here are some reasons why I
do like Urban Meyer
Urban's partner
http://www.gatorcountry.com/football/article/urbans_partner/8113
“Urban is a football coach,” Shelley Meyer said. “He loves his players like they are his own sons and he loves making a difference in kids’ lives. This is why he does it.
“If it were only football, he could have walked away easily. He loves football. He loves being a college football coach, but the real reason he does it is because he is a Christian man who we believe so strongly that God has called him into this profession with the purpose of having an effect on kids’ lives. He couldn’t walk away from those kids he loves so much and he couldn’t walk away from what we know is his life mission.”
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Urban's partner , part 2
http://www.gatorcountry.com/football/article/urbans_partner_part_ii/8138
“There’s nothing to that one,” Shelley said. “I’m not going into any detail but it wasn’t a heart attack but it was something that if we don’t take care of it now, could be a real problem later on. So the time to take care of it is now although we’ll start dealing with it more specifically after National Signing Day. We’re actually already dealing with them in some respects and he’s already getting better, but after we get through recruiting, he’s going to recharge, take some time away, spend time with the family --- how’s that for a concept? --- and figure out what he needs to do to make all this work. He’s just got to take care of himself and that’s something we’re already working on.”
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'Steady in the boat'
http://www.gatorcountry.com/football/article/steady_in_the_boat/8154
They had no clue what he was about to tell them just after Christmas. But on the first day back after the holiday, Marotti, Steve Addazio and even Tim Tebow noticed something different about Urban at practice.
“Coach Mick, something – something – is wrong,” Tebow said. “Coach must really feel bad. Something’s up, something’s up. You’ve got to talk to him!’
Meyer and Marotti were almost always the first two on the practice field, exchanging thoughts and going over plans. When it was time for calisthenics to begin, there was a ritual: “All right, Mick,” Urban would say, and that signaled the beginning. Only on this day it was different.
“This time he just looked at me and pointed like, ‘Go ahead,’’’ Marotti recalled. “And I knew something was up. Steve (Addazio) and I both knew something was up, but we didn’t know what it was. He was real quiet. Then he called us in after practice and that’s when he told us he was stepping down.”
There was a workout scheduled in three shifts beginning at 5:45. But after the bad news of the day before , Marotti dreaded the thought of having to chase players because “nobody’s going to show up – it’s going to be like pulling teeth.”
Much to his surprise that wasn’t the case. And right there was the first clue that this 2009 team had learned all the lessons about work ethic, commitment and finishing the job. The leadership among these players came shining through and inspired the coaches.
As only Marotti can do, the way he does to players in the weight room, when he gets them fired up, he began to work on Urban. Mickey’s favorite subject is always “The Program.”
“I just kind of pumped him up about ‘The program,’’’ he said. “I didn’t know what was going to happen. Like, ‘Gawd, man, five years. What we do! Program! Look at that, two national championships. SEC. Heisman trophy winner. We do things different.’ We just started talking like that and all of a sudden he started getting a little juice back. He’s like, ‘Yeah!’”
As they talked, Marotti could see Urban rocking back and forth, and he knew his head coach was getting into the rhythm and flow of the moment.
“I think I turned up the flame a little that was already burning inside him – he’s a football coach. And, I don’t know, he got on the phone and started practice and that was it.”
That phone call had been to Foley and plans to work out the details of Urban’s leave of absence began to fall in place – although Marotti didn’t know it. Shortly thereafter, Foley summoned Addazio to his office and asked him to accept the role as interim coach. Without flinching, without asking for a title or more money or a new contract, Addazio looked Foley in the eye, square-jawed, and said yes to the assignment, agreeing to turn down an interview as head coach of Central Michigan so he could accept it.
