The sleaziest recruiter (Urban Meyer)
With Pete Carroll leaving USC, I think that Urban Meyer is now the undisputed sleaziest recruiter in the country.
I don't know if his resignation/leave of absense was planned as a recruiting ploy, but he certainly has had a lot of success since the announcement.
Apparrently he told at least one recruit that he recevied a sign from God that he should be coaching him. He says that he would be willing to die on the sideline in order to coach Shariff FLoyd. To me, this is absolutely pathetic, and its not because I'm "jealous that he's so good" like many posters claim when someone bashes Meyer. Read the story below, you may feel like you have to take a shower after.
http://blog.gamecockcentral.com/2010/01/only-recruiting-rule-that-truly…
January 15th, 2010 at 10:52 AM ^
is a major league weasel. That quote is just ridiculous.
January 15th, 2010 at 1:38 PM ^
Florida beat out Ohio State for Sharrif Floyd, and Urban Meyer is God, then that must make Jim Tressel Satan right?
Oh, and also the sky is wet and water is blue...
scratch that. reverse it.
January 15th, 2010 at 1:53 PM ^
How exactly does Tressel compare in the snake-oil department these days? Sure, there have always been whispers about his recruiting tactics. But that happens to every coach who recruits well. Often it's hard to separate the truth from the sour grapes.
I haven't seen much detailed, credible info about Tressel's tactics. Not lately, anyway. So how does he stack-up? Thanks.
January 15th, 2010 at 2:42 PM ^
really trying to comment on Tressel's recruiting ability or tactics.
In this extremely absurd scenario where Meyer is God, he was going up directly against Tressel for Floyd. Assuming good wins out over evil (not sure about your beliefs in this department but just bear with me for this particular facetious analogy), if Meyer speaks directly with God (again, commenting on how absurd this statement is) then Tressel must be either Satan or at least Beelzebub.
January 15th, 2010 at 10:56 AM ^
when he "un-retired"
January 15th, 2010 at 12:16 PM ^
didn't want his daughters to get their daddy back afterall.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:04 AM ^
Am I the only one who read that and thought, "well, at least we won't have to go up against Floyd for the next 3-4 years"?
Am I a horrible person?
January 15th, 2010 at 11:11 AM ^
I definitely thought the exact same thing. It is great that he chose Florida in my opinion. We don't need Floyd blowing up our Zone Read for the next four years.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:01 AM ^
That's pretty messed up. I still think he won't be coaching for a while. He's trying to load Florida up on talent before he takes off.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:03 AM ^
OH ELIZABETH! I'M COMIN' FOR YA! I CAN SEE YOU!
oh wait, did i say elizabeth, i meant Mike Taylor.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:05 AM ^
I heard about this through a pay site (a friend's subscription to an OSU pay site) and so couldn't post it. At least one reliable person has seen Floyd's text message describing what Meyer told him...I feel like Meyer, Kiffin, and others are like divorced dads who get their kids to like them by letting them eat candy and Doritos for dinner. They are adults who appeal to the naivete and immaturity of young people for their own benefit. I would rather have Michigan lose than land recruits by telling them that God wants them to go to U of M or by wooing them with shiny things.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:22 AM ^
actually i didnt realize how close shariff floyd was to becoming a buckeye. id take him as a gator any day of the week if it meant him staying away from osu. even if urban is pretending to be god.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:08 AM ^
about college football, he should have taken the Notre Dame job.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:11 AM ^
He was never offered it
January 15th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
He didn't say accept. He said take. I am sure God could have helped him.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:39 AM ^
He was never offered it
A move that has certainly worked out well for ND.
January 15th, 2010 at 12:04 PM ^
was offered the job, no? Or did the Vatican annul that offer, thereby rendering your "never" true?
January 15th, 2010 at 11:45 AM ^
You must not have seen my t-shirt at the Big House, but you weren't aware that Jesus hates Notre Dame?
January 15th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
Its just one more reason to hate the guy. He makes it so easy.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:27 AM ^
Wow, Meyer looks like Darth Sidious planning the destruction of the jedi in that clip.
January 15th, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^
Man, is that Urban Meyer or the devil? What an evil grin
January 15th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^
Someone should re-do this with a thought bubble saying "exxxxxxcellent." Sorry, but I couldn't help but think of Mr. Burns when he did his little grin.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:20 AM ^
If Meyer had brought two MNC's to UM in the last five years, everyone here would love him. His "sleazy recruiting" would be viewed as "brilliant, tireless recruiting" and his comments would be seen as those of a "passionate coach who cares about his players."
