Meyer now not quitting

NEW ORLEANS – Florida coach Urban Meyer changed his mind Sunday and said he was taking an indefinite leave of absence instead of resigning. Despite ongoing concerns with his health, he expects to be on the sideline leading the Gators when next season opens.

“I do in my gut believe that will happen,” Meyer said at a Sugar Bowl news conference.

Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will run the team during Meyer’s absence, but Meyer will be the coach against No. 4 Cincinnati on New Year’s Day.

“It’s full speed ahead. We’re going to do everything possible to win this game,” he said.

Less than 24 hours after resigning because of health concerns, Meyer changed direction. He said he was encouraged to take a leave of absence earlier in the week by the university president. Sunday, after conferring with athletic director Jeremy Foley and his family he “accepted the offer to improve my health.”

The 45-year-old Meyer said being with his players at a “spirited practice” Sunday morning persuaded him not to resign.

“To not try would not be the right thing to do,” he said.

On Saturday night, Meyer shocked college football when he said he was stepping down after five seasons as Gators coach.

After the Southeastern Conference championship game three weeks ago, Meyer spent several hours in a Gainesville, Fla., hospital because of chest pains.

Meyer said Sunday he had experienced similar problems at times this season but had not had a heart attack. However, he would not elaborate on his physical condition. When asked if doctors advised him to stop coaching, Meyer again declined to answer.

Meyer is married with three children – the oldest recently started college at Georgia Tech.

Foley said when he went to sleep Saturday night he did not think there was any chance Meyer would change his mind.

“The intent here is to make sure Urban goes and deals with the issues we discussed last night,” Foley said.

Gators quarterback Tim Tebow said he and several of his teammates cried when they found out that Meyer was stepping down on Saturday and were elated when he told them he changed his mind.

“We want him to do what’s best for him,” Tebow said. “We want him to get himself right, and when he’s right then come back to coaching, then get back into ball.”

Meyer is 56-10 with Florida, including 32-8 in the SEC and a school-record 22-game winning streak that was snapped by the Crimson Tide in the conference title game on Dec. 5.

Last month, Sports Illustrated chronicled Meyer’s coaching career and reported that he suffered from persistent headaches caused by a cyst that becomes inflamed by stress, rage and excitement. Meyer told the magazine that since the diagnosis in the early 2000s he has tried to stay composed during games.

Meyer was head coach at Bowling Green (2001-02) and Utah (2003-04) before coming to Florida.

“I had a 30-year coaching career in nine years,” Meyer said. “You just can’t do that.”