Urban Meyer Press Conference

We will update with information from the 4:30 PM EST Press Conference that Urban Meyer is having.  Some of the key questions are what exactly is the health issue bringing this decision on?  What time frame will Meyer be sidelined?  Hopefully this and other questions are answered with the press conference.

Prior to the press conference they bring on Pat Dooley from the Gainesville Sun who compared this to the Billy Donovan situation. The change of decision according to Dooley changed when Meyer came back on the field after seeing all the players again.  In his opinion the chances of Addazio or some other coach taking the field on the 2010 opener is quite likely.

Urban Meyer clarified that he will coach against Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl.  After talking with staff, family and players he has made the decision to just do a leave of absence and take advantage of this option.  Steve Addazio will in fact be the interim head coach for Florida during this time.  His decision to do a leave of absence rather than just leaving was because his love for the players as well as the practice they had last night was one of the determining factors.

Urban will be calling all the shots in the Sugar Bowl.  It will be his show, not Steve’s. Jeremy Foley came on and said it’s only fair that Meyer has a shot to come back when he’s healthy as it’s the right thing to do.  But overall the repeated talking with the players and interacting with them in practice yesterday sealed the deal for him to return eventually as head coach at Florida.

The question we were all waiting for was finally asked regarding his health concerns.  Urban states that it has to due with the chest pains he had started having 4 years ago and gets worse with stress.  After his hospital trip after the Alabama for this issue, Doctors told him that he needed to fix this or it could lead to worse things.

Urban was asked about talking with Billy Donovan as this similar circumstance happened with him to see if he had talked with Billy.  Urban hadn’t talked to Billy about this but can understand why the decision to not go was made.

Urban’s role wasn’t cleared up in the press conference but Meyer stated he wouldn’t just lay around so the exact responsibilities weren’t laid out.  The hiring of the new defensive coordinator is still up in the air on who will handle this.

Our man Tim Tebow was asked how it was for him and he responded with the typical answer that it was rough and a “whirlwind” for him.  He mentioned that he knew something wasn’t right and respects the decision that the coach makes.  Ryan Stamper was behind Tim Tebow basically repeating what Tim Tebow said.

Urban was asked if he would coach 2010 and he responded with that in his gut feeling he feels he will be back as coach but there is no exact time table laid out.  Their focus is on the bowl game now and they will clarify the roles of everyone as time goes on.

Recruits To Leave with Urban Gone?

One of the most important things right now is the future of the team and we need to secure a coach ASAP in order to keep faith in the recruits.  It’s being said that Urban will stay on in a non coaching aspect for the team but the role to be defined later.  Fightin’ Gators went over 12 recruits regarding their commitment.

Cody Riggs….I did not pick Florida because of Coach Meyer so as of now I am sticking with my commitment

Quinton Dunbar…..I was surprised as anyone.  I was close to Ubran but I understand he has health issues but I am still a Gator 100%.

Lynden Trail….We love Meyer and to all the UF fans…Once a Gator always a Gator cause if you aint a Gator you are Gator bait.

Alcorus Leonard…I think I am going to decommit

There are still some up in the air about what’s going to happen.  Matt Elam who was going to be huge for Florida was already on the slippery slope and this is sure to send him to another school IMO.  Unfortunately we will lose recruits and that’s inevitable.  What can we salvage and keep is the more prominent question that should be asked right now.

Josh Shaw is devastated by the news…He is leaving for Orlando Monday with his family and after that his parents were going to drive him to Gainesville.  Meyer is the reason Josh picked Florida and with him goine we are going to pick another school…Per his mother…they are SHELL SHOCKED to say the least….

Solomon Patton…is to put it mildly very upset as well….

Robert Clark, Matt Elam, Gerald Christian not sure about this situation right now…..

I know it says Matt Elam isn’t sure but that just means he’s not sure what school he’s going to choose now, not that he’s not sure about Florida, he’s gone, there’s no way we keep him.