Remember that you are reading an article written by fans of a team that sees Florida as a rivalry game because their coach used to coach there. I could write a scathing article about what is happening up in EL, but I wouldn't expect someone in Florida or Georgia to percieve everything I say as gospel.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:22 AM ^
I don't know how I would feel about him if he were at UM, but the bottom line is I am looking at it objectively. I'm not looking for a reason to dislike the guy. If you don't think that all is fair in recruiting, that's your opinion, but I think that his tactics are very low. He's like a scam artist.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:27 AM ^
I think you missed the point. Even without reading that link, I still think Urban Meyer is the sleaziest college football recruiter in the nation. Those fans are not the only ones who think Urban is a dick
January 15th, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
If it is confirmed Rich Rodriguez (or any other Michigan coach, for that matter) ever tells a recruit that God told him to tell the recruit to come to Michigan, I will immediately call for the coach to be fired. To manipulate another's faith for personal gain is beyond low. It is completely and totally reprehensible.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:32 AM ^
I am a huge fan and would LOVE a MNC in the BCS era, but wouldn't trade it for a coach that uses those tactics. Maybe I am naive, but I think that type of recruiting is not the norm nor acceptable.
I am all for people openly discussing their faith, but those statements (if true) are so hypocritical that I would have an extremely difficult time rooting for someone who would resort to that type of recruiting.
Now that being said, I think snake oil use and wearing a wizard hat to entice a recruit is fully acceptable.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^
So Bo telling an 18 year old kid he's going to kick his ass every year if he doesn't feel Michigan is the best fit for him is a charming story. When Rich Rodriguez convinces a player to abandon his prior commitment to a school, that is just playing the game aggressively and getting results.
These kids get to make a choice on where they go to school. Just because they make a different choice than somebody on this blog would or are motivated by different factors, doesn't mean the coach who signed them is a scumbag. Meyer (if this story is to be believed) said some shit that could just as easily have backfired or been laughed at. The risk paid off, the player committed to UF, and that is the end of the story.
Is there a successful coach anywhere in America who isn't a dirty cheater according to some of you?
January 15th, 2010 at 12:06 PM ^
I think everyone knows that a lot of lies are being told to recruits, but to bring religion into it really changes the game IME. If this story is actually true, than Meyer crossed a line and I would have a problem with my coach (even a champion coach) being involved with it.
In summary - recruiting is nasty stuff...it is like eating a hot dog, sometimes you wish you didn't know how it was made, because it tastes so good.
January 15th, 2010 at 12:19 PM ^
At worst I just see his comments as crazy (I realize Meyer is on the God-squad but I doubt the man upstairs is a big Gator fan). As someone pointed out below, he would have had a, "Are you fucking serious?" moment if Meyer had said the same thing in his house.
Going by the article, Floyd didn't commit because of Meyer's close relationship with the Almighty but rather because the coach said he would die for him. This is almost certainly bullshit (though if he really had a heart attack and is coming back he might be that crazy/serious), but I don't see it as any worse than the usual coach-speak hyperbole (e.g. coaches saying they will be at their current job forever, no matter what).
EDIT: To clarify, Meyer didn't say, "God wants you to be a Gator, Shariff," but instead said, "I think God wants me to keep coaching." Both are equally silly to say to a recruit in my view, but one (the thing he didn't say) is way worse/offensive in my book.
January 15th, 2010 at 12:29 PM ^
We don't know the tone and context that Urban supposedly said this in either. For all we know he may have been lightheartedly saying "come on Shariff, you know I'd die on the sideline to be able to coach a guy like you ..."
In text and given the supposed gravity of Meyer's condition, this comes across in bad taste, but there are ways to say both of these that are light, not literal.
January 15th, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^
When recruiting, certain things are above the belt, and certain things are below. Anything directly related to academics and athletics are clearly fine, as are school related things like location and student life. Furthermore, I am fine with a coach discussing his personal philosophies, religion, worldview, etc. with a recruit because a coach will be instrumental in the life of his recruits throughout their collegiate careers.
Negative recruiting gets into a gray area. I have no problem with coaches comparing their school directly to a competing school, but I'm pretty sure that a lot of negative recruiting involves flirting with (and crossing) the line between painting a school/coach in a negative light and simply lying about the same.
Then we come to things that are out of bounds. Making promises that you know you almost certainly will not keep is out of bounds. Manipulating a recruit's beliefs and principles that the recruit holds to be sacred is out of bounds. And outright lying to a recruit is out of bounds. Urban Meyer almost certainly did the first two of these things and I wouldn't be surprised if he broke the third with the whole sign from God thing.
To my knowledge, no coach at Michigan has ever crossed one of these lines. If they did, then I would find it intolerable. Furthermore, as I have stated previously, if I learn that any Michigan coach ever violates one of these lines, I will immediately call for their firing.
January 15th, 2010 at 6:13 PM ^
I'm pretty much in full agreement with you on the standard you've put forth for coaches ethics in the recruiting process, but I guess I just don't see Meyer's actions in this case as being in violation of those standards, at least based on what we know.
