It’s been apparent for quite some time that Urban Meyer would be back at some point before the start of the 2010 season.
Before yesterday, Meyer went to his gut twice when asked about returning this year. Yesterday, at halftime of a Gators basketball game, Meyer proclaimed that not only would he be back for the start of the season, but that he would be coaching his Florida players at the start of spring practice in the coming months.
The knowledge that Meyer would likely return from his “leave of absence” sooner rather than later, however, hasn’t stopped an old nemesis from allegedly spreading some b——t speculation along the recruiting trail.
According to GatorCountry.com, Kiffin and right-hand sniper man Ed Orgeron are hammering away at Meyer when it comes to recruits, telling the prospects — again, allegedly — that Meyer already has a plan in place to take over for Lee Corso on ESPN’s College GameDay.
So in other words, and from 3,000 miles and a different conference away, Kiffin continues to play the annoying gnat to Meyer’s head. You know how the old saying goes: the more things change, the more Lane Kiffin remains a punk.
Or something like that.
Allegedly.
I don’t know, though, what’s sadder: the fact that some recruits will likely buy what’s attempting to be sold or the fact that grown men are — allegedly — peddling this kind of stuff to kids.
How long have you been following college football John? Really? Coaches trash each other during recruiting? Also in the news: Americans hate paying taxes.
Coaches engage in gamesmanship during recruiting. The tale Kiffin’s spinning goes a little beyond the usual gamesmanship. This guy is just a dog! And he’s not even subtle about it. I can’t imagine why any parents would let their kids play for him unless they’re just diehard USC fans.
Too bad Florida doesn’t play USC next year. That’s one game I’d like to see.
Shall I say it? Hell, yes. Kiffin sucks.
Let’s see, if you some kid and a parent, which is more believable:
1) Urban’s health crisis / leave (for a day) means he is taking over for Corso even though he has been on the recruiting trail and looks like he is about to land the #1 class?
2) Kiffin’s screwing UT and their recruiting class from last year as well as the early enrollment kids this year means that he has zero loyalty. Toss in the fact that from a point of longevity, Kiffy has had 4 jobs during Meyer’s run at UF.
Lane Kiffin is a Chucklehead. He is really going to have to spin some tales because every other coach will just be able to tell the truth about Kiffin.
Hey – I’d be spinning it as well. Urban freaked out, looked like an idiot, and that can and should be exploited. I don’t see what the issue is here
@Arizona Buckeye …
I’m no Meyer fan, and yeah, he looked like an idiot. But Kiffin is an idiot. Between the two of them, I think I’d rather my kid play for the guy with two championships who looked like an idiot than the guy who’s held like three jobs in two years, uses “Spirit Girls” to recruit, and really is an idiot.
Roll Tide!!
I’m with Deb: Kiffin’s a no-class punk.
Still, he’s a highly amusing no-class punk.
Lane Kiffin? Hilarious. 5-15 as the Raiders coach. 7-6 at Tennessee. He couldn’t hold Urban Meyer’s clipboard as a coach. The hype behind this guy is beyond me. He resorts to petty mind games and rumor mongering to cover for the lack of coaching ability.
Below average coach. Excellent PR people. Ridiculous. Good luck USC. Have fun in the Emerald or Papajohns.com Bowl for the next 4 years.
Lane Kiffin = West Coast version of Trailor Trash
@ Deb
I usually agree with most of your points on both these sites.
You cannot really be naive enough to believe Kiffin is the only coach to use “Spirit Girls”. Hell there was a big article in one of the ESPN mags within the last few months about it. It is a tradition at many schools, most strongly and notably in the SEC.
I am sure there have been a “few” girls at ‘Bama that have done a “service” to their university.
Other than that, yeah, Kiffin is a POS.
Sorry – I didn’t mean to imply it was a Kiffin or Urban choice… I was generally throwing that net out to all coaches if they were going after a kid being recruited by the Gators. Personally, Kiffin seems like a total scumbag that will push or break any rule that is necessary to get his own way.
Urban is a douche. Family is non-negotiable huh? Except during the Fall….and recruiting……and the Spring? The real story still isn’t out there. With Bama on the schedule in the regular season the next two years, there is a strong possibility that Urban could face Saban 4 times over the next two seasons. Based on what happened after the SEC title game in 2009, Urban might not be alive come 2012. For the sake of your family Urban, at least take off the regular season matchup against Nick the next two years so you will be in a physical condition strong enough to coach against him in the title game.
@stnmmc …
No, not naive. That practice has gone on for years, and I’m sure some overzealous Bama girls have volunteered to, um, “entertain” recruits touring the campus. But Kiffin’s the only one I’ve heard about who actually bused his girls to high schools. That’s the part I find so hysterical. He’s so … out there with everything he does. It’s like he thinks he’s thinks invisibility is his coaching superpower.
@Arizona Buckeye …
No problem!
@Seeryer …
I didn’t realize we were playing Florida in the regular season again. Very interesting.
Yep, Florida and Alabama in the regular season the next two seasons. Which means more flashbacks to Prothro and his unfortunate injury and to Shaun Alexander opening a keg of whoop-ass because, apparently, a can just wasn’t good enough. It also means another season where the past two national champions face off in the regular season.
@hrudey …
Oh, man, don’t say flashbacks to Prothro. No no no. For me, a regular-season meeting with Florida in Gainesville (crossing fingers!) will mean an extra visit with my munchkins (niece & nephew) if they come down for the game. Yay!
But assuming both teams are on top, it will take the drama out of the SEC Championship.
@ Deb,
Bama hosts Penn St and the Gators next season. They also have 6 conference games next season where their opponent has the bye week before playing Bama. Since 2006 this has occured 19 times in the SEC and Bama was the opponent like 12 times. 6 in one season is near conspiratorial.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Urban Liar Pants on Fire
“This is a long term process (building a football program). I always say there are only about eight or 10 really good football programs where year in and year out they win.”
Source: Urban Meyer Press Conference, November 13, 2002
“We are nowhere near what we can do here. That’s what’s driving me right now. Everybody’s worried about those other places; nothing’s going on.”
