Meyer announcement tests Florida fans

In 24 hours, the emotions of Gator Nation have been jerked from low to high to a sense of bewilderment and concern.

One day, University of Florida football coach Urban Meyer, the Nation's commander-in-chief, called it quits. At a press conference today in New Orleans, he accepted a leave of absence, citing health reasons, and announced he believes in his gut that he'll be back next season.

Fans in Tampa are ecstatic about his return, even though there's no date and questions and reservations remain.

Francheska Blanco said she almost cried when she learned the news of his health problems. Once she learned of his leave of absence, she was relieved.

"He brings a structure," said Blanco, of Tampa. "He brings organization. He brings the honor, the spirit. He just has that drive."

Blanco, 24, has been a Gator fan since 1992, when her family moved to Tampa from New York. She has a sister who graduated from the University of Florida and two years ago Blanco met Meyer. She was impressed with his demeanor and class. He's all family, she said.

"He's an awesome coach," said Blanco, who regularly wears an orange Gator cap. "He's very disciplined.

"He's what makes the team," she said.

Hadiza Dasilva, a 1993 Gator criminology graduate, said she doesn't believe Meyer is coming back and today's move was an attempt to ease the nation's concerns.

"I would hate to see him leave," said Dasilva, of Tampa. "He has come in and put us in a championship every year."

But Dasilva said that from what she knows of his illness it doesn't seem possible that he will come back to endure the pressures of coaching.

"Is it truly a leave of absence?" Dasilva asked. "I don't believe he is going to come right back. I think it's going to be indefinite."

Dasilva's friend, Lori Spencer, has the same concerns.

Spencer feels the illness is too great for him to be able to continue. She said Meyer and Gator administrators are waiting to see how his health progresses, but she doesn't see a silver lining.

"To see him go, would hurt the school, the campus, the Gator Nation in general," said Spencer, 29, of Tampa, who attended the University of Florida from 1999-2001.

Stan Vars has been a Gator fan for 20 years. He doesn't flaunt his allegiance, but he tries to not miss a beat.

He likes Meyer and credits him for the football program's ascent in recent years. Although he'd like to see Meyer stay, he doesn't know if it's right.

"I'd like to see him back," said Vars, 62, of Tampa. "But if he has a health problem, no. You don't know what's going to happen. Is he going to be on the whole season?"

If you can bring in Bob Stoops, the highly regarded University of Oklahoma football coach or someone else, the recruits will still come, Vars said.

"I think he should resign," Vars said. "Leave of absence you still don't know what he's going to do."