A member of the Boise State Broncos’ staff since 2006, Pease has served as the team’s wide receivers coach (2006-10), assistant head coach (2007-10) and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2011). Prior to his stint with Boise State, he was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Baylor (2003-05), Kentucky (2001-02), Northern Arizona (1999-2000) and Montana (1996-98).

“I’ve had him on my radar for a while,” Muschamp said in an official school release. “I think we have improved our football program. We’re on the same page philosophically with what we want to be, and that to me is what strikes you the most. He’s not a stat guy. He is a guy who wants to win football games. If you look at the last six or seven years at Boise … they won football games. He was really a strong force behind what they have been doing offensively.”

“I’m excited to join the University of Florida football family and The Gator Nation,” Pease said in kind. “I’ve always had the utmost respect for Coach Muschamp and the UF program and I’m honored to have the opportunity to work at one of the premier institutions in the nation. I look forward to working with a tremendous coaching staff and, from what I hear, a great group of eager, young football players.

“Coach Muschamp and I share a lot of the same philosophies so this was a perfect fit. I want to be multiple in our offensive formations and have a balanced attack with tempo. I firmly believe in being fundamentally sound and red-zone efficient. I want to develop our players in a pro-style offense that can help them at the next level. ”

Pease signed a three-year contract with the University of Florida that is set to pay him approximately $500,000 annually, according to the Associated Press.

He arrived in Gainesville, FL last Friday afternoon, as OGGOA first reported, and met with Muschamp over the course of the weekend.

However, The Gainesville Sun‘s Pat Dooley revealed Tuesday that Muschamp first held an interview with Pease in late December in Jacksonville, FL as his team was practicing for the 2012 Gator Bowl. Dooley also reported that the Gators met with or interviewed 12-15 candidates before deciding to hire Pease, who was reportedly also being considered by head coach Nick Saban for the same job with Alabama.

In his one year as offensive coordinator at Boise State, Pease’s Broncos finished ninth in total offense (481.3 yards), fifth in scoring offense (44.2 points), 40th in rushing offense (171.9 yards) and 11th in passing offense (309.4 yards)

He will join a Florida team looking to improve its offense in a major way. The Gators were ranked No. 105 in total offense at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season, gaining just 328.7 yards per game. Florida was 71st nationally in scoring offense (25.5 points), 73rd in rushing offense (143.0 yards) and 89th in passing offense (185.7 yards).

Pease and Muschamp most recently crossed paths in 2001 and 2002 when the former was with Kentucky and the latter with LSU. Muschamp’s team was victorious in both games but just barely, beating UK 29-25 in 2001 and 33-30 in 2002. The second victory is known as the “Bluegrass Miracle” in which LSU, the road team, tossed a 74-yard game-winning touchdown with no time remaining on the clock.

“They flat out got after us on offense that day,” Muschamp reminisced in the same release. “They stayed balanced in what they did and they made some big plays. They should have won the football game quite frankly.”

For Pease, his decision to team up with Muschamp marks the second time he will coach in the Southeastern Conference in his career.

“Being back in the SEC, working with Will and knowing what his future plan is, knowing the type of personality he has were factors,” said Pease, according to the school. “He’s a lot of what I like. It’s an opportunity to coach great players. You get the best. With what I’ve done offensively, it kind of fits what his philosophy is. That’s the greatest thing. I know what he wants and can work within those parameters. And there are some good guys on staff there.”

A former starting quarterback at Montana (1985-86), Pease spent four years toiling around the NFL but only officially made the Houston Oilers’ roster (1987-88). He also played for two teams in the World League of American Football (1991-92) as well as for the Arena Football League’s Cincinnati Rockers (1993).

After/while playing he got into coaching and has spent 21 years at five different stops.

“That’s another thing I really like about Brent,’’ Muschamp added. “He’s been to some different places and he’s done some different things. He’s been a lot of different places and has been exposed to a lot of different stuff and different schemes. All you do in this profession is you continue to learn and grow and then you’ve got to take your personnel and fit your scheme to your personnel. I think he’ll generate some new ideas in the room and will certainly blend well with the staff that we already have.’’

It is expected that running backs coach Brian White, who served as interim offensive coordinator for Florida during the Gator Bowl, will remain with the Gators. A tight ends coach (2009-10) under Urban Meyer who changed positions when Muschamp took over, White is a tireless recruiter and well-respected coach who the players and their families love and respect.

“I’d be happy to be part of this organization in every capacity every day I can be a part of it,” White said on Dec. 20. “My family loves it here. I love it here. Any opportunity to help this program get better in any way I’d be happy to be part of. Will’s going to do what’s in the best interest of the football program. That’s what he should do – what’s in the best interest of this university. He’ll make a great decision and it will be very beneficial to this program. I’m just happy to be here.”

Pease, who OGGOA first reported was in Gainesville, FL last Friday meeting with head coach Will Muschamp and University of Florida administration about the vacant position on the coaching staff, stayed in town over the weekend but was expected to meet with Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban about his team’s offensive coordinator job on Tuesday following his team’s participation in the BCS title game. Pease wound up cancelling that interview, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Sources told OGGOA Thursday evening that all indications pointed to Pease being named the Gators’ next offensive coordinator last Friday. He and his wife flew into Orlando, FL in the afternoon and were driven up to Gainesville to accept the job offer, but his hesitation in accepting and wanting to first speak with Saban derailed that plan.

The AP further reports that the terms of Pease’s initial contract with UF are for three years at approximately $500,000 annually.

A member of Boise State’s staff since 2006, Pease has served as the team’s wide receivers coach (2006-10), assistant head coach (2007-10) and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2011). Prior to his stint with BSU, he was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Baylor (2003-05), Kentucky (2001-02), Northern Arizona (1999-2000) and Montana (1996-98).

