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The resignation of Florida coach Urban Meyer on Wednesday came as a surprise to many, but not former Orlando Sentinel reporter Jeremy Fowler. Fowler covered the Gators for three years, including Meyer’s resignation last year that lasted 24 hours before he decided to return.

“You could tell that Urban was burned out last year,” Fowler said.

Meyer confronted Fowler last spring after Fowler used a quote from receiver Deonte Thompson that Meyer took exception to. Meyer apologized, and he and Fowler had a good working relationship before Fowler left the Sentinel in August.

“I understand where he’s coming from with the family angle,” said Fowler. “I think that aspect of his life was sincere.”

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Urban Meyer’s sudden decision to leave the Florida football program stunned a lot of people butnone so as Gators punter Chas Henry.

Chas Henry

Henry, who was at Disney Wednesday as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards show which the senior is up for the Ray Guy Award, talked to media about his coach and his thoughts on Meyer’s departure.

Henry: “It’s a family decision. I have complete understanding and respect for it. You have to take care of yourself and take care of your family.”

Henry: “This year he was a lot more relaxed a lot more like he was kind of getting back into it again. I was very shocked. I did not see this coming at all. Last year, I could kind of see it. He looks a little drained He doesn’t look like himself. Like the Urban Meyer who recruited me four years ago.”

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Urban Meyer’s sudden decision to leave the Florida football program stunned a lot of people but none so as Gators punter Chas Henry.

Henry, who was at Disney Wednesday as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards show which the senior is up for the Ray Guy Award, talked to media about his coach and his thoughts on Meyer’s departure.

Henry: “It’s a family decision. I have complete understanding and respect for it. You have to take care of yourself and take care of your family.”

Henry: “This year he was a lot more relaxed a lot more like he was kind of getting back into it again. I was very shocked. I did not see this coming at all. Last year, I could kind of see it. He looks a little drained He doesn’t look like himself. Like the Urban Meyer who recruited me four years ago.”

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Urban Meyer stepped down as Florida head coach Wednesday after six years with the Gators. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

The UF release announcing Urban Meyer’s resignation:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Urban Meyer is stepping down as head coach of the University of Florida football team, Athletics Director Jeremy Foley announced Wednesday afternoon.

Meyer captured two National Championships in his six years at Florida
(2006 and 2008), two Southeastern Conference Championships (2006 and 2008), three SEC Eastern Division crowns (2006, 2008 and 2009) and led UF to six-straight January bowl games, including three BCS bowl games.
He was named Sporting News and Sports Illustrated “Coach of the Decade” in December of 2009.

“I have been a Division I football coach for the last 25 years and, during that time, my primary focus has been making a difference in the lives of the young men I have been so fortunate to have coached and building championship programs,” Meyer said.  “At this time in my life, however, I fully grasp the sacrifices my 24/7 profession has demanded of me, and I know it is time to put my focus on my family and life away from the field.  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.”

Meyer will coach his last game for UF in the Gators’ Outback Bowl matchup vs. Penn State on January 1st in Tampa, Fla.

Meyer continued, “I am enormously grateful to the University of Florida and our tremendous fans for giving me the incredible opportunity to lead the Gator football program.  The support provided by school president Bernie Machen and athletics director Jeremy Foley has been an invaluable part of all that we have been able to accomplish over the last six years.”

“I have exceptional regard for my coaching staff who has always shared my passionate commitment to winning and to guiding the development of the young men of Florida football.  Most importantly, I will be forever grateful to the student-athletes I have had the honor to coach and from whom I have learned so much.  I will profoundly miss coming to campus every day to coach this team, but I will always be a Gator at heart, and I am confident that the program will continue to reflect the highest ideals of the University of Florida and collegiate sports.”

“It’s been an honor and privilege to have Urban Meyer be our football coach for six years,” said Foley. “The championships, the mentoring of young men and his commitment to the University of Florida have indeed been special. As good of a coach as he is, he’s a better person and a great friend. He has given everything he has to this institution and we are grateful for the experiences. It a chapter in our history that is closing, but I know Urban wants to remain involved with the University and the Gainesville community. He absolutely loves the Gators.”

“As I have said many times, Urban Meyer’s integrity and commitment to his players and the University of Florida are beyond reproach,” said Machen.  “He leaves an outstanding legacy, on the field and in the classroom.  I know that all Gators wish nothing but the best for Coach Meyer as we recognize his extraordinary achievements with a great sense of pride and appreciation.”

