What Happened When Urban Meyer Was Coach: The Dark Side of Florida Football

In the early 2000s, the University of Florida football team was on the rise. Under the leadership of head coach Urban Meyer, the team won two national championships and produced some of the most talented players in the country. However, behind the scenes, a different story was unfolding. Many of the players on the team were involved in legal troubles, including arrests, suspensions, and even firings. As depicted in the FX/Hulu series American Sports Story, the University of Florida had one of the most talented rosters in the country, but also one of the most troubled. The team was plagued by arrests, including 21 players during Meyer's first three seasons as head coach. The most shocking and serious arrests included Jamar Hornsby, who stole a deceased student's credit card and used it to make over $3,000 in purchases. He was one of the few players who were ultimately cut from the team.

Meyer was faced with the challenging task of dealing with these numerous arrests while still trying to win games. He met with the university president to answer for the team's actions and justify his decision to keep the players on the team. Meyer was frustrated and enraged, saying, "Would we even be having this conversation if we were 8-0?" Despite the team's troubles, Meyer was able to reduce the number of arrests to just 10 over his final three seasons. Many of the players were arrested for possession of cannabis or battery/assault, while others faced more serious charges, including felony stalking and domestic violence.

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