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Meyer Believes Gators Are Built To Last

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 9, 2009

The University of Florida Gators, college football's newest gold standard after a 24-14 victory over Oklahoma, collected their riches Friday morning. First the $30,000 crystal creation of sparkle and prestige that is the BCS National Championship trophy was handed over. The Football Writers' Grantland Rice Trophy, the National Football Foundation's MacArthur Trophy and finally the Associated Press national championship followed.

All hail the Gators.

"I'd like to thank our players; this is all about them,'' bleary-eyed Florida coach Urban Meyer said "It's one of the greatest group of young people I've ever been around. Everything they have coming to them, they deserve. The team fought through our last two ballgames, was the epitome of college football. They fought through adversity.''

Now the Florida program sits proudly as king of the hill, a three-time national championship winner with two titles coming under Meyer in the last three seasons. Every bit as impressive is the potential for even greater success. The defense that limited Oklahoma to 14 points Thursday – 40 below its season average – did not have a senior starter. On offense, only four starters will be lost to graduation.

Granted, linebacker Brandon Spikes, wide receiver Percy Harvin and quarterback Tim Tebow are juniors who could leave school early for the NFL, but for the most part, the Gators expect to return next season mostly intact. And quite likely as the No. 1 preseason pick.

Two years ago following a national title victory, Meyer suggested the Gators were a great team but not necessarily a great program. Now, from many vantage points, Florida has positioned itself as college football's budding dynasty.

"I'm not sure what the word 'dynasty' means,'' Meyer said. "I'm very confident now. I wasn't two years ago, that's why I made that comment. We all saw what was coming. We knew the backups were not ready to play.

"I don't feel that way this year. I see some good players. I see a program that's set now. We're good. I didn't feel that way two years ago. I felt that was just an unbelievable effort by some very good players and a 21-group senior class. This is a 13-member senior class. Next year is going to be a very good senior class, but behind them is another group, another group. We don't have that void.''

Even the losses Meyer is expecting before next year might not even be that damaging.

While Spikes and Harvin are considered likely early departures, Tebow's just might stay. And besides, Florida does have a history -- basketball coach Billy Donovan's "Gator Boyz'' returned to school for an encore performance and won a second straight NCAA title.

"That's a good spin; I might use that,'' Meyer said, laughing. "As far as the guys coming back, that's going to happen here in the next few days. In all honesty I'm not going to start using angles because I don't want to ever influence a guy to make a decision. Whenever you make a life-changing decision, place of employment, having a family, getting married, all those big decisions you have to make, you put it all on the table and you make sure you're doing it for the right reason."

Meyer cautioned against making such a decision based on the advice of friends and family.

"Four years ago guys were making decisions without my input," he said. "'Some uncle told me to do this' and 'my peoples can get me in the second round.' I look at him going 'What peoples are you talking about?' Peoples they're going to be talking to really can't advise them.

"I love this team because they're very professional. Brandon Spikes, Percy Harvin, Tim Tebow, Brandon James, those guys all make that decision. I don't have any idea what the decision is yet. But they'll make it the right way, and that's family, coaches, people that know what they're talking about, not some guru or some peoples.''

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534.

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