Steve Spurrier reacts to Urban Meyer joining Florida Ring of Honor

The Florida Gators have made the decision to honor legendary head coach Urban Meyer. The two-time national champion is set to become just the seventh person to enter the Florida Ring of Honor, joining Steve Spurrier as the only other head coach.

It was a long time coming for Meyer. After leaving for Ohio State and running into some off-field circumstances, like the Zach Smith situation, his induction was seemingly delayed. That’s in the past, though, and on Another Dooley Noted Podcast, Spurrier welcomed him into the Ring of Honor.

“Yeah, he’s had some issues,” Steve Spurrier said. “But time sort of heals all wounds, as we say. So, it’s good. What he did here at Florida, his teams, what our teams did, it won’t be repeated, I don’t guess, unless something happens differently than what we’ve been doing the last about 15 years or so.”

Getting into the Florida Ring of Honor is a difficult task. There is a decent amount of criteria that one needs to meet first. There are the Heisman winners, among which Spurrier qualifies. Florida All-Americans inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame or hold NFL records, players with two or more consensus All-American honors, and college career category leaders are also eligible. As for coaches, those with a national championship or at least three SEC championships qualify. Spurrier also qualifies for each of those, while Meyer qualifies as a two-time national champion.

Urban Meyer first got to Florida in 2005. By 2006, he had his first national championship team in Gainesville. In the end, he would only spend six seasons there, but produced some of the best teams in Florida history, before exiting with a record of 65-15 there and 36-12 in SEC play.

Along with Steve Spurrier, Urban Meyer is joining five players in the Florida Ring of Honor. That includes Wilber Marshall, Emmitt Smith, Tim Tebow, Danny Wuerffel, and Jack Youngblood. Obviously, Tebow would win the Heisman while playing for Meyer and was a key player during that era of Gators football.

“I am truly honored and humbled to be selected for the Florida Football Ring of Honor. My time at Florida holds so many special memories for me and my family. Everything we accomplished was the result of an extraordinary coaching staff who recruited exceptional players and were supported every day by the University, the Athletic Department, and the entire Gator Nation. I want to thank Dr. Bernie Machen and Jeremy Foley for bringing us to Gainesville and for embracing our family and our staff from the very beginning. There is nothing like game day in The Swamp—the energy of 90,000 fans behind you, pushing and willing you to victory,” Meyer said.

“The championships were certainly special, but the bonds forged with our players, staff, and countless members of Gator Nation will last a lifetime. I am grateful to have been part of Florida’s storied football tradition, and I want to thank Gator Nation for the passion and pride you continue to bring to this program. This recognition means more to me and my family than words can express. Go Gators.”

This addition to the Florida Ring of Honor comes as the program searches for its next head coach. Hoping for the success Spurrier and Meyer brought is a lot. However, getting back to that success remains the program’s goal.