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Seniors' Tears Flow Freely

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 31, 2007

Updated: 12/30/2007 10:33 pm

LAKE BUENA VISTA - The cheers boomed from behind the fence Sunday at Florida's practice field at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. Every few minutes for about an hour, a roar rose as the Gators honored another departing senior during the "senior tackle" ceremony.

Coach Urban Meyer, who instituted the ceremony in 2005, emerged from the closed practice field with a little puffiness around the eyes. Someone asked if tears were shed.

"Of course there were," Meyer said with a smile. "They're all private, though."

Though Meyer was tight-lipped about the ceremony Sunday, here is what is known about it from past years. Each senior is introduced by his position coach and by a younger teammate who plays the same position. Then, the senior gets a chance to say a few words. Typically, tears flow freely.

"It's a hard thing, especially for the really invested guys," Meyer said. "We obviously have some."

NON-CONTACT: A rumor has surfaced in recent days about Meyer being a candidate for the Atlanta Falcons' head coaching vacancy. Meyer squelched that rumor Sunday, saying he has had no contact with anyone from the team. He also said again that he has no interest in the NFL.

"I'm really happy where I'm at," Meyer said. "I could give you the Coach 101 speech, but mine's from the heart."

JOB HUNTERS: Most of Michigan's assistant coaches will be unemployed after Tuesday's Capital One Bowl. Incoming coach Rich Rodriguez has retained only one of outgoing coach Lloyd Carr's assistants, meaning the remaining coaches must find new jobs.

One is offensive coordinator Mike DeBord, who said Saturday that the outgoing assistants have spent most of their time focusing on the game instead of searching for jobs.

"There's been some of our coaches approached, but really we haven't been actively out there pursuing jobs right now," DeBord said. "I think it shows the professionalism that this group has."

Andy Staples

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