Meyer: Coaches should fight for recognition

By Associated Press  |  January 8, 2009

Florida coach Urban Meyer believes Utah, Texas, and Southern California should fight for their teams to be recognized as national champions.

Meyer said at a news conference yesterday that Utah's Kyle Whittingham, Texas's Mack Brown, and USC's Pete Carroll would be bad coaches if they didn't lobby to be No. 1.

"That's absolutely what they should do," Meyer said. "I've got news: I'm representing University of Florida, and I'm an employee of the University of Florida and I represent my players, most of all I'm going to fight like a dog to take care of them."

Carroll has proclaimed his Trojans the best in the country. Whittingham and Brown have made it clear they will vote their teams No. 1 in the coaches' poll regardless of what happens when the No. 1 Gators play No. 2 Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series national title game tonight in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

It's no wonder many fans would like to see a playoff system.

"I think at some point in time it might happen," Meyer said. "I didn't believe that a few years ago, but I feel now the discussion is out of control. I can't imagine any guy that enjoys football not discussing that wherever he's at.

"So I imagine at some point that might happen now."

Utah's attorney general, Mark Shurtleff, is investigating the BCS for a possible violation of federal antitrust laws after the undefeated Utes were left out of the national title game for the second time in five years.

Hours after making his debut for Oklahoma Aug. 30, defensive end Frank Alexander was stabbed in the right arm during a private party and was hospitalized. "I had high expectations about playing this year. I just wanted to go out there and just have a smooth season. It got took away from me after the first game," he said. But after a month of healing, Alexander made his first career start against Texas A&M. As injuries depleted the Oklahoma front line, he became a pivotal player for the Sooners. "He gets in there and does a couple of knucklehead things, but he'll fall into some things and really make some good things happen. I think he's got a tremendous, tremendous future if he keeps progressing like he has," defensive coordinator Brent Venables said . . . Offensive linemen Mike and Maurkice Pouncey's stepfather, Rob Webster, will be in the stands tonight rooting for Florida after losing more than half his right leg in a railcar accident in November. "He's going to want us to play hard and play for him," Maurkice Pouncey said. "I can't wait for it."