Source: Bowling Green Sentinel, December 6, 2002
“I was contacted by one, but I’m not interested. I love it here. We have a lot of work to do. That’s the bottom line.”
Source: Bowling Green Sentinel, December 6, 2002
“With recruits, that’s been for two years, even before we won. [They say,] ‘that guy’s not going to be there very long’; that’s silly … The future is fantastic here … I’m proud to be the football coach here. Once they get to know me, know my family, know how important it is to have continuity, my kids going to school somewhere.”
Source: Bowling Green Sentinel, December 6, 2002
“I think you all but guarantee that you are one of the top two, three teams in the league every year if you get that [new athletic facility] here. I feel so strong about the academics, about the community, the environment, about the people. It’s the last piece; it’s a significant piece.”
Source: Bowling Green Sentinel, December 6, 2002
“In the words of any Bowling Green football player today: ‘I thought we were your family.’ Bowling Green’s players are understandably angry at Meyer for leaving. Every day he would preach team loyalty. Meyer carried his we-are-family concept to the extreme, even bunking in the same dorm with the Falcons during preseason workouts.”
Source: Toledo Blade, December 13, 2002
“Notre Dame is my dream job.”
Source: Memory, January 1, 2003
“It [leaving Bowling Green] was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It was devastating. I didn’t realize — and maybe I wasn’t thinking clearly — but I thought it was going to be one of those things where you shake hands, give a big hug and say ‘good luck.’”
Source: Deseret News, October 5, 2004
“First of all, I love it here. But I’m second fiddle. My family is No. 1, and they love it here. As long as we’re filling the stadium, as long as we’re continuing to grow as a program and as long as I feel these student-athletes are getting the best opportunity to be a top 25 program — which I think it is — I’m going to be the coach here.”
Source: Deseret News, October 30, 2004
“I plan on coaching here for a long time.”
Source: Deseret News, November 15, 2004
“Meyer told the New York Times last week, ‘I’m chicken. It would be excruciating to leave. When I left Bowling Green, it was the worst three months.’”
Source: Deseret News, November 17, 2004
“Wrote Mike Sorenson, ‘It’s been well-documented that Meyer’s wife, Shelley, was a big factor in Meyer taking the Utah job. She wanted to move back to the West because she enjoyed the family’s time in Colorado when he was an assistant at Colorado State. Shelley and the kids seem to love the outdoor lifestyle, and she has told friends and neighbors that they aren’t going anywhere.’”
Source: Deseret News, November 17, 2004
“Mike Sorenson wrote, ‘Some folks may question his loyalty because he left Bowling Green after just two years. But Meyer has said, the six months after that was one of the hardest times of his life, because he felt so bad for leaving. Does he really want to go through that again just two years later?’ [um, yes.]”
Source: Deseret News, November 17, 2004
“I plan on coaching at Utah next year. There’s been no contact made. Period. It’s almost comical. We’re playing the biggest game in the history of the school and we’re talking about that. That’s nothing to do with nothing. [Shelley Meyer served her employer 2-weeks notice the next day.]”
Source: Deseret News, November 17, 2004
“Wrote Antony A Engligh, “Shelley will be heavily involved in Meyer’s next move. ‘She’s a coach’s wife, that’s what she does for a living,’ Bud Meyer said. ‘It’s a big job. It’s a job that she (wants) to be informed, but she does a very good job.’”"
Source: St. Petersburg Times, November 17, 2004
“There’s been no contact and I really don’t anticipate any. I’m certainly not looking for a job. I love where I’m coaching.”
Source: Deseret News, November 18, 2004
“When asked by a young boy if he was going to be the coach next year, Urban replied very directly, ‘I plan on being the coach at the University of Utah next year.’”
Source: Urban Meyer Coach’s Show, November 18, 2004
“As long as I’m married, I’ll be the coach at Utah. [exact date unknown, source is a local sports show]”
Source: Memory, November 20, 2004
“Though Meyer is frequently mentioned as a candidate for more lucurative coaching jobs, he denies any contact has been made. ‘I’m not out looking, so if someone’s waiting for me to pick up the phone it’s not going to happen,’ said Meyer. And there’s little chance of that over the next four days. Meyer plans to turn his telephone off over the holiday break while he spends lost time with his family. He isn’t expecting a lot of calls, anyhow. Word is out that he loves Utah, Meyer explained, and schools are funny about that. Despite speculation to the contrary, including a Florida fan-based Web site that reported a deal with Meyer has already been reached, the coach insists he represents himself. And that no talks have taken place. ‘I don’t have an agent. People are trying to get me to have one, but I’m just not comfortable with that kind of stuff,’ said Meyer. ‘I’m coaching my team and taking care of my family.’”
Source: Deseret News, November 24, 2004
“[When asked about Florida:] No. I have no real comment. All I keep saying is I plan on being the coach here at Utah.”
Source: Deseret News, November 30, 2004
” It’s not about prestige and it’s certainly not about money. In today’s climate, you don’t have time to build a program. Too many coaches are let go before they can build a program.”
Source: Deseret News, December 2, 2004
“I’m going to a place where I think we can really win, because no good can come of losing. Losing is never good.”
Source: Deseret News, December 2, 2004
“I’m the head coach at Utah. If for some reason I’m not, I still anticipate coaching in the bowl game.”
Source: Deseret News, December 3, 2004
“This was a family decision. University of Florida has been in the mix since the day, uh [pause] after our rival game. … There was no intention to hurt a great university [Notre Dame], including this university [Utah the afterthought].”
Source: ESPN SportsCenter, December 4, 2004
“Recruiting at Utah doesn’t start ’till January. That’s when these kids that wanted to go to USC and UCLA find out they won’t be and then the Utes get them.”
Source: Press Conference, December 4, 2004
“I didn’t want to put Utah into disarray. I had to do this now to protect Utah.”
Source: KUTV News, December 4, 2004
“I am certainly excited about the opportunity to be the head coach at the University of Florida. There were a lot of factors that went into this decision that our entire family had to consider. The opportunity to compete at the highest level at one of the nation’s most-respected academic institutions is something that was attractive for us.”
