Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has a few ties to this year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament -- specifically, this week’s Sweet 16 round. Meyer’s current employer, Ohio State, will take on Arizona this Thursday. Meanwhile, Meyer’s former employer, Florida, plays this year’s Cinderella, 15-seed Florida Gulf Coast, on Friday.
Meyer’s rooting interest in the Arizona-Ohio State game is a no brainer, but his connection to FGCU has the Buckeyes coach pulling for the Eagles over the Gators. Meyer’s daughter, Gigi, is a FGCU volleyball player. So when the two teams tip-off Friday night, Meyer will be going with the underdog.Urban Meyer’s daughter, Gigi, a Florida Gulf Coast vball player, says her father called and texted her, “I’m an Eagle! Go Eagles!!”
— Kevin Armstrong (@KevinGArmstrong) March 25, 2013
Meyer coached at Florida from 2005-10 and won two national titles with the Gators before retiring for one season and working with ESPN as a color analyst. Had Billy Donovan‘s team been matched up against anyone else, we’re sure Meyer would be pulling for Florida.
But, family is family, and FGCU has been far and away the most fun team to watch this tourney. So they have that going for ‘em.