Urban Meyer a Bad Choice to Potentially Take Over at Michigan State.

 Now that the Mel Tucker era has come to an end, the cascade of names to replace him have begun to infiltrate the public sphere.  Though many of those names have no chance of taking the helm of the Michigan State football program, the speculation is bound to continue until a firm candidate is chosen.  One former coach that has appeared to capture some interest, is the former Ohio State head man Urban Meyer.  Although his coaching resume is unquestionably outstanding, his coaching tactics and past behavior should give the MSU brass some pause before letting him steer the troubled, but storied football program.

Due to his arrogance and ego apparently, Meyer has adopted some peculiar coaching methods.  This included repeatedly engaging in abusive behavior toward players.  The most notable instance saw Meyer kick a player’s leg multiple times.  When confronted about the incident by the affected player, Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo, Urban said, “He would kick his leg whenever he wanted because he was the head ball coach.”  However, such actions ultimately resulted in Meyer’s demise as the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach.  Given this type of behavior, Urban Meyer does not belong on any football field in any capacity, let alone, as a head coach at a major university trying to recover its reputation that was damaged due to multiple scandals.

The recruitment of solid and all around character players seems to be a major weakness of Meyer’s.  In total, 31 of Urban’s players became embroiled in criminal matters.  The severity of those situations ranged from mild to the most severe.  Because of this history, someone other than the former coach must be picked to make sure the football program can redevelop as an elite, well run operation once again.  Picking a head coach with such a checkered past could exacerbate the university’s problems.

From a practical perspective, can simply bringing in a big name coach attract the best and brightest players?  Given the fact that higher profile universities have more resources and facilities, the answer is probably no.  Unfortunately, colleges have to consider the financial benefit it can offer its players.  If financial gain isn’t maximized for athletes, the best coach in the country couldn’t attract elite players.  Without a doubt, this is the scenario that must be taken into consideration when searching for the next head coach.

Is Urban Meyer one of the best coaches to ever coach in the college game?  There’s no question, the answer is yes.  However, from now on, any team that considers hiring him must ask themselves if they can take on his baggage, and the potential consequences of it.  In Michigan State’s case, they cannot afford to deal with what a Urban Meyer hire may bring, when in fact, they may be able to get the same results by bringing in someone less controversial.