Urban Meyer opens up on Netflix documentary 'Swamp Kings'

The 2008 Florida Gators are one of the all-time great teams in college football. But there were also plenty of stories away from the field, and it will all be part of the story when Netflix releases “Swamp Kings” in August.

Multiple people involved with that team will be part of the project, including former head coach Urban Meyer. Meyer took Florida to new heights during his time at the helm from 2005-10, winning two national championships in 2006 and 2008.

However, Meyer said he initially hesitated on being part of the project. But after doing some thinking, he chose to do it and help tell the full story about those 2006-09 teams.

“At first, I said no when they asked me to take part in it,” Meyer said on The Buddy Martin Show this week. “Then, I thought, ‘Wait a minute.’ There’s been so many comments about that team — and quite honestly, ridiculous comments about that team. So I said, ‘I am going to do this.’ Because all I care about is honoring — that ’08 team? That’ll go down is one of the great teams in college football history.

“The ’06 team, think about that ’06 team did. They came out of nowhere and went on to beat the No. 1 team in the country soundly. … So I did it, and they were great to work with.”

Urban Meyer: ‘Swamp Kings’ documentary will be ‘a celebration’

Meyer didn’t say who else was participating in the project besides Brandon Siler, whose Instagram post confirmed the documentary’s release date. Still, he noted some big names were part of it while others weren’t for various reasons.

One thing’s for sure, though. “Swamp Kings” will tell the whole story and, according to Meyer, help “celebrate” what the Gators accomplished during that run. Considering the response to Siler’s post confirming the release date, anticipation is already building, too.

“It’s a celebration of some great football players and a great football team and a great university. That’s what it is,” Meyer said. “Are there highs and lows? Yeah. But it’s true. People keep asking me is it a hit [piece] or whatever? … I’m not sure what that means. Because I don’t the best thing I started doing is I don’t read some of the silliness that’s out there. I just know what it was.

“And yeah, there were some lows. We lost a few games. We had some issues on the team. But we also had incredible people. Great, great football players and great people and one of the greatest football players of all time in the in the quarterback, Timmy [Tebow]. So it’s going to be good show for Florida and it’s going to be a behind the scenes look at a nice run.”

The 2006-08 Florida teams left a lasting impact on college football

By 2006, Florida had claimed its second ever national championship, and that was just the beginning. After the title, star quarterback Tim Tebow took over and went on to one of the most successful careers in school history. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2007, then guided the team to a second national championship in 2008.

The 2009 season featured an unbeaten regular season, but the start of the dynasty collapsing occurred after that when star defensive end Carlos Dunlap was arrested for falling asleep behind the wheel after drinking just ahead of the 2009 SEC Championship Game. He was suspended for the game, Alabama won and the Nick Saban dynasty was off and running in earnest.

Meyer would then briefly retire, setting the stage for his eventual parting of ways one year later. His tenure, as successful as it was, was marred by numerous of off-the-field incidents, with Florida’s arrest totals popular fodder for rival message boards.