Ask Farrell: What to believe regarding FSU/Taggart/Meyer?
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Ever since Urban Meyer stepped down as Ohio State’s coach, the rumor mill has churned about him getting back into the game and people have not fully believed he would stay away from football for the rest of his life.
When Meyer took the job as a commentator on FOX’s pregame show in Los Angeles, the talk was that he was setting himself up for the USC job.
The rumors kicked into high gear in recent days after Meyer appeared on Colin Cowherd’s show and said he would “absolutely” be interested in the Dallas Cowboys job if Jason Garrett was fired. Interestingly enough, the segment started with Meyer being asked if Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley would be a good candidate for that job and Meyer volunteered himself for the position.
But things took an even wilder turn on Monday when Zach Barnett of Football Scoop reported that the Florida State donors are considering a replacement for Willie Taggart and that they’re shooting for the stars with Meyer’s name atop the list.
Florida State athletic director David Coburn has already come out and denied this report, but we all know that doesn’t often mean much.
That could be complete wishful thinking for many reasons: Meyer said he probably won’t coach again, he went 65-15 in six years at rival Florida, where he won two national championships, possibly another job could be getting lined up and he might not be ready to clean up the mess that’s in Tallahassee right now.
Or perhaps Florida State is not ready to part with Taggart just yet, even though he hasn’t won over many supporters by going 8-11 in his second season.
We ask Rivals National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell whether he believes the Meyer/Florida State rumors or if he believes Meyer will ever return to coaching – at USC, with the Dallas Cowboys or anywhere else?
FARRELL'S TAKE
“Despite the denial I think there’s interest on FSU’s part and why wouldn’t there be? And now that Meyer has come out and said he would be interested in the Cowboys job, all bets are off.
"I think Meyer will return to coaching, but I’m not sure if it will be in college football. He might want one last big paycheck without the recruiting in the NFL, so we could see him there. But let’s be real, any college team – short of Alabama or Clemson – would likely be very interested in Urban Meyer. FSU included.”