Urban Meyer announced that after Ohio State plays in the Rose Bowl, he would be retiring.
Meyer, who has been dealing with health issues for years, will be replaced as Head Coach by Ryan Day. Fans have already got a taste of Day’s coaching style since he filled in for Meyer during his 3-game suspension earlier in the season.
Ryan Day will officially take over on January 2 and has a five-year contract earing $4.5 million per season.
During his time with the Buckeyes, Meyer won 90% of his games, including 7 games against Michigan, three Big Ten Championships, and the 2014 National Championship. Before Meyer heads out, he’ll get to do one thing he never has before: coach a Rose Bowl Game.
“I dreamt of it,” Meyer told ESPN. “We came close a few times. I know Florida one time I thought we were close to going. Then here in [2014] I thought we were going. There was one other time that I thought we were going, and we didn’t. And no disrespect to the other Bowl games, because they’re awesome, but the Rose is the one we’ve always looked forward to.”
Of course, the news of Meyer’s departure had people experiencing a wide range of emotions.
There was sadness.
me finding out Urban Meyer is retiring
pic.twitter.com/SDWBieKkLX— caleb (@claycaleb) December 4, 2018
There was humor.
Me preparing to come back to work after four days off and the #UrbanMeyer news hits pic.twitter.com/0Wbm7KH0Ym
— Michelle Everhart (@meverhart26) December 4, 2018
There was gratitude.
Thank you Coach Meyer. It's been a hell of a ride. #GoBucks #UrbanMeyer #Urbanlegend #UrbanNation pic.twitter.com/YDSTxIgwaN
— Nick (@Buckeye6142016) December 4, 2018
But there were also a lot of people who think this retirement will last as long as the last one.
I'm not falling for the "Urban is retiring" thing again. Let's all remember that he said he was leaving Florida for health reasons and showed up at Ohio State the next season. #UrbanMeyer @GetUpESPN
— Sarah (@sarahsunshine11) December 4, 2018