Buddy Martin Blog: Urban Had A Plan. After Measuring Twice, He Cut A Deal. Out Of His Comfort Zone.
For some reason I keep seeing Urban on the sideline at dusk, assuming the readiness crouch that he always prefers, staring into the bright lights of the old Gator Bowl and suddenly realizing: “Oh my God, what have I done?” Except I know him a lot better than that.
At about 6:55 Saturday night, Urban Meyer will strap on his headset again, adjust it slightly as he scans a sea of faces in a rejuvenated TIAA Bank Field, hard against the north-flowing St. Johns River, resuming his illustrious coaching career in yet another discomfort zone. At age 57, in a somewhat familiar territory but slightly unfamiliar role, one of America’s premiere football coaches will once again be pushing the envelope, and himself, to go higher, harder, stronger. It’s going to be Coach Meyer again. And football just got better. Even though it’s a bit of a conundrum. Why would an uber-successful college coach with a Hall of Fame legacy choose a tortuous path in the NFL that guarantees a collision course with parity, plus pain and suffering for a while. Did he know what he was getting into in the NFL where it’s a good year if you lose you half of your games? For some reason I keep seeing Urban on the sideline at dusk, assuming the readiness crouch that he always prefers, staring into the bright lights of the old Gator Bowl and suddenly realizing: “Oh my God, what have I done?” Except I know him a lot better than that. He is a “measure twice/cut once” guy who, if anything, overthinks every scenario. An educator who’s not only done his homework – he’s written the curriculum. Just as he did for his manifesto “The Plan To Win” at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and Ohio State where he amassed 187 victories. “Urban,” Steve Spurrier once told me, “has a plan for EVERYTHING!” But if he had one to coach the Jaguars, it was well disguised. Over the last year in more than 20 conversations during the “Best Fridays in Football” podcast we did together, as he was pondering whether to re-up at Fox for Big Noon Kickoff or pursue coaching job offers, we spoke frankly about everything from the joy of winning, fear, faith, appreciation of life, admiration of others, etc. When he came to the rumors of him going Southern Cal, Texas or even Kalamazoo or Timbuktu, Urban opted out on the response. I learned later it was about more than just going for the NFL Brass Ring. “The college opportunities kept showing up,” Urban said. “And one day I looked at my spring schedule … with Covid and all. I had been doing a lot of speaking, etc. And really it was kind of blank. And I said, ‘what am I gonna do?’” He was measuring twice (or three of four times) before cutting as he studied the assets and the owner in Jacksonville. He already knew the territory because he spent long hours recruiting there – plus he and his wife Shelley were already living in Florida as parttime residents with a home on the West Coast near Longboat Key. We old guys have a saying around here, for those who want to put us in the grave before our time: “Singers gotta sing. Writers gotta write. Coaches gotta coach.” Eventually, Urban heard the clarion call.
One day while walking to the Fox studios in Los Angeles, Urban phoned his friend Jimmy Johnson, whose own plan to win brought him both a CFB national championship and Super Bowl. Urban was leaning toward the NFL, but wasn’t sure if it was the right move.
“‘At this point in your life -- and you’re the right age -- you’ve earned the right to do whatever you want to do,’” Johnson told him. That’s when he seriously began considering options. Seemed like every time a college job came open, they said their No. 1 candidate was Urban Meyer.
Reflecting on the changes in the college game – the transfer portal, opting out, name-image-likeness -- plus the intensity of recruiting year-round, Meyer concluded perhaps it was time for him to go pro. He just could not face the notion of getting back on a plane to make another for another talent roundup.
And so began his year-long inquisition wth 25 former players and coaches who had experienced the NFL. He learned about roster management, the Jags’ available draft choices, their ample salary cap room and, finally, after meeting owner Shad Khan three or four times for long conversations, he said “yes.”
Khan, he says, is “one of the most selfless, non-ego driven people I have ever met. He wants success not for just himself, but the entire City of Jacksonville. And he’s been amazing in business – I have no idea how much he’s worth. I’m and going and going to MAKE him write a book!”
Before Meyer ever coached a game, the Jags owner whipped out his checkbook and announced he was building a new $441 million downtown facility that included a Four Seasons Hotel and a brand-new football complex. In other words, he’s not hiring Urban for a cup of coffee. The Meyer era begins Saturday night with a huge investment and the expectation that Urban will be Jags coach a long, long time. And BTW, he’s brought Tim Tebow and Charlie Strong with him, who have their doctorate in winning.
The first time I ever heard of Urban Meyer was when he was on the staff of Sonny Lubick at Colorado State. The legendary talk radio show pioneer and former elite college referee Irv Brown told me about this hard-ass receivers coach that he labeled “a young Bear Bryant” because of his demanding demeanor. Lubick called Urban in his office and informed him the Rams’ No. 1 recruit had just quit “because of you.” Urban later admitted he was an “out of control coach” who was just trying make his bones.
When I finally met him as Florida coach in December of 2004, we spoke in a press conference and seemed to make a connection. And over the years our relationship grew, to the point where I was asked if I had an interest in doing a book with him. I quickly said yes. Two months into the process, I got a call in Augusta from his aide who said Urban wasn’t comfortable doing the book right now because he was upset about the conduct of a player he had just dismissed. “If I were you, I’d go ahead and keep working on the book,” he said. “Because one day Urban will turn to me and say, ‘whatever happened to that book we were and going to do?’” So I did. And about 18 months later the book “Urban’s Way” (St. Martin’s Press) was born. It sold well. That’s why I said that before kickoff Saturday night, Urban will look up and say, “Oh my God, what have I done?” And then he will do it very, very well.
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