Colleges

Meyer not interested in Falcons, NFL

By ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times Staff Writer
Published December 31, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT Redshirt sophomore Joey Sorrentino donated a Nintendo to a local children's hospital.

LAKE BUENA VISTA - If you had the reigning Heisman Trophy winner returning for his junior season, as well as 10 returning starters on defense, another possible contender at running back/receiver and a likely preseason Top 5 team heading into the 2008 season, would you walk away from it all for the Atlanta Falcons?

Apparently neither would Urban Meyer.

Despite reports that Meyer is a potential candidate to replace Bobby Petrino as the Falcons head coach, Meyer said Sunday he has no interest in that job, or the NFL period.

"Falcons job?" Meyer said incredulously when asked. "No, they haven't called."

Meyer has repeatedly said he has no interest in coaching on the pro level, saying his passion is for the pageantry, history and love of the college game. On Sunday, he said that hasn't changed.

"I'm really happy where I'm at," he said. "I'll give you the coach 101 speech, but mine is from the heart."

A KIND SOUL: One perk of attending bowl games is the gifts players can receive. But not every player rewards himself.

Following in the Christmas spirit of giving, redshirt sophomore Joey Sorrentino, a key member of the Gators special teams unit, used a $400 Best Buy gift card the players received to purchase a Nintendo.

Then he donated it to the local children's hospital.

"That's Joey Sorrentino," Meyer said. "He also gives us every bit of effort. ... They say the soul of a man? He's got a good soul. He's a good man. That don't surprise me. That's the kind of guy he is."

JOINER'S STATUS: Although his captaincy was restored for the Florida State game, Meyer said he hasn't decided if senior safety Tony Joiner will have a role as a captain in his final game with the Gators. Joiner lost the honor when he was arrested during the season for allegedly trying to take his girlfriend's car from a towing lot without paying the bill. Charges were dropped.

"I haven't made that decision yet," Meyer said. "He's the leader of that defense right now. The only thing captain gives you is when you jog out before the game, and I haven't decided that yet. He's had a great week of practice."

CARR'S MOTIVATION: There's been a lot of talk this past week about the Michigan players desperately wanting to win for outgoing coach Lloyd Carr. The people who know him best said that's Carr's motivation for this game.

"He would never, ever put himself before the team," offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said. "This is about the Michigan team playing Florida, and all he's said is he's graduating with the seniors. He will not ever say anything about, 'Let's go win this for me,' or, 'This is my last game.' He would never do that. He's about class.

"He's talked a lot about doing it for the seniors and this team. This team needs to go out with a win. That's all he's talked about. He's talked all week about how to win and the things we need to do to win. Again, he's never really put himself into this."

[Last modified December 30, 2007, 21:27:20]