Tampabay.com
DECEMBER 31, 2009

Urban Meyer's hospital visit after SEC game more serious then he indicated based on 911 call

In the early morning hours following Florida's 32-13 loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship game, Gators' coach Urban Meyer began having chest pains, then was unresponsive when his wife Shelley tried to awaken him, prompting her to call 911 and have him taken to the hospital, according to a 911 call.

Meyer previously said he checked himself into the hospital that day and was treated for dehydration.

More on the 911 call.

Meyer announced this week he is taking an indefinite leave of absence to concentrate more on his family and his health.

CBS analyst Gary Danielson said Meyer should take a serious look at the lives and careers of FSU’s Bobby Bowden and Penn State’s Joe Paterno.

“If I was Urban Meyer what I would do before I came back is sit down with Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno and ask, ‘What’s the secret?’,’’ Danielson said. “You guys have been in the middle of college football for all these years; you still have so much joy and intensity for it. What am I not seeing?’ What Bobby brought was - yes he was intense, yes he built his team to compete at the highest level - but he always had an outside interest. Whether it was his golf or his speaking or his family vacations, he could get away from it. Same with Joe with the library and raising money. These young coaches who have worked their way up need to find an alternative in their life besides family and football. When they are with football they think they miss their family. When they are with their family they think they miss football. They need something else.’’

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