How Florida ended up landing Urban Meyer

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Dec 15, 2004 | by Pat Dooley Gainesville Sun

Foley knew that he had new competition for the coach he wanted. Until that day, he felt the biggest threat was that Meyer would stay at Utah, where the school had improved facilities and was promising more money. But Meyer had long ago stated that Notre Dame, where he had been an assistant, would be his dream job.

At 5 a.m. Thursday, a plane chartered by the UAA from Jacksonville landed at the school's private hangar at the Gainesville airport. Foley and associate athletic director Greg McGarity quickly jumped on board and took off for Salt Lake City.

Foley and McGarity knew they weren't the only suitors with an appointment that day. On the previous night, Meyer had informed Foley that Notre Dame officials would be meeting with him Thursday night.

The game and the competition had changed.

REACHING A DEAL

By 9 o'clock, Mountain Standard Time, on the morning of Dec. 2, Foley and McGarity were at the Meyer house. Foley started the meeting by letting Meyer know that he was the choice to be Florida's next coach. More than three hours later, Foley offered a contract proposal to Meyer.

The seven-year deal would average out to $2 million a year. The first year's guaranteed salary would be $1.5 million plus another potential $250,000 in bonuses.

Foley left the meeting realizing that this certainly was not about the money. And that the next few hours would be agonizing while Notre Dame made its pitch.

Foley and McGarity checked into the Marriott hotel in Salt Lake City under assumed names. While rumors swirled (including a report about a plane that was supposed to be carrying Foley that turned out to be delivering organs for transplant procedures), the two UAA officials went to see the Pierce Brosnan movie "After the Sunset."

Foley felt good about Florida's chances, but he also knew Meyer had special feelings about both Utah and Notre Dame. As the Irish officials were making their pitch at the Meyer home, Foley found himself looking at his watch every few minutes.

At 10 p.m. (MST), Meyer called Foley and set up a meeting for Friday morning. He said the meeting with Notre Dame had been a good one. He and his wife had a lot to think about. At 10 a.m. (noon back in Gainesville) Friday, Dec. 3, Meyer welcomed Foley and McGarity into his home again.

As they sat at a table, Meyer told Foley, "I'm close to walking across this room to shake your hand."

He had a few more questions, none of them about money. After 45 minutes, Meyer looked at his wife, got up and walked to Foley with his hand extended. Florida had a new football coach.

But Meyer was worried about his Utah team. He wanted to hold the announcement back until after Sunday's announcement that the Utes would be playing in the Fiesta Bowl. This was to be their day. Their BCS-busting day. He didn't want it ruined.

Foley said he understood. But when he turned his cell phone on as he drove away from the Meyer's home, he saw that he had 26 messages. Web sites were reporting that Meyer had accepted the job.

Foley turned the rental car around and returned to the Meyer house.