In his one year as offensive coordinator, Pease’s Broncos finished ninth in total offense (481.3 yards), fifth in scoring offense (44.2 points), 40th in rushing offense (171.9 yards) and 11th in passing offense (309.4 yards)

He will join a Florida team looking to improve its offense in a major way. The Gators were ranked No. 105 in total offense at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season, gaining just 328.7 yards per game. Florida was 71st nationally in scoring offense (25.5 points), 73rd in rushing offense (143.0 yards) and 89th in passing offense (185.7 yards).

Pease was hired to be offensive coordinator at Indiana for the 2011 season but wound up heading back to the Broncos two weeks later when head coach Chris Petersen offered him a promotion after a vacancy was created when Bryan Harsin left for Texas.

Pease and Muschamp crossed paths in 2001 and 2002 when the former was with Kentucky and the latter with LSU. Muschamp’s team was victorious in both games but just barely, beating UK 29-25 in 2001 and 33-30 in 2002. The second victory is known as the “Bluegrass Miracle” in which LSU, the road team, tossed a 74-yard game-winning touchdown with no time remaining on the clock.

A former starting quarterback at Montana (1985-86), Pease spent four years toiling around the NFL but only officially made the Houston Oilers’ roster (1987-88). He also played for two teams in the World League of American Football (1991-92) as well as for the Arena Football League’s Cincinnati Rockers (1993).

1 » Participating in a preseason game for the Chicago Bulls Tuesday night, former Florida Gators center Joakim Noah gave Indiana’s Tyler Hansbrough a bit of a reality check as he stuffed his shot right at the basket. Check out the video below:

2 » Appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno alongside play-by-play man Al Michaels last Thursday, former Florida wide receiver and current NBC color commentator Cris Collinsworth discussed getting into broadcasting and the play of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. The entire show is viewable below; however, if you are just interested in watching Collinsworth do the Gator Chomp upon entering the studio, skip to 18:55 (thanks to OGGOA reader Eli M. for the heads-up).

Click to expand and read two more BITS in this post.

Kerwin Bell
Head Coach – Jacksonville Dolphins

Hire him: Bell is almost everything Florida is looking for in an offensive coordinator. He’s talented, runs a pro-style offense at Jacksonville, has professional experience as a player (four years in the NFL, four in the CFL) and coach (two years as offensive coordinator of the Toronto Argonauts) and is a Florida alumnus who was a quarterback on the Gators football team from 1983-87. His JU team features a strong down-field passing game but is also balanced with a solid running attack. Bell told The Gainesville Sun directly that he would be interested in returning to Florida, and a source close to him told OGGOA Thursday evening that he would listen to any offer head coach Will Muschamp might have for him. With orange and blue coursing through his veins, Bell would be loyal to the program and would have no designs on leaving anytime soon.

Hold up: Despite his success both with Toronto (2000-01) and Jacksonville (2007-present), Bell is relatively inexperienced as a college football coach. He spent six years as the top man at Trinity Catholic High School between the two jobs and is currently a coach in the FCS, which is a far cry from the SEC. Weis had total control over Florida’s offense, and it remains to be seen if Muschamp (inexperienced in his own right as a head coach) would be comfortable giving Bell that same power.

Brian White
Running Backs Coach – Florida Gators

Hire him: One of the most experienced coaches currently on staff, White has been an offensive coordinator before during his time at Wisconsin and has been a part of two national championship teams. He is one of the Gators’ best recruiters and is multiple on offense, already proving his ability to coach up running backs and tight ends at Florida. (He also coached quarterbacks and wide receivers at UNLV.) White is well-known and trusted by the players considering he is one of two holdovers remaining from Urban Meyer’s regime and has been with the team since 2009. He could be the safest move in terms of continuity, especially in recruiting where he has excelled during his time at UF.

Hold up: Though he has served previously as both an offensive coordinator and passing game coordinator, White has not called plays since 2007. He will have what may be considered a tryout at the 2012 Gator Bowl, where he will temporarily take over for Weis as Muschamp looks to make a permanent decision on a future offensive coordinator. White is also not the “sexiest” candidate – he has absolutely no NFL coaching experience, something that Muschamp appeared to lean on with his first staff.

Bell and White individually may each be capable of running the Gators’ offense, but hiring co-offensive coordinators is not out of the realm of possibility for Muschamp. Bell (quarterbacks) and White (running backs) each specialize in a different area of the offense and could serve as passing game coordinator and running game coordinator, respectively. Florida had co-defensive coordinators under Meyer with Greg Mattison and Charlie Strong, and the defense was the backbone of the team while both were on staff. Expect Muschamp to give this idea serious consideration as Bell would love to return to the Gators but would likely want more than a “quarterbacks coach” title and White will feel he is deserving of additional responsibilities (and money) considering his work ethic and experience.

Click to expand and read the remainder of this post.

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.

HEALTH

The first of two reasons he noted as reasons for choosing to step down from his position with the Gators, Meyer said in 2009 that he had been ignoring his health for years, but a recent scare prompted him to “reevaluate my priorities of faith and family.” He wound up returning to Florida for 2010 but stepped away after the season for the same reasons he mentioned a year earlier.

In this day of harsh criticism for coaches, leaving a job to concentrate on your health is one of two ways in which a person will receive a pass (the other is family, which will be covered next), and rightfully so.

Meyer’s announcement was met with immense disappointment but a wealth understanding and well wishes from Gators fans, which appreciated his hard work and hoped that their future hall of fame coach would be around long enough to share in the glory they would impart upon him.

Though Meyer has said previously that his health issues are under control, one of the main reasons they were brought forth in the first place was the high level of stress he was under from managing one of the greatest college football programs in the country.

