Charles W Luzier / Reuters

Florida coach Urban Meyer's national championship ring has a way of closing deals with high school recruits, writes MSNBC.com contributor Joey Johnston.

Everything seems to be going Florida’s way — including impeccable timing. The 6-6 regular-season records of Florida State and Miami — along with coaching staffs in transition — gave Florida an even more impressive platform.

These things can happen. Remember the 1980s, when Florida was knee-deep in NCAA trouble? In another era, Deion Sanders might have become a Gator. But probation scared him away. Florida’s troubles contributed to the ascension of Florida State and Miami into college football’s national penthouse.

Bobby Bowden’s class didn’t have the usual sizzle, spotlighted by the North Carolina choice of ace defensive lineman Marvin Austin, who nixed the Seminoles. Those things rarely happened to Florida State before. At Miami, Randy Shannon will get his share, particularly in his native South Florida region, but it will take time to repair the image (on and off the field) of his Hurricanes.

Meanwhile, Florida takes what it wants.

The Gators got Atlanta quarterback Cameron Newton, an ideal fit for Meyer’s offense. The defense was upgraded with Carlos Dunlap, a speed rusher from North Charleston, S.C., strong safety Major Wright of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Indianapolis defensive back Jerimy Finch, cherry-picked away from the Big Ten.

Last summer, two of Florida’s best prep players, Ponte Vedra Beach massive guard James Wilson (USC) and Ocala quarterback John Brantley (Texas) looked elsewhere with oral commitments.

Somewhere between Florida’s SEC title and its BCS championship trip to the desert, both switched their allegiances to the Gators.

Like Meyer said, it can be overwhelming.

Here’s a humorous memory. When Meyer was hired, some Gators fans wondered if he could “coach and recruit the SEC-level athletes.”

Meyer has shattered that perception with an around-the-clock work ethic, along with his ability to accentuate all of Florida’s positives.

For a brief moment, it’s also funny to recall that Meyer briefly needed to be sold on Florida.

Remember the suspense? Meyer was close to accepting an offer from Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley, but there was a late wrinkle. Notre Dame, thought to be his dream job, suddenly entered the picture. Meyer, a devout Catholic (who was named after a pope) and former Irish assistant, had some late deliberations.

So he called former Ohio State coach Earle Bruce, his longtime mentor, the man who essentially began his path in college coaching.

Meyer favored the Gators, but he needed some reassurance.

Florida or Notre Dame?

Bruce didn’t make that call. He wouldn’t pit one school against another. But he did point out one factor.

“Urban is a good thinker, and he made his own decision,” Bruce said. “I did tell him this. I said, ‘Urban, Florida has the opportunity to go to the BCS championship game a good many years in a row. All you have to do is put the players together in Florida and you’ll have it, just by making sure the talent doesn’t get away.’

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Bruce’s words were prophetic.

Now the great players are flocking to Florida. And the Gators aren’t alone in this pursuit. All throughout the SEC, it was a day to revel in a talent heist that seems unmatched.

It’s a conference of great players.

And a conference of championship salesmen.

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Chris Graythen / Getty Images

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