Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel must have a clear-cut morning routine:

* Wake up.

* Drink a cup of coffee.

* Find a way to call out Urban Meyer as a liar.

No one takes shots at the ex-Florida coach like Bianchi.  (Well, okay, The Sporting News’ Matt Hayes is in the running, too.)  Today the Orlando writer has jumped all over Ohio State’s coach for something he said a week ago.

On May 24th, The Cleveland Plain-Dealer wrote that Meyer had this to say about college football’s drive toward a playoff:

“I’ll probably get in trouble for saying this, but I think the ideal setup is what we’ve had the last decade of football.  I can understand why [the change] is happening, but I was not one of the screamers or yellers saying it was broke before.”

Ah, but Bianchi went back through The Sentinel’s archives and found a Meyer quote from 2006.  At the time, it looked as though Florida might miss out on the BCS Championship Game — which it won, by the way — in favor of an Ohio State-Michigan matchup.  This was the coach’s take back then:

“If that (Ohio State-Michigan rematch) does happen, all the presidents need to get together immediately and put together a playoff system.  I mean like now, January or whenever to get that done… I do believe as time wears on and you kind of sit back and look, that the only thing justifiable is to (add a playoff).”

Bada boom bada bing, further proof that Meyer’s a liar.

We simply look at Meyer’s quotes and shrug our collective shoulders.  People change their minds over time.  One quote came from 2006 and the other from 2012.  Heck, this writer once favored an eight-team college football playoff before arriving at the conclusion that a four-team format would probably do a better job of protecting the sport’s regular season.

So perhaps Meyer sat beneath his own personal Bhodi Tree and achieved some form of playoff enlightenment.  (A little shout out to all our Buddhist readers.)  The more intriguing issue is why Bianchi continues to pen so many anti-Meyer pieces.

It’s one thing to repeatedly update one’s views regarding a playoff system, transfer policies, or — ahem — a nine-game SEC football schedule, for example.  But to consistently go after one ex-coach time and again?  The word vendetta comes to mind.

Perhaps this all traces back to the over-the-top tirade Meyer launched against former Sentinel writer Jeremy Fowler back in 2010.  Whatever the reason, it’s clear that any and every time Bianchi finds an opportunity to question Meyer’s honesty, he’ll take it.

A few headlines for you this morning concerning Urban Meyer (and Dan Mullen… and Bobby Petrino):


The Gainesville Sun

1.  Florida AD Jeremy Foley says he’s ready to work quickly and quietly to find Meyer’s replacement.  The goals is to have a new coach by Christmas.

2.  Meyer was a legend at Florida.

3.  Pat Dooley says the ride in Gainesville was fun while it lasted.

4.  The closest Meyer wants to come to coaching is as an assistant on his son’s little league team.


The Orlando Sentinel

1.  The future is now uncertain for Meyer’s assistants.  (Gator fans are likely worried sick over the fate of Steve Addazio.)

2.  Meyer said, “I’m not sure we gave (Florida) our best this year.”

3.  UF assistants must hold Florida’s recruiting class together.

4.  Mike Bianchi says Meyer’s resignation is the best thing for the Gators.

5.  Jeremy Fowler — the former reporter who Meyer muscled last spring — says the coach “was burned out last year.”

6.  This writer says Bob Stoops should be Urban Meyer’s successor, not Mullen.


The Florida Times-Union

7.  Family, not health, lead Meyer away from UF.

8.  Gator boosters were expecting changes… just not this one.

9.  Florida’s recruiting class is holding together for now.

10.  Ahmad Black and Mike Pouncey support their coach’s decision.

11.  Here’s yet another list of possible replacements for Meyer… headed by Mullen.


The St. Petersburg Times

12.  John Romano says Meyer always did what he wanted, how he wanted, when he wanted… including yesterday’s resignation.

13.  Here’s another candidate list.


The Miami Herald

14.  Linda Robertson writes that Mullen never seemed to be fully himself this season.

15.  Some folks thought Meyer might step down if UF had a bad 2010 season.  And they did.


On Dan Mullen

16.  MSU’s coach told The Jackson Clarion-Ledger yesterday afternoon that he’s still “absolutely” committed to State.

17.  Mullen told The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal that he was surprised by Meyer’s decision.  Asked if he would be interested in the UF job, Mullen texted: “Happy at State.”

18.  This writer says Florida can be picky, but if their choice is Mullen, State simply can’t match the offer.

19.  Mullen and his assistants deserve nice raises in Starkville.  The Meyer situation should give them even more leverage in their negotiations.


On Bobby Petrino

20.  Several national reporters are tying Arkansas’ Petrino to the UF vacancy.

21.  Florida would have to pay “a hefty buyout clause” to swipe Petrino.

22.  But UF’s athletic director said he won’t “be scared off by contract buyouts.”

Content provided by Swamp Things – Gators Blog.

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.”