From Deseret News archives:
Meyer isn't planning to depart
Though his stock is high with Utah's 5-0 start and No. 11 national ranking, Meyer insists he isn't looking elsewhere.
"First of all, I love it here. But I'm second fiddle. My family is No. 1 and they love it here," said Meyer. "As long as we're filling the stadium, as long as we're continuing to grow as a program and as long as I feel these student-athletes are getting the best opportunity to be a top 25 program, which I think it is, I'm going to be the coach here."
Meyer, who is 15-2 since taking over the Utes last season, said if money were a factor he could have left last year.
Cincinnati, his alma mater, and Mississippi State reportedly offered Meyer substantial pay increases to leave Utah. He chose to stay put, however. The coach's contract was restructured and an indoor practice facility is being constructed in hopes of keeping him around.
Meyer said speculation he would leave at season's end — a Sporting News columnist recently suggested Florida and a reunion with former Utah president Bernie Machen — has filtered down to recruiting. When it comes up, Meyer refers such inquiries to his wife, Shelley. She was the driving force behind the family's decision to come to Utah in the first place.
The transition wasn't easy, though.
Starting anew, Meyer said, proved difficult. Leaving Bowling Green, his first head coaching post, proved to be quite a challenge. Hurt feelings were manifested by signs on campus, telephone calls and comments to his wife — the whole deal, he said.
"It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. It was devastating," explained Meyer. "I didn't realize — and maybe I wasn't thinking clearly — but I thought it was going to be one of those things where you shake hands, give a big hug and say 'good luck.' "
HEISMAN HOPEFUL: Utah is beginning to tout quarterback Alex Smith as a Heisman Trophy candidate. The school's sports information department is now dedicating a full page of its weekly press release to "Charting Alex Smith."
The junior is 14-1 as the Utes' starter and is currently ninth in the nation in pass efficiency with a 164.38 rating. Smith, who occasionally checks out Heisman speculation on the Internet to see how former high school teammate Reggie Bush of USC is faring, admits it's kind of weird to see himself on some lists.
"It's kind of different to see yourself on there sometimes," he said. "It's fun, but it doesn't get much bigger than that."
Meyer thinks the attention is flattering.
