Copyright Essentially Sports
Urban Meyer did it all. The 61-year-old’s induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2025 set the stage for an emotional tribute by Fox Sports’ Big Noon Kickoff. The tribute video, crafted with storytelling flair, highlights his iconic moments: Tim Tebow’s Heisman, Florida’s back-to-back BCS titles, and Ohio State’s 2014 championship. But the most moving clip? His wife, Shelley Mather, often gets emotional watching her husband’s incredible college football journey unfold right in front of her. “My favorite thing was just being a part of players’ lives. Extremely rewarding,” Shelley said. “We’re so proud of you. And I knew this was going to happen. I was going to cry. But you know your kids love you. I love you deeply. We are all so proud of you for meeting your goal. And we are so happy to have been along on the journey.” It wasn’t just the missus. Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer’s former star quarterback at Florida, and even current Ohio State coach Ryan Day showered their love for Coach Meyer. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad “Thank you for making me a Gator. Thank you for the impact on my life,” Tebow said. “[And] Thank you for loving me. I love you so much. I’m so grateful that you are my coach, but I’m also even more grateful that you are my friend and we get to be family.” Ryan Day chimed in, saying, “You are a legend, and certainly I am forever in debt for what you did for me.” He further added, “And the transition from you being the head coach to me being the head coach has allowed me an opportunity that I’ll again forever be in debt for you.” All these sweet words don’t really compare to the legacy Urban Meyer made for himself. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad It all started in Gainesville. From 2005 to 2010, Meyer took a Gators team that had been wandering in the post-Steve Spurrier era and brought it roaring back to national prominence. Over six seasons, he crafted a powerhouse with a 65-15 record that still ranks third in program history. This is a developing story