Source: GatorZone.com, December 4, 2004
“The quality of recruits within the state of Florida and the Southeast Region offers a tremendous recruiting base for us.”
Source: GatorZone.com, December 4, 2004
“There’s no such thing as luck, there’s a big word called investment. If there was luck, why work as hard as we do. I’ve never been involved in a game where the most invested team lost.”
Source: GatorZone.com, December 4, 2004
“[Referring to Florida:] This is a place you can put your feet down hopefully for a long time.”
Source: ESPN, December 7, 2004
“I have no aspirations to coach in the NFL None whatsoever. It’s all about the pageantry and tradition of college football, which in my opinion is second to none.”
Source: ESPN, December 7, 2004
“This is a place you can put your feet down for a long time. It’s over [moving every 2 years]. I’m not doing this again.”
Source: GatorSports.com, December 8, 2004
“If he goes to the NFL, you can call me a liar,” his wife, Shelley, said. “That’s not happening.”
Source: GatorSports.com, December 8, 2004
“In the words of any Bowling Green football player today: ‘I thought we were your family.’ Bowling Green’s players are understandably angry at Meyer for leaving. Every day he would preach team loyalty. Meyer carried his we-are-family concept to the extreme, even bunking in the same dorm with the Falcons during preseason workouts.”
Source: Toledo Blade, December 13, 2004
@1usctrojan …
I think I’m in love!
Where were you when all the Gator fans in my life were giving me such crap about Nick Saban??? I looked up Meyer’s coaching moves, but didn’t get the quotes. I’m going to copy all this, print it out, and carry it in my purse. The next time those pious Gator fans start that “Saban lied” stuff, I’m not saying a word. I’m just handing them the paper and walking away. I may not even wait for them to start mouthing off–they’ve been steering clear since the championship game. Maybe I’ll just mail out copies of this.
Thankyouthankyouthankyou
@Seeryer …
Well, that just sucks. Guess I’ll get the extra visit with the munchkins in 2011. Meanwhile, in 2010 Bama’s kinda getting screwed.
Now where are all those Big 10 fans carrying on about the easy schedules in the SEC?
Tell you what’s funny…..Lane is married to a Gator, FIL was a Gator QB….hmmmm, maybe he learned from them how to play the game out there, lol. Tell you one thing, as a proud Trojan alumna, I’ll be damned if I let my spouse mouth off about my Alma Mater, dude would be sleeping outside with the dogs – forever.
@1USCtrojan,
We all know. Urban is a total egomaniacal a-hole that somehow has gotten a pass from the media. I think the media never wanted to piss off the big man upsatairs and they thought the big G-O-D was a Gator cause The Chosen One chose Urban. He won two titles in a conference that was down while Nick was gone. Seriously, look at UGA, UT and FSU since Urban has been there. As for LSU, would you rather Miles coach them or Saban coach them? The Dogs by far have had the best roster of the three traditional rivals but UF owns GA yet he did lose to Richt once. FSU and UT have been shells of the programs they were when Spurrier was in Gainesville. He has had an easy ride until Dec 5, 2009 when the Yellow Hammer came down upside his head. He will start to be called out for the arrogance he has so proudly displayed over the years.
Gotta love it. CUM is getting punched back in the face by his own tactics…and his minions are squealing like schoolyard girls.
Jevan Snead is laughing at you, John. You remember, Jevan, no? The same guy that CUM told was his main QB recruit, and that Tebow was being recruited as a LB.
How about James Wilson? GOD wanted James to be a Gaytor – allegedly.
Kiffin owns the cavernous empty spaces between your ears…and we’re loving watching you squirm.
Too bad home rentals aren’t as cheap as the space between the Gaotor fans ears, though.
@1usctrojan …
Oh, you’re another girl. Well, forget that part about being in love. I’ll just be eternally grateful. So tired of hearing the Florida fans rag on Saban as though Meyer is the coaching equivalent of the world’s best Boy Scout.
I’m a woman of intelligence, taught that my opinon counts and respect for who I am…don’t know about you southern belles, but we women of Troy are loyal, and we have wonderous ways of swaying our men….and earning their respect for our opinions, which does not include blind loyalty to our husbands opinions. We will be heard if that which we hold dear is insulted – by anyone.
Yes, well if you’ve been around CFT for long, you know I’m also a pretty bright penny with a healthy measure of self-respect and no fear of speaking my mind. I’ve never been blindly loyal to anyone’s opinion. And we Southern women are world-famous for our Scarlett-like gumption and winsome ways with men. It’s not something we need to brag about.
I don’t recall insulting either you or USC, so I’m not sure why you suddenly seem to have your panties in a twist with me. But if Lane Kiffin is someone you hold dear, I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with a lot of insults going forward. As the old saying goes, when you lie down with dogs …
Anyway, thanks again for the Meyer quotes.
Oscar Meyer is a whiner ………..
@brdcstr …
John who???
Are you talking about Taylor?? Like he’s a Florida fan?? Are you kidding?? LOL
Did you just fall out of a turnip truck??
John Taylor regularly slams Urban Meyer. Just ask the Florida fans. And no, I’m not one of them. I’m a Bama diehard. I don’t have any love for Urban, but everyone in the SEC thinks Kiffin’s a weasel. We wanted him to stay at Tennessee because, as overratedgators said, he’s highly amusing. But he’s still a weasel. I’m surprised Cable didn’t rearrange his jaw.
@Deb…forgive me, misread your post, we have been flooded with SEC trolls and their tedious pontificating, which is laughable considering their own coaches are hardly choirboys…I jumped on you in error. I do not condone Lane’s conduct while he was in the SEC, and while Lane was hardly polished, he certainly did NOT conduct himself at USC (2001-2006) as he did while a coach in the SEC. I can assure you, that behavior will not be tolerated at SC or the PAC-10. We do not like drama queens.
Liar Liar, Urban Meyer, lol.
@1usctrojan:
Since you are a Trojan fan, please tell me why the hiring of Lane Kiffin makes you happy.
You can toss all of the stones you would like at Meyer flip flopping, but one thing you cannot do is change the fact that he is a successful head coach at UF and his two previous stops.
