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GAINESVILLE — Former Florida coach Urban Meyer was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, becoming fourth Gators’ coach to receive the honor.
Meyer, who won two national titles in Gainesville and a third at Ohio State, was chosen on the first ballot. He will join seven-time winner Nick Saban, delivering the 2025 class an unprecedented 1-2 punch from the coaching ranks.
Meyer, 60, was 65–15 during six seasons at UF, highlighted national championships in 2006 and 2008.
He became the first coach in the history of the Football Bowl Subdivision to post consecutive 13-win seasons (2008 and 2009) and guided those teams to a school-record 22 game winning streak.
Meyer also left under a cloud of controversy and ill will.
Following a tumultuous 13-1 season in 2009, Meyer resigned before deciding to return for 2010. After the Gators finished 8-5, he left the school to address health concerns and spend more family time.
Yet, in less than a year the native of Toledo, Ohio, returned to coach Ohio State, where he went 83–9 in seven seasons, won the 2014 national championship and three Big Ten titles before he left the college game after the 2018 campaign.
An ill-fated, 13-game foray with the Jacksonville Jaguars was the last coaching stint for Meyer, who currently is an analyst for Fox Sports.
Including two-year stints at Bowling Green (2001-02) and Utah (2003-04), Meyer put together a 187-32 college record as an impressive as any in the modern era. His 85.3% winning rate ranks seventh, behind the likes of Notre Dame legends Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy but ahead of any coach in the game since 1965. Saban is 292-71-1 (80.4%).
While at Florida, Meyer signed 2023 Hall of Fame quarterback Tim Tebow, along with several All-Americans including receiver Percy Harvin.
Tebow is among 10 Florida players elected to the Hall of…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/former-uf-coach-urban-meyer-201700496.html
Author : Orlando Sentinel
Publish date : 2025-01-15 20:17:00
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