Later Gator: Urban Meyer Takes a Page out of Lane Kiffin's Book

After Urban Meyer finally confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets in college football by accepting the head coaching job at the Ohio State University this past Monday, something dawned on me.

The man I once had the utmost respect and admiration for pulled a page out of Lane Kiffin's coaching manual.

Urban Meyer didn't just stoop down to Lane Kiffin's level, he stooped below it.

Meyer managed to pull off a nearly impossible feat, he made Kiffin look like a classy guy.

Kiffin couldn't handle the rigors of coaching in the toughest conference in the nation at the University of Tennessee, so he quit and left for Southern Cal in the soft Pac-12 conference.

Kiffin expected the athletes he recruited to Tennessee to do something he himself couldn't do, commit to Tennessee.

Urban Meyer found early success at the University of Florida, winning a BCS title in just his second year as head coach. Meyer coached Tim Tebow to a Heisman in 2007 and brought home another BCS title in 2008, making Florida the first school to win two BCS titles.

Meyer quickly erased the pain of the Ron Zook era at Florida, and began to draw comparisons to the iconic Steve Spurrier.

Meyer could do no wrong in the eyes of Gator Nation it seemed.

After the 2008 season everyone knew Urban was a winner and thought he was destined to be a Gator for life. After the 2009 season, Meyer's true colors showed and to the dismay of Gator fans, they weren't Orange and Blue.

After Alabama thumped Florida 32-13 in the 2009 SEC Championship Game, Meyer's ego got the best of him, and the coach landed in a Gainesville hospital. Meyer. unable to face defeat, retired for a moment, then quickly renounced his retirement and decided to take a leave of absence at the beginning of 2010.

The University of Florida, players, coaches, and fans stuck by their beloved coach and fought for him during his absence.

Meyer returned in time for spring practices and coached the Gators to an 8-5 record in 2010. The Gators finished the seasons outside of the Top 25 for the first time since 1989. Meyer's ego had finally taken enough of a beating and he decided to retire in December citing health and family reasons.

Meyer vowed to spend more time with his family and get himself back in better health before ever returning to the coaching sidelines again. 

In the 11 months since leaving Florida, Meyer has somehow got himself back in better health and determined that his family would again be okay with the demanding schedule of a college football coach.

Unfortunately, Meyer took Gator Nation for a bunch of fools. If anyone couldn't see the real reason he initially retired in 2009, they most definitely can see it now.

Meyer weaseled his way out of the head coaching job at Florida because he saw what was coming in 2011 and didn't want any part of it. After seeing quarterback John Brantley struggle running his spread offense in 2010, the coach decided it was time to leave the Gators.

The difference between Urban Meyer and Lane Kiffin is that Kiffin never deceived anyone.

It was obvious coaching in the SEC was over Kiffin's head, so he took the first plane to Los Angeles. Meyer on the other hand used his family and health as excuses to leave. Instead of continuing to lead the Gators through their struggles, he quit.

Another thing Meyer stole from Kiffin's coaching manual was that winning is everything, not finishing what you started.  

When things got hard for Urban Meyer, the University of Florida was there for him. Unfortunately, when things got hard for the University of Florida, Urban Meyer couldn't return the favor.