and in other Notre Dame news, Urban Meyer denied any interest in a head coaching position at Notre Dame
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"This is a long term process (building a football program). I always say there are only about eight or 10 really good football programs where year in and year out they win."
Source: Urban Meyer Press Conference, November 13, 2002
"We are nowhere near what we can do here. That's what's driving me right now. Everybody's worried about those other places; nothing's going on."
Source: Bowling Green Sentinel, December 6, 2002
"I was contacted by one, but I'm not interested. I love it here. We have a lot of work to do. That's the bottom line."
Source: Bowling Green Sentinel, December 6, 2002
"With recruits, that's been for two years, even before we won. [They say,] 'that guy's not going to be there very long'; that's silly ... The future is fantastic here ... I'm proud to be the football coach here. Once they get to know me, know my family, know how important it is to have continuity, my kids going to school somewhere."
Source: Bowling Green Sentinel, December 6, 2002
"I think you all but guarantee that you are one of the top two, three teams in the league every year if you get that [new athletic facility] here. I feel so strong about the academics, about the community, the environment, about the people. It's the last piece; it's a significant piece."
Source: Bowling Green Sentinel, December 6, 2002
"In the words of any Bowling Green football player today: 'I thought we were your family.' Bowling Green's players are understandably angry at Meyer for leaving. Every day he would preach team loyalty. Meyer carried his we-are-family concept to the extreme, even bunking in the same dorm with the Falcons during preseason workouts."
Source: Toledo Blade, December 13, 2002
"It [leaving Bowling Green] was one of the hardest things I've ever done. It was devastating. I didn't realize ? and maybe I wasn't thinking clearly ? but I thought it was going to be one of those things where you shake hands, give a big hug and say 'good luck.'"
Source: Deseret News, October 5, 2004
"First of all, I love it here. But I'm second fiddle. My family is No. 1, and they love it here. As long as we're filling the stadium, as long as we're continuing to grow as a program and as long as I feel these student-athletes are getting the best opportunity to be a top 25 program ? which I think it is ? I'm going to be the coach here."
Source: Deseret News, October 30, 2004
"I plan on coaching here for a long time."
Source: Deseret News, November 15, 2004
"Meyer told the New York Times last week, 'I'm chicken. It would be excruciating to leave. When I left Bowling Green, it was the worst three months.'"
Source: Deseret News, November 17, 2004
"Wrote Mike Sorenson, 'It's been well-documented that Meyer's wife, Shelley, was a big factor in Meyer taking the Utah job. She wanted to move back to the West because she enjoyed the family's time in Colorado when he was an assistant at Colorado State. Shelley and the kids seem to love the outdoor lifestyle, and she has told friends and neighbors that they aren't going anywhere.'"
Source: Deseret News, November 17, 2004
"Mike Sorenson wrote, 'Some folks may question his loyalty because he left Bowling Green after just two years. But Meyer has said, the six months after that was one of the hardest times of his life, because he felt so bad for leaving. Does he really want to go through that again just two years later?' [um, yes.]"
Source: Deseret News, November 17, 2004
"I plan on coaching at Utah next year. There's been no contact made. Period. It's almost comical. We're playing the biggest game in the history of the school and we're talking about that. That's nothing to do with nothing. [Shelley Meyer served her employer 2-weeks notice the next day.]"
Source: Deseret News, November 17, 2004
"Wrote Antony A Engligh, "Shelley will be heavily involved in Meyer's next move. 'She's a coach's wife, that's what she does for a living,' Bud Meyer said. 'It's a big job. It's a job that she (wants) to be informed, but she does a very good job.'""
Source: St. Petersburg Times, November 17, 2004
"There's been no contact and I really don't anticipate any. I'm certainly not looking for a job. I love where I'm coaching."
Source: Deseret News, November 18, 2004
"When asked by a young boy if he was going to be the coach next year, Urban replied very directly, 'I plan on being the coach at the University of Utah next year.'"
Source: Urban Meyer Coach's Show, November 18, 2004
"Though Meyer is frequently mentioned as a candidate for more lucurative coaching jobs, he denies any contact has been made. 'I'm not out looking, so if someone's waiting for me to pick up the phone it's not going to happen,' said Meyer. And there's little chance of that over the next four days. Meyer plans to turn his telephone off over the holiday break while he spends lost time with his family. He isn't expecting a lot of calls, anyhow. Word is out that he loves Utah, Meyer explained, and schools are funny about that. Despite speculation to the contrary, including a Florida fan-based Web site that reported a deal with Meyer has already been reached, the coach insists he represents himself. And that no talks have taken place. 'I don't have an agent. People are trying to get me to have one, but I'm just not comfortable with that kind of stuff,' said Meyer. 'I'm coaching my team and taking care of my family.'"
Source: Deseret News, November 24, 2004
"[When asked about Florida:] No. I have no real comment. All I keep saying is I plan on being the coach here at Utah."
Source: Deseret News, November 30, 2004
" It's not about prestige and it's certainly not about money. In today's climate, you don't have time to build a program. Too many coaches are let go before they can build a program."
Source: Deseret News, December 2, 2004
"I'm going to a place where I think we can really win, because no good can come of losing. Losing is never good."
Source: Deseret News, December 2, 2004
"I'm the head coach at Utah. If for some reason I'm not, I still anticipate coaching in the bowl game."
Source: Deseret News, December 3, 2004
"This was a family decision. University of Florida has been in the mix since the day, uh [pause] after our rival game. ... There was no intention to hurt a great university [Notre Dame], including this university [Utah the afterthought]."
Source: ESPN SportsCenter, December 4, 2004
"Recruiting at Utah doesn't start 'till January. That's when these kids that wanted to go to USC and UCLA find out they won't be and then the Utes get them."
Source: Press Conference, December 4, 2004
"I didn't want to put Utah into disarray. I had to do this now to protect Utah."
Source: KUTV News, December 4, 2004
