FanShot

ESPN chronicles "rise" and fall of Meyer's Gators

133

It's hysterical that a story allegedly chronicling the "rise and fall" of Urban Meyer's Florida program mentions the year 2006 once — and only in the context of it being when Aaron Hernandez's father died — but the ESPN The Magazine piece from former Orlando Sentinel reporter Jeremy Fowler — whom you may remember Meyer labeling a "bad guy" for his role in, uh, reporting a Deonte Thompson quote about John Brantley being a "real quarterback" — claims to do both. Really, it's just the latest "exposé" on the tumultuous times in Gainesville at the twilight of Meyer's tenure.

What's truly new here? Quotes from players who were around to witness both of Meyer's bizarre resignations, more confirmation that Percy Harvin and wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales had a physical altercation, an allegation that Riley Cooper also had such an altercation with Gonzales, players saying that Gators "received perks and meals here and there in Gainesville," a hilarious mention of Joe Haden making it rain (with one-dollar bills, Haden says) in a New Orleans strip club after the 2010 Sugar Bowl, and some specifics about the unchecked churlishness (Ronald Powell cussing out a strength coach, players burning cards Meyer gave them) of Florida's 2010 recruiting class a checked-out Meyer allowed.

But the takeaway you're supposed to get — that Meyer built a kingdom by recruiting players with "edge," playing favorites and mind games to maximize what he got from "ballers," and let it decay almost as swiftly as he constructed it — is essentially no different from the infamous Matt Hayes piece from 2012 on how Meyer "broke" Florida football. How many times will this observation be made, one wonders?

Trending Discussions