Yesterday was a rare media shocker. Urban Meyer, citing health reasons, stepped down as head football coach at Florida.  The news caught both the press and college football fans by surprise.

There is nothing evil going on here.  Meyer, who has had his share of health issues, decided, at 45, the day to day grind and the stress of leading one of the top programs in college football is too much.  Meyer's decision is similar to the one made by former UCLA and Eagles coach Dick Vermeil who retired in 1982 at 46 due to stress related burnout.  Meyer's health issues seem to be a bit more serious than that.

So, of course the question is what will become of Meyer?  Will arguably the best coach in college football be satisfied with being a desk jockey?  Or perhaps Meyer will do what Vermeil did and enter the world of broadcasting.  Certainly ABC/ESPN would love to have him on the team as would CBS.

Meanwhile, all eyes will turn to Florida AD Jeremy Foley as he searches for Meyer's replacement.  The leader in the clubhouse is Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen, formerly Meyer's offensive coordinator.  Given the fact that before Meyer, Foley hired a former Florida assistant (Ron Zook) that might not be the best idea.  Foley is also known to have interest in former Bronco's coach Mike Shanahan, but I can't see how he would fit at the college level.  There's also talk Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops might consider coming back to Gainesville, where he served as DC under former coach Steve Spurrier.

Here's one name I would talk to if I were Foley: Boise State's Chris Peterson. I think he'd be perfect.  And as committed as he is to BSU, one has to think that Peterson would accept the huge raise and the warm weather than come with the Florida gig.

Five years ago when Foley hired Meyer, he was trying to course correct the program which had sputtered under Zook.  Now Foley has to find a head coach who not only can maintain the program at the high level Meyer set for it (two national championships in five years) but continue to move the program forward.  How to do that and keeping the continuity of the program will be tough and hiring someone who can reach the bar Meyer set will be tougher than that.  Whoever takes over at Florida inherits a great young team, but will have to develop a successor to quarterback Tim Tebow. 

That's one huge task.