Posted on 12/26/2009 4:41:22 PM PST by Dacula
Urban Meyer is stepping down as coach at Florida because of health concerns that came to light when he was admitted to a hospital because of chest pains following the Southeastern Conference championship game.
The 45-year-old Meyer resigned Saturday, calling it quits after five seasons in Gainesville and two national titles. He leaves Florida with a 56-10 record that includes a 32-8 mark in league play and a school-record 22-game winning streak snapped early this month against Alabama.
"I have given my heart and soul to coaching college football and mentoring young men for the last 24-plus years and I have dedicated most of my waking moments the last five years to the Gator football program," Meyer said in a statement. "I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to re-evaluate my priorities of faith and family."
Meyer said he consulted with his family, his doctors, school president Bernie Machen and athletic director Jeremy Foley before deciding it is in his best interest to focus on his health and family.
Meyer will hold a news conference in New Orleans on Sunday afternoon and will coach his final game in the Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati on New Year's Day.
"Coach Meyer and I have talked this through and I realize how hard this was for him to reach this decision," Foley said. "But the bottom line is that coach Meyer needed to make a choice that is in the best interest of his well being and his family. I certainly appreciate what he has meant to the University of Florida, our football program and the Gator Nation. I have never seen anyone more committed to his players, his family and his program. Above all, I appreciate our friendship."
Wow!Great Coach. Hope he recovers fully.
I hope he is okay.
I attended the University of Cincinnati with Urban. I hope he will be okay.
He’ll be back.
It’s a natural reaction to mortality kicking you in the...
I believe our Gator Freepers must be in shock as they have yet to show up yet. I know It would flip me out if the story was Tressel as opposed to Meyer.
NCAA violations to be discovered, I’m guessing
Gang, Common, be smart....there are going to be a lot pro positions open soon....Cleveland...Chicago?......a 5 year 40 or 50 million dollar contract will heal Urban quickly....nothing wrong with that....I am just saying.....
long Sports Illustrated article a few weeks ago contained several instances of health scares in his past few years of coaching. High strung guy in a high stress job. It’s surprising his head hasn’t exploded in the past few years. Watch him on the sideline and you think he’s going to have a stroke.
Keep it real, pissy before throwing out wild speculation.
Source: Meyer tells players he has a heart problem
In response to the shocking news that Florida coach Urban Meyer will be resigning as the team’s head coach for health reasons, an NFL source tells us that Meyer has informed the team that he has a heart problem.
Making the development even more surprising is the fact that Meyer is only 45, and by all appearances he is in good health.
******
In a story published by Sports Illustrated this week, Meyer revealed that doctors discovered an arachnoid cyst on his brain when he worked as an assistant coach at Notre Dame in 1998.
According to the report, doctors didn’t consider the cyst to be life-threatening but told Meyer he could suffer from head pain if the condition flared up because of stress.
Im sure its just Tebow withdrawl symptoms
tiger woods could learn from this great man (coach)but I doubt it since woods is so arrogant
You may be right about the NFL, however his dream job was to coach at Notre Dame.That opportunity was there if he wanted it just a few weeks ago. Although he did say that he would stay at Florida, as long as they would have him. LOL.
That was my first reaction as well!
The news is he actually did suffer a heart attack during the season and it was kept hush-hush, and the episode after the SEC Title game was the last straw.
It may turn out that losing to Bama may have saved Urban’s life.
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