The Back Alley Archives

Just got the breaking news on ESPN...wtf? It said on the scroll it was due to "health reasons". It seems odd because if he were sniffing at other jobs I'm sure we would have known about it what with his "dream job" passing him by already.

I hope HE is okay and his family is too. Don't know who will take over for him...big shoes to fill for sure.

Jimmy, please find out the details please!

WTF???

Don't know shit. Press release cites health reasons.

Just had the quote from him on ESPN, seems he has had enough of neglecting his family because of his job...and obviously he has health issues on top of that. I can't imagine how stressful that job would be.

I have NO IDEA who will take his place. Bill mentioned Kerwin Bell but we both doubt he has enough winning experience and we usually go for a big name guy. I wouldn't be surprised if Spurrier came back on a short contract just so he could retire as the Gator Head Coach. He would LOVE to coach John Brantley I'm sure. But I'm not sure that would be so good for the team overall.

So stunned.

BTW, it was funny because before they went to break they said they had this "breaking news" and during the commercial we were speculating about what it wsa about...I couldn't think of who was waiting on a new coach, or whatever...Bill said, "if it were THAT earth-shaking they wouldn't break for commercial" (forgetting this was sports apparently)...but we both figured it had nothing to do with UF.

Boy were we wrong.

wtf?! just read a quick article and headed straight here to see if anyone knew anything. well, that's pretty damn shocking... damn.

text message forward from bigtime:

"Heart Attacks. We just had a team meeting."

maybe they'll play with some passion in the sugar bowl, wanting urban to leave on a high note.

so who's our next coach?!?! holy crap...

i wonder if that text means the players were figuratively having heart attacks or if UM really had one or could have one. he's too young. good call to rest if heart attacks were possible. i'm sure being head coach of a major program is stressful enough without having health problems layered on top.

Apparently he's had a cyst on his brain that was diagnosed as benign but they recently found a tumor behind one of his eyes.

WHAT IN THE HELL IS GOING ON?

Okay, so I just heard this. I thought Vic Chesnutt killing himself because of American health insurance was bad. Damn.

I was wondering the same thing Ad...He checked himself into the hospital afte the SEC Champ game and it was said due to dehydration. Wonder if he had a mild heart attack at that time but kept it quiet.

I am stunned too. I'm sure Stoops will be called again. Another possibility (as Bill said and then we saw Lou Holtz say it) is Kyle Wittingham from Utah.

Shanahan

^^^No way. He's going to the Redskins right?

Dammit. I thought the Gator Nation would be in his capable hands for years to come.

No question he's doing the right thing for him and his family, but damn. I hope we don't end up Zook'd.

the text message was that he had them.

that was mentioned on XM also IHate

I would love to see whomever that comes in bring in Kerwin as the OC to coach JB.

I'd like for them to bring in a new equipment manager...or better yet, hire my husband as their equipment manager...actually, I'd rather have them hire someone who will just want to replace all their helmets. :-)

Yes, just said on ESPN he has heart problems but will be continuing with the University of Florida in a position yet to be defined. Probably will host their clinics and that's about it.

stunned.

Make that a "heart muscle defect". You know one thing that occurred to me as some of the talking heads were discussing this...what a good example he is setting for these kids. He put his health and his family ahead of all the fame and fortune of being a bigtime college coach...showing them (not just preaching to them) about what is really important in life. Good for him.

So who's next?

I would have been happy to see Charlie Strong ascend. Maybe he doesn't have the head-coach credentials, but he knows Florida and he coaches a hell of a defense. Too late for that.

Shanahan. Discuss.

I would rather have someone like Meyer was...like the guy from TCU or Boise State. I dunno...then again, I don't know about guys with young families...that just seems to be too hard.

Cruel month, this December. Dunlap. Bama. Now this.

Dammit. I thought the Gator Nation would be in his capable hands for years to come.

No question he's doing the right thing for him and his family, but damn. I hope we don't end up Zook'd.

Agreed - I really thought that Urban would retire there - in another 30 years.

I am stunned and saddened. We just came back from my sister-in-laws birthday party, and needless to say , this news put a downer on the party.

Mike Stoops and Kyle Winningham from Utah were mentioned as possible replacements.