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It’s safe to say that Urban Meyer has had a controversial year with the Buckeyes this season. From an investigation into allegations of illegal and illicit behavior by a former assistant, to a racial slur scandal involving a current Gator wide receiver and former Buckeye Trevon Grimes. As well as another former assistant, to admitting having a brain cyst that’s caused massive headaches, the man has gone through it all. Meyer had surgery in 2014 to treat a congenital cyst in his brain, but the headaches have returned at times in recent years.
These incidents have influenced him to ultimately retire from as the head coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes once and for all. He’s coached the team for the past seven seasons, including a national championship season back in 2014. The head coach is 82-9 at Ohio State, with a 7-0 record against Michigan and three Big Ten titles.
Urban Meyer will retire as one of the greats of his era. pic.twitter.com/4sEU8PVn9J
— ESPN (@espn) December 4, 2018
Further Details
However, Meyer will finish this season off coaching the Buckeyes’ last game against the Washington Huskies on Jan. 1 at the Rose Bowl. On Jan. 2, the head coaching job will immediately belong to offensive coordinator Ryan Day. This will be Meyer’s first time coaching in the Rose Bowl.
Meyer is scheduled to further explain his decision alongside athletic director Gene Smith at 2 P.M ET.
Day has already had a go at the head coaching job earlier this season, when Meyer was suspended for the first three games of the season following his domestic abuse cover up scandal with the team. Day, just joined Meyer’s staff back in 2017.
$38,058,402: What Ohio St would have to pay Urban Meyer if they fired him after Rose Bowl instead of him retiring. That’s the sum owed if they fired him without cause, which they would have to after investigation suspended him but absolved him of language that could terminate him pic.twitter.com/8qap3y9AHc
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 4, 2018
Third Time’s the Charm?
This isn’t the first time that Meyer will announce his retirement. Back in 2010, he stepped down as head coach of the Florida Gators on a brief stint due to heart issues. A couple months later, he stepped down to spend more time with his family.
Meyer coached his last game for Florida back on Jan. 1, 2011 at Outback Bowl against Penn State in Tampa.
He later accepted a head coaching job at Ohio State just a year afterwards. Who knows? Maybe he’ll come out of retirement once again in the near future.
Several months ago I predicted Urban Meyer would step down at Ohio State this offseason, sit out a year, and then take over at USC. We'll see what happens next now.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 4, 2018
