How college football could look if Urban Meyer never left the Florida Gators
By Logan Shaw
Nov 15, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Veron Hargeaves III (1), defensive back Duke Dawson (7) and teammates huddle up prior to the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Urban Meyer’s Florida Gators
In Meyer’s six seasons as the Gators’ head coach, he lost only 15 games. In the Gators’ four seasons without him, they lost 21.
When Meyer left Gainesville, the Gators expected things to be fine and dandy, as they hired one of the best defensive coordinators in college football, Will Muschamp, from Texas. Things weren’t fine and dandy.
Muschamp proved that not all coordinators can be a successful head coach and was fired after four seasons.
Meyer left the Gators after an eight-win season, his least successful season in Gainesville, and many believe Meyer saw trouble coming and departed, citing family and health issues as an excuse for leaving.
In the first year without Meyer, the Muschamp-led Gators won only seven games, Florida’s worst season since 2004.
Meyer didn’t leave Florida in shambles. In fact, according to 247Sports, Meyer’s previous five recruiting classes at Florida were all ranked inside the top 10, including the 2010 class, the No. 1 class in the nation.
Most of the 2010 class committed to the Gators while Meyer was still coach, but even after his retirement in December, almost two months away from National Signing Day, the Gators were still able to salvage the number one class in the country.
Meyer’s success in Gainesville can be attributed to two things: his coaching and his recruiting.
We all know of Meyer’s successes as a coach in the spread offense, but it was and will always be his recruiting that keeps his success going. You can’t win without good players.
Meyer would’ve likely won at least two more national titles at Florida, and Florida football would still be Florida football. Meyer’s Gators would’ve likely dominated the SEC East, making frequent trips to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game.
Florida would still be bringing in the top recruits, and Meyer would still be winning championships. It’s simple. The Gators wouldn’t be where there are now with Meyer, but after four years of Muschamp, the Gators are an average SEC team.
Speaking of Muschamp, where would he be? Would he still be at Texas, or would he have flunked out of a another head coaching job?
Next: Where are they now: Will Muschamp