Ten months removed from his decision to leave Florida, Meyer has explained that his health is no longer a day-to-day issue but instead something he must monitor and control by doing the right things on a daily basis.

Meyer’s health issues originated from his inability to take care of himself. He ate at infrequent intervals, did not exercise regularly and had other poor habits that led to his health deteriorating. He made great strides in the area of self-improvement in 2010 and has done even better with a year off in 2011.

That is not to say Meyer can revert back to his old ways. He cannot. But the time he spent learning to take care of himself over the last two years has improved his health beyond his family’s expectations and provided him with the ability to take a new job.

FAMILY

The second part the statement Meyer made when deciding to resign focused on his inability to spend time with his family and watch his children grow up because of the time commitment forced on him by being a head football coach.

Florida fans, which embraced the entire Meyer clan from day one, equally understood this desire and supported Meyer to this end, even after he decided to spend a portion of his week working as an analyst for ESPN rather than at home with his family or on the road to watch his two daughters play volleyball.

The argument from the Gators faithful was that Meyer spending a few hours around college football each week was nowhere near the time commitment or stress level he was experiencing as a head coach at Florida.

Fans supported him with the same empathy they gave him in regards to his health. Despite others saying he was disingenuous, Meyer had the support of the Gators, something he may not have necessarily always felt in his final two seasons at the helm.

From his family’s perspective, Meyer spent more time with them than he ever had to his children’s memory. In fact, according to those who can speak to it, it was undeniably the best year the Meyer family had ever experienced together.

FLORIDA FAN BASE

Fans can be your greatest asset or your worst nightmare. The same ones that cheer and laud you one day can be fickle and petty the next…even if they don’t realize how much their nature might bother a person.

Following Meyer’s second national championship in three seasons (with the year in between resulting in the school’s third Heisman Trophy), he was questioned to no end about the decision to install Steve Addazio as offensive coordinator over Billy Gonzales (or anyone else for that matter).

Florida’s offense had become less electric and awe inspiring, leading fans to take for granted the fact that the Gators finished the regular season undefeated and had an opportunity to compete for their third national title in four years. Instead they focused on why UF was not more perfect heading into its tilt with Alabama for the SEC title.

When Florida lost that game by a margin wider than anyone could have imagined, the spoiled fan base exploded with criticism. Addazio may have been the target but Meyer felt each shot and took them personally. Losing hurts him deep down in his core, as he’s explained, but persistent attacks against his coaches and friends pain him just as much.

Things got even worse the following year when he put Addazio in charge of the entire program while he took a leave of absence. The offensive coordinator rounded up a bit of goodwill in the offseason due to his ability to keep the recruiting class together and win over fans in public speeches. However, he again became the brunt of criticism soon after the season got off to a slow start.

Meyer would never have fired Addazio despite cries from the Gators pleading with him to do so. He did not fault him for Florida’s woes and refused to place blame for the team’s struggles on his friend’s shoulders.

Yet Meyer felt the fans’ displeasure deep down inside. He knew they appreciated the victories and the championships but was also slightly perturbed at how vicious they could be after a 13-1 season (2009) and during a rebuilding year (2010).

He did not in any way leave the Gators because of the fans but there should be no question that he was frustrated with the fact that he had not garnered more trust and goodwill during his previous five years.

MEDIA SCRUTINY

After Florida found success again in a second BCS title, Meyer’s legacy with the Gators slowly started becoming less about victories and more about how often his players were getting in trouble with the law.

The count was on and it was just a matter of time before Florida’s “30 arrests” became a national punch line to some but both a burden and sign of disrespect to the coach.

Every arrest brought new accusations and assumptions about Meyer, that he had no control over his players, did not care what they did in their personal lives as long as they produced on the football field, and held winning as a priority above everything else.

There is no question that Florida is one of the most scrutinized programs in the country. In addition to the pressure from the fans, Meyer felt that he always had to answer for things he had less control over than people chose to believe.

THE TENNANT

The state in which Meyer left the Gators may lead one to believe that he would be a landlord’s worst nightmare.

At the crux of Gator Nation’s frustrations over Meyer agreeing to become the next head coach of the Buckeyes is one simple fact: He left Florida’s roster worse off than he found it following Ron Zook‘s tenure.

UF looked weak and inept for the second-straight season, finishing 6-6 (their worst record since 1979) one year after Meyer took a similar unit to an 8-4 record and bowl victory against Penn State.

He may have been the best coach in school history between the days he dropped off his security deposit and moved out for good, but Meyer left the cupboard bare, the carpet dirty and the walls in need of a new paint job.

The Gators were a fractured team when Meyer took over. Ron Zook was a great recruiter and filled the team with talent but was unable to coach the players up and failed when it came to leadership and forcing the student-athletes to take responsibility.

Meyer did great things both on and off the field while wearing orange and blue. In addition to the victories and championships, he rebuilt the program from the inside-out, began and continued a number of traditions, and made fans once again proud to be a part of the Gator Nation.

But Meyer lost a lot over the last two years. The vast majority of his coaching staff (truly beginning with Dan Mullen leaving for Mississippi State at the end of the 2008 season) was gone by the time 2010 rolled around.

He had handfuls of players being selected early in the NFL Draft and was even forced to dismiss the heir apparent to Tim Tebow in Cam Newton (who only went on to win a Heisman Trophy and national title for Auburn).

Recruits did not pan out the way he expected, losses began mounting and the excellent team chemistry Florida had been building for years suddenly disappeared.

Meyer even admitted it himself, telling new head coach Will Muschamp on several occasions that “this program is broken,” according to a recent column by The Gainesville Sun’s Pat Dooley.

He expressed a similar sentiment after losing to Florida State in 2010, but his resolve was different at that time.

