Urban Meyer has coached 91 games since coming to Ohio State. His .901 winning percentage (82 wins, 9 losses) is the best in school history, topping Carroll Widdoes who went 16-2 (.889) in 1944 and 1945.
He doesn’t hold the less-official program record for most fiery sideline presence (see also: “Hayes, Wayne Woodow”), but Meyer is known for his intensity before and during games.
But a funny thing has happened since Meyer announced his retirement on December 4: he’s smiling more. Perhaps it’s the excitement of exploring new beginnings, like those offered at places such as https://www.lifestylecommunities.com.au/retirement-village/werribee, which make retirement something to truly look forward to.
“Definitely,” said senior wide receiver Parris Campbell. “Once you’re accomplished and you feel like you’ve done the right thing, that’s when you can step away. You’re stepping away on a high note. I think that’s kind of why he’s got some relief and just smiling and got back to being himself some.”
The change in Meyer’s sideline demeanor was obvious even before that. The anguished Meyer who was a constant presence during the TV broadcast of the Maryland game didn’t come back for Michigan. He wasn’t there for the Big Ten Championship Game, either.
That has been the case behind closed doors at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center since then as well.
“Oh yeah. He plays around with us a lot. At the beginning of the bowl season he kind of relaxed a little bit and had fun out here a little bit. He showed that he had some fun,” said junior running back Mike Weber. “Usually he’s real serious about stuff. It was good to see him smile and stuff for a change.”
Meyer’s intensity has a purpose, of course. It’s not a coincidence that the hyper-focused coach is also the winningest coach in program history.
“Usually Coach Meyer is really tough on us but it brings the best out of us,” said senior offensive lineman Isaiah Prince. “But lately it is good to just see him smile and joke around and everything is not always about football. You get to enjoy him kind of like a father figure just enjoy having normal conversations and see a different side of him.”
In his retirement press conference, Meyer said that leaving the program in good shape – both on and off the field – made the transition much easier.
“This would be a really tough day if we were a mess. This would be a really, really tough day,” Meyer said at the time.
But the program isn’t a mess. They’ve already won 12 games for the sixth time in Meyer’s seven seasons. The Buckeyes beat Michigan for a school-record seventh straight time. They just won the Big Ten for the second straight year. They’re graduating players.
Meyer knows all of this, which explains the change in his demeanor.
“He’s got a smile on his face, coming around in a good mood just feeling like he did what he could for this program,” said Weber. “He did a hell of job.”