Urban Meyer: Ohio State Press Conference Was a Slap in the Face for Florida

Urban Meyer's hiring as the new head coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes is drawing mixed reactions.

If you're a Ohio State fan you are excited that you received a Christmas present about three weeks early. Meyer is a proven winner everywhere he has coached, a fantastic recruiter and a leader that knows how to get the most out of every player on the team. He will get this program back on track and have the Buckeyes competing for National Championships in no time.

But if you're a Florida Gators fan you have to feel some type of betrayal. Sure, Meyer helped bring the glory days back to the program and won two National Championships. For that, every Gator fan should be extremely thankful for. But it's the lies that should have every Gator fan seeing scarlet red.

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“I made this clear to Jeremy Foley (Florida Athletic Director), if I am able to go coach, I want to coach at one place, the University of Florida. It would be a travesty, it would be ridiculous to all of a sudden come back and get the feeling back, get the health back, feel good again and then all of a sudden go throw some other colors on my shirt and go coach? I don’t want to do that. I have too much love for this University and these players and for what we’ve built.” —Urban Meyer, after resigning at UF the first time.

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Those were the words of Meyer when he decided he was going to take a leave of absence but decided to return just a day later. He said how much love he had for the university and refused to retire just to coach at another school a year or two later.

Well, that's what he did anyway.

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“The decision to step down was a difficult one. But, after spending more than two decades motivating and celebrating the young men I’ve been so proud to coach, I relish the opportunity to cheer for my three terrific kids as they compete in their own respective sports. I know how fortunate I am to be in a position to make this choice and to have a family that is as loving and supportive as my amazing wife and children have always been. My family has shared both the commitment and the sacrifice required to coach at this level for so long and I would not have enjoyed the success I have had without their support.” —Urban Meyer retiring from Florida for the second time.

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His reasoning for making the retirement official was because of health issues and needing to spend more time with his family. I guess he meant his ESPN family because every time I turned on my television this fall he was broadcasting football games.    

As for the health, that's fine now. The dollar signs that Ohio State was throwing at him cured those chest pains right up.

"Health-wise, I feel great. I had a scare a couple years ago," Meyer said. "Made me sit back, reflect. I didn't feel right. But I feel fantastic now."

Amazing how that happens, right?

Everybody in the work force has the right to leave for a better opportunity. If a coach is leaving for more exposure, a new challenge or even more money, go right ahead. He has every right to do so and it's really hard for anybody to be mad at him.

But when you do exactly what you say you're not going to do, then people are going to have a problem with it.

The health issues may be fine now but the pressure is supposedly what caused them in the first place. In case Meyer doesn't know this already, Ohio State comes with a ton of high expectations. You're expected to recruit the best of the best and not only compete in the Big Ten but have one of the top teams in the country.

You're also expected to beat Michigan and the Wolverines are no pushovers anymore with Brady Hoke at the helm.

The pressure isn't going anywhere and there will be nights you have to spend in the office.

Urban Meyer has a great track record and has won 81 percent of his games but there's one concerning trend that happens everywhere he has went.

He coached Bowling Green State for two years and had a solid quarterback in Josh Harris. He left right before his senior season for Utah. When he coached the Utes he had Alex Smith at quarterback and in 2004 he left when Smith became the No.1 pick in the NFL draft.

When he took over the Florida Gators in 2005 he had Chris Leak as the quarterback and then Tim Tebow. Two great college quarterbacks to help lead the way. Tebow graduated in 2009 and Meyer stuck it out for one more year. Once he discovered he couldn't win with John Brantley he realized he needed to spend more time with family. 

After taking a year off he found out the Ohio State job is open and they have a dual threat quarterback in Braxton Miller that will fit his spread offense perfectly.

"The highlight of my day was easily meeting Braxton Miller." Meyer said. "That was the highlight of my day ... shaking hands with that good-looking quarterback."

Of course it was.

Coincidence? I think not.

The Buckeyes may be happy now but in 2014 when Miller graduates, they could be sharing similar feelings that the Gators have right now.

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