🏈 Urban Meyer wants the criticism to stop. Why should fans listen?

[TerryP]

We saw an angry, defiant coach Urban Meyer at the Central Florida Gator Club meeting in Orlando this past weekend, where he essentially put fans and former athletes on notice – if you utter one negative word about the Gators, you are not a true Gator. Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi believes the comments seemed to heavy handed, and I agree. Those who criticize are sometimes so passionate about their team, they voice their negative opinions when they feel something is not going well – simply because they want to win so badly.
Nobody is above criticism, not even Meyer. He deserved to take some heat after losing at home to Ole Miss last season. Nobody would believe that Meyer was happy after that game, and neither were Gator fans. Does that mean everyone should have said, ‘Great effort!!’ and found only positives to praise? At the time, everyone thought their national championship hopes were over.
People have the right to voice their opinions in this country, whether Meyer likes it or not. That doesn’t mean someone who launches a bit of criticism is not a true fan. The same goes for former athletes. Clearly these comments were aimed at Shane Matthews, who was critical of the program at one point last season as Bianchi points out.
At least Matthews cares enough to say something. It doesn’t make him love the Gators any less. Why should a former athlete shut his mouth when he believes things aren’t going well? Because he played for the orange and blue, that means anyone affiliated with the program is above reproach? Certainly no Gator fan out there believes that. Shall we point to the Ron Zook era? No one sat quietly back then and thought, “Yay team!” Nor should they have.
Even Meyer called the 2007 team “bad” during comments Saturday at the booster club meeting. Here is what he said: “We had a lousy season, a bad team two years ago. We found a way to win games because our quarterback was a freak and we had some good players, but that was not a good team. That was a bad team.”
I guess this means Meyer should be banished from the program. How dare he call a Gator team bad!!
He also went on to criticize Gator clubs that don’t draw as many fans as the one in Orlando, where the meeting Saturday at Cheyenne Saloon was completely packed all the way up to the third floor. “We’re evaluating Gator clubs, everybody wants to evaluate me. I’m going to evaluate you. We’ve cut our Gator clubs down because it’s very important I’m a father. We want to go to the best.
“For example, I’ve been to some horrible Gator clubs with a couple hundred people. They hand me a mic like I’m Johnny Carson. We’re not going to do that. This is the way it’s supposed to look. We’re not going to places that aren’t very good anymore.”
Maybe that was Meyer’s strange way of praising Orlando for having a great booster club. But the comments came off as critical of other areas in the state who aren’t as supportive.
Meyer knows by now his Gator fans are passionate, and not afraid to air their opinions, positive or negative. Just ignore the criticism and do your job. In the end, all Gator fans want to see what is best for their program.
What's your take on Meyer's comments? Should criticism be allowed, even by former athletes?

 

[psychojoe]

That is not an easy question. I'd say that those officially connected should keep their criticism behind closed doors. Media types such as beat writers should be able to express thier opinions. Cecil Hurt, over the years, has been an enormous supporter of Alabama, but at times he has voiced criticism, and he should be able to. Were I a former player who had concerns about what the program was doing I think I'd voice them through official channels, at least at first, but I wouldn't feel like I had to do it that way. As far as the fans and boosters, I'd expect them to be supportive, but some of them have put up a great deal of money to support the sports programs, and they certainly have the right to express displeasure when they feel it. It is really up to the HC to get his "nation" pulling together. Florida fans had a right to be upset about the 2007 season. A dictatorial attitude such as Meyer seems to be showing will come back to bite him in the years that he's not contending for the NC.

 

[TidePride50]

A dictatorial attitude such as Meyer seems to be showing will come back to bite him in the years that he's not contending for the NC. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

IMO after next season, it's Tebow to the pro's and Meyer to Notre Dame anyway. Then the SEC belongs to the Tide!

 

[TerryP]

IMO after next season, it's Tebow to the pro's and Meyer to Notre Dame anyway. Then the SEC belongs to the Tide!

While that may be true, I don't believe for a second the Gators miss a beat when Tebow leaves.

 

[Tider27]

While that may be true, I don't believe for a second the Gators miss a beat when Tebow leaves.

I can believe it, Tebow is a great leader and he'll be very hard to replace.

Now if Meyer left along with Tebow...I can definitely see them missing a beat.

 

[ElephantStomp]

I think it's fine to be critical of your team. Take for instance my favorite team...no, I didn't play football at Alabamanor did I coach there nor have I paid the athletic program a ton of money, but I graduated from the University of Alabama, does that mean I can't be critical of the team that represents the school?

Not everything with your program is going to be hugs and kisses all the time. Saban's first year I was critical of the team. When we lost to ULM I was really critical. During the short tenure of Shula I was highly critical. And last year 10 minutes into the Sugar Bowl I was critical of the team that the coaches had take the field.

If Meyer thinks the iron fist stance is going to help him and the Florida program have at it, but it'll bite ya in the butt one of these days.


RTR,
Cory

 

[CRYPTOCOSIS]

IMO after next season, it's Tebow to the pro's and Meyer to Notre Dame anyway. Then the SEC belongs to the Tide!

That's why we want to beat them NOW lol

 

[BamaCore]

Now, what Saban said could be considered walking that fine line with fans...Meyer crossed that line and kept sprinting.

 

[jocephus8179]

This just makes me wonder if he's TRYING to get the fans pissed off at him so it'll be easier to leave Florida for Notre Dame.:headscratch:.

 

[BamaDelta]

You win two national championships and go on a rant like that....wow! If any of you went to the SECCG it would be hard to call that fan base out. Maybe Urban tuned all that out. Strange.

 

[252BAMA]

Wow! What a DA jerk. A lot of those fans were UF fans before he was born. They have earned the right to say whatever they want, positive or negative, about UF.

 

[bamadezz]

Sounds like a way to get everyone all worked up before the season starts. Almost seems a tactic to me because I've yet to met a Gaytor fan that actually thinks their NOT the greatest team to ever play the sport!!!:blah-blah: