Florida Gators offensive coordinator Steve Addazio was officially announced as the new head coach of the Temple Owls on Thursday. Excited and thrilled to earn his first head coaching job in the collegiate ranks, Addazio was his usual passionate and emotional self at the introductory press conference. After it concluded, the University of Florida released a story that included statements from two of his former bosses.
Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer: “I’m happy for Steve Addazio and his family. Steve has been extremely loyal to me and the University of Florida and I will be forever thankful for his unwavering commitment. His energy and passion have been well-documented and he is a tremendous recruiter and motivator. He is well respected by his peers and his players and I wish him nothing but the best.”
University of Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley: “Steve has been a big part of our success. Everyone that knows Steve knows what a loyal and passionate coach he is. He cares deeply about the players he coaches and he was a great motivator in the locker room. He has the ability to relate to players, but still maintains their respect. He was one of our top recruiters and his ties to the Northeast will be a good fit for Temple. More than anything, Coach Addazio is a good man with a good family.’’
Photo Credit: Getty Images
I am happy for him and for us. Now let’s name that new
OC
Ok I love the guy, I really do but what is this about Meyer
and ESPN? He is going to put everything he has into his wife and
kids and seeing their games etc. and now he may work for ESPN? I
realize that doing so will not be half the time spent coaching but
last I knew, ESPN did not broadcast out of Gainesville.
Glad that Addazio has the opportunity, it gives both
parties an opportunity to move on. @g8ter27 – If he was just a
commentator for ESPN he would likely only really work 6 months a
year on a fairly fixed schedule, maybe regionally on weekends. I
would be excited to have another Gator on the network, with Palmer
and Andrews and some of their production people already in place I
think UF could certainly benefit.
I second the earlier comment. Meyer had no business doing
the espn broadcast last night. His team has a Jan 1 bowl game in a
little more than a week. I’ve always respected his decisions, but
he lost a lot of credibility in my book last night. We know you are
mentally checked out, but at least pretend like you want to win.
Unacceptable, just like the unconditional backing of Addazio and
the entire season as a whole. The more I think about it, the less
surprised I am.
You guys are way overboard on this. The team is off for the holidays – no one is doing any preparation whatsoever. He left town for one day to do some commentary on ESPN and flew home to spend four days with family before rejoining the team again for practice. Meyer did nothing wrong going on ESPN. Just because he decided not to coach anymore does not mean he’s not allowed to do anything else.
I just think that while he is still under contract for 4
mil a year, he should be doing all he can to avoid a 7-6
season.
What exactly should he be doing on a Wednesday where his entire staff and team are with their families? This is off time and he decided to take a trip up to Bristol for less than 24 hours. He did nothing wrong and any criticism for this is simply unjustified. Sorry.
Urban can do whatever he wants….He can go sell hanes with
Jordan for all I care
This article has nothing to do with Meyer on ESPN.
Congratulations, Coach A! I will be rooting for him and
Temple…
I think Urban and Jeremy said the great things that any fan
who has really followed this team would have to admit. Steve was a
great coach to his players and to Meyer and the University of
Florida. Steve may admit in the future that he was in over his head
in being OC, assistant head coach, o-line coach, and a top
recruiter those last two years, but through it all (and I’m giving
him the benefit of doubt) he was always loyal to the University of
Florida and it’s football players. He even said some pretty off the
wall, profoundly erroneous comments to save his player’s the
indignation. I wish him luck in his new endeavors, I just want to
know who the new OC will be.
Relax guys – for all you know Urb took Shelley and the kids
to see NYC and go ice skating!! Chill out – if you need to add
stress to your Holiday, stress over who our OC/DC will be, and who
else may decommitt the day the blackout period ends!
On another note – EVERY ONE OF US NEED TO OFFER A HUGE
THANK YOU!!!! and Merry Christmas/Happy Hannakuh to Adam. For a
year now, I have had to access only ONE site to know what was
REALLY going on, and get amazing complete coverage of all things
Gator, both current and former athletes/coaches/personalities.
Adam, you save me valuable time every day by being my “Go To” guy.
I hope to be able to meet you one day! Best wishes for the New
Year, Michelle
Is there anyone left to coach the bowl game??
Vsherrel – we’ll all assume you were reading this website
and posting messages on your “off time” instead of time that you
should have been with your family or even working. Otherwise, that
comment seems hypocritical. Give the man a break. He gave us 2
national titles, 4 SEC appearances and some of the best football
we’ve seen in decades. I think he’s earned a few days off during
the holidays to spend with his family or doing whatever he flippin
wants.
For the record my comment has nothing to do with his
appearance on espn the other night. It is about possible contract
talks to work with them full time. I agree that prep for the team
right now is not supoose to be going on and he should be home for
the holidays like his players are. I was just commenting on the
fact he was saying the same thing about pouring all of his time
into family and then 12 hours later I read where he may join ESPN
full time. So that took me back a little. Finally I am a gator as
much as anyone in here and Erin Andrews is great….but I am not a
fan of Palmer and if you didn’t kow any better, you would think he
was not a Gator at all but rather a rival.
The time commitment required by a head football coach and part-time studio analyst once or twice a week are not comparable.
Yeah, thanks Adam. Merry Christmas everybody,
This is true which is what I said in my original comment. I
just thought the timing was weird and I guess to be fair, the part
about him signing on with espn is coming from another one of these
reliable “sources” perhaps the same one that named addazio the new
OC at Texas or Stoops the new HC here.
Adam, Going through withdrawal here…!?! Boy, the summer
after Baseball ends is gonna’ be tough!
Check back tonight.
Thanks – you really deserve the time off (but we miss
you)