He became the first coach in the history of the Football Bowl Subdivision to post consecutive 13-win seasons (2008 and 2009) and he is the only coach to post three 13-win seasons in a four-year span.

He was the first coach in the nation to win two Bowl Championship Series National Championships and is one of only two coaches in the history of the SEC to win two outright National Championships.

The three-time National Coach of the Year is currently the nation’s active winningest coach with 10 seasons or more, posting 103 victories against just 23 losses for a .817 winning percentage in his 10 seasons.
He reached 100 wins in just 118 games, the second-fastest number of games to reach the century mark since 1945. Overall, only five coaches reached the 100-win mark quicker than Meyer.

Meyer’s six-year record at Florida is 64-15 (.810), including a school-record stretch of 22-straight consecutive wins, the fourth-longest streak by an SEC team and the longest in the conference in 15 years. His teams also put together streak of 16-consecutive wins in SEC games, the second-longest streak in school history. Meyer was
17-2 (.895) against UF’s traditional rivals (Tennessee, Georgia, Florida State and Miami). Among active coaches, Meyer has been the only head coach to put together three 13-win seasons.

Meyer, 46, holds a 36-12 (.750) mark in SEC play at Florida, which is the fourth-best SEC winning percentage among head coaches who spent five years or more in the conference.

Since the SEC’s inception in 1933, no coach had begun his SEC career faster than Meyer. With his 2009 win over Arkansas, Meyer collected his 50th win as an SEC head coach, reaching that mark in just 59 games. That tied Frank Thomas of Alabama for the fastest to achieve 50 wins as an SEC head coach.

In 2008, Meyer accomplished the unprecedented feat of knocking off the BCS No. 1-ranked team in consecutive games, downing Alabama in the SEC Championship Game before dispatching Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship Game. Add in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game victory over Ohio State, and Meyer is the only coach to have defeated three BCS No. 1-ranked teams in his career.

Meyer owns a 58-7 (.892) record at home in his career, including a 36-5
(.878) mark in The Swamp. Meyer was 11-4 (.733) against top-10 teams at UF and his Gator teams were ranked at one point in 89-consecutive polls, including 67 weeks in the top 10 and 16 weeks at No. 1.

There have been 26 Gators selected in the NFL Draft under Meyer, including a nation’s-best nine in 2007 and 2009. Seven Gators have been first-round draft picks under Meyer and UF has had at least one first-round pick in each of the last four years. A school-record tying three Gators were chosen in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Overall, Meyer has coached 81 players who have signed NFL contracts.

Eighty-six of his players have graduated at UF and another nine are scheduled to graduate on Saturday. Two of those 86 student-athletes were named among UF’s Outstanding Senior Leaders on campus (Chris Leak,
2006 and Tim Tebow, 2009). One hundred and thirty one of his student athletes were named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll at Florida, including a league-record 37 in 2008. More than 37 percent of his scholarship players earned above a 3.0 GPA in the Spring of 2009 and Tebow won the William V. Campbell Trophy last year, also known as the Academic Heisman.

Meyer is one of two active coaches to win a pair of outright national championships (2006 and 2008), coach a Heisman Trophy winner (Tebow) and coach a first-overall draft pick in the NFL Draft (Alex Smith).

Meyer also connected with the fans, student body and The Gator Nation.
He initiated the Gator Walk, a pre-game tradition that had the players enter the stadium through a tunnel of enthusiastic and vibrant fans two hours before kickoff. He began the tradition of players signing the school fight song to the student section at the conclusion of home games. Meyer invited former players back with open arms and had Captains’ Legacy Weekend – inviting all former UF captains back for Homecoming weekend.

Meyer also spearheaded the plans for a $28-million expansion of the football facility which features an expanded weight room, new football offices and the Bill Heavener Football Complex. The state-of-the art building pays tribute to Florida’s proud tradition, championships and all-time great players.

In addition to his on the field accomplishments, Meyer has also championed efforts in community service in Gainesville.

Meyer recently spearheaded a local effort to feed needy families in the local community with St. Augustine’s Catholic Church. Meyer’s donation and 50-plus members of the football team bagged food and goods that would last a week during the Thanksgiving Holiday.

A new initiative beginning in 2009, UF football players performed more than 400 hours of community service each year, as each student-athlete attended at least two Goodwill Gator events per semester.

