Urban Meyer Handling of Chris Rainey Worked for Cam Newton and Florida Gators

Florida Gators head football coach Urban Meyer should make his final decision on Chris Rainey on Thursday based upon what he stated in the Gators' Monday morning football press conference.

We know he’ll play, and it will be the right decision—if we take at the case of Cam Newton as an example.

The decision to allow Rainey back on the team, let alone allowing him to play, will garner a great deal of criticism for Meyer.

For a guy looking to reduce job-related pressure, the easy solution would have been to dismiss Rainey. I thought it would be the prudent move.

I supported this course of action. Just one of millions of reasons why I’m not a college football coach.

Most perceive Meyer’s willingness to support players in trouble as permissiveness. He allows players to do what they want without any threat of real punishment.

That could be the case—if his players viewed it that way.

It could also be that Meyer wants to teach character rather than give up on a young man. By keeping troubled players on the roster, Meyer takes ownership of his decisions.

With Rainey, Meyer will face another storm of program character questions. Unlike other coaches—Pete Carroll and John Calipari come to mind—Meyer did not jump ship in tough times.

He at least sticks it through to the finish, even when things don’t work out. Meyer may be doing more good than bad by continuing to support character-challenged players.

Gators football fans recently began a fever pitch, criticizing Meyer for allowing Cam Newton to transfer. One writer asked Gators fans if they wanted a “disciplinarian or do you want him to be a winner?”

Should Meyer be restricted to an either-or role? In Newton’s case, Meyer accomplished both a good character player and built a winning team.

Newton expressed gratitude for Urban Meyer prior to the start of the current football season.

Meyer did such an effective job that Newton came under fire from his own fanbase. Newton stated on ESPN.com, “If it was up to me, I would still want to be at Florida.”

If you read SI.com writer Andy Staples' article on Newton, you realize that the Heisman potential candidate learned a great deal about character while in Gainesville.

Meyer seems to be realizing things never really live up or down to the media hype. Rainey committed a really stupid act.

Many 18- and 19-year-old students on the University of Florida campus will at some point be guilty of stupidity.

One final consideration should be noted. Based upon the evidence we currently accept as fact, very few players find themselves in trouble again.

Both Percy Harvin and Aaron Hernandez have overcome character questions and succeeded early in their NFL careers.

When Meyer announces that Rainey will be eligible to play on Thursday, take a moment of pause. Before you criticize, take a look at the good in the decision.

If you still can’t see it, watch Cam Newton chase the Heisman on Saturday. He might help you understand.