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Meyer On Notre Dame: Next Question

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 7, 2009

FORT LAUDERDALE - Gators coach Urban Meyer once called Notre Dame, where he worked as an assistant, his "dream job."

Several weeks ago during a radio interview, Meyer repeated that comment, causing such panic in Gator Nation that the next day he qualified the statement, apologized for the reaction it caused and vowed his contentment at Florida.

But even during BCS championship week, the subject would not go away.

Q: That Notre Dame dream job got some play a few weeks ago. What was the context of that?

Meyer: Move on. I'm just trying to answer questions.

Q. Just generally speaking, though, is that place still very special for anybody who worked there such as yourself?

Meyer: Sure.

Q: Why is it special?

Meyer: Next question.

TEBOW NOT PERFECT

Tim Tebow has faults.

"Tebow is a jokester, tries to make everybody laugh," OL Maurkice Pouncey said. "But sometimes he's not that funny. We just laugh because it's Tim Tebow."

Pouncey offered another insight into his super-hyper quarterback in the huddle.

"Tebow is wild man. He'll run to the huddle and jump on you, head-butt you and start yelling the play.

"Tebow needs medicine."

Pouncey might have been joking, but he was more on target than he realized - at least on some occasions.

It turns out that Superman has a motion-sickness issue.

"No roller coasters," Tebow said. "I actually rode one last year before Michigan at the Capital One Bowl, and all night it was bad."

EXTRA HOURS

UF offensive coordinator and new Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen reached into his pants pockets and pulled out BlackBerrys for each hand.

"I know which one is which," he said. "They have different rings."

It has been a whirlwind for Mullen since he accepted the Mississippi State job - his first head coaching position - shortly after the SEC Championship Game. While continuing to work with the Gators, he also began involvement in the Bulldogs' recruiting efforts.

"It's great," Mullen said of the opportunity. "It's hard to explain. That's what keeps you going. That adrenalin. For me, the feeling right now is we are playing in the national championship game. That's an unbelievable experience. As soon as it ends, I get on a plane and get to go be a head coach for the first time. So the adrenalin is going to be flowing all the way through signing day. I imagine after signing day, I might collapse for 24 hours."

GET BACK TO ME

After surprising Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, Utah finished the season 13-0 and, understandably, is suggesting it would have been a viable representative in the national championship game.

Florida DB Joe Haden admitted he was impressed.

"That did not look like the same Alabama team," Haden said. "Utah is a great team. But when they play big teams every week, maybe we can talk. Not to take anything away from them, but their schedule doesn't help them."

LOEFFLER JOINS STAFF

Confirming earlier speculation, the Gators on Tuesday confirmed Scot Loeffler has been named as their quarterbacks coach. He will begin working with the Gators on Friday.

Loeffler, who spent this season coaching quarterbacks for the Detroit Lions, has previous college experience at Michigan, guiding QB Chad Henne and also working with Tom Brady and Brian Griese.

The position opened when former Gators quarterback coach Steve Addazio was promoted to offensive coordinator, replacing Dan Mullen, who is taking the head coaching job at Mississippi State."

"I'm excited to join the Florida coaching staff," Loeffler said. "I'm very familiar with the offensive philosophy and feel very comfortable with the coaching staff."

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