“I can assure you we’re going to rebuild this thing and build it up the right way and do it right,” he said. “Obviously we’re down a little bit. I didn’t believe we’d be that far down, but we are. So how do you build up a program? I’ve done it a few times and you build it up with tough players and tough coaches.”

The truth is that Meyer faced issues heading into 2010 and may have been confronted with even bigger ones if he had stuck around in 2011. Whether his decision to leave had anything to do with a potential lack of desire to rebuild a broken Gators team will remain an unknown but is no doubt a valid point for those landlords out there who do not appreciate the condition he left the home in.

BACK SO SOON?

Florida’s recent struggles are certainly on the minds of fans when they question why Meyer has decided to return to coaching, but his choice to do so less than a year after stepping down from the Gators is equally as disturbing to them.

When Meyer resigned, the expectation was that he would be out of the game for at least a few years. Some expected three or four, others believed he would need two years away from the action, but everyone (including his family) knew he would eventually return to coaching sooner than later.

No one could have legitimately predicted it would happen this quickly.

If this occurred on Nov. 28, 2012, the uproar would be minor. Meyer would have been off the sideline for nearly two years, watched one daughter graduate, seen another into her junior year of college, and been there while his son matured into a young man.

Instead it appears as if Meyer took a break rather than a sabbatical and just wanted a bit of space to regroup. That is not the case because, as you will soon read, the unique opportunity he was presented with was the primary reason for his return.

THIS IS FLORIDA

Many have been comparing Meyer’s departure from Florida and rebirth at Ohio State to a romantic relationship and truth be told the situation is not that far off. However, there is an important difference.

Usually when one partner leaves another it is to move on to a younger, more attractive and more appealing partner, one that provides benefits (whether mental, emotional or physical) or displays characteristics the other cannot and enables them to be a better person in the long run.

Gators fans refuse to believe (and rightly so) that they are the older, less attractive and less appealing partner. Florida is one of the premier football programs in the country, a fact that was true before Meyer arrived and has remained such since his departure.

Meyer himself said that he could not think of a better program – in terms of academic support, recruiting base, funding, etc. – to lead as a head football coach and was sure to say all the sweet nothings to make the Gators swoon at the sound of his voice.

“This is the premiere coaching position in the country,” he said at his introductory press conference.

He also indicated that his coaching mindset was “UF or nowhere” just one year earlier when he decided to return rather than ride off into the sunset.

“What I didn’t want to have happen, and I made this clear to Jeremy [Foley], if I am able to go coach, I want to coach at one place, the University of Florida,” Meyer said. “It would be a travesty, it would be ridiculous to all of a sudden come back and get the feeling back, get the health back, feel good again and then all of a sudden go throw some other colors on my shirt and go coach. I don’t want to do that. I have too much love for this university and these players and for what we’ve built.”

Florida fell hard for Meyer and was rewarded with victories and national titles. The Gator Nation stood by him in his darkest hour, praying for his health and a happy home life even after a rough season.

And he rewards them by moving in with someone new less than a year after being apart?

DREAM JOB II

There have been some inane conspiracy theories floated recently, but the truth is that Meyer did not have had any idea that there would be two premiere coaching vacancies just months after he resigned from Florida.

Even while with the Gators, there were murmurs that Meyer might leave the team at some point should the Notre Dame gig became available. It did, and he stuck around.

When announcing his decision to leave, Meyer probably took a long look at the coaching landscape and realized that he would eventually have an opportunity to step into a top job a few years down the line.

Jim Tressel was winning at Ohio State but not coming through in the big game, Joe Paterno was holding steady at Penn State but nearing retirement, and no coach at Notre Dame had seen true success since Lou Holtz (1986-96).

Meyer’s lone promise was that no matter where his career took him or how long he remained a head coach, he could never imagine himself coaching another SEC school.

So when the Ohio State scandal broke and Tressel stepped down, Meyer realized that he was faced with a legitimate once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Despite Florida being Florida, Ohio State was and still is home for Meyer.

He may not have planned to be coaching OSU in 2012, but how could he turn down such an opportunity when it presents itself? A football nut like him? He couldn’t.

With the Penn State job toxic and Notre Dame under new management with Brian Kelly at the helm, Ohio State was likely the only school that could sway Meyer back to the circus that is college football.

And it just so happened that the job became open while he was unemployed and has a president so desperate to put his school’s rash of NCAA violations behind him that he will do anything in his power to make sure Meyer’s return to OSU is as perfect as can be.

The fact is that he is not Nick Saban going from LSU to Alabama or even Steve Spurrier heading to South Carolina following respective stints in the NFL. Meyer will not be competing against the Gators on an annual basis or trying to beat them and knock them out of the SEC race.

He would have been crazy to pass on this opportunity and walk away. Meyer declining the job he has always wanted would have eaten at him for the remainder of his career. The regret he would have felt would’ve been significantly worse and lasted much longer than any backlash he was prepared to incur and brush off his shoulders.

IN THE FACE OF SCANDAL

Meyer wanted to coach Ohio State so bad that he is willing to overlook the fact that the Buckeyes are about to be hit with penalties from the NCAA likely reinforcing the loss of scholarships and potentially adding bowl bans.

He has wanted to don the scarlet and grey so long that he has chosen to ignore the fact that his two current bosses possess neither integrity nor trustworthiness – two things he often praised about Jeremy Foley and Bernie Machen.

Meyer’s desire to coach Ohio State is so strong that, despite being disgusted with the “state of college football” just one year ago, he will be returning to the game at the helm of a school that could have been on the cover of his manifesto if he released one.

Some might label this has hypocrisy. The truth is that Meyer is simply looking out for his best interests. He has worked every day of his life to become a coach capable of running a top-ranked national program and was not going to let his opportunity to return home go by the wayside because of timing or penalties.

