Jim Tressel Resigns: 5 Reasons Urban Meyer Should Not Coach the Buckeyes
Urban Meyer is the most popular candidate to replace Jim Tressel as the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
According to reports, Jim Tressel has resigned as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. He has been at the center of the NCAA investigation of his knowledge of the improper benefits received by his players.
His resignation will close the chapter on Tressel’s phenomenal career wearing his trademark sweater vest on the Buckeyes’ sideline.
Once the news broke that Tressel resigned, the Internet exploded with one name as a possible Tressel replacement. That name was Urban Meyer.
The former Florida Gators head coach has many ties to the school and region and will be the name thrown around unless someone else gets named the Ohio State head coach.
Here are five reasons Urban Meyer shouldn't coach the Buckeyes in 2012.
Urban Meyer Doesn't Stay for Long
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Ohio State is a destination job for a college coach.
Urban Meyer's longest tenure at any coaching position is six years. He spent each with Colorado State and Florida.
Is there any reason for a rational person to believe that if Meyer were to accept the position at Ohio State that he would stay there for 11 years like Tressel?
Most likely not.
Health Concerns
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During both of Urban Meyer's resignation announcements at Florida, he cited health concerns as one of the reasons for leaving.
He was hospitalized following the 2009 SEC Championship Game with dehydration and chest pains. Although he returned to the Gators following the incident, he lessened his work load upon return.
He didn't travel as much during recruiting, and he reduced his involvement during the offseason.
It wouldn't be in the best interest of his health to return to the sidelines.
It also wouldn't be in Ohio State's best interest to hire a coach that isn't able to fully commit to recruiting.
Family Time
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The other reason Urban Meyer cited in his resignations was his desire to spend more time with his family. Returning to coaching would be a complete reversal to that statement.
Meyer accepted a position with ESPN since it allowed him to stay close to the game as well as the flexibility to be around his family.
At least that was the intention.
Meyer's daughters have taken to social media in the past to vent their feelings about spending time with their father. This includes his daughter Gigi's May 4th tweet, "Dear @espn...can I please have my dad back?? Tinks."
In what has become standard post-controversial tweet protocol, she later said that message was a joke.
If he were to take the job in Columbus, I wonder what the family reaction would be.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Possible Sanctions
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The NCAA has not completed its investigation into the improper benefits Ohio State's football players received. After looking at the sanctions they gave other institutions, it is highly doubtful that Ohio State will emerge from this issue unscathed.
There will probably be some scholarships taken away as well as no postseason play at a minimum.
If these sanctions are indeed enforced due to the infractions, why would Urban Meyer want to take the position?
Ohio State is an elite coaching position, but it will be hard to attract an established coach with those sanctions hanging over the program.
Urban Meyer's Player Conduct History
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Tim Tebow is the exception, not the rule about the character of Urban Meyer's players. Although he experienced a lot of success at Florida, he had his own share of controversy.
During his six seasons as the head coach of the Florida Gators, 31 players were arrested.
Most notably was running back Chris Rainey, whom Meyer allowed back on the team after he threatened to kill his girlfriend.
The hire would not make sense for a program trying to rebound from scandal and NCAA investigations. Essentially, there is nothing to suggest that had Meyer been in the same position as Tressel that he wouldn't have made the same decision.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