Now that brings us back to Lane Kiffin, exactly why do you think that this was a great hire for USC? Here are some questions for you to consider:
1) As a HC, has he done anything to impress?
2) As an OC, has he done anything to impress?
3) As a position coach, has he done anything to impress?
When you answer items 2 and 3, please try to consider Norm Chow’s influence on USC’s O as well as talent accumulation.
Bash Urban all that you want. I can wake up tomorrow and go and look at our two BCS trophies has earned at UF since arriving in 05.
You just woke up with Lane Kiffin as your HC. If I understand this correctly, his record to date stinks as a HC and in one year at UT he made the NCAA’s compliance office speed dial list. Happy sailing!
@1usctrojan …
The SEC is a colorful conference … I rarely troll beyond its borders LOL The lion’s share of my attention goes to the pros, so it’s about all I can do to keep up with articles on the major SEC teams. However, Kiffin was so entertaining when he was here that I’ll probably check out heads on him from time to time. But unlike the Vols fans, I’m not bitter about his departure from Tenn.–only greatly amused.
Though I was raised a diehard Bama fan, as a child I was quite taken with SC for a time–much to my family’s annoyance (it was the white horse). Have to admit I’m having a hard time picturing the Crazy Little Lanie we had in the SEC heading up the program you’ve always had there. It will be interesting to see how he conducts himself. I just don’t think he’s going to be another Pete Carroll … but you never know.
If you folks haven’t seen this yet, don’t have anything in your mouth when you watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVRCKWm4stE
This whole tread is very funny for several reasons.
The only reason to put Meyer, Saban and Kiffy in the same sentence is because their are football coaches of high profile programs. That is where the similarities end abruptly.
Meyer and Saban both have NC hardware to prove their prowess.
Meyer and Saban both have lead different D1 teams to BCS bowl victories, with Saban leading two different teams in the toughest football conference to BCS titles.
Et tu Kiffy?
Again, USC should be very happy about this hire….NOT.
It seems no one is willing to address the fact that Kiffin’s wife and father in law are Gators…and his daddy has coached in SEC country for many years…one would think that he was appraised of the proper behavior of an SEC coach, lol. As Debbie noted, the SEC is a “colorful” conference, I tend to term it more as a conference of drama queens. To each his own, that is not the case in the PAC-10.
Debbie, I was on campus at USC in 1970 when that historic game was played versus the Crimson Tide, the Trojans were the first integrated team to play in Alabama. Interesting, our first All American from USC was Brice Taylor in 1925…an African American without the use of his left hand…..
It would also be nice if we had our victory song back from y’all….”Tusk” has been played by the Trojan Marching Band at the end of a victorious game since 1978 when the song was recorded by Fleetwood Mac and the TMB, and we have two Platinum Records to show for it. Will you now begin to play our fight song “Fight On!” ? Might as well. The white horse might cost you a bit, Traveler has a hefty endowment to house him like a king.
Kiffin’s immaturity is well documented and Ed O’s issues, dating back to Miami, are enough to question 1) who would hire these guys and 2) why would any parent allow their sons to play for them.
That said, Urban Meyer brought this on all by himself. Makes me think that people that call him Urban Cryer know what they are talking about. A blatantly obvious cry for attention.
Egads, 1USCTrojan, don’t call me Debbie! Deb is a user name. It’s no more short for “Debbie” than yours is short for … Trojannie. LOL
That 1970 game was a bit before my time. But I’ve just been reading about the history of integrating the Bama team. It must have been incredible to be part of something that historic. I’ll have to read up on Brice Taylor.
The South is a place of colorful, eccentric people and SEC coaches reflect that. I wouldn’t say “drama queens” in every case, but it probably applies to Kiffin and the bizarre goings-on surrounding Urban the last few weeks. You certainly had a colorful coach in John McKay–and I mean that with respect. One of my favorite sports quotes was when he was asked what he thought about the Bucs’ execution and he said he was in favor of it.
Love Bama’s Big Al. But your horse is gorgeous and “Tusk” is a great song. But Bama still has the Bear and 13 championships, so I’m happy with our legacy. My dad’s from Alabama, but I’m a Floridia native and went to a Big 12 school. Brother married a Bama grad, though, and they have season tickets, so I finally got to my first Bama game this year. Won’t be my last
@ Deb
I really did not believe that you were naive at all.
On a separate matter I am looking forward to the Tide being on my Nittany Lion schedule for the next two years. I can only watch games against the Northwest Pennsylvania School for Vocational Technology or whatever the hell else small school they play every year.
Though we may get stomped this next year with new QB, LB’s, and some question marks in the secondary. In the long run it will only benefit the program.
1usctrojan:
A couple of points.
1) Tampa isn’t SEC country. It is 2+ hrs away from the nearest SEC school and home to the USF Bulls. Prior to the Bulls it was a split between Gator and Cane fans.
2) I have made note several times of Kiffy’s pack with the devil to end up with such a fine wife.
3) I note that you have completed ignored any question regarding Kiffy’s performance qualifications and why USC should be excited based upon them.
@stnmmc …
Oh you’re a Penn State fan! You’ll get a kick out of this. The phone rings. It’s my very confused mom. My dad is watching Penn St. v. Iowa. She likes Paterno and wants to root for him. But she assumes Penn St. is the Pittsburgh home team. And she doesn’t understand why Iowa seems to be wearing what appear to be Pittsburgh uniforms. Bless her heart! It took a few minutes to explain that Pittsburgh’s college team is Pitt, Penn State’s colors are navy & white … and I don’t know why Iowa’s uniforms are near dead-ringers for the Steelers’. LOL
Reading up on Bama history, Bear always had them playing schools like Penn State, Michigan State, and USC. I’m glad Saban is getting us back to some variety in our schedule. It does make for stronger programs.
Deb, here is a video you might enjoy…
Great special on the historic 1970 game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnOpZvEulvY
Brice Taylor:
http://tributetotroy.com/wiki/index.php?title=Brice_Taylor
USC’s history and tradition matches Alabama, with (11) National Championships (one is shared with Bama even though we beat the Tide AT Bama in 1978), (7) Heisman Trophy winners and the most players (11) in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Not bad for a top academic university (ranked #26 in the country) that happens to have a fine history and tradition in football.
