Perhaps Ohio State coach
Urban Meyer wouldn’t be on administrative leave if he were more like another former UF coach, writes Mike Bianchi.
Running off at the typewriter
There’s one simple reason why Ohio State coach Urban
Meyer is in the trouble he’s in right now: Because he’s not as honest and candid as another great former Florida Gators coach — Steve Spurrier.
As somebody wise once said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
The fact is, Meyer has always had honesty issues. I still remember when he left UF and Gators legend and NFL Hall-ofFamer Jack Youngblood ripped Meyer, whom, at the time, Youngblood considered one of his best friends.
“Very much so,” said Youngblood when I asked him then if he felt Meyer had been disingenuous. “When somebody tells me something to my face confidentially, I expect it to be the truth. When it turns out to not be the truth, that doesn’t sit you
very high on my Christmas card list — put it that way.”
When Meyer coached the Gators, some of us in the state media used to have a saying: “Urban will say whatever he needs to say to get him through the next five minutes of the press conference — no matter if it’s true or not.”
Sadly, this is why Meyer is in the predicament he’s in. If he had just told the truth at the press conference during Big Ten Media Days a couple of weeks ago, he wouldn’t be on administrative leave and would be in relatively good standing as the coach of the Buckeyes. Meyer should have taken a lesson from the Head Ball Coach himself:
Oh, what a tangled web we weave; if only Urban were as honest as Steve!
SHORT STUFF: Speaking of UF, did you see where former Gators knucklehead
Antonio Callaway caught a touchdown pass Thursday night in his rookie debut for the Cleveland Browns? Good to see him smokin’ a defender instead of doobie for a change. And the best news of all: Nobody’s credit card was stolen either! … Shaking my head that we can’t even get through the first NFL preseason game without players protesting during the national anthem and President Trump inciting the masses by tweeting about it. Hard to believe we are now entering our third season of the NFL’s profound rendition of the Star-Spangled Blunder. … But it’s still hard not to love the NFL because, unlike the NBA, fans in every pro football market (even Cleveland) have hope going into the season. Here’s a synopsis of what fans are saying after only one preseason game: “Baker Mayfield is going to be star! … Saquon Barkley is going to be a star! … Shaquem Griffin is going to be a star! … Jordan Akins is going to be a star! … Blake Bortles is going to have a breakout season! … Ryan Tannehill is back and better than ever! … Jameis Winston looks like he has something to prove!” This sort of eternal optimism is why I absolutely love the NFL.
You know what else I love? I love that new Florida State coach Willie Taggart is tying himself to past Seminole legends and traditions. Not only has he welcomed
Bobby Bowden back into the FSU fold, he also has hired legendary longtime defensive coordinator
Mickey Andrews asa special assistant. Coming soon: Taggart calls a “Puntrooskie” against Clemson and takes his players on a commemorative Foot Locker shopping spree! … Did you see where UCF now has a national-championship bobblehead? I love the concept, but I think it would have sold much better if they had put Paul
Finebaum’s face on Knightro’s body. … The Orlando Magic are introducing throwback jerseys resembling the ones they wore in the mid-1990s. If only they could introduce a roster resembling the one they had in the mid-1990s. … The Arizona Cardinals have launched a new campaign in which fans can win a team jersey and get their photo on the scoreboard if they consume a burger consisting of five patties, five hot dogs, five bratwursts, eight slices of bacon, eight chicken tenders, 12 ounces of fries, lettuce, pickles, sauce, and 20 slices of cheese. What’s the big deal? Jerry Greene used to call that “breakfast.” … Breaking news: Adam Schefter is reporting that
Ray Lewis’ Hall of Fame induction speech still hasn’t ended!
Was thinking about this the other night: Do you know what's funny and sad at the same time? When you get a disgusting, vile, profane response on Twitter and click on the person’s profile and it says, “Father of two.’’ The psychology of socialmedia idiots is fascinating to me. Isn’t it amazing what a keyboard, some alone time, a public forum and anonymity can do to otherwise normal human beings? My buddy Rick used to say, “All men live lives of quiet desperation.” Except social media has provided volume to the quietly desperate. … I know, I know, you think I’m the stay-off-my-lawn guy when it comes to social media. Not true! I completely understand why the Florida Gators are investing $6.3 million to upgrade Wi-Fi connectivity at the Swamp. I realize that in today’s world just being at the game is not enough anymore; you have to be able to post an Instagram selfie to show people
YOU are at the game. As Gators AD Scott Stricklin so aptly put it on our Open Mike radio show earlier this week: Fans today are starting to expect good Wi-Fi connectivity just as much as they expect clean bathrooms, convenient parking and tasty hot dogs. “People don't want to go where their phone is useless,” Stricklin said.
LAST WORD: “HBO recently announced that
LeBron James will be hosting a new talk show set in a barbershop in Los Angeles and it’s called ‘The Shop.’ Apparently, LeBron's talk show is going to be him and four random guests you may or may not have heard of. You know, like when he plays basketball.” — James Corden