Urban-gate Update - Bitten by Gators

ESPN is reporting that Urban Meyer is the next head coach for the University of Florida. Well I've been bitten hard by Gator I thought was sleeping. I was completely convinced Notre Dame was his choice and Florida was just a good school making a valiant effort at a worthwhile coach. Among my thoughts...

• My ND source, The Backer, I still believe to have good info. But I think given the parties involved, and the fact that there were two big players in this mess, besides the Notre Dame, who were not showing there cards. The ND source, like the University itself, was convinced Meyer was theirs. Urban Meyer was out to get the best deal and best situation and therefore not leaking or leaning any direction publicly. Florida had the capital and the position to compete and aggressively did so. Thanks for all the info Backer, I'm not disappointed to have run with it.
• The hard reality of the Florida decision is not fun. When we thought Urban going to ND, it was sad, but understood. After all, it was his dream job and people in Utah could classify it as that, rather than we got stepped over purely for a bigger school with more money. Urban going to Florida is simply that: Bigger football school, BCS school, More money. Its obvious, but its much less fun and less sentimental.
• The amazing Bernie does it again. The President of the University of Florida is Dr. Bernie Machen, who was the University of Utah President at the time Urban was hired by Utah. Bernie's relationship was obviously a big thing in this decision. Apparently even bigger than Meyer's relationship with Notre Dame and his South Bend destiny. Two previous comments by Urban now make more sense. First, when he commented a day or so ago about the clauses in his contract that allowed him to freely go to Notre Dame, he said something to the effect that we shouldn't make a bigger deal out of it than it was. Simply he grew up there and used to coach there. Meaning, when he did his Utah deal he left some logical doors open, but we shouldn't over stress the importance of that. Uhh..too late, Urban we decided its your dream job. Oops. The second comment that should have meant more was when Urban basically said it wasn't just about where you coach, but also about who you coach under. This ties back into the Bernie Machen relationship.
• This isn't a good day in Utah, but at least we knew Urban wasn't coaching here next year. Notre Dame however, fired it's coach T. Willingham, because they wanted Urban. I think they believed he was theirs whenever they came calling. It seemed to be the right assumption. Notre Dame's 2nd choice unfortunately, despite being the number immediately following one, isn't really in the same world as their first choice. Snagging some guy from Iowa, or another up and comer won't suffice. Maybe the problems in South Bend speak more about the the overall program management and the parity in college football, than they do about the in ability of the coach on the field to get the desired results. Urban no doubt examined the whole picture and didn't like some of the details behind the Golden Dome.