In the spring of 2009, the “Swamp Field Trip” was available to local middle schools as a reward for their students who achieved good grades, were involved in community service, had major improvements, etc.
The students had the opportunity to speak with a group of players and had a special tour of the football facility given by the players.

The UF football team held the inaugural Gator Charity Challenge in August of 2008 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in front of approximately 1,800 people. The fundraiser featured the 2008 Gators challenging each other in a series of strength competitions to raise funds and awareness for six charities that were selected by the football program and are affiliated with Shands, a University partner. The charities were the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, Children’s Miracle Network, March of Dimes and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The Gator Charity Challenge was held in association with Uplifting Athletes.

In the spring of 2008, Meyer initiated a mentor program for young at-risk males. Working with the African-American Accountability Alliance of Alachua County task force, the program BLAQUE (Bold Leaders, Achieving Quality, Unity and Excellence) was developed. The program partnered 15 area middle school children with a Gator football player and a community leader. The goal is to affect change in the lives of at-risk black youth.

In the spring of 2005 and 2006, Meyer worked closely with student-body leaders on campus on a community service initiative surrounding the annual Orange and Blue Spring Game. Student leaders sold Orange and Blue spirit bands prior to the Spring Game with proceeds benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network. Fans that purchased the bands were then asked to assist members of the UF coaching staff and football team in the planning of more than 400 crape myrtle trees on Radio Road on campus.

Meyer’s goodwill efforts have extended beyond his football family.
Inspired by Tebow’s missionary work, Meyer and his family spent time in the Dominican Republic on a missionary trip in June of 2008.

Meyer has mentored 10 coaches who have gone on to become Division I head coaches. Six of the seven served as coordinators under Meyer. In 2003, Gregg Brandon succeeded Meyer as head coach at Bowling Green, while 2005 saw Kyle Whittingham take over for Meyer at Utah. Also in 2005, Mike Sanford took the reins at UNLV. Tim Beckman was named head coach at Toledo in December of 2008. This season was Dan Mullen’s second as head coach at Mississippi State following his time as offensive coordinator at UF. Former Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong was hired as the head coach at the University of Louisville in December of 2009. John “Doc” Holliday, an assistant for UF in 2005 and 2006, was named head coach at Marshall last December and, most recently, former defensive line coach Dan McCarney was named the head coach at North Texas.

Meyer came to UF from Utah, where Meyer closed out his stint in Salt Lake City with 16 consecutive wins. He began his UF career with four-straight wins to extend his head coaching winning streak to 20 games. With its post-season bid to the Fiesta Bowl, Utah made history by becoming the first school from a non-Bowl Championship Series conference to earn a berth in a BCS Bowl. Utah finished as the outright 2004 Mountain West Conference champion to become the only back-to-back outright winners in the league’s history.

Meyer began his head coaching career at Bowling Green in 2001, where he engineered the top turnaround in NCAA Division I-A football, showing a six-win improvement from the previous season. The Falcons rebounded from a 2-9 record to post their first winning season since 1994 with an 8-3 finish.

Meyer’s 17-6 (.739) record at Bowling Green included a 5-0 mark against BCS teams and two wins over ranked opponents.

Meyer apprenticed at Ohio State (1986-87), Illinois State (1988-89), Colorado State (1990-95) and Notre Dame (1996-2000) before getting the head job at Bowling Green. The Ashtabula, Ohio, native learned the coaching trade from the likes of Sonny Lubick, Lou Holtz, Earle Bruce and Bob Davie.

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Florida coach Urban Meyer agreed to a six-year, $24-million contract after winning a second national title. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

It should come as no surprise that when USA Today released its list of FBS coaches’ salaries, that Florida’s Urban Meyer was near the top. Only three coaches – Alabama’s Nick Saban, Texas’ Mack Brown and Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops – make more than Meyer.

Florida released the details of Meyer’s contract, which he signed on Oct. 1, 2009, last week. Here’s where Meyer falls in the SEC.

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The postseason honors keep coming for a few Gators. Already, SS Ahmad Black and P Chas Henry were first-team All-SEC picks by the AP and Phil Steele. CB Janoris Jenkins was a first teamer by the AP and second team by Phil Steele.

