Ex-Florida Gator head coach Urban Meyer made it official yesterday that he will be the new coach at Ohio State. Living near Columbus, I've been hearing/reading about this almost non-stop since it was announced. In my opinion, it's a great hire. While Meyer's health may be reason to worry some, for the time being, this hire should bring a great deal of excitement to an area that loves their football and is going through a very disappointing, scandal-filled, 6-6 season.
Some naysayers have claimed that Meyer can't be successful as a college coach without Tim Tebow. This is ludicrous. Tim Tebow was a great college football player, but was not the reason for Urban Meyer's success. Let's look over Meyer's resume.
He got started at Bowling Green in 2001 and led the Falcons to an 8-3 record, which placed them 2nd in the MAC. He finished after his second season there, when he led the team to a 9-3 record and a 3rd place finish in the conference. In two years at the school, Meyer was 17-6 (.739). He also spent two years at Utah. In his first, he led the Utes to a 10-2 record, first place finish in the MWC and a Liberty Bowl victory to land them at 21st in the polls at season's end. The Utes finished an undefeated 12-0 in 2004 following their dismantling of Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl. They finished the year ranked 4th and 5th in the polls. In two seasons at Utah, Meyer posted a 22-2 (.917) record. He then spent six seasons as the Gators' head coach. In 2005, he led the Gators to a 9-3 record, an Outback Bowl victory and a final ranking of 16th and 12th, respectively. In just his second year at the school, he led the Gators to a national championship in 2006 with a 13-1 record. This was with Chris Leak (not Tim Tebow) as starting quarterback. The team dropped off some in 2007, but still finished 9-4 and ranked 16th and 13th following a Capital One Bowl loss. With Tebow at starting quarterback in 2008, Meyer led his Gators to their second national championship in a three-year span, finishing 13-1 on the season. For the third time in five years, Meyer led the Gators to a top five ranking in 2009, with Florida finishing 13-1 following a Sugar Bowl win and #3 ranking in both polls. Battling health problems off and on for much of 2010, Meyer's Gators posted their poorest record under their head coach, closing the season unranked after an 8-5 record and Outback Bowl victory. In his six seasons at the school, Meyer posted a 65-15 (.813) record. In his ten years as a head coach in college football, Meyer is a combined 104-23 (.819) and 7-1 (.875) in bowl games. The only two times his team failed to make a bowl game was in 2001 and 2002 when he was with Bowling Green and the Falcons posted an 8-3 and 9-3 record. His teams have finished the year in the top 25 in 7 of 10 seasons (his final year at Florida and the two at Bowling Green being the only exceptions). His teams finished in the top 15 in at least one poll in 6 of 10 seasons (the before-mentioned three to go along with his 2003 campaign at Utah when his club finished 10-2). In 40% of his years as coach (4 of 10), his club has finished the season ranked in the top 5. This includes one out of two years at Utah and three out of five at Florida. If one excludes the two years of coaching in the MAC, Meyer has led his teams to a final top 5 ranking in 4 out of 8 (50%) seasons.
It's understandable to hold some reservations regarding Meyer due to his health history, but there should be no reservations about his coaching ability. Meyer has been successful every year as head coach, in the MAC, MWC, SEC and the Big Ten should be no different. He'll have a Tebow-like presence at quarterback in Braxton Miller, talented skill position players and an always stout defense. With his skills in recruiting and play-calling/strategizing, Ohio State should again be competing for the top spot in the Big Ten before long. Ohio State may have had one off year this season, but things will be turning around very quickly for the Buckeyes.
Some naysayers have claimed that Meyer can't be successful as a college coach without Tim Tebow. This is ludicrous. Tim Tebow was a great college football player, but was not the reason for Urban Meyer's success. Let's look over Meyer's resume.
He got started at Bowling Green in 2001 and led the Falcons to an 8-3 record, which placed them 2nd in the MAC. He finished after his second season there, when he led the team to a 9-3 record and a 3rd place finish in the conference. In two years at the school, Meyer was 17-6 (.739). He also spent two years at Utah. In his first, he led the Utes to a 10-2 record, first place finish in the MWC and a Liberty Bowl victory to land them at 21st in the polls at season's end. The Utes finished an undefeated 12-0 in 2004 following their dismantling of Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl. They finished the year ranked 4th and 5th in the polls. In two seasons at Utah, Meyer posted a 22-2 (.917) record. He then spent six seasons as the Gators' head coach. In 2005, he led the Gators to a 9-3 record, an Outback Bowl victory and a final ranking of 16th and 12th, respectively. In just his second year at the school, he led the Gators to a national championship in 2006 with a 13-1 record. This was with Chris Leak (not Tim Tebow) as starting quarterback. The team dropped off some in 2007, but still finished 9-4 and ranked 16th and 13th following a Capital One Bowl loss. With Tebow at starting quarterback in 2008, Meyer led his Gators to their second national championship in a three-year span, finishing 13-1 on the season. For the third time in five years, Meyer led the Gators to a top five ranking in 2009, with Florida finishing 13-1 following a Sugar Bowl win and #3 ranking in both polls. Battling health problems off and on for much of 2010, Meyer's Gators posted their poorest record under their head coach, closing the season unranked after an 8-5 record and Outback Bowl victory. In his six seasons at the school, Meyer posted a 65-15 (.813) record. In his ten years as a head coach in college football, Meyer is a combined 104-23 (.819) and 7-1 (.875) in bowl games. The only two times his team failed to make a bowl game was in 2001 and 2002 when he was with Bowling Green and the Falcons posted an 8-3 and 9-3 record. His teams have finished the year in the top 25 in 7 of 10 seasons (his final year at Florida and the two at Bowling Green being the only exceptions). His teams finished in the top 15 in at least one poll in 6 of 10 seasons (the before-mentioned three to go along with his 2003 campaign at Utah when his club finished 10-2). In 40% of his years as coach (4 of 10), his club has finished the season ranked in the top 5. This includes one out of two years at Utah and three out of five at Florida. If one excludes the two years of coaching in the MAC, Meyer has led his teams to a final top 5 ranking in 4 out of 8 (50%) seasons.
It's understandable to hold some reservations regarding Meyer due to his health history, but there should be no reservations about his coaching ability. Meyer has been successful every year as head coach, in the MAC, MWC, SEC and the Big Ten should be no different. He'll have a Tebow-like presence at quarterback in Braxton Miller, talented skill position players and an always stout defense. With his skills in recruiting and play-calling/strategizing, Ohio State should again be competing for the top spot in the Big Ten before long. Ohio State may have had one off year this season, but things will be turning around very quickly for the Buckeyes.
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