- Mar 27, 2016
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- 3,201
In 1989, UF's coach who many liked was fired. UF record had declined under probation, the NCAA was back at the door and so UF needed a new football coach for 1990. The hire was a no brainer. Spurrier, a UF grad, was doing great things at Duke after doing well in the USFL and Georgia Tech. Spurrier was hired and the rest was history.
Similarly in 2004, UF coach was fired as the program was trending down after a divisive hire. Spurrier was available again and Meyer with connection with the then UF president was doing great things at Utah and was available too. I preferred Spurrier, but one could not argue that Meyer was not a really strong candidate. Meyer was hired and the rest for good or bad is history.
This just shows how great it is to have an obvious next choice when you must change coaches. UF did not have or could not get their first choice for 2002, 2011 or 2015. I think it was more there was not an obvious first choice each time as there is not this time, whether for 2018 or 2019.
Similarly in 2004, UF coach was fired as the program was trending down after a divisive hire. Spurrier was available again and Meyer with connection with the then UF president was doing great things at Utah and was available too. I preferred Spurrier, but one could not argue that Meyer was not a really strong candidate. Meyer was hired and the rest for good or bad is history.
This just shows how great it is to have an obvious next choice when you must change coaches. UF did not have or could not get their first choice for 2002, 2011 or 2015. I think it was more there was not an obvious first choice each time as there is not this time, whether for 2018 or 2019.