Urban Meyer's Unfulfilled Notre Dame Ambition

Urban Meyer, a highly successful college football coach, consistently expressed a desire to coach against Notre Dame throughout his career. His admiration for the university stemmed from his childhood support and his time as an assistant coach there. Meyer's aspiration to face the Fighting Irish in a game, particularly at Notre Dame Stadium, remained a persistent dream.

In 2004, following a successful tenure at Utah, Meyer was a leading candidate to become Notre Dame's head coach after they fired Tyrone Willingham. The university actively pursued him, but Meyer ultimately chose to accept the head coaching position at the University of Florida.

Meyer's decision to prioritize Florida over Notre Dame was strategic. He believed the Gators possessed immediate championship potential due to their existing elite talent. This decision proved fruitful, as Meyer secured two national championships at Florida between 2006 and 2008.

Ironically, Meyer did eventually coach against Notre Dame twice, winning both the 2007 Sugar Bowl and the 2016 Fiesta Bowl with his Florida and Ohio State teams, respectively. He also frequently competed against the Irish on the recruiting trail.