Urban Meyer Resigns at University of Florida: 10 Outside-the-Box Replacements
Urban Meyer has resigned from the University of Florida, ending his six-year career as the head football coach of the Gators.
In that time, Meyer won two BCS national championships and a Sugar Bowl. Replacing him is not going to be an easy task and the university needs to do it right if it wants to avoid fading into obscurity in the SEC.
That's where we come in. We have come up with a list of 10 outside-the-box replacement candidates that could keep the Gators on the right track.
10. Dan Mullen
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When the news broke that Urban Meyer was stepping down, it took about five seconds for Dan Mullen's name to pop up as the most sensible candidate for the job.
Mullen has previously worked as offensive coordinator under Meyer at Florida and Utah, and this year he turned Mississippi State into a relevant force in a stacked SEC West.
Some would say that Mullen barely qualifies for this list, as there is already speculation that the job is pretty much his for the taking.
But he already has a job, so I dare say he qualifies.
9. Jim Harbaugh
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Jim Harbaugh may be the hottest coach in college football right now. I suspect that many of you think he hardly qualifies as an "outside-the-box" candidate given the fact that just about every team in both the college ranks and the pros would love to have him on their sideline.
But that's also precisely why he's an unlikely candidate. The general consensus is that NFL executives are drooling over Harbaugh, and he would be perfect for a team like San Francisco or Carolina.
If Harbaugh were going to leave Stanford, it seems the NFL would be a more likely destination.
8. Rich Rodriguez
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Rest assured, even I can't keep a straight face while looking at this slide.
Nevertheless, I couldn't resist. Whether he knows it or not, Rich Rod is doomed as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines.
True, Florida needs a coach now and is thus not going to wait for Rodriguez to come off the books in Michigan. Naturally, that's kind of a moot point given the reality that the Gators would be crazy to think of Rodriguez as the right guy for the job.
But the idea is too nuts to ignore.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Steve Spurrier
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Because the phrase "outside-the-box" does indeed grace the headline of this article, how can I not include Steve Spurrier's name on this list?
True, Spurrier finally got South Carolina over the proverbial hump in 2010, winning the SEC East for the first time since taking the Gamecocks' head coaching gig in 2005. He was also named SEC Coach of the Year for his efforts.
But while it's hard to see the Gators reaching out to Spurrier, maybe, just maybe, he'll become overwhelmed with nostalgia for those 12 great years he had at Florida and give them a call.
Just throwing it out there.
6. Jon Gruden
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Honestly, why not?
It has become impossible not to bring Gruden's name up whenever a coaching job is or might be available, whether it be the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Hurricanes or San Francisco 49ers. We might as well get it out of our collective system.
Besides, if Miami was a sweet gig, the Florida head coaching job might be even sweeter.
Nevertheless, I suspect it won't be long before Gruden rolls his eyes and once again publicly states that he's committed to Monday Night Football.
5. Bob Stoops
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Stoops was Steve Spurrier's defensive coordinator for three seasons back in the '90s and was a part of the 1996 national championship team.
He left for Oklahoma in 1999, and I'd say that move has worked out for both parties.
But while an SEC head coaching job is usually considered one of the hottest commodities in college football, it's hard to see Stoops leaving Oklahoma.
In fact, it's impossible.
4. Josh McDaniels
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McDaniels' career as a head coach in the NFL really didn't take all that long to turn sour. As far as experience is concerned, that was more or less his shot to prove himself worthy of handling any major program.
As far as the college scene is concerned, the only job he has on his résumé is his position as a graduate assistant at Michigan State under Nick Saban.
But maybe Florida AD Jeremy Foley looks at this poor, disgruntled young man and for some reason thinks, "You know, he did stand up for Tim Tebow when nobody else would. Maybe this open job I happen to have was his endgame all along. Maybe I should give him a call."
Once again, I stress "outside-the-box."
3. Dave Wannstedt
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Technically speaking, Wannstedt still has a job at Pittsburgh, as he is still going to work in the athletic department, albeit it in a non-coaching capacity.
Does he have any ties to the University of Florida? No. But he's arguably one of the most experienced coaches in the country, as he's made his mark in both college and professional football.
While Wannstedt is probably still happy to be employed by his alma mater, one suspects that he is also well aware that he really isn't wanted there.
In other words, this could very well happen if Jeremy Foley decides to make the call.
I'm not saying he will, of course.
2. Chris Petersen
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If Petersen's name immediately strikes you as an outlandish possibility, hear me out.
Remember, Meyer was the head coach of the original "BCS buster," the 2004 Utah Utes. Under Petersen's watch, the Broncos have been the most consistent BCS buster over the last five years.
With Boise State leaving for a Mountain West conference that is suddenly missing several of the teams that put it on the map, stranger things could happen than Petersen taking an opportunity to prove his worth in the best conference in college football.
Hey, it worked out for Meyer.
1. Randy Shannon
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Meyer's success as Florida's head coach speaks for itself, but it's no secret that he didn't run the tightest of ships in his six years at the helm.
After all, at last check 30 of his players were arrested at some time or another while he was head coach, a group that includes current Auburn QB and Heisman favorite Cam Newton.
So if, for whatever reason, Foley's immediate preference in finding a replacement for Meyer is to get a coach that won't be nearly as controversial, you have to think that Shannon's name will at least cross his mind.
In four years at Miami, just one of Shannon's players was arrested. Among all Division I coaches, his program ranked third in academic progress rate (APR).
Sure, he didn't win a bowl game and never won more than nine games. But he's a good man, and he's not the worst recruiter in the world. Miami had the 16th-ranked recruiting class for 2010, after all.
Once again, I'm just throwing it out there.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