All three picked up All-SEC honors from the coaches on Tuesday. Black and Henry were named to the first time, and Jenkins was named to the second team.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players. Here’s a look at the entire team:

2010 ALL-SEC FOOTBALL TEAM
(*-Ties)

FIRST-TEAM ALL-SEC — OFFENSE
Pos.       Name    School   Ht.          Wt.         Class      Hometown
TE           D.J. Williams       Arkansas              6-2          251         Sr.           Little Rock, Ark.
OL           Derek Sherrod  Mississippi State (T)        6-6          305         Sr.           Columbus, Miss.
OL           Lee Ziemba         Auburn                 6-8          319         Sr.           Rogers, Ark.
OL           DeMarcus Love Arkansas (T)       6-5          315         Sr.           Lancaster, Texas
*OL        James Carpenter              Alabama (T)        6-5          300         Sr.           Augusta, Ga.
*OL        Clint Boling          Georgia (T)         6-5          315         Sr.           Alpharetta, Ga.
C             Ryan Pugh           Auburn (C)          6-4          297         Sr.           Hoover, Ala.
WR         Alshon Jeffery   South Carolina   6-4          233         So.          St. Matthews, S.C.
WR         Julio Jones          Alabama              6-4          220         Jr.           Foley, Ala.
QB          Cam Newton     Auburn                 6-6          250         Jr.           College Park, Ga.
RB           Marcus Lattimore            South Carolina   6-0          218         Fr.           Duncan, S.C.
RB           Stevan Ridley     LSU        6-0          226         Jr.           Natchez, Miss.
AP          Randall Cobb      Kentucky             5-11       186         Jr.           Alcoa, Tenn.

SECOND-TEAM ALL-SEC — OFFENSE
Pos.       Name    School   Ht.          Wt.         Class      Hometown
TE           Orson Charles    Georgia                6-3          240         So.          Tampa, Fla.
OL           Larry Warford    Kentucky (G)     6-3          329         So.          Richmond, Ky.
OL           Barrett Jones     Alabama (G)       6-4          301         So.          Memphis, Tenn.
OL           Garrett Chisolm                South Carolina (G)           6-6          303         Sr.           Charleston, S.C.
OL           Joseph Barksdale             LSU (T) 6-6          318         Sr.           Detroit, Mich.
C             William Vlachos Alabama (C)       6-1          289         Jr.           Birmingham, Ala.
WR         A.J. Green           Georgia                6-4          212         Jr.           Summerville, S.C.
WR         Randall Cobb      Kentucky             5-11       186         Jr.           Alcoa, Tenn.
QB          Ryan Mallett      Arkansas              6-6          238         Jr.           Texarkana, Ark.
RB           Knile Davis          Arkansas              6-0          220         So.          Missouri City, Texas
RB           Mark Ingram      Alabama              5-10       215         Jr.           Flint, Mich.
AP          Trent Richardson              Alabama              5-11       220         So.          Pensacola, Fla.

FIRST-TEAM ALL-SEC – DEFENSE
Pos.       Name    School   Ht.          Wt.         Class      Hometown
DL           Drake Nevis        LSU        6-2          285         Sr.           Marrero, La.
DL           Marcell Dareus  Alabama              6-4          306         Jr.           Birmingham, Ala.
DL           Nick Fairley         Auburn                 6-5          298         Jr.           Mobile, Ala.
DL           Pernell McPhee                Mississippi State               6-4          285         Sr.           Pahokee, Fla.
LB           Danny Trevathan             Kentucky             6-1          223         Jr.           Leesburg, Fla.
LB           Kelvin Sheppard               LSU        6-3          240         Sr.           Stone Mountain, Ga.
LB           Justin Houston  Georgia                6-3          258         Jr.           Statesboro, Ga.
DB          Patrick Peterson               LSU (CB)               6-1          222         Jr.           Pompano Beach, Fla.
DB          Mark Barron       Alabama (S)        6-2          210         Jr.           Mobile, Ala.
DB          Ahmad Black      Florida (S)            5-9          190         Sr.           Lakeland, Fla.
DB          Stephon Gilmore             South Carolina (CB)         6-1          189         So.          Rock Hill, S.C.