TIMING

There is no worse time to deliver bad news than immediately following other bad news.

If Muschamp had immediately reinvigorated the program and brought home another SEC East title (or at least a winning record against Florida’s rivals), some Gators fans would still be upset at Meyer but many others would take the mentality of, “Well, at least we’re all set with his replacement.”

Instead, Florida has just finished its worst regular season since 1979, did not defeat a single ranked opponent, lost to both Georgia and Florida State, and barely became bowl eligible after struggling to defeat Furman two weeks ago.

Their reward?

The two-time national champion coach that left just 10 months ago accepting a new job at Ohio State and…wait for it…a likely bowl game against his new employer.

Gators fans feel like they’re being kicked while their down, whether or not they want to admit it. It is tough to blame a fan base used to immense success for feeling that way or to criticize them for having that reaction.

Meyer proved one thing about himself in leaving the Gators and signing with the Buckeyes 10 months later.

No, he is not a “liar” – though some believe he may have lied.

No, he is not a “hypocrite” – though some of his actions may give one legitimate reasons to question his rationale even if he is being forthright and honest.

From what I have been told directly from people who would know better than anyone, Meyer’s motives were pure and his reasoning sound.

Despite what Meyer said upon stepping down, his actions compounded over the last year prove he just can’t quit college football. And in many respects, if you paid attention to the coverage yesterday, you would know that college football can’t quit him either.

Therefore, only one relevant and obvious conclusion stands above the rest.

Urban Meyer, like the rest of us, is imperfect.

And like the rest of us, that just makes him human.

The purpose of the above column was not to tell you how to feel but rather provide you with the necessary perspective to formulate your own opinion. Feel free to sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below.

Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Gainesville, FL [Capacity: 88,548]
Weather Forecast: 68°F, clear, winds N-NW at 6 mph
Time: 8:00 p.m. (ET)

TV: CBS/CBSHD
SiriusXM: 220/199
Online Video: CBSSports.com
Live Updates: @OnlyGators

Odds: Alabama -4.5; O/U 44

HOMEWORK

Need to catch up on the Gators before week four action? No problem. OGGOA has been here all week compiling a ton of information so you can do your homework on the team before its next exam Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m. on the road.

Muschamp’s presser | Weis comments on offense | Quinn comments on defense

HISTORY and STREAKS

» Alabama leads the all-time series against Florida 22-14 and is 5-2 against UF dating back to 1999. The Crimson Tide defeated the Gators in the 2009 SEC Championship game (32-13) and during the 2010 regular season (31-6).
» Florida achieved more turnovers vs. Kentucky (two interceptions, two fumbles) than they did in their first three games combined (two interceptions, one fumble).
» The Gators’ 405 rushing yards last week was the sixth-best single-game performance in team history and the most the team has accounted for since 1989.
» Muschamp, Saban and Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart all worked together when Saban was head coach of LSU from 2001-04. Muschamp, Saban, Smart, Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and UA tight ends/special teams coach Bobby Williams all worked under Saban with the Miami Dolphins during his short tenure (2005-06). Muschamp and Smart previously worked together at Valdosta State in 2000.
» Saban is 4-4 in his career against UF.
» The Gators’ have half as many upperclassmen (17 seniors, 17 juniors) as they do underclassmen (36 sophomores, 35 freshmen) on the roster heading into the season.
» Florida’s offense has been impressive early this season with only six three-and-outs in 52 total offensive drives and only 11 punts in four games.
» UF’s offensive line has only allowed two sacks this year, making them the only SEC team to give up two or fewer sacks and one of seven teams nationally to average fewer than 0.5 sacks per game.
» The Gators defense has forced the most turnovers in the SEC (311) since 2000. Florida also has the most interceptions in the nation (72) since 2008.
» Florida is fifth nationally and third in the SEC in rushing defense, allowing just 56.5 yards per game. Alabama is third nationally and first in the SEC in the same category, allowing just 45.75 yards per game.
» Conversely, the Gators and Crimson Tide are 1-2 in the SEC and 9-19 nationally in rushing offense with 259.0 and 230.75 yards per game, respectively.
» Florida has had a 100-yard rusher in four consecutive games, the team’s second-longest streak ever. One more game of 100+ rushing yards would tie the school record streak of five games first set in 1999.
» Though the Gators are 18-for-19 (94.7 percent) in red zone conversions, the Gators have only scored touchdowns on 11 of those opportunities.
» UF’s defense has only allowed three first-quarter points through our games.
» Florida is No. 4 nationally in scoring defense (9.0 points per game) and No. 5 in total defense (231.8 yards per game); however, Alabama is No. 2 nationally in both scoring defense (8.0 points per game) and total defense (184.0 yards per game).
» The Gators have blocked a total of two punts in four games so far this season.
» Florida has made 16-straight field goals dating back to the 2010 season, which is the third-longest streak in school history and the longest active streak in the nation. Two more made field goals will give the team its second-longest streak ever behind 28-straight makes from 1984-85.
» The Crimson Tide have the second-most wins (40) since 2008, two more than the Gators (38) in that same period of time.
» Alabama is returning 19 starters and 51 lettermen from its 2010 team.
» The Crimson Tide’s defense has surrendered just 47 first downs through four games while holding opponents to 30.43 percent (21-of-69) on third-down conversion attempts.
» Florida and Alabama are split down the middle when it comes to the four major statistical categories. The Gators top the Crimson Tide in national averages of rushing yards 259.0-230.8 (9th-19th) and points scored 40.3-38.5 (15th-21st), while Alabama leads Florida in passing 225.3-202.8 (64th-79th) and points against 8.0-9.0 (2nd-4th). The teams have not played a common opponent this season.

