Meyer is on fast track to 100 wins
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 | Football, Scott Carter
In his sixth season at Florida, Urban Meyer walked off the field at Tennessee on Saturday with his 60th win since taking over the Gators in 2005.
He'll go for win No. 61 on Saturday vs. Kentucky. But more noteworthy, if the Gators defeat Kentucky, it will be Meyer's 100th career win.
Prior to coming to UF, Meyer was 17-6 in two seasons at Bowling Green and 22-2 in two seasons at Utah.
When asked about his potential 100th win this week, Meyer downplayed the accomplishment but did offer a little insight into what his vision was prior to his first game when Bowling Green played at Missouri in 2001.
"No, I did not think [about reaching 100 wins] when we were on that couch in Missouri, that we are going to get our brains kicked in tomorrow and now 10 years later I will have 100 wins. I did not think like that.”
But here we are, 10 seasons later, and Meyer is knocking at the door, set to become the second-fastest FBS coach since 1945 to reach 100 career wins.
During his weekly appearance on the SEC media teleconference Wednesday, Meyer said he is "more into the people than the wins,'' meaning the players, assistant coaches and support personnel that have helped along the way.
He shared a story about former Gator Vernell Brown, who was on Meyer's first team at UF in 2005 and developed into a team leader. Brown hopes to bring his young son to this week's game against Kentucky.
"He was really the pioneer of our program,'' Meyer said. "He was a guy that was really unheard of and came in and was the most loyal and dedicated guy that turned the corner. Those are the things I remember more.''
A look at the fastest coaches in FBS history to reach 100 wins (since 1945):
|
Bud Wilkinson |
111 | 100-8-3 |
| Joe Paterno | 122 | 100-21-1 |
| Barry Switzer | 122 | 100-18-4 |
| Bob Stoops | 122 | 100-22 |
| Phillip Fulmer | 123 |
100-23 |
|
Urban Meyer: 99-18 in 117 career games |
||
