Florida Gators
South Alabama
Meyer's next bowl game is working BCS National Championship for ESPN
Thursday, January 6, 2011 | Football, Women's Tennis, Scott Carter
Former Gators coach Urban Meyer – it still feels a little strange typing that phrase – moved out of his old office and into another one outside the football offices at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium earlier this week. He also went to buy a new car for the first time in many years, turning in the keys to his sharp silver Mercedes he drove as part of his deal at Florida.
Meanwhile, new Gators coach Will Muschamp has moved into the head football coach's office and is now running the show. While Muschamp has been busy hiring a new staff and hitting the road to recruit, Meyer is also planning a road trip.
Meyer is working the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game between Auburn and Oregon on Monday for ESPN. As Meyer transitions from coaching to spend more time with his family, he plans to work periodically as an analyst for the all-sports network.
“I'm going to try that for a little while and see where I'm headed,'' Meyer told NFL.com's Rich Eisen on Tuesday. To listen to Meyer's appearance on Eisen's podcast, click here and skip to the 28-minute mark.
As for coaching again, here is what Meyer said: “Somewhere maybe way down the road, not now. Absolutely not now. Thank Gosh we won that game against Penn State because the taste in your mouth [would have been bad] knowing your last game was a loss.''
Meyer reiterated his immediate plan is to do some TV work and watch his daughters, Nicki and Gigi, play college volleyball and help coach son Nate's baseball team this spring.
Eisen quizzed him about the opening in Denver and the potential of coaching Tim Tebow once more. Meyer said not even that job can get him back into coaching at this point in his life.
“An opportunity to coach a guy like Tim Tebow is once in a lifetime, and I had that shot,'' Meyer said. “I'm just hopeful they hire the right guy, I'm sure they will. He deserves the best. I'm a big Tebow fan. He's going to be a winner if given the right opportunity.''
Meyer appeared on Eisen's weekly podcast, following an appearance by former NBA great Charles Barkley.
Meyer also discussed his relationship with Patriots coach Bill Belichick and his interest in working with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, whom he spoke to Monday about some of his concerns related to agents and the college game.
Eisen asked how Meyer developed a relationship with Belichick.
“When I was hired at Florida, he called me and said, 'Hi, This is Bill Belichick.' I felt like saying, 'This is Pete Rose.' I didn't believe it,'' Meyer said. “I thought it was one of my friends or something.''
