The Buckeye Battle Cry

No, it’s not the amazing Little Caesar’s 3.99 Pizza Bowl loss of the Ohio Bobcats- this is more significant- Sorry Herd fans.

During Thanksgiving, our sports minds were tuned to the beginnings of the Tiger Woods story.

Now, during Christmas, those of us in college football have received even bigger news:

Urban Meyer is stepping down as head coach of the University of Florida Gators.

Citing health issues, the coach is making this move after consultation with his family, physicians, and leadership at the University of Florida. It may be remembered that he was hospitalized following the loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.

Even though there was speculation regarding this issue being one surrounding the cyst on his brain outlined in the SI article here, ESPN is reporting that it’s related to a heart valve muscle defect.

The Toledo native grew up in Ashtabula, and was a graduate assistant at Ohio State as his first foray into the collegiate level. He eventually ended up as the head coach of the Bowling Green Falcons before jumping to Utah and Florida.

Even though it has been speculated that Notre Dame is his “dream job”, he has not pursued that opening during the last two searches the Irish have undergone.  There are even rumors that, within his contract at Florida, he had an “out” covering his departure of that position to return to Ohio State as head coach.

Many questions still swirl regarding this decision and announcement:

1. What will happen with the recruits who have given their verbal to the Gators thus far (California’s Joshua Shaw recently chose Florida over Ohio State and USC; Matt Elam is another name that might be impacted here)?
2. Who will coach the Gators in 2010? Defensive coordinator Strong has now assumed the head coaching position at Louisville; I’m not sure if there are any other internal candidates, although I know one coach who is available.
3. If it’s health related, why wasn’t Tebow able to heal him?

At any rate, we wish Coach Meyer and his family the best for this holiday season and transition in their lives.

And, speaking personally, should his health and passion allow, I hope he’ll keep Columbus in mind on that day when Jim Tressel ascends from the sidelines to the heavens.

Elsewheres- It’s still up in the air whether Joe McKnight will play this evening. Word is that he hasn’t been cleared by the USC compliance office.  According to the LA Times, it may not be a good time to be Surfer Pete these days.

UPDATE – Head Coach Pete Carroll has stated that Joe McKnight will not be playing for USC tonight as they could not get clearance in time.