Urban Meyer to Ohio State Rumors: How Quickly Would He Turn Things Around?

While everybody is trying to predict who the next coach will be for the Penn State Nittany Lions, they should focus a little more on Ohio State. The Buckeyes' season is almost over and they have been quietly looking for a head coach for next season.

Well, maybe it hasn't been quietly, we have just been so wrapped up in the Penn State scandal that nobody has been paying attention. With all the rumors flying around the Internet lately, it's kind of hard not to notice what the Buckeyes are trying to do. 

If you have checked out some of the top candidates for the Penn State job lately, you'll notice that Urban Meyer has been at the top of every list. But it appears that the Buckeyes may have beaten the Nittany Lions to the punch.

Everybody knew that Luke Fickell was only going to be the head coach until they found a more permanent replacement. With his shaky and sometimes horrible performances, it's safe to say he is gone at the end of the year. 

Urban Meyer has said he is comfortable with his job at ESPN and has no plans of returning to coaching but that's what they all say. As soon as that "dream job" opens up, they're out of the broadcast booth in a New York second. Ohio State could be his dream job.

Meyer is an Ohio native and was a tight end and wide receivers coach for two seasons for the Buckeyes.

But just landing a big name coach is only half the battle. How quickly could Meyer turn things around for the Buckeyes?

I honestly think he'd turn things around as soon as he stepped on campus. Meyer is one of the top college football coaches in the country and has won everywhere he has gone, from Bowling Green State to putting Utah football on the map.

He is one of the top recruiters in the country and always brings in one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. Regardless of what possible infractions the Buckeyes receive from the NCAA, his name alone will attract top players.

Meyer would also be able to deal with the media. At Florida he was often faced with distractions and a bad reputation due to 30 players being arrested in six years under his watch.

Ohio State is used to winning and so is Meyer. During his 10-year coaching career he has a 104-23 record and always comes through in the big games, racking up a 7-1 bowl record including two National Championship wins.

Meyer has done pretty much everything a coach could possibly do. If he ends up going to Ohio State, he'll be able to put that he turned the Buckeyes around on his resume as well.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]

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