What's odd to me is that these comments are even considered controversial. That is a testament to how reserved Meyer is.
Had Spurrier said some of these things, no one would have noticed. -Zeb On Aug 28, 2009, at 5:08 AM, <[email protected]> <[email protected]> wrote: > All this is about is > > 1. Trying to make $$$ off of the Gators - the #1 team - the "dynasty" > > 2. Trying to make mountains out of mole hills. They figure that if > they keep throwing things against the wall that sooner or later > something wll blow up. > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [gatornews] [SF Sun-Sentinel.com] Florida coach Urban Meyer > can't rein in his controversial comments > From: RUSSELL BEYER <[email protected]> > Date: Thu, August 27, 2009 1:30 pm > To: Gatornews <[email protected]> > > sun-sentinel.com/sports/orl-sportsflorida-urban- > meyer-27082709aug27,0,1814468.story > South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com > > Florida coach Urban Meyer can't rein in his controversial comments > > Gators coach can't rein in his controversial comments > > By Jeremy Fowler > SENTINEL STAFF WRITER > August 27, 2009 > > > GAINESVILLE — > > Sometimes Urban Meyer just can't help himself. > > The Florida coach said Tuesday he was "not going to say much ever > again," and two minutes later he was asked about locker-room > culture — the same topic that created national headlines last week > and prompted former Gators coach Ron Zook to release a scathing > public statement. > > Meyer's opinion slowly crept out again. > > "I know that was beat to death in the media, but that has really > helped to have a freshman sitting next to a [Brandon] Spikes or > right there as opposed to 'Go back in the other room,' " Meyer said. > > He quickly added before walking away, "It's no one's fault, but > that's the way it was." > > Meyer's emphatic opinions on various topics have stirred the public > pot more than ever in recent months. > > Attribute part of the attention to the microscope positioned > squarely on Meyer's every move after winning that second national > title in January. > > Or maybe he simply rubs some people the wrong way. > > Meyer doesn't respond to opposing coaches who berate him. > > He never name-drops. > > But certain topics rile him up, usually those involving running a > program or the behavior of his players. Meyer has made headlines > for talking about disloyal former players, treating women with > respect, Notre Dame rumors and stopping Florida's freshmen hazing > from the Zook era. > > "The perception outside of the Florida program is people think he's > a control freak," said Brady Ackerman, a Gators player from 1990-91 > who hosts an ESPN Radio show in Ocala/Gainesville. "I don't think > that. I just think he's emotional about his players and recruits > and talks openly about it. But if Gator Nation has to take a side, > they are taking his every time. He can do no wrong." > > A quick recap of Meyer's quotables: > > •In March, Meyer used profanity when addressing a group of high > school coaches at a Nike event in Allentown, Pa. > > The context of the comment — treating women right — is pretty > innocuous, but the cursing got attention: "I'll jump on a kid's > [expletive]. That's the way I was raised," Meyer said. > > •In April, when addressing a Central Florida booster club, Meyer's > comments about loyalty were directed — at least many believe — at > former Gators quarterback Shane Matthews, who was critical of > Florida's offense after the Ole Miss game. > > "If you want to be critical of a player on our team or a coach on > our team, you can buy a ticket for Seat 37F," Meyer said. "You're > not welcome back in the football office. You're either a Gator or > you're not a Gator." > > •Meyer has shot down the Notre Dame job numerous times in recent > months, even saying he would "never ... ever" take the position. > > •Last week, Meyer said Florida freshmen were treated like "non- > people" upon his arrival in 2004. > > He said sarcastically: "Let's get our brains kicked in against our > rival, but let's go beat up a freshman." > > Zook's reply expressed distaste in his role as Florida's scapegoat > five years later. > > Meyer said Tuesday he plans to cool his public opinions. > > "That's my fault," Meyer said. "I've just got to learn to give you > what I give you and move on. You guys have jobs to do, too." > > When asked whether he's simply expressing how he feels, he said, > "That's why I'm not going to say it anymore." > > Numerous coaches have publicly attacked Meyer, including > Tennessee's Lane Kiffin for his false cheating allegations and > Miami's Randy Shannon for accusing the Gators of running up the > score in last year's 26-3 win. > > Meyer never had a rebuttal. > > Often Meyer's stirring comments in the media aren't original to > former or current players. Center Maurkice Pouncey said Meyer told > the Gators about the locker-room issues awhile back. > > Ackerman said he heard a similar statement from Meyer about > disloyal former players at a letter-winner's barbecue a few years ago. > > "I don't think he's thinking about [offending people] when he says > it," Ackerman said. "He's thinking about his master plan and how > it's supposed to be." > > If Meyer stirs the media again, his Heisman-winning quarterback > will probably have his back. > > "[Meyer] has tried to work guys into being better people on the > field, off the field, never says anything bad about anybody, always > tries to do the right thing," said Tim Tebow last year in response > to Shannon. > > Read Jeremy Fowler's blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/swampthings and e- > mail him at [email protected] > > COLLEGE GRIDIRON 365: MIAMI'S IMPACT NEWCOMERS, C4•WHY FSU-UM ISN'T > A SELLOUT, C5 > > "Let's get our brains kicked in against our rival, but let's go > beat up a freshman." > > — Last week to media, about inheriting a violent locker-room > culture in 2004 as Ron Zook's successor > > "I'll jump on a kid's [expletive]. That's the way I was raised." > > — March 2009, addressing high school coaches about players not > treating women right > > "You're not welcome back in the football office. You're either a > Gator or you're not a Gator." > > — April 2009, addressing a Central Florida booster club, referring > to disloyal former players > > "If you want to be critical of a player on our team or a coach on > our team, you can buy a ticket for Seat 37F." > > — April 2009, addressing a Central Florida booster club > > "I'm not going to Notre Dame. Ever." > > — July 2009, at a charity golf event > > UF makes minor-league baseball team alter Tebow promotion, C5 > > Copyright © 2009, Orlando Sentinel > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