LAST TIME OUT

After starting out the 2010 season with a 4-0 record, Florida was brought back down to earth when Alabama trounced them 31-6 in Tuscaloosa, AL. The Gators turned the ball over four times in the contest but otherwise held even with their opponent in yards gained and time of possession, snapping their 24-game regular season winning streak as the Crimson Tide rushed for 170 yards including 63 from Trent Richardson and 47 along with two touchdowns from Mark Ingram. Florida’s John Brantley threw two interceptions in the game and fumbled the ball on Alabama’s one-yard-line in the third quarter, negating any chance of a late UF comeback.

ESPN COLLEGE GAMEDAY

Aside from the first hour of GameDay being hosted by Florida alum and ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, the Gators will be prominently featured during Saturday’s broadcast. There will be a live interview with Muschamp, and former head coach Urban Meyer will also be live on the program speaking about the Florida-Alabama match-up. The three hosts and guest picker Jerry Ferrara (Turtle from Entourage) will make their selections as to who will win the game, and there will also be an entire segment about the game.

INJURIES / ABSENCES
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SHOWING RESPECT FOR SABAN

Quinn may have only spent two years as defensive line coach for now-Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s during his tenure with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but he has as high of a regard for his former boss as anyone else who speaks about him. “He’s one of the brightest football minds that I’ve been around,” Quinn said of Saban Wednesday. “He’s a really bright guy and it will sound like a simple term, but he gets football.”

He also noted how impressed he was at Saban’s command of the entire team during their time working together. “He was hands-on with the whole program. I learned a great deal from him,” Quinn added. “He was really hands on from the way we selected personnel, the way we installed our defense in practice, and he was certainly involved with the offense too. He was certainly involved with every part of the organization.”

Going head-to-head on Saturday, Quinn is excited for the opportunity even if all friendships are out the window once the whistle is blown. “In the coaching profession it happens. “Certainly there’s familiarity not only with him as the head coach but some of the assistants,” he said. “It’s not too uncommon. Certainly during my time in the NFL you had guys on your staff go to the other staff. You may know the guys, but once the ballgame starts it’s about the game.”

BUILDING TEAM COHESIVENESS
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RUNNING PARAMOUNT TO PLAYING WINNING FOOTBALL

For Muschamp, being effective in running the ball and stopping the run are characteristics that he wants to help define the Gators. In addition to that, he believes those abilities will result in Florida being successful for the long haul.

“I have not and I don’t know that I’ve seen one,” Muschamp said when asked if he’s seen a winning team operate without a solid running game. “Running the football is number one to me, it creates toughness on your football team. You’re going to come to times in your schedule – whether it’s in the red zone or to end the game – it’s just a matter of toughness to me. Stopping the run and playing the run. I always wanted, when I got a head coaching opportunity, to be balanced in what you do.

“When you’re multiple and you’re balanced in what you do, now you get [the defense] a little uncomfortable. Generally when defenses are uncomfortable or unsure, that’s when they don’t play well – even if it’s good players. It’s a total program deal to me as far as running the football. You got to be able to do that to develop toughness.”

Even though running backs senior Jeff Demps and redshirt senior Chris Rainey are a pair of undersized (for their position) speedsters, Muschamp said the Gators have concentrated on using them inside as well as outside the tackles.

“They’ve been very effective. Charlie [Weis] has used them very well. The perimeter run game has been very good, but we’ve also run the ball well inside. That’s something we’re committed to doing regardless of the size of our backs,” he said. “If you do one thing too much, the defenses – they watch film too. They’re going to hold the edges and if you don’t run the ball inside. We still run the inside and we still run the power off tackle. We utilize all of the same run game with both Jeff and Chris in there because of defenses trying to stop what you do best. We’ve been very effective with the inside and outside running game.”

ADDING TEXAS A&M WON’T CHANGE RECRUITING PLANS
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Former Florida Gators linebacker Channing Crowder, who spent his entire six-year NFL career as a member of the Miami Dolphins, announced his retirement from pro football during a radio interview Tuesday on 560 WQAM in South Florida.

“I’m hanging it up,” he said. “I woke up, saw my pregnant wife, and all the teams that were talking to me were way up north in the northeast, and I said, ‘I don’t want to do it.’”

Channing Crowder on WQAM

Crowder, cut by the Dolphins less than two weeks ago, was appearing on the Sid Rosenberg Show when he went public with his decision to call it quits.

“It’s just not worth it. People say it all the time about retirement. I’m not hurting for money. I’ve saved all of my money. I’ve got plenty of money saved. Me and my wife will live great,” he said. “I looked at my wife and I was like, ‘I’m going to be a family man now.’”

Only 27-years-old, he was selected with the No. 70 overall pick in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft and was a starting inside linebacker all six years he played in Miami. Crowder failed to make the “big plays” that are expected of NFL starters and amassed just 469 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception in 82 career games.

A protege of former Dolphins MLB Zach Thomas, Crowder began his career on the outside but eventually replaced Thomas as the middle linebacker when he was cut from the team. He missed more than 14 games due to a number of injuries which usually had to do with his knee, something he first weakened during his senior year of high school.

Crowder delayed his enrollment at the University of Florida by a semester while rehabbing his knee after surgery and only played for the Gators for two seasons (2003-04) before deciding to turn pro after his sophomore year.

Former LSU head coach Nick Saban, who took the top job in Miami that year, was familiar with Crowder from his SEC days and selected him even though there were concerns about the health of his knee. Crowder ended up outlasting Saban, who returned to college in dramatic fashion after just two years with the Dolphins.

