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Tim Tebow: Urban Meyer not an NFL coach

Dan Sheldon — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:12:02 +0000

"I think he likes investing in young men..."

As his own tenure in Denver appears to be in flux with a new coaching staff on its way, Tim Tebow could not envision his college coach ever leading him at the NFL level.

Telling the Dan Patrick radio show:

"No, I could not. I think he likes investing in young men -- in men that are coming out of high school that he can try to help, try to groom into being young men of character.

And I think he really enjoys that. I think he knows how important that is and I think that's something he dedicated a lot of his life to."

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Steve Spurrier says Bobby Bowden an “Unlucky” Coach

Dan Sheldon — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 02:35:58 +0000

"I was listening to Coach Bowden speak at the FCA breakfast this morning..."

Steve Spurrier took some time to do a small amount of reminiscing over his previous meetings with Florida State as he prepared South Carolina to meet the Seminoles in the Chik-fil-a Bowl.

While the stroll down memory lane wasn't nearly as colorful as it could've been with the right types of questions being asked, Spurrier volleyed a somewhat complimentary appraisal of the Bobby Bowden era in Tallahassee:

"I was listening to Coach Bowden speak at the FCA breakfast this morning and a lot of people don't realize how good those teams were. I think 14 straight years they were in the top 4 in the nation. That means they lost one game or they could have won a national championship every one of those years.

I think they played Miami 5 or 6 one point games, and Miami won every one of them. So he's been a tough luck coach. I mean that guy and the teams he put together at FSU, they were as good as any in the country for about 10, 12, 14 years there in a row.

Amazing record that Bobby Bowden's had and, again, I think he's a little bit of an unlucky coach as far as only having 2 national championships when he could have had 7 or 8 of them."

For the record, FSU Football finished in the AP top 4 from 1987 to 1999. The 14th year, 2000, the Seminoles finished 5th.

Over those 14 years, Bowden's Noles went undefeated once, finished with one loss 7 times, and two losses on 6 occasions.

And, for the record, the Chik-fil-A Bowl press conference should have included at least 10 more questions about the Spurrier-Bowden relationship and approximately zero questions about anything else.

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Former Gator Quarterback says Urban Meyer won’t adapt for John Brantley

Dan Sheldon — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:52:37 +0000

"The hardest thing to swallow is they knew it was going to be his team when Tebow left..."

Shane Matthews has leveled criticism at Urban Meyer before and apparently isn't afraid to go down that road again.

Talking to "Chuck and Chernoff" on 680 AM in Atlanta, Steve Spurrier's first protege at Florida laments the wasting of Brantley's abilities in a Gator uniform when looking back on the Gators' 7-5 season:

"We didn't play well. We didn't coach well at times.

The quarterback that's there right now is as good as I've ever seen from a fundamental standpoint throwing the football. (Danny) Wuerffel and Kerwin Bell put on a camp every year. (Tim) Tebow came through it. (John) Brantley came through it. Kyle Parker at Clemson came through it. All of them for six years, and Brantley, NFL scouts like him. Now after this year, they may not, but he needs to get into a system where he can drop back and sling it around the park. Where they have an actual passing game designed to attack downfield. He originally committed to Texas, changed his mind because his dad played at Florida, his uncle played at Florida, and grew up 30 miles from Florida, always wanted to be a Gator.

The hardest thing to swallow is they knew it was going to be his team when Tebow left. You've had 3 years. This kid laid it on the line, sat behind one of the greatest players of all time for his turn and you don't have a system in place to show his abilities. What that staff knows is the spread, the quarterback option, and that's what you'll see next year."

In other words, if Florida manages to rise from the relative ashes next season, it's not likely to happen with John Brantley taking most of the snaps.

And that's kind of a shame.

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Dan Mullen’s latest response to Cam Newton’s recruitment leaves door wide open

Dan Sheldon — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:50:18 +0000

"The people that need to know the facts, know what happened..."

As more and more details about Cameron Newton's intriguing college journey come to light, those close to the situation are beginning to tighten their lips.

Dan Mullen, current Mississippi State head coach and former offensive coordinator at Florida, on Mad Dog Radio/Sirius XM wasn't willing to confirm or deny alleged monetary demands made by the Newton family during the recruiting process:

"The people that need to know the facts, know what happened and I'll leave it at that. The people that need this stuff reported to them, got stuff reported to them as far as we're concerned."

