And given the 31 arrests at Florida under Meyer’s watch, he ought to know.
Meyer officially retired (for real) from Florida in early December to spend more time with his family. Reports later revealed that resurfacing health concerns may have also played a role in his decision. For all intents and purposes, though, Meyer has continuously insisted that his current situation -- ESPN contract and all -- has allowed him to “do the dad thing”.
In a recent interview with 1070 the Fan in Indianapolis, however, Meyer indicated that college football’s “garbage” extracurricular activities had worn him thin.
It is out of control with that stuff right now and we have got to get that back on track. Twenty-five years ago, and I am sure you know, if you had to deal with some of the stuff you are dealing with the off-the-field, the agent issues, the violation issues and all the garbage that is out there right now I certainly would not have gotten into coaching. Hopefully with the powers that be and all the right people, I know one thing the NFL Commissioner has got a great outlook the way he is attacking the NFL right now and trying to bring respect and order, and I just love the way he is approaching it. If college football gets that we will have a chance to get back to that great game we all love.
A reversal to simpler times? Not likely.
But, I do believe Meyer when he laments over college football’s most pressing issues.
When a player is arrested at 3 a.m., it’s the coach who gets the phone call. When the NCAA investigates a school for impermissible benefits involving a player, it’s the coach who stands at the podium and answer questions. Coaches are the protective voice in an age where anything their players say or do is documented and scrutinized.
Now, I’m not even 25-years-old, so I wouldn’t know what college football was like 25 years ago, though I imagine it wasn’t like what it is today. Now, there’s so much media coverage and, frankly, too much money.
If Meyer genuinely meant those words, then he was right to get out when he did because there won’t be a return to simpler times. The media/college football relationship has changed too much.
Meyer coached at Florida. He ought to know.