Florida, you have a good team, but you have never had an undefeated season in all your history, we have had three, and according to ESPN and SI, USC is the program of the decade, 34 consecutive wins between 2003-2005, and Tim Tebow did not accomplish what Leinart did….37-2, with both losses for a total of 6 points.
boring, boring boring, boring
@ochentacinco …
Gee, why is it not surprising that a Bengals fan–especially one who adores #85–would have a short attention span for anything involving football history and tradition? If you’re bored, just change the channel.
@1usctrojan …
Thanks for the info!! I didn’t realize USC had the most players in the Hall–though it’s not surprising. I live and die by the Pittsburgh Steelers, so I’m thankful for Lynn Swan and future Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu among others.
No matter what happened after he left the sport, O.J. was an extraordinary football player. I once came across an old encyclopedia of the year 1968, and it devoted more copy to Simpson and his impact on the college football that year than to either Dr. King or RFK. Reading that made me realize what a pivotal sports figure he was. For ESPN not to include him in its top 25, college football players shows them for cowards. What he became doesn’t change what he was.
As the only unbeaten, untied team in 1966, Bama should have 14 championships. A great account of that year and the politicization of the process is “The Missing Ring” by Keith Dunnavant. Your old rival Ara Paseghian does not come off smelling like a rose in that one.
As for your current crop of NFL QBs, Sanchez is most impressive to me. He doesn’t have Palmer’s skills … but, gee, how can you not like Mark Sanchez? He’s sure a gutsy player. He won me over with a preseason performance against the Ravens. Most rookies would have quit on the spot. He has tenacity. I like that in a QB. I’d take one Sanchez over a dozen Colt McCoys. Leinart? We’ll see–if he ever gets on the field.
@Deb
Sorry, wrong guess on the Bengals. Nice shot. I am a big fan of football history and tradition, having seen most of it.
Just tired of your constant display of credentials and qualifications. We get it. You are a writer. We understood long ago.
But, sometimes it looks like you are blogging to yourself. Is 1usctrojan really another person or are you talking to yourself?
If you are it makes it freaky interesting and I won’t change the channel.
@1usctrojan
Thanks for ignoring my questions about why Trojan fans are excited to have Kiffy take over their program based on his prior performance.
BTW, the only reason that you went 37-2 is because you play in an awful conference. Here are some facts….
1) The only Pac-10 team to appear in a BCS title game was USC…a remarkable 1-1.
2) The Pac-10 BCS record sans USC is 3-4 with no other team winning more than one game.
Go ahead and compare that to the SEC. How many teams have won the title? What is the record in national title games? What is the over all record?
Again, USC’s record was and will continue to be padded by playing in a piss poor conference. This is one of the main reasons Laney ran to the touch football conference.
@ochentacinco …
Nope, 1usctrojan is another person.
Would you please copy and past where I’ve listed my credentials and qualifications? Thank you.
@Ochentacinco …
Other than doing a “right back at ya” when 1usctrojan talked about being smart and independent, I haven’t said anything in this thread credential-wise other than “I went to a Big 12 school.” I haven’t even mentioned being a writer.
As for other threads, yeah, when some guy came on telling me Texas was the real champ because an ESPN poll said so, I told him I studied polling methods in college and went to town. And when some propagandist came on giving inaccurate data linking cancer and abortions, at first I tried to refute simply by saying I’m a cancer survivor familiar with cancer data. Since she shot that down none too graciously, I countered by saying I’m a writer who’s been contracted by medical research orgs. to write books so I know a lil somethin’ about this data.
Wouldn’t have mentioned either of those things if other smart asses weren’t on here pretending expertise they don’t have. I don’t claim to have spectacular credentials, sport. I just happen to have credentials that made me knowledgeable on the subjects those people were BS-ing about.
I used what I had when I needed it, darlin’. If you consider that a “constant display,” that’s your problem. Like I said, change the channel.
@Deb
Here’s a quick fix “…However, being a writer/editor who has written books for medical research organizations does.”
Like I said we get it.
I appreciate some of your points and see that they are hear felt, but 5hr energy isn’t for everyone.
Bama had a great year, so enjoy.
As far as history goes, Alabama wasn’t in the conversation in 1966. The “game of the century” was and the season was all about ND and Michigan State. This year finishing third is a failure. Times change.
MOM! Deb is throwing me off of her site!
@ochentacinco …
Thank you. I asked you to copy and paste all references to my credentials and you did.
That you would characterize ONE mention as a “constant display of credentials and qualifications” and post it as a “quick fix” implying it is one of many says much more about your ego than mine. The two instances I referenced above are all anyone will find on CFT.
The Michigan State/Notre Dame “game of the century” ended in a tie when Parseghian threw the game. Alabama, coming off a National Championship, was the only undefeated/untied team in the nation. The ’66 season, which was wrapped up in the integration politics of the time, remains controversial. Apparently you’re not as well-versed in sports history as you claim. Gee, what a surprise.
What a sad little man you are. Yeah, we get it.
Please address your penile dysfunctions or whatever else led to all this unwarranted distortion and resentment with a therapist. Sorry, that’s a credential I don’t have.
@ochentacinco …
Thank you. I asked you to copy and paste all references to my credentials and you did.
That you would characterize ONE mention as a “constant display of credentials and qualifications” and post it as a “quick fix” implying it is one of many says much more about your ego than mine. The two instances I referenced above are all anyone will find on CFT.
The Michigan State/Notre Dame “game of the century” ended in a tie when Parseghian threw the game. Alabama, coming off a National Championship, was the only undefeated/untied team in the nation. The ’66 season, which was wrapped up in the integration politics of the time, remains controversial. Apparently you’re not as well-versed in sports history as you claim. Gee, what a surprise.
What a sad little man you are. Yeah, we get it.
Please address your penile dysfunctions or whatever else led to all this unwarranted distortion and resentment with a therapist. Sorry, that’s a credential I don’t have.