SECOND-TEAM ALL-SEC — DEFENSE
Pos.       Name    School   Ht.          Wt.         Class                      Hometown
DL           Jake Bequette   Arkansas              6-5          271         Jr.           Little Rock, Ark.
DL           Cliff Matthews  South Carolina   6-4          268         Sr.           Cheraw, S.C.
DL           Devin Taylor       South Carolina   6-7          249         So.          Beaufort, S.C.
DL           Jerrell Powe       Ole Miss               6-2          320         Sr.           Waynesboro, Miss.
LB           Dont’a Hightower            Alabama              6-4          260         So.          Lewisburg, Tenn.
LB           Chris White         Mississippi State               6-4          245         Sr.           Vancleave, Miss.
*LB         Chris Marve        Vanderbilt           6-0          235         Jr.           Memphis, Tenn.
*LB         Jerry Franklin     Arkansas              6-1          241         Jr.           Marion, Ark.
DB          Robert Lester    Alabama (S)        6-2          206         So.          Foley, Ala.
DB          Janoris Jenkins  Florida (CB)         5-11       184         Jr.           Pahokee, Fla.
DB          Casey Hayward Vanderbilt           5-11       188         Jr.           Perry, Ga.
*DB        Janzen Jackson Tennessee          6-0          187         So.          Lake Charles, La.
*DB        Dre Kirkpatrick  Alabama (CB)     6-3          190         So.          Gadsden, Ala.
*DB        Morris Claiborne              LSU (CB)               6-0          177         So.          Shreveport, La.

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One of the perks of bowl games for players is the swag from the bowl committees, and this year is no different. Electronics and watches are the big gifts for most bowl games, although gift suites are gaining popularity according to this Sports Business Journal story.

So what do the Gators get. According to SBJ, here’s the list of gifts for both teams in the Outback Bowl:

– $150 Best Buy gift card

– Fossil watch

– Cap

– Jostens ring

– $25 Outback card

Not too shabby. You can check out all of the bowls – minus the three that didn’t disclose their gift packages – here.

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Regardless of how Florida coach Urban Meyer voted in the final USA Today Coaches Poll, Auburn and Oregon were headed to the Tostitos BCS National Championship. That he was the only SEC coach to rank the Tigers second to the Ducks raised some questions.

Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen, Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino, Georgia’s Mark Richt and South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier all placed Auburn first. All four lost to the Tigers. (You can see a full breakdown of all the ballots here.)

Florida did not play Auburn this season.

Asked about it Monday, Meyer downplayed any significance to ranking a fellow SEC team lower.

“It could have been 1a, 1b,” Meyer said. “I watched that SEC game. To see they’re not the best team in America would be incorrect. I have not watched Oregon as much. Earlier in the year I did. I’ve had Oregon ranked No. 1 for quite some time now. It’s just like when we were up in the rankings, unless you deserve to lose that ranking, that’s no disrespect to Auburn, obviously. It’s 1a, 1b in my mind. I just had Oregon No. 1 for a longer period of time.”

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Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio has drawn much of the criticism for the offense's struggles. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

In his second season as offensive coordinator, Steve Addazio has taken a lot of the heat from fans for the Gators’ offensive struggles. But coach Urban Meyer said Monday that right now he anticipates Addazio staying in that position next season.

“I am expecting that to happen,” Meyer said. “I’ll have further updates as we get closer to the bowl game. Like I said, everybody’s out recruiting and doing their business.”

Florida ranks 79th in total offense. The best team in the country in pass efficiency a year ago, the Gators are 85th this season. And only four teams in the country rank lower than the Gators in red zone offense – Wyoming, Florida Atlantic, Washington State and Buffalo.

Meyer said he’s still in the evaluation process, but the Gators will have at least one position to fill with defensive line coach Dan McCarney’s departure for North Texas. GA Tony Weaver is filling in in the interim.

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Florida QB/TE Jordan Reed has seven touchdowns in the Gators' past four games. (AP photo)

With about three weeks before the Florida’s Jan. 1 Outback Bowl game, the Gators have some time to get healthy. Here’s the latest injury update:

– QB/TE Jordan Reed has not practiced because of a concussion he suffered against Florida State in the final regular season game. Coach Urban Meyer said Reed “looks really good” and expected a light practice for him on Monday. “As I’ve been told, he should be fine in the bowl game,” Meyer said.

– RB Jeff Demps is still in a boot because of a stress reaction in his foot. He has not practiced but Meyer said he is hoping Demps can be available for the bowl game.

– Defensive tackle Terron Sanders will not be available after having surgery.

– DT Lawrence Marsh has a torn labrum in his hip, Meyer said.