COLUMBUS, Ohio — When he first arrived at Ohio State in late 2011, Urban Meyer knew the question was coming. So when he was asked to explain the health problems that led to his downfall at Florida, it wasn’t a surprise that Meyer had an answer that was both plausible and logical.
Given the success Meyer found in Gainesville—including a run of two national championships in three years—programs from around the country came calling to claim their branches of Meyer’s coaching tree. But rather than trust his replacements for the likes of Dan Mullen and Charlie Strong, Meyer tried to overcompensate, overextending himself and wearing himself out in the process.
“If you hire quality people, they will be head coaches someday; you can’t stand in the way,” Meyer told The Columbus Dispatch in 2012. “The key is when you lose someone, how you replace him.”
For the first time since coming to Columbus, Meyer’s ability to do just that will truly be put to the test.
With the news that Buckeyes offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tom Herman will be announced Houston’s head coach on Tuesday came the realization that Ohio State will need to replace its most valuable assistant. The 2014 recipient of the Broyles Award, presented annually to college football’s top assistant, Herman made a name for himself this season by transforming redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett into a Heisman Trophy candidate and one-time third-string quarterback Cardale Jones into the…
Continue Reading: Urban Meyer Under Immense Pressure to Hire Great Replacement for Tom Herman
