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Urban Meyer led the Florida Gators to national championships in 2006 and 2008.

Meyer brought most of his staff with him — some of whom worked with him at Bowling Green (2001-02) and Utah (2003-04). Together, they restored the program to national prominence two years later with the school’s second national championship.

The Gators upset Ohio State 41-14 in Glendale, Ariz.; they won another one last January by beating Oklahoma 24-14 in Miami.

With just about his entire team returning this fall, Meyer spent all season coaching under intense pressure and sky-high expectations. He said he welcomed it all as the defending national champions tried to become just the second team in the last 14 years to repeat.

But the season was far from smooth. Florida dealt with distraction after distraction, prompting Meyer to call it “the year of stuff.”

It included preseason talk about perfection; flulike symptoms that ravaged the team; quarterback Tim Tebow’s concussion; linebacker Brandon Spikes’ eye-gouging incident; Meyer’s hefty fine for criticizing officials; defensive end Carlos Dunlap’s drunk-driving arrest; a few controversial calls; some close games; and what seemed to be a season-long offensive slump.

Indeed, the Gators went through just about everything in 2009. Still, the loss to Alabama was the most crushing blow — until this.

The Crimson Tide derailed Florida’s perfect season and left Meyer in the hospital. Team officials initially said he was treated and released for dehydration. But Meyer later acknowledged chest pains. Though he declined to talk much about his hospital stay, he said he needed to take better care of himself.

“He puts a lot on himself and he cares a lot and he takes a lot of the burden on himself,” Tebow said last week. “That’s something we talk about a lot. You’ve got to take care of yourself. Although we’re both very passionate, you can’t always let it all feel like everything is on your chest.”

Meyer is married with three children — the oldest recently started college at Georgia Tech — and has said repeatedly he planned to leave coaching to spend more time with his family. No one expected it to be this soon.

“He leaves a lasting legacy on the field, in the classroom and in the Gainesville community,” Machen said. “I am saddened that Urban is stepping down, but I have deep respect for his decision.”

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