"Report: Mounting 'Friction' and Tension Building Between Urban Meyer, Ohio State"
I think this is his last year, folks. Whether this stuff is true or not, these kind of "whisper campaigns" often presage a change on the horizon. If I had to bet at this minute, I'd say we are seeing Urban's last season at OSU. The only question now is, do they even miss a beat, or will their exceptional recruiting plus Ryan Day as HC? The guy has never been an HC, as far as I know, outside this year as "acting" HC during Urban's suspension...
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2802296-report-mounting-friction-and-tension-building-between-urban-meyer-ohio-state
October 23rd, 2018 at 11:14 AM ^
fucking great. so now it's going to be nick saban coaching OSU?
October 23rd, 2018 at 11:21 AM ^
OT, but I hate the "an" before the letter H. It's a consonant. Grammar Nazis live.
October 23rd, 2018 at 11:23 AM ^
My hopeful prediction is that they choose Day because he did a good job as “interim coach” while urban was still doing all the coaching throughout the week and probably on the phone in game, but he actually sucks because he has no head coaching experience. They will then fire him after next year and there will be no great candidates available. They will reach on someone and will suck for two years and the program will he set back for the next decade. What will actually happen is bill belichick will retire Andover to Columbus to be near some relative and then will decide he wants to dominate he college game because obviously.
October 23rd, 2018 at 11:34 AM ^
Watching Urban's behavior over the years leads me to believe he suffers from anxiety disorder. I could be wrong but I'll give it about a 75% likelihood and I would know since I also suffer this disorder. Nothing is worse for this disorder than stress, with poor sleep and eating close seconds. When you see him in videos gesticulating on the sidelines with a surrender cobra after a bad play, appearing to be spooked, or going into his own world and briefly ignoring people around him, those are telltale signs of someone grappling with this disorder.
There are medications, but end of day, his job is one of the more high stress jobs in the world, so there is only so much meds will do unless he wants to become a zombie. I pondered if JH wasn't on anti-anxiety meds as well when he seemed to level off significantly on the sidelines last year.
The meds come in two forms - brain drugs and body drugs.
Brain drugs like Lexapro and Effexor are meant for long term level off certain natural substances (serotonin and norepinephrine) in the brain but give you a spaced out zombie feeling at times and are thus undesirable, albeit sometimes necessary.
Body drugs like nadolol and propranalol just flat out shut down the release of adrenaline into your blood stream, and are a popular drug for anyone about to enter into a high stress situation like giving an Oscars speech or coaching The Game. These drugs are quite incredible really, especially propranalol. You can walk into the most high stress business meeting with a smile on your face, 100% relaxed, but with full cognition.
But as with any drugs, we really do not know what the long term implications are so I personally try to avoid them as much as possible, but do keep a stash of propranalol around for that semi-annual high stress meeting or annual Michigan/OSU game. Beer is a nice alternative sedative.
Either way, we all tend to find our own personal hell and I'll imagine Urban's is starting to cause waves in Columbus just as it did in Florida, but end of day, the dude is still 77-9 and a top 2-3 college football coach, so I'll also guess his leash will be a long one.
October 23rd, 2018 at 12:18 PM ^
Interesting post. I have often wondered if the incidence of moderate psychiatric conditions is pretty high among the most successful college HCs (or CEOs or others who reach to top in high stress jobs).
Double edged sword. It makes them super driven and that is part of the success. But it also can make them miserable and/or be their undoing.
At any rate, I am skeptical the Meyer will retire or leave OSU after this year.
October 23rd, 2018 at 11:43 AM ^
I honestly had a feeling when Meyer was suspended that Drake may have another trick up his sleeve after the season. The rumor about the "coach in waiting" thing might be revealing. The UM version of that rumor is "Michigan working on lifetime contract for JMFH"
It's quite obvious that Meyer felt like the school didn't back him up, made him take the fall, and THEN made him go out and do those humiliating interviews / apologies, and he didn't think he deserved that treatment.
So I wouldn't be surprised if he moves on after this year. Also wouldn't be surprised if he is back next year with an axe to grind. who knows. but i do know that all the strife about it will hurt the team.
October 23rd, 2018 at 12:09 PM ^
I'm guessing that a number of the players probably weren't crazy about Smith, and when it came out how often Meyer protected him I'm sure there was some resentment. Then getting housed by Purdue after struggling a bit didn't help.
Of course, all Meyer leaving means is that Bill Belichick will leave the Patriots to go to Columbus, so whatever about their coaching issues.
October 23rd, 2018 at 12:49 PM ^
I find all of this quite fascinating. Urban has gotten himself in quite a pickle. Due to his actions, I suspect not a single person in the AD or administration has one ounce of respect left for this man....if they are really being honest with themselves, anyhow.
I suspect this frosts his narcissistic ASS right to the boney part.
This side of the problem could be mitigated if all was good with his team. It is not. But, lets consider why: Players are asked to make many personal sacrifices and to trust their coaches, all for the team. While young, these guys are not children and certainly have full access to all media outlets. They, and their families, have seen and heard what we have from their HC. I suspect many do not believe or respect what he has said and done any more than I do. But, hey kid, "trust me" says Coach Meyer, "I know what is best for you".
Once that statement begins falling on deaf, or even skeptical ears of even a few players, the fabric of the team is weakened if not completely torn.
All the posts and comments that Bosa has left school for his own betterment may well be true. Consider this, though, he was CAPTAIN of this team....CAPTAIN!!! When is the last time a Captain, injured or not, left a healthy team FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT? His money will come. He will be drafted. His leaving this team, supposedly his team, tells me something is very wrong in Columbus.
And it is squeezing Urban in ways he did not expect nor will he accept long term. I think he will give it his all to get things right on the team side, and may just pull it off. If so....the storm may pass as winning, especially down there, cures everything but cancer. If not, he will claim some sort of medical malady that will be vague to diagnose or question and off he will go.
October 23rd, 2018 at 5:06 PM ^
I think the reason for Bosa leaving was because Urban was pressuring him to come back ASAP (most likely for The Game). Instead of having to deal with Urban, Bosa just said, "Fuck it! I'm out." Urban doesn't give a shit about his players, just winning.
October 23rd, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^
but i would think osu blew their "show cause" for firing urbs by keeping him on earlier this year. if they want him out after this year, then they are truly incompetent. those are huge $$ they are playing with.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:19 PM ^
That article and the headline are an embarrassment to journalism.
October 23rd, 2018 at 1:35 PM ^
Urbz is going to Notre Dame -- Write it down
October 23rd, 2018 at 4:12 PM ^
Urban Meyer is the Billy Martin of college football. He's great for a few years, but then self-destructs by making everyone around him hate his guts.
A savvy AD would hire him to win an NC and fire him after the next year if he doesn't win again.
October 23rd, 2018 at 4:49 PM ^
Man, every Florida fan remembers how this song goes.
October 23rd, 2018 at 5:04 PM ^
Urban may think he doesn’t have the full support of OSU after he was suspended. It was clear he didn’t think he should be suspended. He doesn’t look healthy and may decide to move on at the end of the season. This is the classic “be careful what you wish for scenario.” Outside of somehow hiring Saban, any coach is going to be a step down from Meyer. No way they match what they are doing now. Hopefully they find their own Rich Rod.
October 23rd, 2018 at 5:11 PM ^
I have heard the same thing, directly from former OSU players. They said, when urb came in, he was clear to the press, if they talk bad, they'll never be back in. Kept away a lot of former players, didn't invite them back, etc. It's weird, I heard this the day before this came out... something is brewing.