@ Deb…you go girl! But, there is one point that I wish to throw out there to you regarding 1966 – and it also addresses the irritating Gator “weak conference” mantra…..the SEC was a weak conference when Alabama was dominant, one could say it was the “SEC1″ , but anyone with any FB knowledge at all, knew that they were a great team (sound familiar?)…but the weak conference caught up to them in 1966 when other teams were dominating over the next three years. Bama was passed up because of this – and The Bear realized this – even apoligizing to the fans for the weak schedule which kept them out of the NC discussion.
Bama did not play anyone outside of the SEC during the regular season, and when Coach Bryant was looking outside the conference for a worthy opponant, no one would play Bama outside the SEC because the team was segregated.
So, the omission for consideration for the NC in 1966 was twofold, 1) wins vs a weak conference and 2) the team was still segregated, and the country was not about to reward that fact. Politics were indeed a part of that period of CFB.
Gator, you are laughable and ridiculous, USC stands alone, we have no need to explain or defend ourselves because of the conference we play in, just as Bama had no need to do so when the rest of the SEC sucked. Alabama and USC are tied for most bowl wins over every other university in the country, and guess what genius? Bowl games are played versus the best teams outside the conference.
*Deb, read “Turning of the Tide” by Don Yaeger with Sam “Bam” Cunningham and John Papadakis; although it was written with the perspective of two Trojan players in that game, it is complementary to The Bear and what he was attempting to accomplish. I’m proud that the Trojan mantra of anyone, anytime, anywhere made us a part of that historic game.
@1usctrojan …
Thanks! And you’re right … “The Missing Ring” discusses the weak conference issue as well. Wow, you really know your football history! I’ll put “Turning of the Tide” on my list. My brother may have read it. He leaves me in the dust on Bama history and college football in general.
Think I’ve read that the Bear and John McKay were good friends. Now there’s one of the more colorful characters in football history. And I mean that with great respect. Some of McKay’s quotes were hysterical.
The more you remind me of all this SC history, the more I think … Lane Kiffin? Are you happy about this choice? Would you have preferred Jack Del Rio?
Yes, Bear Bryant and John McKay were good friends, John McKay was born and raised in West Virginia when he was a child…till his family found a burning cross on his front yard (JMK came from a devout Catholic family), they fled WV and came out west.
Coach McKay understood what Bear was trying to do, and the only way a change would come about. I must say, we (USC students, alums and fans) were scared to death that our team would be murdered out there by the KKK, our entire backfield were African-Americans, including our starting QB. I’m glad we did not get our wish to remain home. That game changed history.
I had the pleasure of visiting the Bear Bryant Museum when I was out there one time, people were very interested when I told them my USC connection, I even one upped them, I asked where Bear Bryant was buried (I knew), I also asked them to guess where John McKay was buried…Coach McKay’s dying wish was for his ashes to be spread over the FB field of the Coliseum…he had regretted leaving USC for the NFL the rest of his life.
As for Kiff, he is known to us, he and Coach O were on our staff from 2001-2006, they both know what to expect, and that they will be on a short leash as far as behavior…our boosters and alums have opened their pocketbooks to bring in the staff Lane wants, 1.5 million for a OC gives him a lot to work with, the generosity is there, but those same boosters will not tolerate the behavior Lane exhibited in TN.
Lane won the job, and I can guarantee you, he will be gone if he pulls what he did in TN. We will not go back to those twenty years of FB irrelevance, many of us feel those years were not wasted since our academics skyrocketed considerably during those years, but with academics rising along with the endowment, we longed to return to our great tradition of elite CFB. As you stated, the SEC is a colorful conference, the PAC-10 is not, and frankly, we would be uncomfortable any other way.
As for Jack of course we love him, but he had 15 mil reasons to stay. Jack may end up in L.A. after all, the money man involved in building an NFL stadium and bringing a pro team to Los Angeles is a Trojan, and he and the L.A. Lakers owner are just a few USC boosters who are willing to pay for quality coaching staff for their beloved alma mater.
Bought “Turning of the Tide” last night. It’s out of print, but got an inexpensive new copy from a used bookstore. Not sure when I’ll get to it–have a box of used books from a post-holiday sale sitting on my floor, still unopened LOL But I’ll read it eventually!
The Bear knew his stuff, took no bull, gave no quarter. And he won. Saban is a lot like that. I like that kind of colorful.
Can’t imagine how terrifyng that game must have been for those players. At the risk of further inciting Ochentacinco … years after the civil rights days, I interviewed a midwestern Klan leader. They were pretty toothless then, but just setting up the interview was like trying to make a mob connection. Scary people.
Well, there are different ways to be colorful
Then there’s Spurrier. He knows his stuff, and he slings a lot of bull. You can always count on him to pull some little trick out of his pocket, like: “Why, I believe I saw that kicker markin’ his spot with some tape. Is that allowed?” Of course, his kickers did it a million times before he discovered an obscure rule that says it’s not allowed. So now he’s going to use it to pick at Nick … like a kid with a feather tickling a sleeping giant. Ol’ Steve is a crafty fellow–and pure entertainment.
Then there’s Miles, who can’t manage a clock. When it all goes, um, south, he goes on the news and declares “I don’t know who told that QB to spike the ball” as they split-screen with him violently gesturing for the QB to spike the ball. That’s stupid colorful. Love to watch it. Wouldn’t want it coaching my team.
And where but the South would you find a coach named Houston Nutt?
Yes, I love colorful, 1usctrojan. It’s part of our Southern charm
Agreed Deb. I love the South, traveled throughout and feel at home in all the tucked away little hamlets. There is no “character” quite like a Southern “character”….charming! I just don’t care for it in my FB coach, lol.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to the BIG-10 though, they were the architects of modern CFB as it is today. The state of Ohio has produced the greatest coaches in the game, several of the coaches you name are branches from that great tree. I have to laugh at those that mock the BIG-10, the number of NFL greats as a conference is far and beyond what every other conference has produced, and it’s not even close.
Fight On!
