Florida’s Meyer: ND is not an option

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Standing behind the same podium where quarterback Tim Tebow delivered his now-famous promise 14 months and 21 wins ago, coach Urban Meyer vowed Monday to be at Florida “as long as they’ll have me.”

With rumors swirling about Charlie Weis’ future at Notre Dame, Meyer squashed any potential speculation about leaving Gainesville for South Bend, Ind.

“I’m ready to dispel it,” Meyer said. “I’m going to be the coach at Florida as long as they’ll have me. So I want to make that clear.”

Meyer was an assistant at Notre Dame from 1996 to 2000, working under coach Lou Holtz. Meyer got his first head-coaching job a year later, turning around Bowling Green and doing the same at Utah two years later.

He was Notre Dame’s top choice to replace Ty Willingham in 2004, but Meyer chose Florida over the Fighting Irish. He later acknowledged that Notre Dame was still his “dream job.”

Five years at Florida have changed his feelings.

In his most emotional news conference since shedding a few tears following at loss at LSU in 2005, Meyer paused three times when talking about the final home game for a senior class that includes the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner.

He paused about a half minute the first time, staring down the entire time and thumping the podium twice.

“No more interviews this week, man,” said Meyer, who is 55-9 at Florida and has won two of the last three national championships. “This is going to be a tough week.”

It got even tougher when asked about Michael Guilford, a walk-on who died in a motorcycle crash in Oct. 2007. Guilford would have been a senior this year. Meyer, following another pause, said Guilford’s family will be honored with the rest of the seniors before Saturday’s game against rival Florida State.

“He’s a part of this group,” Meyer said. “That really stung this football team. He’s got a terrific family. We’re going to try to do the best we can to make that family feel at peace with what he did here. He was a phenomenal young man and a phenomenal member of this team. So he’ll be part of senior day.”

Meyer paused one more time, composing himself after he was asked about the impact Tebow has had on him. Tebow inspired Meyer to take his family on a mission trip to Central America.

“The one thing about Tim is his unselfishness, and his mission outside of college football is unparalleled as far as I’m concerned,” said Meyer, holding back tears.