Channing Crowder takes shot at Urban Meyer over Florida exit, health scare

Much has been made of the remarkable run at Florida through the mid-2000s, with the Gators winning multiple national championships with Urban Meyer at the helm.

The program was even profiled in Netflix’s Untold series with the Swamp Kings documentary.

But at least some key members of that era of Florida football feel the documentary itself left out a lot of pertinent details on the run atop college football. In fact, former Florida linebacker Channing Crowder, who departed just before the first title came, opened up recently on an episode of the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast.

He wanted to set the record straight and give appropriate credit where it’s due.

“Urban’s crew was (Ron) Zook‘s recruits,” Crowder said. “’06-’08, those championship teams? Chris Leak won the ’06 championship. (Tim) Tebow was a gadget guy.”

Chris Leak was barely mentioned in the Swamp Kings documentary, which is a real shame given how impactful he was at Florida. He also had to try to fit into a system that wasn’t necessarily suited to his strengths. He did so with aplomb.

Some of the stories that emerged from that are ones you’ve heard before. Leak, of course, was party to boos when he was put into the game after Tebow had led a drive into the red zone in 2006.

But for Crowder, that’s not the story of Chris Leak.

“He was the monster,” Crowder said. “Me and Chris came in together. He was the offensive freshman of the year, I was defensive freshman of the year. All those guys, those were Zook recruits.”

Crowder broke down how Florida’s success in that period unfolded.

Then he took an unmistakable shot at Meyer himself.

“Urban inherited a hell of a roster,” Crowder said. “Then Urban brought in Tebow and put some damned structure around it, and that’s when Urban started winning championships. Then if you look, when Urban didn’t have those guys, he had to recruit his own guys, now his heart start hurting him. And then he went to Ohio State.”

Crowder has his opinion on why Meyer departed. And during a period of Florida football history that has its fair share of vibrant personalities, Crowder’s might stand alone.

“Because he wanted to go get another batch of great recruits,” he said. “‘My heart murmuring.’ B***h, your heart ain’t murmuring nothing.”