Urban Meyer is off to Ohio State to coach the Buckeyes, fulfilling a lifelong dream and continuing his storied career just 10 months after choosing to leave Florida because it was “time to put my focus on my family and life away from the field.”

Gator Nation was rocked when the more-solid-than-ever rumors began a week ago and continued its uproar Monday when it was confirmed and later officially announced that Meyer would indeed be heading to Ohio State.

Plenty is being said in regards to whether or not Gators fans have a right to be upset at Meyer for taking a job just months after declaring that he needed to reevaluate his health and relationship with his family but there is not one correct answer as to how Florida fans should feel about Meyer’s decision and the way in which this situation unfolded.

Whether the perception is that Meyer was dishonest when communicating his intentions for leaving Florida, a culprit of circumstance with his dream job suddenly becoming available years sooner than expected, or a college football addict unable to satisfy his fix while sitting behind a desk working for a major network, each observation has its own legitimate merits to be considered for evaluation.

Let’s take a more complete look at the situation by examining each angle of the story.
Continue Reading » The Silver Lining: A look at Urban Meyer to OSU

Tags: Bernie Machen, Billy Gonzales, Cam Newton, Dan Mullen, Jeremy Foley, Nick Saban, Ohio State Buckeyes, Ron Zook, Steve Addazio, Steve Spurrier, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, Will Muschamp

Though he has denied the rumors since he has taken the job, nothing that new Denver Broncos president John Elway has done – regardless of the damage control he is trying to send through the media – has indicated that he believes former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow is his starting signal-caller of the future.

Denver has been taking a very close look at a number of athletic rookie QBs including Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick and plans to select a passer in the first two rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s John Clayton and Sports Illustrated’s Tony Pauline.

“[Elway’s] bold enough to think Tebow isn’t the answer. [...] I’m starting to think Elway might take a QB in the second round and call the Tebow selection a mistake,” Clayton opined based on what he is hearing around the league.

Pauline shared a similar but more fact-based sentiment. “Sources have told us a while ago they expect the Denver Broncos to draft a quarterback this year and it could be early,” he wrote on Sunday. “Many familiar with the situation told us Tim Tebow is not the quarterback for John Elway – and with the future Hall of Fame passer calling many of the shots for the franchise a signal caller is a priority.”

This is all coming to light exactly two months after Elway and new head coach John Fox indicated without much provocation that veteran Kyle Orton would most likely start the season as the team’s quarterback.

Tebow, who has quickly become a fan favorite in Mile High, is already one of the most popular players in the NFL and has a ton of support from the Broncos faithful, may never get the chance to prove himself to management over a full season after having relative success in three starts to end 2010.

Asked two weeks ago by the Denver Post why the Broncos were working out so many signal callers, Elway had this to say: “We’re always looking for that guy. We may already have the guy who can pull the trigger and win us a championship someday. We may have him. We don’t know. We believe in Tim, but he’s not there yet.”

Contrary to Elway’s statement, the way he and the Denver front office are looking for a quarterback this offseason, it does not appear they believe in Tebow much at all.

Photo Credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Tags: Blaine Gabbert, Cam Newton, Colin Kaepernick, Denver Broncos, Draft, John Elway, John Fox, Kyle Orton, NFL, Tim Tebow

1 » With Kyle Orton as a veteran “starter,” and Tim Tebow as a second-year up-and-comer and Brady Quinn as an emergency safety valve, the Denver Broncos will not be drafting a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft…or will they? Denver has been taking a very close look at a number of athletic rookie QBs including Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick…even though they already have one in Tebow on their roster. Asked why they are paying so much attention to the position, Broncos president John Elway said the following to the Denver Post: “We’re always looking for that guy. We may already have the guy who can pull the trigger and win us a championship someday. We may have him. We don’t know. We believe in Tim, but he’s not there yet.” Elway and Denver are also taking a look at defensive tackle, a position they will likely end up drafting – or so Tebow should hope.

2 » Speaking with Chris Dortch for an article posted on NBA.com, Florida Gators forward Chandler Parsons praised the game of former Boston Celtics star F Larry Bird, someone who the writer brought up in conversation because of the way he impacted games as a facilitator. “Oh, I’m a big Larry Bird fan,” Parsons said of the player’s NBA spread. “I always thought Larry Bird played basketball the way it ought to be played.” Dortch put Parsons up against his “Bill Russell Test” to determine if he has the chance to be successful playing at the next level. He also spoke with NBA director of scouting Ryan Blake about Parsons. “One of his advantage is that he has a number of skills he does well,” Blake said. “He shoots the ball. He’s got size. He passes very well. He’s a rebounder. And he’s a hard worker and has a professional approach.”

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Tags: Blaine Gabbert, Brady Quinn, BYU Cougars, Cam Newton, Chandler Parsons, Cody Larson, Colin Kaepernick, Denver Broncos, Draft, Jimmer Fredette, John Elway, Kyle Orton, Larry Bird, Larry Shyatt, NBA, NCAA, NCAA Tournament, NFL, Tim Tebow