Getty Image,Kevin Cox
Let’s face it: since Urban Meyer left Florida following the 2010 season, the program hasn’t been the same. And, after the Gators were dominated in a season opener against the Utah Utes Thursday night, some are clamoring for the program to bring him back.
Urban Meyer was incredibly successful in his six seasons in Gainesville. After inheriting a program treading water under Ron Zook, he led the Gators to national titles in 2006 and 2008, and the unofficial title of best program in the nation at the end of the decade.
But, since Urban Meyer left the program following the 2010 season, the team has not had the same level of success. They’ve cycled through four head coaches in Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain, Dan Mullen, and current coach Billy Napier. None of them have been able to win the SEC or get to the College Football Playoff.
At this point, the program may need a big name to get back into national title contention. And, for all of his faults, Urban Meyer always wins games at the college level, and probably would at Florida were he to return.
Meyer last coached for the Jacksonville Jaguars in a disastrous 2021 that saw him get cozy with someone who was not his wife at an Ohio bar, allegedly assault his kicker, and put a terrible football team out on the field.
The last time we saw him in the college game, he was running the Big Ten with Ohio State, where he went undefeated against Michigan in his tenure. His physical style of football would translate well, and considering Auburn employs Hugh Freeze, who could complain about his off-the-field issues.
Twitter agrees in a big way that Urban Meyer and Florida should reunite.
Florida needs Urban Meyer back
— Blake (@SteelersMafiaaa) September 1, 2023
#Florida needs to do whatever it takes to get Urban back! #BringbackUrb pic.twitter.com/LtU2XUZ4Ik
— Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses) September 1, 2023
It's time to fire Billy Napier, the University of Florida and Tim Tebow deserve better than this.
Bring back Urban Meyer!
— Nick Adams (Alpha Male) (@NickAdamsinUSA) September 1, 2023
Florida gonna hire Urban Meyer again
— B.J. Houston (@bjhouston33) September 1, 2023
Yeah urban Meyer gonna be back at Florida soon 4sure
— Damian (@dmanB98) September 1, 2023
Florida need to stop playing and gone ahead and bring back Urban Meyer cause this is embarrassing
— Nekel Griffey (@NekelGriffey) September 1, 2023
Florida is going to pay Urban Meyer 15m a year huh?
— Joey McGuire Era 🌵 (@Jaznuker) September 1, 2023
Urban Meyer needs Florida. Florida needs Urban Meyer.
— BEEZY (@Burke_Franklin_) September 1, 2023
Time will tell, but it does seem like something that could definitely happen. Meyer is somehow only 59, and surely has one stop left in him somewhere.