Florida coach is a bully

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Florida football coach Urban Meyer needs to be cut down to size. Or cut-blocked, in football terms.

The hot-headed Mr.-Know-It-All coach verbally assaulted a member of the media and actually threatened him while at spring practice.

Apparently, Orlando Sentinel's Jeremy Fowler wrote an article, quoting Florida WR Deonte Thompson who called QB John Brantley a "real quarterback."

I guess it was a shot at former Florida QB Tim Tebow (who I still think is going to be a bust at quarterback in the NFL -- keep reading Fan Fanatic Sports for more opinion on Tebow as the NFL Draft approaches in late April). Remember, Tebow and Meyer had a father-son relationship during Tebow's career with the Gators.

I guess Thompson really didn't take a shot at Tebow, but instead meant that Brantley is more of a prototypical QB that Tebow.

But the written word can be interpreted in so many different ways.

Whatever.

The journalist was doing his job, however. He quoted an athlete. It's not his fault that people that read his article thought Thompson was attacking Tebow.

So for Meyer to confront the reporter on the sideline and try to intimidate him and make his look like a fool in front of everyone, sort of gives you a sneak peek into Meyer's character.

Meyer obviously used his power as the king gator to try to minimize and bully the reporter.

Obviously, Fowler did nothing wrong. He wrote what was said. Yes, he did his job. It's not his fault that people read things different ways.

What really bothers me is that Meyer lashed out and told Fowler, "If that was my son, we'd be going at it right now."

Now that's a threat and totally uncalled for.

But wait. Everything's OK now, Meyer later requested a meeting with Fowler and I guess Fowler said everything is fine between the two now.

Reporter's view: Say everything is fine, considering you have to cover Meyer's team all season and need access to the coach and players throughout the season in order to do your job.

Yes, Meyer flew off the handle. I get it, he was sticking up for his player.

But he went about it the wrong way. He tried to bully a reporter, threaten him mind you.

It's totally uncalled for.

I've never been a fan of Meyer before -- he's always rubbed me the wrong way -- and you can bet he's lost more fans -- maybe not in brainwashed Gatorland -- in the country.

It would be real nice to see Meyer got on ESPN and say sorry to Fowler on national television. But I'm willing to bet that won't happen.

Like most coaches, they like positive press but scurry or try to sweep things under the rug when it's negative.

No hiding from this Urban, what you did was classless, uncalled for and it makes me sick.