A true locker room guy who was a leader both on and off the field, Crowder is infamous for his quick wit, engaging personality and quotable answers to the media’s questions. He joked in 2007 that he “couldn’t find London on a map” when Miami faced the New York Giants during the NFL’s first-ever regular season game outside of the United States.

“I know Italy looks like a boot,” he said. “I know London Fletcher. We did a football camp together. So I know him. That’s the closest thing I know to London. He’s black, so I’m sure he’s not from London. I’m sure that’s a coincidental name.”

He also got into an on-the-field altercation with New England tackle Matt Light, traded verbal barbs in 2010 with New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan, and had plenty of other quotable lines during his NFL career.

Crowder made waves this past offseason when he insinuated on his radio program that he had sold his jerseys while at Florida. He later revised that statement, noting that he and his mother still have all of his jerseys in their possession.

In part one of our interview with Carter (published on Friday), he discussed deciding to attend Florida, his immense success playing for the Gators, being a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft and winning a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams.

ADAM SILVERSTEIN: You spent six years with St. Louis before being traded to the team that you beat in the Super Bowl, Tennessee, after three-straight seasons of at least 10 sacks. Was a change of scenery something you were looking forward to?
KEVIN CARTER: “I was looking forward to a change at that point. The year where we won the Super Bowl, we were at the Pro Bowl and I got a call from Coach [Dick] Vermeil and he was stepping down as the coach. There was a little bit of controversy over him leaving and the timing with Mike Martz taking over the head coach, and there was a little bit of pressure there. Looking back on it, I wish that it had been handled a little bit classier in a better way just for respect for Coach Vermeil. He walked in, in his opening press conference, and told us, ‘In three years, we’ll be world champs.’ And we were. Call it what you will, the man is wonderful and one of the best coaches I’ve ever had the honor and privilege of playing for. Things kind of changed at that point. The next year we lost in the first round of the playoffs and things were a little rocky with my status with the team. At the time I was going through contract negotiations, and I had played six years for the same team and kind of outplayed my contract. The team you’re on usually isn’t going to give you that kind of free agent money, love. I was thankful and glad to get out of there and get to Tennessee. Tennessee gave up a first-round pick to get me there. It was a match made in heaven. Coach [Jeff] Fisher was awesome. At that point I needed a change, wanted a change, and was grateful to go to Tennessee.”

AS: Let’s skip ahead a bit and talk about when you moved over to the Miami Dolphins for two years and got to play on a pretty dominant defense with guys like Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, Vonnie Holliday, Junior Seau, Sam Madison, Keith Traylor and David Bowens. What was that experience like?
KC: “It was actually amazing. It was a great team; it was a great defense to be a part of. It was a lot of fun. We didn’t have, I guess, the balance and the tools offensively or the experience, but on defense… Our defense was, like you said, it was an all-star defense. It was so awesome. And we killed people. We had a great defense those couple of years that I was there. We didn’t have quite the balance [on offense]; Miami’s is forever trying to find another quarterback that can be half the man Dan Marino was…still an on-going search for a quarterback. It was a really cool experience. For me, I grew up in Tallahassee [and thought] the Dolphins had the sweetest uniforms. I was like, ‘Man, I can’t wait to wear all white.’ It was so cool. I had a great time just, as I look back in my football chronological history, being a part of the Miami Dolphins organization – such a historically great organization. Don Shula was and still is the man. I had an opportunity to meet him a couple times. It was cool paying down there. I wish timing had dictated differently the circumstances, especially getting our offense and from a head coaching standpoint. Nick Saban is probably one of the best college coaches to ever live. But in those two years, you know, he obviously decided to make the adjustment and go back to college and not make the adjustment to stay there in the NFL. Timing was bad.”

Read the rest of part two of our interview with Kevin Carter…after the break!

AS: During your time there you were coached by Will Muschamp, who was Saban’s defensive coordinator. Talk about him a little bit from your time in Miami as well as your thoughts on how he will do leading Florida as head coach.
KC: “I love his coaching style. I think people will speak to the amount of energy that he brings to the table. He’s a recruiter, he speaks well, and his energy is youthful – the players can relate to that kind of thing. I’m more excited about who Will Muschamp is from a process-oriented, very intelligent coach standpoint. I was really impressed with his overall football IQ. People who come from the school of Saban or [Bill] Belichick – when you start naming these coaches and their pedigrees – you really can tell a lot about their track record and what their basic coaching philosophy is made up of.

“Will Muschamp – in those two years – he impressed me just with how much he knew, his ability to assemble and put things together. I’m excited for what it means for the Gator Nation. I tell people, ‘It might take a year, it might take two, but no one is going to want to play the Gators in two years.’ We’re going to be a tough, hard-nosed, smart, purpose-driven, process-oriented bunch that is fundamentally sound [with] gap-integrity – the key things – [a] bend-but-don’t-break-type organization that is going to last for a long, long time. I’m excited.

“Coach Urban Meyer, what he was able to accomplish in the last six years is…sick, incredible. Two national championships in six years is pretty unheard of, unmatched. But when you lose coaches like Coach [Dan] Mullen and Coach Charlie Strong – when you lose quality coaches in your organization – it kind of weakens you and you have to replace them with another coach and get them up-to-speed philosophy-wise in what you want to do. Sometimes a little bit of communication kind of gets lost in translation. Whenever you bring a new coach into the mix, it changes the dynamic – whether it is good or bad. I’m not blaming the coaches or anything, but when you watch our defense, particularly our defense but our [whole] team last year, we just didn’t seem like our football IQ, basic fundamental football, was very high. Defensively, I mentioned gap integrity, we were getting beat with a lot of basic football. People weren’t overpowering us or running over us or through us as much as we just weren’t sound in what we were doing.