1usctrojan …
Have really enjoyed our conversation. Mad respect on your football knowledge–and envy on your travels. Still haven’t made it to the Bryant Museum. My sis-in-law arranged a private tour for my parents with one of Bear’s old cronies–but I got the skybox ticket to homecoming so can’t complain
Please forgive me if I continue to poke fun at Little Lanie for a while. He’s such a delicious target. But it’s nothing against USC. Hope he can fill Pete’s big shoes for you. Maybe he and Saban will cross swords again.
Good luck!
Roll Tide!!
@Deb, I’ve enjoyed it to girlfriend! Do make that visit to the Bryant Museum, it is a pilgrimage for an CFB historian, I have a few other visits to make on my bucket list as well. Go ahead on Kiffy…he has to prove he can keep his mouth shut and win games to stop the trash talk…but I’ll take it from a Bama fan rather than a Gator with no history to speak of, and that coach of theirs…”Liar Liar, Urban Meyer!”
By the way Deb, I punked a bunch of guys on a FB bet, and won $500.00! Went out and purchased the Coach handbag I was coveting!
Note to the guys….don’t judge a woman’s knowledge of FB by her appearance. Ladies who wear silk, high heels and wear Paloma perfume can know just as much as you, if not more, about the game, lol.
1usctrojan,
You’re like an Urban Meyer stalker. TMI…
Have fun out there with Kiffy!
1usctrojan,
Seems odd to me that Kiffy “won” the job based on his HC or OC performance to date. I would love to know “how” or “why” he won the job.
Usually, there is some quality body of work as a coach that can pointed to justify taking the helm of such an esteemed program.
If he “won” the job, how come he wasn’t offered it “first”? Seems to me that he was a desperation choice after two rejections.
Riley made sense, former USC coach who has performed very well as a HC.
Fischer made sense for similar reasons.
Kiffy? He hasn’t done anything.
Kool-Aid tastes great…have some more. It is the only objective explanation of why USC fans would be happy with this.
There are several huge differences between Bama and USC. Bama is fully resurrected with a top shelf coach coming of a national title. USC is in a decline and just hired a jacka$$ who has accomplished nothing as a HC. Both have history. One is going forward, the other will accelerate backwards.
You need to focus on your own history (what little you have) and your present Gator, particularly with that delicate little drama queen you have as a HC. USC has a century’s worth of great eras that has earned us the title of one of the “all time great” programs in CFB. Pete Carroll himself recommended Sark or Kiff for his replacement….and he was absolutely correct when he stated his replacement would be in place in a matter of days, and the coach would come from the college ranks. One check written by a USC booster, Dr. Jerry Buss to Tennessee for the buy out, we had our coach in a matter of days.
1usctrojan:
Nice that you keep dodging my question about Kiffy.
If Urban is a drama queen, then what is Kiffy? At least our drama queen has proven to be a great coach. How about Kiffy?
I would suggestion that you seek intervention if you honestly think, in a sober state of mind, that Kiffy is a better coach than Urban.
Yes, Urban had a little crisis, but that pales in comparison to the behavior displayed by Kiffy since he left USC and got out in the limelight.
Face it, you have an loud mouth, unproven coach who was your 3rd choice. I will try to make you feel better and say Urban was our 3rd choice as well, but at least he had a decent HC resume that included a BCS win.
I am more than happy with UF’s history. In the last 30 years, UF’s program smokes USC. Even if you look at the last decade, I will take our two BCS championships to your 1.
If you go back further than that, you can talk. Then again, so can Notre Dame. BTW, trying to hide behind history is rather pathetic when coming off a “tied for 5th in Pac 10, facing probation, our head coach abruptly quit, and we had to settle for our 3rd choice for a replacement who is a jacka$$” type of season”
I hope that you remember 90s well as you are going to relive them. I hope that fondly remembering your history carries you through this dry spell. Just remember to consider O.J. and quality of his character!
Football and Basketball Teams Placed on Probation at Florida
AP
Published: September 21, 1990
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Sept. 20— The University of Florida football and basketball programs were placed on two years’ probation by the National Collegiate Athletic Association today, but escaped more serious penalties that could have shut them down altogether.
It was the second time in six years the N.C.A.A. imposed sanctions on the Gators, who had faced the possibility of a two-year death penalty, which would mean suspension of the programs, for repeat violations.
Instead, the latest penalties were relatively light. In 1984, the football program got two years’ probation, lost scholarships and was banned from appearing in post-season games and on live television.
The N.C.A.A. banned this year’s football team from appearing in a bowl game after the season, but took no other action against that sport. There was no ban on television appearances for either sport.
Limit on Scholarships
The basketball program’s scholarships will be restricted, and it must repay at least $287,000 in revenue from the 1988 N.C.A.A. tournament because Vernon Maxwell played while he was ineligible. The Gators will be permitted 13 scholarships in 1991-92, two fewer than the maximum, and 14 scholarships in 1992-93.
The N.C.A.A. also cited the former basketball coach, Norm Sloan, and the former football coach, Galen Hall, both dismissed last October, for unethical conduct. If either takes a new coaching job in the next five years, his hiring must be approved by the N.C.A.A. Committee on Infractions. Hall is now an unpaid graduate assistant at Penn State; Sloan is coaching a pro team in Greece.
Although the school’s punishment could have been much more severe, the university president, John Lombardi, took exception to the post-season ban on the football team.
”We are not entirely comfortable with a set of penalties that appear to us to penalize the innocent for the sins of a prior generation,” Lombardi said. ”This is particularly difficult when you recognize that these players and these coaches are now in the middle of their season, and these penalties at this time in their season appear to us to be a particularly difficult blow to accept.” 15 Days to Appeal The school has 15 days to appeal the sanctions or ask that the ban against the football team be delayed. Neither Lombardi nor the athletic director, Bill Arnsparger, would say whether the school will appeal.
The N.C.A.A. has imposed sanctions on three other programs this year. Maryland’s basketball team wil not be allowed to participate in post-season play for two years and is forbidden to appear on live television for one year. The University of Nevada-Las Vegas is banned from post-season play next March, and Clemson’s football program is on probation for a year.
