The Great Escape!

     Coming off a big weekend in Gainesville where the Baby Gators dispatched their old coach and continued their march through the SEC East, one can't help to think of other former Gator coaches who left in their prime for greener pastures.   Many Gator fans frolicked in joy over beating a man who they felt betrayed Florida when he went to test the NFL waters in Washington D.C.  After a short stint with the Redskins, Spurrier realized the error of his ways and returned to Gainesville to retake the reigns of a struggling Florida program that thirsted for Spurrier's dominant Gator teams!  Only one problem - apparently Florida felt that the Ole Head Ball Coach needed to interview for the job!  Instead of making up -  Spurrier took his visor to South Carolina and Florida courted a young Urban Meyer who was coming off a Fiesta Bowl win with Utah.  I wonder if Spurrier interviewed at South Carolina?

     The prude decision to move on seemed to work for Florida as Urban Meyer compiled a 65-13 record during his six years at Florida.  During that time his teams won two SEC and National Championships while the Gator fan base had a national love affair with their infamous quarterback - Tim Tebow!!  It seemed as if the Gator Nation had turned the page on the Ole Head Ball Coach and  rekindled the magic of the the 90's.   As the 2009 season played out Tebow and the Gators were well on their way to back-to-back National Championships that would have capped off Tebow's career as supposedly the greatest college football player.  A third BCS Championship in four years amidst all of the Tebow hysteria would have conveniently erased any kind notion to the Ole Head Ball Coach in the minds of Gator fans everywhere.  So what happen to Camelot??

    December 5th, 2009 - SEC Championship
      A rematch from the previous SEC Championship where the Gators beat Nick Saban's #1 Alabama team with Tebow taking the game over in the 4th quarter to put the Gators over the top.  This time the #1 Gators returned looking to complete their first undefeated season and to finish Tebow's career in style.  Alabama came in ranked second looking for redemption and a shot at their first National Championship since 1992.  Bama romped to a decisive 32-13 victory in what was ultimately a changing of the guard as Saban ceased control of the SEC and National scene. 

     Meanwhile Meyer flirted with early retirement as he faced an uncertain Tebowless future but mustard enough inspiration to coach Tebow's final victory in the Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati.  Urban struggled with the notion of life without Tebow, but moreover the reality that his Gator team was no longer on top of the SEC.  He and the Gators struggled during the 2010 season in an uninspired 8-5 effort - to include another devastating defeat at the hands of Saban in Tuscaloosa.  Meyer realized that he probably should have retired after the Sugar Bowl and made the decision to re prioritize his life, spend time with his family and to retire his Florida post.  Certainly Meyer had an incredible run at Florida where he was recognized as a relentless recruiter and a coach who delivered in big games.  The only negative matter was the 30 players arrested during his six year tenure. 

     So what is the difference between the rebuked Spurrier and the revered Meyer?  Is it because Spurrier left after 12 years of dominating the SEC to try his hand in the NFL as opposed to Meyer who retired due to health and personal reasons in half of the time?  Is it the fact that Meyer happen to be the coach during the Tim Tebow era?  Doesn't Danny Wuerffel count as the Tebow of the 90s or the Spurrier of the 60s?--Doesn't Spurrier deserve the same respect??  Whatever the case one thing is certain, we can all be thankful for the great Ohio State medical program that seemed to contribute to Urban's miraculous recovery!