Any chance Urban goes to Notre Dame?

slideman67 · Post by **slideman67** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:10 pm

On CNNSI, there was a discussion about Meyer possibly going to ND if Cheeseburger Charlie is let go. Does anyone see this happening?

I think it won't happen for a couple of reasons:

1 - He already turned ND down.

2 - ND doesn't have the cache or prestige that it once had. The last time it was relevant with respect to the NC was in the 90's. Kids today have no memory of the ND history, nor due they care.

3 - The recruiting base isn't as deep. Kids today want to play for championships. And besides, would you rather live in some place like Gainesville or South Bend? See #2 also.

4 - There is a better chance for conference championships and BCS bowls here. Given that UT will be down for a while learning a new system, and that LSU is also down, our only real competition in the East is UGly. So we should be representing the East for many years to come.

5 - The chance to build a real legacy here. If we win all the marbles, then the ghosts of Spurrier will finally be gone from Gainesville. Meyer has already beaten SOS three times, and he did two things that SOS didn't do - win the NC in the second year, and win in Tallahassee. I do think that SOS's legacy does still loom a little large over him. And I think UM would like to be like a Paterno type coach at one institution. Also, I think we are about 2-3 years away from building a perpetual recruiting machine like USC has. I would LOVE to be able to reload every year like they do.

6 - It would take a long time to rebuild ND. His coaching stock would go down as they keep losing, and ND fans are worse that Bama fans. They want an NC every year, and UM wouldn't have a whole lot of time produce one.

7 - UMs community ties here. Aren't he and Billy Donovan still trying to build a Catholic school in Gainesville? He also has ties with Machen as well.

8 - Would you want to live in South Bend when you could live in Gainesville?

What are your thoughts?

Toothy · Post by **Toothy** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:13 pm

Thought about this too. All your points are valid. And:

1. In 2005 the Domers offered him a million. They would do better this time. But Florida has more money. I don't see Florida getting outbid.

2. In 2005, Urban Meyer said, "If you want to win, you go to Florida." That has not changed.

a1bion · Post by **a1bion** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:44 pm

Can you imagine the type of money ND would have to pay if they want to fire Weis and make a run at Meyer? Reports have the price tag on Weis' buyout alone at around $4-5 million dollars. So once they pay that, you know Urban's agent would hold them up and make them pay him more than Saban is getting out of Bama if they wanted him to spend more than two seconds even thinking about going to ND.

Only thing that even concerns me is that Urban doesn't have his own buyout clause, so it wouldn't be as expensive as it could be for ND. That being said, the reason he doesn't have one is that Jeremy Foley doesn't believe in them, which sends the message that Foley will hit ND with a bidding war at the drop of a hat and I don't think the Domers want to go there.

MinGator · Post by **MinGator** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 2:45 pm

agreed, no need for a buyout if you can out bid.

strange things have happened, but i don't see this being added to the list.

radbag · Post by **radbag** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 3:26 pm

- nikki meyer announcing to g-tech.

if meyer sees himself here beyond 2009, i can see why he would want his daughter to compete elsewhere without the shroud of his influence and possible favoritism that goes along with being the head football coach's daughter.

having said that, why would i encourage my daughter to stay in gainseville if i'm prepared to leave after the season myself...the ill feelings i may have left behind might unfairly be directed her way.

slideman67 · Post by **slideman67** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 3:27 pm

Interesting info on Foley - I didn't know that. How much do you think UF would have to pony up? ND probably has deep pockets though, but I think UF would put up a fight. The only things is that I could see Machen wimping out on a bidding war though.

I forget - what is Meyer making now? Somewhere in the $2-3 Million range, right?

Toothy · Post by **Toothy** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 3:37 pm

The only things is that I could see Machen wimping out on a bidding war though.

Not for HIS boy. Urban Meyer came in Machen's U-Haul.

slideman67 · Post by **slideman67** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 3:40 pm

Good point. Considering on how they have cracked down on tailgating and partying, I could easily see Machen saying something like he doesn't want to compromise academic integrity by paying so much for a coach.

However, if Machen did that, he would be out of a job in 6 months. The Bull Gators would raise a lot of hell!

