Urban Meyer’s place among Florida football’s immortals is about to become official.
The University of Florida announced Monday that Meyer will be inducted into the Gators’ Ring of Honor during the Oklahoma game on Nov. 7. The former Florida head coach, who delivered a pair of national championships in Gainesville, will be the newest name added inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
He’ll join Wilber Marshall, Emmitt Smith, Steve Spurrier, Tim Tebow, Danny Wuerffel and Jack Youngblood in the program’s Ring of Honor. Tebow was the last player added, back on Oct.
6, 2018. Marshall entered on Sept.
29, 2007. The other four members were part of the original unveiling on Sept. 30, 2006, during the 100-year Celebration of Gator Football.
Meyer said in a statement, “I am truly honored and humbled to be selected for the Florida Football Ring of Honor," Meyer said in a statement. "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 coached Florida from 2005-10 and finished with a 65-15 overall record and a 36-12 mark in SEC play. During that stretch, the Gators won national titles in 2006 and 2008, claimed two SEC championships, picked up three SEC Eastern Division crowns and reached six straight January bowl games, including three BCS bowls.
His teams also carved out a run of dominance that still stands out in school history. Meyer became the first coach in Football Bowl Subdivision history to post back-to-back 13-win seasons, doing it in 2008 and 2009.
Those same teams put together a school-record 22-game winning streak, the fourth-longest in SEC history and the league’s longest in 15 years. From Oct. 4, 2008 through Oct.
2, 2010, Florida also won 16 consecutive SEC games, which ranks as the second-longest run in school history.
The numbers against elite competition were just as strong. Meyer went 11-4 (.733) against top-10 teams at Florida, and the Gators spent time in 89 straight polls during his tenure, including 67 weeks in the top 10 and 16 weeks at No.
- In The Swamp, Florida went 36-5 (.878) under Meyer.
Against Georgia, LSU and Florida State, the Gators were 13-5 in six seasons.
To be considered for the Ring of Honor, a player or coach must meet at least one of the listed criteria, be five years removed from UF and be in good standing with the university.
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