Fox and Meyer considered making him a game analyst, but both believe the studio offers him the best fitGETTY IMAGES
Fox Sports National Networks President Mark Silverman is "making a big bet" by hiring Urban Meyer to star on the net's revamped college football pregame show, hoping that returning to the media world is a "commitment and the next stage of Meyer’s professional life," according to Doug Lesmerises of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. Maybe Meyer is "not the next Lee Corso," but his "vibe should be more a mix of Corso and Kirk Herbstreit." Silverman said Meyer was "extremely interested in the next phase of his career" and in "working at Fox specifically." Silverman: "He’s going to excel and we’re thrilled to have him excel on Fox. This is not a short-term project." Silverman said that he "talked to people at Ohio State and with Meyer" about his role as an assistant AD at the school. Silverman found it "important that while Meyer is still part of the athletic department, he’s not part of the football program." He said that Fox is "'comfortable' with Meyer’s dual roles and really sees him as any other retired coach now in the broadcasting world." Silverman talked with Meyer about "working as a game analyst," but he is "happy with the top announcing teams in place" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/12).
RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB? SI.com's Jimmy Traina wrote Meyer's hiring is "another case of a network just hiring big names without any thought to being creative or original." Outside of Ohio State, Meyer is "unliked -- a lot," and his reputation "took a hit last year." Meyer's personality is the "complete opposite of what you'd want someone to have if you're going to tune in and watch them on TV every week" (SI.com, 3/11). USA TODAY's Dan Wolken asks after the "mess last year at Ohio State, who exactly is clamoring for more Urban Meyer?" Outside of OSU fans, there is "not much fondness these days for Meyer." During his stint with ESPN in '11, Meyer "showed an aptitude for breaking down plays, but he was stiff and boring and ultimately less-than-truthful with viewers when it became clear he was going to Ohio State" (USA TODAY, 3/12). AD AGE's Anthony Crupi wrote there is "no magic formula" to ensure that Fox' Saturday pregame show "will offer fans the blend of analysis and yuks the NFL team doles out on Sundays, and as none of them have previously worked together, there's no telling how the chemistry will work." Meyer "isn't exactly fizzing over with the sort of charisma" that makes the net's Terry Bradshaw "such a hit on Sunday" (ADAGE.com, 3/11).