What promises do you think Meyer made that he will almost certainly not keep? Coaching at UF going forward? If he turns around and retires right after NSD or has a plan in place to leave UF shortly (assumptions I'm not making), then yeah, he is being a complete scumbag, but as far as we all actually know he seems to want to continue coaching. I think if he has any faults in this department they involve being a crappy husband and father, but that is between him and his family. Do you mean his promise to die on the sideline while coaching Sharif Floyd? Even if you take what he said at face value, I think there is (sadly) a real possibility of this happening and I'm not prepared to call Meyer a liar on this front just yet.
As far as manipulating beliefs, I don't see Meyer doing that here either. We don't know that Floyd is even religious, and if he is Meyer doesn't seem to be tugging at any spiritual guilt here. I took the statements and Floyd's reaction to be more about Meyer demonstrating loyalty to his players and unyielding passion for the game (whether you or I think he's full of shit or not when he says he wants to die coaching Floyd) and not about God's plan for Sharif Floyd and UF football. The dream thing was a little melodramatic, but I don't think it is what swayed Floyd nor do I see it as a devious plan to use a player's religious leanings to benefit Florida's football fortunes. I just thought it was a kind of creepy and odd thing to say, and as others have pointed out they would not have reacted positively to any of it, especially the "I think God wants me to keep coaching" nonsense.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:24 AM ^
Quite frankly, if Meyer actually said that, he deserves to die on the sideline.
Best case (and unrealistically charitable) scenario: Urban Meyer actually dreamed that he was coaching Floyd on the sideline and believes that it was a sign from God. In which case, I would ask Meyer why he believes that God only wants him to coach highly rated football players. Seems a bit convenient that God believes that you can only help really good football players to become better people, unless God also wants Florida to be a successful football program. Which, I suppose, makes perfect sense because God needs Florida football to be really good, so they can run up the score on everyone and grind their competition into the dirt well after they already won, because that makes the world a better place.
More realistically, Meyer is the sleaziest of sleazebags and should there be an afterlife, he will spend eternity burning in hell for manipulating the faith of young men so as to bring himself increased prosperity. The only way I will ever forgive him for this utter crap is if he actually dies for Shariff Floyd. I'd rather have Meyer just pay people to come to Florida, rather than use the faith of others for personal gain.
January 15th, 2010 at 12:11 PM ^
Really? Urban Meyer deserves to DIE? He may be the sleaziest of sleazeballs but I think your taking this a little too far.
January 15th, 2010 at 3:02 PM ^
Reading over my previous response, I am aware that I was clearly over the line. That said, for personal reasons, I have a MAJOR problem with people taking advantage of others' faith. It is the lowest of low moves. I was shocked when I read that article, not least because I never thought that Urban Meyer was capable of doing something that would make me despise him more than I already did.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:30 AM ^
I actually just got off the phone with God and he has no idea what Urban is talking about. He thinks Urban is dick and regularly sends him straight to voicemail.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:31 AM ^
What does Urban dream of, when he takes a little Gator snooze?
Does he dream of spooning with Tebow, or Sharrif Floyd in his Gator suit?
January 15th, 2010 at 11:35 AM ^
would have made that statement to me in my home with my parents nearby, my dad would have looked him square in the eyes said "Now coach...that's some hot bullshit in my opinion."
January 15th, 2010 at 11:39 AM ^
would have made that statement to me in my home, I would have visited Florida, urinated on their stadium, facilities, and campus, then left.
January 15th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^
touching the Tebow "greatest speech ever, move over Mr. Lincoln" plaque? Dude, missed opportunity ...
January 15th, 2010 at 11:41 AM ^
That +1 I just gave you was for you to give to your father for using the term "hot bullshit"
January 15th, 2010 at 3:24 PM ^
And if Meyer had said that in my house, I would be thrilled to know that I was an elite athlete and not a balding, desk bound 20 something.
January 15th, 2010 at 3:26 PM ^
Maybe that means god is going to come through for me here in the elite athlete department...
January 15th, 2010 at 11:36 AM ^
that Meyer still retires after signing day? I think he really had a heart attack, and that he's just staying in place until the recruits sign the dotted line. I think the University begged him to say that he's staying to keep the class intact.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
It is the people that take advantage of religion to push their personal agendas take make me want to puke. I suppose that God could have pulled Urban aside for a chat about Floyd since Urban is so important and all, but I just don't see that happening. What a complete fuck.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^
Be careful Urban as you might get what you wish for..
January 15th, 2010 at 11:52 AM ^
"I agree. Urban Meyer's shady recruiting antics are a disgrace to the coaching profession."
- Nick Satan, the Alabama coach
January 15th, 2010 at 12:06 PM ^
At least everyone knows Saban is a win at all costs type of coach.
Whereas Meyer tries to play the Jesus card and Mr. Nice Guy routine to hide his shade ball tactics.
January 17th, 2010 at 8:23 AM ^
I thought we called him Osama Bin Saben?