Burleigh understands Meyer's current challenge
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 | Men's Basketball, Football, Soccer, Scott Carter
Florida soccer coach Becky Burleigh has the No. 13-ranked Gators (12-1-1, 6-1-1) in position for a fifth consecutive SEC title if they can win their final three regular-season matches.
Since starting the program in 1995, Burleigh has won 10 SEC titles and a national title in 1998. Since the inaugural season, the only time the Gators have missed the NCAA Tournament was in 2002.
“It felt like every day something else happened,'' Burleigh said Monday. “I can remember a game in that season where we lost two key plays in the warm-up of a game.''
On Saturday night, Burleigh watched the UF football team lose its third consecutive game, something the Gators hadn't done in 11 years and a first for head coach Urban Meyer.
Burleigh can relate to what Meyer is experiencing after a run of unprecedented success.
“That's really difficult,'' Burleigh said. “I wouldn't wish losing on my worst enemies. If you haven't been in that situation as a coach, I don't think you really can fully fathom how difficult that is. Because you just take that on viscerally, and that's hard, that's really hard, especially when it seems like one thing after another.''
While Burleigh can relate to Meyer's current predicament, she has confidence the Gators will turn it around.
“Urban is a great coach. All coaches have been in this position in some form or another,'' Burleigh said. “The key is like he keeps talking about, just keep that team tight and fight through it. I'm fully confident that that's what is going to happen.
“It's about working harder, it's about working smarter. Obviously as a coach, your job is to try and find solutions, and that's what we do every day.''
