Meyer: 'I'm not coaching next season'

TAMPA Urban Meyer is still resigning as the University of Florida football coach, but some 24 hours after his surprise announcement Wednesday, he said he wants to stay involved with the school and college football.

Meyer, who'll coach 7-5 Florida against 7-5 Penn State in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, appeared at the bowl's contract signing party Thursday evening and spent a few minutes with the media beforehand.

He sounded committed to the decision he reached last Saturday and gave to Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley on Tuesday and said the circumstances are different than they were last year, when he resigned before the Sugar Bowl because of health concerns and changed his mind a day later.

But he said he has "been asked and requested to stay at the University of Florida as long as they'll have me" and that he doesn't plan to remove himself from college football.

About what role he might have with the Gators, he said, "I've got an idea, but we'll have to wait until the new coach gets in there. ... I'm still recruiting for Florida, still calling these guys. Florida deserves the best, and they're going to get the best."

About how he could stay involved with college football, he ruled out Southeastern Conference commissioner when someone jokingly suggested it.

Meyer, 46, is stepping down after he overseeing the most successful era in Florida football history, including a 64-15 record and two national championships.

Because of his success with three college programs, his name is already in the rumor mill. He has been mentioned with the NFL opening in Denver, where he could coach former Gator quarterback Tim Tebow, and with at least one college job (Michigan) that isn't open.

Asked if he could smile about the speculation, Meyer said, "I'm not coaching next season."

Meyer reiterated that he made the decision because he wants to spend more time with his wife, Shelley, their daughters, Nicole and Gigi, and and son Nate.

Nicole plays volleyball at Georgia Tech, and Gigi has committed to Florida Gulf Coast. Meyer said he wants to make up for missing their high school years and coach 12-year-old Nate in baseball.

Asked what level Nate plays, Meyer cracked, "After I get involved, we're going to pick up the level a little bit."

Meyer said Shelley supported his decision.

"She was great," he said. "She was not great last year. That was a really tough deal last year. That had a lot to do with this year. I hope you guys (media) never have to go through what I went through, or maybe you do and it comes out the other end positive, because for me, it came out real positive."

As for his daughters' reaction, he said, "It's kind of neat to have two young ladies that you can have conversations with and it's not just emotion. I'm very proud that my two best friends are my two daughters."

He said missing Parent Day at Georgia Tech was crushing to him and Shelley, and he doesn't plan be absent when Gulf Coast has a similar day.

Meyer acknowledged that his assistants are in a "tough position" and advised them to "No. 1, provide for their families, and No. 2, do the best they can as a professional to represent Florida, but they have families to take care of as well."

He did not, of course, rule out a return to coaching but said he really didn't expect to get calls any time soon. And if anyone does call in the near term, they might not find him home.

"I'm going to go down to Florida Gulf Coast to check out where my daughter is going to college," he said. "I haven't been there yet. She has already committed there, so that's next."