Yes I know Strong (former defensive coordinator at Florida) just took the job at Louisville, but I found these quotes interesting from Louisville Athletic Director Tom Jurich:
“Right now there are a lot of emotions for Charlie and his family,” Jurich said. “They’ve lived there, and that’s their home. He’s done four different stints there; that’s the thing I’m worried about. I want to keep him, but I understand the pressure he’s probably going to be under, too.”
Strong should have been a head coach many years ago and no one has ever been able to give me a reason why he didn’t get that opportunity until this year.
It was very frustrating for Strong to get passed over year after year while lesser accomplished assistants got jobs.
So I totally understood why he took the Louisville job even though Florida wanted to keep him. He couldn’t wait any longer and obviously he did not know Urban Meyer would step down so abruptly.
The question begs should the Gators try to get him back?
I think they should.
I have no issues with Urban Meyer stepping down. You only have one life, so if you seriously believe that your job may cut your life short you have to quit.
But you have to understand that the players and recruits at Florida are kids. When you are between the age of 19-22 it is hard to wrap your mind around someone quitting a great job for health reasons.
This is where Strong comes into play. The players know him, the recruits know him and the Florida nation knows him.
The best chance to keep everything going smoothly is to keep everything in house.
Knowing Strong I doubt that he would turn his back in Louisville. He isn’t that type of guy, but if I was Florida I would do everything I could to pry him away.