(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY JJ BAILEY

It was the worst-kept secret in college football, but now it’s official. Columbus, Ohio is about to get a little more Urban. Here’s ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit with the reaction.

“Uhhh. This is huge. I think that by hiring Urban Meyer Ohio State has made a very strong statement about what Ohio State Football needed and the direction they’re heading now with Urban Meyer at the head. Talking about one of the premiere coaches that are out there.”

And premiere he is. After turning Bowling Green around, he started the BCS buster trend by taking Utah to the Fiesta bowl. Then he brought two championships to Florida in six seasons. After that, he decided he’d had enough.

It’s that year-long departure from coaching that has birthed a crowd of skeptics. If job pressure forced Meyer out, how would a $40 million contract at arguably the most demanding football school in the country make it any easier? A Sports Illustrated writer wonders if Meyer’s biggest enemy is the guy in the mirror.

“It’s now clear Meyer went through some sort of existential crisis during his last couple of years at Florida. … Those close to the program say Meyer ‘checked out’ during that final uncharacteristic 8-5 season ... the public hasn’t forgotten his repeated statements about wanting to spend more time with his family and will surely make jokes about Meyer’s latest change of heart for the foreseeable future.”

But Meyer just has to win to put those fears to bed. And with OSU’s budget, he should be able to get a top coaching staff and recruit with ease. To that end, CNBC’s Darren Rovell took a look at the business end of the hire.

“Wondering how many hours of private jet time Urban Meyer is going to get per year. Tressel got 225 hours.”

“Ohio State has the 2nd largest budget in college sports at $128.4M. Texas is #1 at $129.9M “

“Urban Meyer will make about 4000% more per year than Earle Bruce ($87K), who was the coach when he was last at OSU.”

That last bit is of particular interest. Meyer’s Midwestern roots have been cited as one of the reasons he was a prime candidate for the Buckeyes. Growing up cheering for OSU, Meyer has said that coaching in Columbus would be a dream job. But a Sports Nation writer says take that claim with a grain of salt.

“Meyer told a Miami radio station a few years ago that Notre Dame has always been his dream job. And he has walked away from the game twice.
This is the same coach who months before the 2011 season began was telling his former assistants that Penn State was the job he coveted—if JoePa were to leave. Once that job became radioactive, the backup plan fell into place.”

Urban Meyer’s contract is reportedly for seven years.