Florida's Urban Meyer Shows Why He Is The SEC's Biggest Hypocrite

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You heard me right, Urban Meyer is a hypocrite!

The definition of hypocrite is "a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives."

I think that definition describes the Florida Gators Head Coach to a "T."

Meyer is one of those coaches that talks the talk, but doesn't have a guts to walk the walk.

Since Meyer arrived at Florida some five years ago there have been some 24 Florida football players arrested with little or nothing done to improve this embarrassment to the University Of Florida.

Every time Meyer has an opportunity to show some character and class he has fallen short.

Every time he has a chance to set an example of what college football should be about and what a college coach should be, he backslides and squanders the opportunity.

Urban Meyer is an example alright, he is an example of everything that is wrong with college football today.

His latest two gaffes would be laughable if it were for the fact that they are so deplorable.

In last Saturdays game with the Georgia Bulldogs, one of Meyer prized players Brandon Spikes got caught in the act of attempting to blind Georgia Running back Washaun Ealey by reaching through his facemask in an attempt to gouge Ealey's eyes.

Meyer response was predictable, "I don't condone that," Meyer said. "I understand what goes on on the football [field], but there's no place for that. We're going to suspend Brandon for the first half of the Vanderbilt game. I spoke with him. That's not who he is. That's not who we are. He got caught up in emotion."

Blah, blah, blah, give us a break, if that is not what you and the Florida Gators are about then don't insult those us with a half game suspension against Vanderbilt? To me this was laughable and I am sure that was what it was meant to be.

Besides, what kind of a message does this send to the rest of college football? What message does it send to young athletes all over the country?

Then to make things worse Spikes and Meyer come back a couple of days later with this cock and bull story:

In a statement released by Florida, Brandon Spike has decided to do the right thing and suspend himself. 

"I really don't want to be a distraction to the team," Spikes said. "I want the guys to prepare without any negative things going on. I feel like if I would play, it would be a big thing. I'm just trying to stay out of the way and just motivate the guys. I'm pretty sure Stamper's my back and my teammates really support me on this decision."

The college football community should put on their hip-waders, because this is getting pretty deep. I don't buy this story for one minute!

Here how I picture this turn of events really going down.

Spikes is called to Meyer's office along with Charlie Strong, who is Spikes' defensive coordinator.

Meyer informs them both that he has come up with a solution to smooth over this whole mess. He says, "This is what we will do, we will have Brandon decide that he should suspend himself for the whole Vanderbilt game."

This way he looks like a decent person and in addition I look like I didn't have to change my punishment because of the ____ storm I brought down on us and the University of Florida. 

It's a win/win situation for everyone involved, Meyer says with wry smile.

To be fair, there are actually two versions of this story going around. The other has the three deciding "as a group" to suspend Spikes for the whole game, but doesn't that really mean someone has to be lying?

The one thing that I am sure of is this, a college football player would not dare suspend himself, and if he did have to suspend himself, then what does this say about Meyer?

It says that the player in question may have a better sense of what's right and wrong than his clueless coach, Urban Meyer!

Then we come to the other black-eye given to the University of Florida by Urban Meyer as Meyer becomes the first SEC coach hit with a fine for criticizing SEC officials since Mike Slive's warning that was issued less than a week ago.

In a statement released by the SEC Commissioner, Mike Slive said, "Coach Meyer has violated the Southeastern Conference code of ethics," commissioner Mike Slive said. "SEC bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that the coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from public criticism of officials.

This also falls in the category of saving face, but this time it was Mike Slive who saves face. 

Here is how I see this one going down.

The phone rings and Mike Slive tells Meyer that he has to do something to regain a little respect in the media after going along with Meyer on the half game suspension in the Spikes debacle.

Meyer says, okay what do we need to do?

Urban, I am going to have to fine you for criticizing the officials in the Georgia game.

Meyer says how much?

Slive says, you tell me, Meyer responds, how does $30,000 sound?

Slive says, that should do the trick. Urban, I hate to do this but me fining you along with your changing Spikes suspension to a full game should get the media off our backs. This should do the trick,

Meyer says, I am all for that Mike.

Now, of course I am being sarcastic, but there is an element of damage control going on here.

The national media is having a field day with this and SEC fining Meyer and the change in Spike's punishment is obviously is a effort to quite the critics.

Urban Meyer has in many ways been great for SEC football and college football in general, but if he doesn't get his act together soon I am afraid he may go down as one of the biggest slime-balls to ever coach college football.

Sure, he is successful as far as win and losses, but as a man who is supposed to be a leader and teacher of young men he is a complete failure.

Here is part of the University of Florida's Mission Statement, I would suggest Meyer take a look at it.

The character of the athletics programs at the University Athletic Association reflects the character of the University of Florida as a major, public, comprehensive institution of higher learning. 

The University Athletic Association is dedicated to the intellectual, physical, and personal development of student-athletes, as well as staff, including women and minorities. Demonstrating leadership in all decisions affecting college athletics, the University Athletic Association will act in an ethical and honest manner, will promote an environment fostering the professional and personal achievement of coaches, administrators and staff, will attain excellence in athletic performance, sportsmanship, financial strength, and superior fan satisfaction. This vision in athletics is at the core of our responsibility to the University, to our students, and to the public at large.

I believe Mayer is failing in this endeavor, especially when it comes to sportsmanship and acting in an ethical and honest manner. Not to mention personal development side of things. 

My advice to Meyer is, start practicing what you preach by doing the right thing.

When I say do the right thing, I do not mean do the right thing for you and your teams chances of winning games, I mean do the right thing as a man, a teacher and a leader.

Sure, you may go down as one of the greatest football coaches in history of the SEC, but you may also go down as one of the biggest hypocrites to ever coach college football.

Some fans do not care how their coach behaves as long as they are winning, but many fans are expecting much more from Urban Meyer.

Meyer has chosen to win at all cost and not punishing Spikes is proof of that.

The problem is he has sent a message to every player on the team that if you help him win, he will help you, no matter how you conduct yourself.

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