Urban Meyer: An Exercise in Poor Judgement?

Saturday afternoon, Urban Meyer announced that he would be stepping down as head coach of the Florida Gators.

Today, he's not.

Citing "health reasons" and the need to spend time with his family as the reasons for his announcement on Saturday weren't really changed too much on Sunday—but—the resignation as head coach had indeed changed to "leave of absence" instead.

Why the change overnight?

According to Meyer it didn't happen until this morning, as he experienced a "spirited practice."

How does a "spirited practice" change everything that was all about health and family yesterday?

What was so bad about his health issues yesterday that drove Meyer to make a resignation announcement only to change his mind today?

Did his health change overnight? How about that family?

I think it's a case of very poor judgment by Urban Meyer and nobody else. The decision to resign was Meyer's, and Meyer's alone.

I can't blame Jeremy Foley, Florida AD, because as he said "I went to bed last night thinking there was no chance of Urban changing his mind." At least that's what Foley said.

How can a well regarded, disciplined coach make such an undisciplined decision? Either yesterday’s choice to resign was made in poor judgment, or it was today's sudden change of "heart" that was the poor one.

I'm sure that Meyer enjoys the very best in medical care. Did his cardiologist agree with the decision made yesterday or the one made today?

We all have only one life. Last night when I heard the news about Meyer's resignation and the reasons he made the decision I said, "Good for him!”

If a person has a heart condition—and has a long family history of heart issues—then that person basically needs to change many things about his life. It’s just not something to screw around with.

Meyer had made a great choice.

After Sunday's "spirited practice," he changed his mind. Instead of resigning he's going to just "take a level" until practice starts for next fall's season. That would be in August.

So after Florida's Sugar Bowl game, he is walking out the door and will have nothing to do with the program until next August. Right?

How can that be? No input on recruiting? No input on spring practice? No participation in preparing for fall camp?

You don't solve an important health issue—especially an issue of the heart—without a "life change," which means dealing with the stress in your life.

What he announced on Sunday is not a life change.

He will still be thinking (stress) about recruiting. He will still be thinking (more stress) about spring practice and who is going to replace whom.

He will want and probably need to be involved in preparation for fall camp, which is even more stress.

The first of September, the stress gets raised to the max when the season begins.

And what about spending time with the family? Six months will solve that issue?

Something is very wrong about all this. Is it just poor judgment by Meyer, or is there more to all this than we know?

Is his health really a serious issue? Enough of an issue to announce on Saturday that you had to resign?

Could a "spirited practice" on Sunday really solve your heart issues? How about the family issues?

Perhaps the family just needed a "spirited practice" to get things rolling back on track.

Did Meyer and Foley discuss what a fire storm the resignation announcement would cause?

If Meyer was not sure really how he felt about stepping down, would they not have agreed to give it a few days?

I know you Gator fans now have your hair on fire, and you're coming after me. I'm just stating the obvious.

It was really poor judgment on Meyer's part. It's a decision that will affect him if he indeed returns to the sidelines.

And not for the good either.

Poor judgment is never a good trait in a head football coach.