If the response does anything, it seems to confirm that there was something worth reporting to the NCAA.

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The Laptop (or the Quarterback) that Lifted Cam Newton from Florida

Dan Sheldon — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 22:12:48 +0000

"If Tim (Tebow) had left his junior season, who knows where I would be right now?..."

Why is Florida mired in a 3 game losing streak while Cameron Newton flies high at Auburn. Newton claims it's because of Tim Tebow and not the infamous laptop.

As told to the Jim Rome radio show:

"I left the University of Florida because of the fact that Tim Tebow was coming back for his senior season. My passion was still at Florida but everything doesn't happen the way you want it to and God has a purpose in your life that you really can't see so I had to walk by faith and not by sight and I had to leave the University of Florida and I transferred to a junior college because Tim came back for his senior season.

If Tim had left his junior season, who knows where I would be right now?"

Who knows? Wouldn't the answer obviously be Florida? Let's get one more breakdown of that laptop incident since he'll need to be practicing the story for NFL personnel at the Combine in either 2011 or '12:

"Simply and plain. I made a bad decision. Something can be too good to be true. A guy had came to me to sell me clothes out of the trunk of his car but I didn't need clothes...

He came with the purpose of trying to sell me clothes and he didn't have clothes (that were the right size.) I told him what I really needed. He had it and the price that he told me, it slapped me as if it was too good. So anytime a person comes up with an excellent way of coming upon a deal, I'm all for it.

I didn't know at the time, but when the detectives came to my room, I knew the first thing they was looking for. And now that I look back at it, would I make that decision? No, I would not. I learned so much from that incident and I think that has made me the person am I to this day."

Everything seems to make sense other than the idea that, regardless of staying or going, he wouldn't be a starting quarterback at an FBS school until 2010.

So starting one year at a junior college in Texas is better than waiting one year for Tebow to graduate?

Sorry, Cameron. Something still doesn't smell quite right.

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Dan Mullen is a Tad Delusional

Dan Sheldon — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 03:13:56 +0000

"I said, 'The only upset would be Florida beating us..."

You certainly have to believe you're going to beat Florida in the Swamp before you actually do it but Mississippi State head football coach Dan Mullen took the philosophy a step further heading into last Saturday's game in Gainesville. As told to 790 AM in Atlanta:

"Our guys had the feeling and the expectation level that they were going to win that football game and we told them all week if we expect to win then there's not going to be an upset.
I said, 'The only upset would be Florida beating us. That would be an upset in our minds. Because we expect to win this football game.'"

Perhaps the biggest advantage Mullen had on Saturday was knowing his former staff's inability to integrate a drop back quarterback into their preferred scheme.

Make sure your kids memorize this analogy before taking the SAT.

Addazio : Brantley :: Mullen : Leak

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Channing Crowder takes a shot at John Brantley

Dan Sheldon — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 03:27:30 +0000

"John Brantley don't know what he wants to do..."

Miami Dolphins linebacker and former Florida Gator Channing Crowder is throwing out his two cents in the midst of his school's 3 game losing streak:

"They don't have an identity. John Brantley don't know what he wants to do. He can't outrun anybody. I saw him get run down by a white linebacker last week which was a disgrace to all Florida football history."

According to the Florida Today, Crowder went on to wonder how Steve Addazio is qualified to be the offensive coordinator having previously coached the special teams.

Problem for Crowder is that Addazio's background is with the offensive line while Urban Meyer usually heads up the special teams. Addazio also has previous coordinator experience 6 years ago at Indiana with Gerry DiNardo.

Everyone was fired.

Reality is that Addazio is the convenient scapegoat for "Gator Nation." They don't dare point the finger where it really belongs. Meyer is the puppet master. This offense is his baby, not Addazio's.

At some point Meyer has to do two things: admit to the world that he and his staff are grossly undereducated to coach anything other than the spread option and then rectify the situation by visiting Eugene, Oregon or Fayetteville, Arkansas or some other forward thinking outpost of his choosing in the offseason.

In the meantime, welcome to late 90's Gator football with one difference. Steve Spurrier, at the time, confessed he knew nothing about running the option.

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Phil Fulmer is now rooting for Steve Spurrier

Dan Sheldon — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 23:05:15 +0000

"I'm thrilled for Steve, to see what he's done..."