G8rMom7 · Post by **G8rMom7** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:51 pm

Well seeing how happy Shelley is in G'ville and the number one thing she likes about Florida is the weather, I doubt seriously he would go to South Bend for that reason alone. However, like 95 said, stranger things have happened.

I don't know where you get it that he wants to be like a Paterno type...I don't see Meyer that way at all...I can't remember where I saw it but I read or saw somewhere that Meyer said he would be on a beach somewhere long before he was as old as Blobby or Paterno. I could see him leaving college football for something more challenging, but I'm not sure what that would be other than the Pros. But ultimately at least at this point in his life, he still loves the college atmosphere which of course the pros don't have.

I dunno, but if he wants to stay in college ball, then I think UF is the place for him right now. He rules in recruiting the state of Florida although there is still competition in that arena with UM down in Miami. But he obviously has he premiere program in one of the best football states in the country!

radbag · Post by **radbag** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 5:55 pm

Well seeing how happy Shelley is in G'ville and the number one thing she likes about Florida is the weather, I doubt seriously he would go to South Bend for that reason alone. However, like 95 said, stranger things have happened.

money motivates everyone *cough*lilah*cough*

slideman67 · Post by **slideman67** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:52 pm

Actually M7, what I meant was setting up a kind of legendary status at UF, like a Paterno. I agree with you that he probably won't coach as long as Joe Pa, but if he stays at UF for another 15-20 years and keeps winning championships, some people might eventually say "Spurrier Who?"

I also remember reading somewhere that he has no desire to coach in the pros. Who can blame him for that?

G8rMom7 · Post by **G8rMom7** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:08 pm

Ah...that's different...never mind. They all say they aren't interested in the Pros and then money talks (as Rad so eloquantly put it). But Rad really...it's a bit different than Lilah's situation. If Shelley had to choose between being able to feed her family and staying in Florida, then yes...I can understand why they would leave.

But money will not be the issue if he decides to go...I'm sure his life in Florida will be balancing with his desire to turn a storied program around. For Shelley, I'm sure she would choose to stay in Florida for her own reasons, but it's ultimately Urban's decision.

radbag · Post by **radbag** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:46 pm

i'm sure shelley's got say in the matter...can't be urbie's ultimate decision...if she aint feelin it, it aint happening.

lol - i was comparing shelley and lilah in that moves from the south (gville, atlanta) to the north (south bend, cincy) were similar....the money aspect is something that ultimately justifies the decision.

AdGator02 · Post by **AdGator02** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:12 am

Just playing devil's advocate: The woman was happy in freaking Utah; she can be happy anywhere. It's not impossible if that's his dream job and he wants a challenge. Plus, if Weis can recruit with his awful records, Meyer could recruit well.

They met in Ohio, as lovely as this state is, it's a far, far cry from Florida, but it's what they know and where their family is and at least from where I am, Indiana is a couple miles away. As for $, I'm a ridiculously bad comparison and I'm assuming that was a joke. If I had been getting millions in Florida and offered more to go to Ohio, my happy ass would be in Florida. Why? Because I'm not stupid and it's where my family is. However, I didn't have a job, like Meyer does, so the variables in my decision were lessened.

radbag · Post by **radbag** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:15 am

^would you have taken less if you found something in atlanta or florida?

radbag · Post by **radbag** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:16 am

guess i'm just saying....everyone's got a price...your price was whatever price they offered you to relocate to ohio...if it wasn't whatever it is, you would not have moved.

AdGator02 · Post by **AdGator02** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:24 am

^would you have taken less if you found something in atlanta or florida?

If I had been able to pay bills, I absolutely would have taken less to stay closer to friends and family in familiar surroundings.

My price was the opportunity to pay bills. Had that been possible by staying home, I would have done that in a heartbeat. Please don't judge my values like that. I wasn't choosing between having a million at home or two million away. I was choosing between ruining my credit, plus incurring outrageous interest on my student loans, and keeping myself financially stable. It's not a fun choice and I would leave here tomorrow if I found something in FL or GA that would pay my bills. Sorry if I sound defensive, but I'm miserable here and you hit a sore spot without needing to do so.

radbag · Post by **radbag** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:27 am

i didn't know...i'm sorry to hear about it.