the going got tough and that’s why Urban got going, and that’s ok. I’d rather have zook on the sideline than the zombie we had his last year.

    • SaraGator says:

      Not sure about that, Tony. The Big Ten seems to be on the upswing now. They’ve hired some good coaches, and are recruiting well.

      College football is cyclical. The SEC is strong, but overall, the conference is down. I think the Pac 10 is going to be the next conference to see some success.

  13. John S says:

    Well he’s still the same guy. He sees things for himself, and just can’t understand why he would face criticism. The sweater vest was under a lot of pressure before moving on, and he beat Michigan just about every year he coached. He better win at OSU, he’s already used up his credibility. No sympathy for Meyer he gives himself plenty.

  14. Swiftech69 says:

    Sorry sarah how is the sec down. Bama,lsu,arky,uga, and usc both have at least 10 wins…..name another conference that has that. 5 of 12 teams with at least 10 ws. But you may have a point this is the year the sec will finaly lose in the bcs title game.

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