Urban Meyer Back On the Practice Field
March 18th, 2010- By Bryan Cross
Urban Meyer made his return to the practice field for the Florida Gators, after a leave of absence from the team following health concerns. While many in the Gator Nation believed an era had come to an end in Gainesville, it appears Meyer has no plans on going anywhere, anytime soon.
“I feel fine and I feel good,” Meyer said in an interview after the Gators’ practice.
Meyer had made the surprising announcement in December, prior to Florida’s game against Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl. He had experienced chest pains and exhaustion, culminating in a series of visits to the hospital. Despite his leave of absence, Meyer hired four new assistant coaches, and tabbed the country’s top recruiting class.
Meyer was noticeably less active in the practice session, but said that he relies on his coaches to teach the players, and will get more involved as spring practice progresses.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Meyer remarked. “Usually I’m more involved in kicking game and a little more involved in the offense. I will get back involved. I think spring time I’m usually like this. I like to let the guys coach and let everybody do their job and see what we’ve got. We’ve got four new coaches, and I want to see them go.”
Perhaps the biggest change for Meyer will be the absence of Heisman-Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow, who graduated and entered the NFL draft. Under center for the Gators will be John Brantley, among several other new starters on both sides of the ball.
“It is a kind of rebuilding I guess or reloading or something like that,” Meyer stated. “But there’s a lot of good players still here, a lot. A lot of good ones coming in, too.”
If you ask Meyer’s players, they say their head coach is the same as he always has been, and does not mention any issues regarding his health.
“He’s fine. He’s his same old self,” Brantley said of Meyer. “I’m just happy he’s back out here and he’s doing fine.”
Meyer underwent several tests in February to ensure his status, but did not answer questions relating to the results of the screenings.
“I’m not going to get into that,” he remarked. “I’m fine. Thanks for your concern. I’m good.”
Offensive coordinator Steve Adazio took over for Meyer during his absence, but said that he believes Meyer is the same intense coach he always was, and looks forward to the challenge of next season.
“I see a guy fired up ready to coach and energized, that’s what I see,” Addazio remarked. “He looks great, he’s fired up and energized and excited and it’s great.”
The Gators have been installed by Online Sportsbooks as a contender to win the 2010-11 BCS National Championship, going off at 16/1.
Related posts:
- Urban Meyer Shifts Retirement Stance, Will Take Indefinite Leave Instead
- Jimbo Fisher Looks To Get Seminoles Back Among Nation’s Elite in 2010
- College Basketball’s All-Time Wins Leader to Step Down
- Florida, Texas Locks Up ESPN’s No. 1 Recruiting Class
- Report: Michigan Football Didn’t Track Practice Hours