An internal inquiry into the school’s basketball and football programs began in July 1988 after the United States Drug Enforcement Administration opened an inquiry into allegations of drug trafficking on the Florida campus.
Maxwell, who plays for the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets, reportedly told a Federal grand jury that Florida coaches made secret payments to him dating back to high school and that some of the money he received while in college had been used to buy drugs.
Six months later Maxwell told The St. Petersburg Times that he had secretly received money from a sports agent who later was indicted, along with three other South Florida agents, for fraud in connection with payments to Maxwell and five former Florida football players.
The agents later pleaded guilty to reduced charges.
1usctrojan:
Nice that you keep dodging my question about Kiffy (even 20 year old news) . Keep tossing everything out there at me to avoid answering this question.
In terms of probation, only one out of the two teams in this discussion is being investigated by the NCAA or has the investigation finished up?
It is really odd that you bring up probation when your only title in the past 30+ years is marred by one of your star players being paid which will likely result in NCAA sanctions. Glass houses, stones…ring a bell?
As for your topic…
Is this an attempt to somehow mitigate O.J.?
Yup, the probation was awful, coach was fired. Spurrier was hired, resurrected the program won a national title in 1996 (#1 vs. #2)….same amount as ol’ Petey. Urban has won 2. We can trim the 30 years down to 20 if it makes you feel better.
Do you really want to drag basketball probation into this? Really?
Oh, and at the end of the day, Kiffy is still your head coach. Have fun sinking to the bottom of a crappy conference. Wait…you are already there!
Can I type in your response?
“We at USC have a rich tradition, blah, blah, blah…. You at UF have none…. I will ignore any request to defend the hiring of Lane Kiffin otherwise I would have to throw up all of the kool aid that I have comsumed.”
@gator_prof …
Hey, not trying to get into this USC/Florida stuff, but no matter what he did after football, O.J. Simpson was one of the greatest backs ever to play the game.
If you go back to the film and watch the guy run and read up on his career, he was AMAZING on the field. Seriously. Amazing. I could watch that stuff all day. And he had a huge impact on the game at the time he won the Heisman and later in his pro career.
You can’t blame USC for the insane things O.J. did post-football anymore than you can blame the Bills … or than you can blame Virginia Tech for Michael Vick’s dog-fighting conviction.
Just sayin’ …
Deb, the Gator is a neanderthal…he focuses on one player out of SC who turned out to be a despicable human being, OJ did not get into any kind of trouble at USC. We’re not the U, we have so many great players that have come out of our program who played at the hightest level in the NFL, and high character guys.
Lane was a successful offensive coordinator at SC from 2001-2006, he was recommended by PC himself, and Pete’s own son has chosen to remain at SC with Kiffin, and that’s all anyone needs to know. We’re USC.
deb:
correct…but I was having fun.
1usctrojan:
Re:”Lane was a successful offensive coordinator at SC from 2001-2006,”
Nice to see you keep up with the times. Wrong , he was the OC from 2005-2006.
If you know your USC football, you realize that he was successful only because he inherited Norm Chow’s players who were well coached to say the least. I believe that even you could be an OC for the 05 team considering the returning talent. Two HT winners and assorted other studs. That may have been one of the most talented offensive teams of all time.
As for 06, wasn’t that the beginning of the end? You know, the unexpected losses to un-ranked crappy teams? The 9 points put up against a really bad UCLA team was especially impressive.
Nice to see you know your coach and his background. This is exactly as I figured.
Let me see if I have this correct. He was a OC for two years and it is difficult to attribute his first year to his excellence since their were returning NCs with two HT winners. His second year as OC was marred by two embarrassing losses to unranked teams. He then stunk up Oakland…if that is actually possible. He then did an excellent impression of a sea gull at UT…flew in, was very loud, crapped all over the place and then left.
Yes indeed, the future is bright for USC. Like I said, get used to what happened last season because more is on the way.
@gator_prof:
USC: 11 National titles, 7 Heisman winners, more bowl wins than any other Div 1A school (31 I believe).
You sound like the typical college tool that suddenly finds his voice when his school is doing well…”All the other programs suck!” you whine, wearing your peach colored sweatshirt with a large “F” on the front. During the “off” years, however, when your team is floundering, you’re nowhere to be found.
Can you tell me what schools have NEVER scheduled a DivIAA school in order to pad their schedule? (hint: it aint Flowerida…)
You have to admit, Florida has played a few AA powder puffs. And didn’t the Pac 10 go 5-0 year before last in bowl games?
Hey guys, first time on the forum. I must say, all these comments are rather entertaining, gives me something to read when I have considerable downtime at work. As for the whole Pac-10 vs SEC people and all the arguing and what not, it really is getting old! But, since like many of you have done so, I figured I’d throw my two cents in as well.
I’m afraid that I would have to side with Gator on this one, even though I hate the Gators with a passion (being a UGA fan, go dawgs). The Pac-10, while looking stronger to me, even if they lost more bowl games than last season, just doesn’t stack up to the level of competition that the SEC has. SEC is known for their smash-mouth style of play, can’t really say the same about the Pac-10.
As for the USC fan talking about drama queens, SEC isn’t really known for that either. Ya, Meyer flaked a bit, not sure why you would brand an entire conference for that. But that whole argument was made in spite of having an off season and hiring an unproven (so far) HC and not having a point against the Gator’s argument.
I really hate the Gators, but I also have almost equal disliking of USC. Sorry, I know I know, I’m an a$$ for saying such things, just my opinion is all. USC hate mostly originates out of the thought that USC, for many years know, has been thought to be a NC contender no matter what the circumstance and being in a weaker-than-the-SEC conference. Personally, I think a one or two loss SEC team should beat out USC for a NC bid these days. But, who knows, USC might rise again, I’ll give the program about a 5% chance of winning another NC under Kiffin, 50% chance of winning a conference title.
By the way, look out for Georgia next year, they have real potential to win the East! Might be breaking in a new QB, but all the talent required for a NC run is there (it’s the coaching that is lacking…) One more disappointing year and we might be looking for a new HC ourselves, even though CMR is one of the winningest coaches in the past five seasons or so.