This is it Gator fans. Is Urban Meyer a truly great coach? Are the Gators national title contenders? Will the latest bit of bad behavior by a Florida player damage the program?
Florida has looked pretty ordinary in the opening two weeks of the season, especially on offense where the absence of quarterback Tim Tebow seems pretty glaring as the whole unit is adapting to a different philosophy. These things take time. Meanwhile slot receiver Chris Rainey, who has been a disappointment this year after taking over the "Percy Harvin" position on the offense in the spring, has bigger fish to fry after his brutal treatment of his girlfriend this week. He has plenty of legal issues to deal with and should not be able to use his clout as a Gator to get away with the abuse and threats he showered on the poor girl. Unfortunately Meyer being Meyer he has not tossed the jerk off his team but just suspended him for an unknown amount of time.
But the fact that he has generated heat for yet another legal transgression by a Florida player under his watch (no. 30 in 5+ years) does not bode well for Tennessee this week. When Meyer has to defend himself against legitimate charges he gets angry. When Meyer gets angry he takes it out on his opponents (see Cincinnati in last year's Sugar Bowl or Georgia in 2008). Meyer was already mad with the Vols after last year's 23-13 Florida win and while the main target of his ire, former coach Lane Kiffin, has moved on he will take out his frustrations on the current Tennessee squad.
And if he wants to be considered a great coach, then he has to blow out an undermanned Tennessee squad this weekend. If not, he faces the charge as being only as good as Tebow was. If not, he has to deal with the lawbreaking by his team beyond phony suspensions (see Brandon Spikes in 2009). If not, he may have to milk his health issues for more sympathy.
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