Once bitter rivals at Tennessee and Florida, Phil Fulmer appears to have an appreciation for Steve Spurrier now that he no longer has to dodge barbs and beatdowns on an annual basis.

Fulmer on the Tim Brando radio show following South Carolina's win over then-top ranked Alabama:

"I'm thrilled for Steve, to see what he's done. I guess I pull for the old guy a little bit to do well.
And it's just great to see the kids respond as they have and had a huge win and upset the whole apple cart in the Southeastern Conference."

Considering the way Fulmer was ousted from his alma mater it's likely the, "You can't spell 'Citrus' without 'UT'" line doesn't carry with it the same sting that it used to.

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Chris Weinke: FSU, Miami Respect Each Other and Hate Florida

Dan Sheldon — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 07:30:20 +0000

"With Florida, I still don't like them..."

As Florida State and Miami prepare to renew their rivalry, somehow talk turns to the Florida Gators.

Former FSU quarterback Chris Weinke tells former Miami quarterback Gino Torretta on WQAM radio in Miami:

"There was always that respect factor with the Miami and Florida State teams. There was a huge, huge dislike and almost a hatred when Florida State was playing Florida.
It was almost like those guys that went to the University of Florida were just a different breed and they had this cocky attitude.
Although Miami and Florida State had their swagger, it was different.
With Florida, I still don't like them."

Torretta concurred that there was "respect" for FSU and a "strong dislike" for Florida.

National perception is that FSU-Miami is the state's biggest rivalry based on games that were elevated to legendary status with the "Wide Right" label.

The reality is that both programs are much more thrilled with a victory over the Gators than over each other.

Theories abound. I happen to subscribe to the very basic premise that the University of Florida is the oldest and largest of the three institutions and has been playing football longer than the other two.

Miami is also a private institution drawing half of its enrollment from outside the state. That doesn't lend itself to a natural, loyal following as you drive north of Broward and Dade Counties. It's comparable to what Duke has in basketball with North Carolina. Both enjoy similar national profiles but the Tar Heels own the state right down to the nickname.

Florida isn't "The Gator State," especially with all of the northern transplants but UF has the support FSU and Miami have spent a century chasing.

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Udonis Haslem: “I’m always going to be a Hurricane in my heart.”

Dan Sheldon — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 03:05:33 +0000

"There's a lot of people probably going to be mad at me..."

Udonis Haslem was part of the first team to put Billy Donovan's Florida Gator basketball team on the map. Haslem was the steadying low post presence that combined with Mike Miller, Teddy Dupay, Brett Nelson, and Donnell Harvey among others to get the Gators to their first NCAA title game where they would lose to Mateen Cleaves and Michigan State in 2000.

That is why what Haslem said this week on the Dan LeBatard radio show might be something of a punch to the gut for Gator Nation:

"There's a lot of people probably going to be mad at me but, at the end of the day, I only know one thing and that's loyalty. In my house growing up, you were a Hurricane or you were homeless.
I went to University of Florida which was a business decision. You have business decisions in life and I love the Gators. I love Coach (Billy) Donovan. I love the opportunity that they gave me.
But I'm always going to be a Hurricane in my heart and I'm always going to root for the 'Canes."

Yes, you read that right. As to why he didn't go to the University of Miami:

"I wasn't mature enough at that time to stay home and be serious about playing college basketball and getting a college degree."

The hosts then ask who he would root for if Miami and Florida played in the NCAA tournament. To which Haslem gives a statement that just about completely contradicts exactly what he said above:

"Basketball? I'm going with the Gators. I played for the Gator basketball team."

Haslem then goes on to explain that he was a football player growing up and how he identified Coral Gables mostly with Hurricane football and not necessarily the other programs on campus.

The conversation then doubles back to Gator talk and the aforementioned Dupay who has had his up's and down's in adulthood since being kicked off the Gator basketball team while the two were still teammates in Gainesville.

"Ted's a great guy and we still keep in touch. I'll tell you a story about Ted.
When we won the championship in Dallas we were celebrating on the court and I look over next to me. Amidst all the celebration, there's nobody on the court but Miami Heat staff, coaches, personnel, players. Teddy Dupay is standing next to me on the court!
I don't know how. I don't know who he knew. If anybody knows Ted, then that's typical Ted Dupay."

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