“I know that obviously given the chance, if Urban had stayed on, I’m sure that would have been fixed. Being that Will Muschamp is taking over, and the quality of coaches he’s surrounded himself with, I know his philosophy and I know that won’t be a problem.

“I know the defensive coordinator personally. Dan Quinn was my D-line coach down in Miami. Those guys are going to be so well-taught, so well-trained, and [this is] exactly what this Gator team needs. It is filled with talent and ability; it just needs direction.”

AS: I know Jason Taylor said that Quinn was the best defensive line coach he ever played under. Do you feel the same way?
KC: “The biggest compliment that I can pay to Dan Quinn is that he is probably better suited as a coordinator than D-line coach. He was so knowledgeable. The thing about D-line coaches, what makes a great D-line coach is all they want to do is coach D-line. For Dan Quinn, his knowledge far extended past just defensive line. He was so smart, knew how to basically coordinate, and that’s what I think he is better suited to do. He’s definitely one of the better coaches I’ve been around and have got the opportunity to play for. He’s really going to have a great opportunity to just be a great coordinator there under Muschamp for the Gators.”

AS: You spent your final few years in the league with Tampa Bay before hanging up the cleats. Knowing you still had the ability to play and had offers on the table after your time in Tampa, how tough was it for you to ultimately decide to retire?
KC: “As much as I loved the game, the one thing I never wanted to do was go out there and not have the same passion or fire. I thought I would be cheating myself or cheating the game if I went into it with half-hearted effort or intent. I always thought I would know when it is time for me to leave the game. I’ll know because I won’t have the same fire or same desire. After 14 years, I had offers. I took a visit to Carolina and one to New England. I had opportunities to play and make great money and do what I’ve always done – starting and everything – but I didn’t have the same passion anymore. For me, personally, that’s when you go out there and it’s not quite the same. You’re cheating the experience. I wasn’t going to do that. I walked away on my own terms. That’s what you want to do theoretically, but it didn’t make it any easier.”

AS: You never missed a NFL game due to injury or otherwise. How is that even possible as a defensive lineman, and how are you feeling now?
KC: “I feel great now. I came out of the game relatively unscathed long-term. I got a few nicks and bumps and bruises. I really can’t complain about how I feel. That was a big, determining factor as well. You want to be healthy, feel good and have a quality of life that allows you to go on and be a normal human being. I’m healthy as a horse.”

AS: Something that usually goes under the radar are the charitable efforts of players. You have been very active both with your own charity and in whatever community you’ve played in. It seems to have started back in high school for you but your foundation has been doing great work for the last decade, too. Where did that passion for helping others come from, and please talk a little bit about what the foundation does?
KC: “That kind of came from my parents, seeing my parents perform benevolent acts. Our church that I grew up in – we were always either feeding people or working at holiday time gathering gifts and delivering them to shelters. We were always doing something for somebody else. My parents were great examples of people who aren’t rich but really gave up themselves and gave up resources they had to help others. I felt very strongly about the obligation of people, especially if they are gifted with certain abilities or are given platforms in life to do well with. I feel strongly about that. Forming my foundation, my wife and I felt it was a way for us to really make a difference and make more of an impact. We started the Kevin Carter Foundation back in 2001 and there still are, I’m proud to say, events that bear the foundation name that are still running today even though I’m not playing anymore. It’s something that I feel strongly about and am very, very proud of.”

AS: And you also still provide the Kevin Carter Football Endowment at Florida. How did that come about?
KC: “My experience at the University of Florida was wonderful. It was one that helped me grow up and mature to the man that I am. It was a beloved experience for so many reasons. I think the college experience is awesome; they say it is the best time of your life anyway. In order to ensure that experience for the future, especially with the changes in the rules and how you can give scholarships and how things work… Title IX obviously affected things as far as the balance of male/female sports, which I think is a really good thing. Different things affect the life of the student-athlete, and I think it is a very valuable experience. To ensure that carries on, particularly at the University of Florida, is the reason I decided to make an endowment a long time ago and still keep it up today.”

AS: You also have something else going on now – a new job as a television analyst. What can fans can expect to see from you going forward?
KC: “I’m the newest member of the SEC Gridiron Live team. The show airs every Wednesday night on Fox Sports South, 10 p.m. live. We start August 31 and run until thought the first week of December, right until after the SEC Championship game. It’s kind of a dream come true for me for a lot of different reasons. I always pictured myself doing something in the broadcast field and thought it would be cool to do something on television. The fact that I get to be an analyst for a show that just focuses on Southeastern Conference football is pretty awesome. I’m retired from the game of football, so this kind of lets me continue to enjoy and re-live that experience of being an athlete in the SEC, being able to cover it.

“It just came about this year. I was looking for a job doing something SEC football-related or broadcasting-related and didn’t really know what I wanted to do. When this opportunity came along, it was really, really too good to pass up. I joked with Larry Vettel and Mick Hubert and Nat Moore and all those guys for years while I was playing, telling them, ‘Hey man, when I retire, I’m coming after your job. I’m coming to take your place.’ [Laughing] This was a great fit for me. It is a great, great show, and I’m really excited to be a member of that team.”

» OGGOA INTERVIEWS: DE Kevin Carter (Part I) | Delisha Milton-Jones | DL Joe Cohen | F Chandler Parsons | C Marreese Speights | LB Mike Peterson | PG Taurean Green | QB Tim Tebow | QB Danny Wuerffel | ESPN’s Erin Andrews | ESPN’s Erin Andrews II | DE Alex Brown | WR Percy Harvin | F/C Al Horford | WR David Nelson | QB Shane Matthews | TE Cornelius Ingram | DE Jermaine Cunningham | S Major Wright | LB Earl Everett | DE Justin Trattou | DT Terron Sanders | F/C Chris Richard | DE Lynden Trail