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Urban Meyer Cowardly Bails on Florida Gators as Pressure Turns Immense Suddenly, he shocks us again by pulling the switcheroo without unleashing a shred of specifics. And yet again, another mysterious update from his baffling, stunning developments. This is considerably a misfortune for Urban Meyer, one of the greatest collegiate football coaches in history, the annoying flip-flopper who can never make up his freaking mind and quickly turns into a clone of Brett Favre.

So now, he's leaving behind his successful brand of work, cowardly bailing out on the University of Florida, a frequent pattern of his trait to continuously part ways with a prestigious school known for stockpiling championships. In hindsight, it's the equivalent to the stock market crashing on Wall Street, but the only difference in this situation, of course, is that his unexpected departure is disheartening to the show business in Gator Nation. And now, after leading the Gators to two national championships during his accomplished tenure, he's inexcusably using the escape hatch and has sorely relinquished one of the premier jobs in college football.

What's next? He publicly steps to the podium and makes an announcement that he's willing to sacrifice and take a leave of absence, similar to his last resignation a year ago on Dec. 26, 2009, when he was smart to admittedly think wisely of his family and unveiled the significance of family values?

Then again, maybe he's a devoted husband and father of three children, willing to spend the rest of his days with a caring family and relieve heavy stress and pressure from a burdened life in football, ready to care for health issues. And for whatever reason, if you believe he'll return to fill his own vacancy in the next 24 hours, you probably believe Charlie Brown will eventually marry Lucy.

He spoke of his severe chest pains after a devastating loss in the SEC Championship a year ago, when he left us confused in a riddle and emotionally announced that he was leaving to attend to his health. In theory, the latest press release Wednesday announcing Meyer's resignation wasn't a knee-jerk reaction to a health scare a year ago when he briefly resigned, but presumably was a misleading story that swirled instantly and refreshed our memories of his inability to suddenly endure headaches. This time, hopefully, he leaves for good, cowardly taking an easy way out of a situation instead of enduring the downcast publicity or anguish that clouded a noteworthy program. By all accounts, he no longer had the desire building a storied program, burnt out of having demands within a program he had shrewdly assembled. This time, for once, he felt at peace and had expressed no emotions at the news conference.

"I think I'm doing what's best for the University of Florida, my players and myself and my family," said a composed Meyer.

However, in Gainesville, the Gator faithful were caught off guard, livid by the uncertainty when he walked away for the second time within a year. There is, in a sense, an evident assumption that he's bailing on the Gators for ending a dreadful season all so miserably and finishing the worst season of his career. Minus the presence of Tim Tebow, the Gators dropped below average and toppled to miss out on the BCS bowl activities, which never settled too well with the 46-year-old Meyer.

Is he abandoning the Gators? Few believe he's running from burdens, and I believe he's running from the awful letdown of this season as well. It's likely, as the expectations of coaching an elite program are immense at Florida, that he's simply exhausted mentally and physically by the traveling, stress and pressure. Is this whole theory misguided? By tomorrow, he could announce to the nation that he's coming back to coach next season.

"At this time in my life, however, I fully grasp the sacrifices my 24/7 profession has demanded of me, and I know it is time to put my focus on my family and life away from the field. The decision to step down was a difficult one," he said in a statement released Wednesday by the school. "But after spending more than two decades motivating and celebrating the young men I've been so proud to coach, I relish the opportunity to cheer for my three terrific kids as they compete in their own respective sports."

Does he expect me to really believe that?

In fairness, Meyer is a coward, a pitiful quitter with no morals. All of his recruits means nothing to him, just as much as the University of Florida means zilch. For the most part, considering that he stepped down to cuddle and embrace life with his family, is not necessarily accurate. But more importantly, he tries to avoid having his name linked to the Newton scandal and protect his legacy, roughly giving up as a way to keep his well-known status intact with the university and realized the Gators were vastly languishing as a lack of physical presence toppled Florida. It's as if the school knew this was coming when Meyer called athletic director Jeremy Foley, who stood behind the podium Wednesday evening, to tell him he was contemplating retirement and had finalized his arrangements on Tuesday.

"He said it's the right time in his life, as he said, he's at peace with the decision," Foley said.

All because he's running away, he's at peace.

He cannot endure Florida's 7-5 record, including a 4-4 record in the SEC. As his arrogance renders, it's hard to swallow a 24-point defeat to interstate rivals Florida State, the first loss to the Seminoles since 2003, just as it's hard to bear the distasteful rout to Alabama. In addition, he ultimately watched nine seasons of a .842 winning percentage diminish, but most of all, he cannot accept losing and escaped his failures by quitting on his players, the fans and the university.

On a positive note, Meyer will coach his last game for Florida in the Outback Bowl, as the Gators most likely will be riding the coaching carousel in search for their next head coach. There's much speculation, in the meantime, that he's the primary candidate to be hired as the next Denver Broncos head coach and unite with his former star quarterback Tim Tebow, who ran a stout offensive system efficiently unlike John Brantley. As you reflect back on Meyer's stint, erase it from your minds instantly.

Good riddance.
posted by Jonathan Mathis at 11:53 PM
Labels: Florida Gators, Jeremy Foley, NCAA football, Urban Meyer