A View from the West Coast: What the Hell Was Urban Meyer Thinking?

For the sake of full disclosure, I should admit that I am a USC Trojan fan.

So I fully expect that the following opinion will be looked upon as one directed by complete bias.

It isn't.

And before any Florida fan accuses me of sour grapes because my Trojans fell flat on their face this season while the Gators extended their streak of BCS appearances, let me say right now, this opinion has nothing to do with each teams relative success.

If Pete Carroll had pulled the same shenanigans as Urban Meyer this week, I would feel the same way about him.

Which is what the hell was Urban Meyer thinking?

Saturday, when I learned of Meyer's resignation from Florida for health reasons, I felt bad for him.

Like so many others, I was stunned. And concerned.

My only hope was that Meyer would get better and then return to the job that he was obviously great at.

It turned out I was right...but who knew that his resignation would only last less than 24 hours?

Now I understand that decisions rendered sometimes don't carry a permanent quality with them.

I also understand that reflection offers a new way of thinking about things and input from those who are affected by your decision can sway that determination.

More than anything, I am aware that a persons health, when jeopardized, can result in decisions that look at the long run.

And in Meyer's case, the "long run," had everything to do with coach Meyer being healthy for his wife and family.

I get that.

What I don't get was the need to announce on Saturday that Meyer was resigning.

If there was even the slightest, most remote, possibility of Meyer taking only a leave of absence, why not wait until he and those affected were absolutely sure?

Can a man's complete conviction be swayed in 24 hours?

Apparently Meyer's can.

So now Meyer will take a leave of absence and in his "gut" he now believes he will be back for the 2010 season.

So the circus on Saturday turned into the backtrack on Sunday.

Of course, some of the blame must go to Florida's athletic director for pulling the trigger on a premature press conference on Saturday.

He should have known that a decision with these ramifications require extra time to think it through.

But he didn't and now Meyer looks, well...a bit goofy.

Personally, I am glad Meyer has an opportunity to take some time off, regain his health and will return to Gator sideline in 2010.

Which is what I fully expect to happen.

However, if I am a recruit, I have to wonder if my coach will be there in 2011 or beyond.

Maybe Meyer will take zen classes to control his stress level or perhaps the miracles of modern science will discover a magic pill to calm Meyer's frayed nerves.

For his sake I hope so.

But if I am a recruit whose focus is to play for Urban Meyer, I am thinking twice when it comes to signing my letter of intent.

In the long run, it may not make difference to any of these recruits.

For Florida's sake, they better hope so.

And the next time Urban Meyer asks for a press conference to "retire," maybe they better give him some extra time to think about it.