If there's any most sought-after college football coach this offseason, Urban Meyer is probably near the top of the list. Whereever Meyer goes, success tends to follow. He went 17-6 in Bowling Green, led Utah to a 22-2 record, including a 12-0 undefeated season capped off with a Fiesta Bowl victory. Then Meyer had his greatest success in Florida, leading the Gators to two BCS National Championships in his six year tenure in Gainesville.
Meyer retired last season due to health problems, but it's not like he's given up on the bug of football coaching. Ohio State and Penn State have been circulated as potential landing spots for Meyer. I doubt anyone ever thought the Arizona Wildcats ever entered the picture. But Pete Thamel of the New York Times reported that Arizona Athletic Director Greg Byrne did pursue Meyer.
Urban Meyer met with Arizona’s athletic director, Greg Byrne, in Miami early last week to discuss the Wildcats’ job, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting, but ultimately decided he was not interested. The person said that Meyer, who has expressed his desire to return to coaching, was intrigued but informed Byrne in a telephone call Monday night that he was not going to pursue the job.
Not a bad sign at all that Byrne went after Meyer. Arizona could use a high-profile hire to prove they're serious about building a tradition of excellence in Tucson. Even if you don't get Urban, you show the Wildcats fanbase that you're dead serious about finding the best possible candidate to be your coach.
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