Florida football coach Urban Meyer has drawn the line. You either blindly support the Gators and all decisions Meyer makes, or you are no longer welcome in the football offices as a former Gator.

In a recent Gator Club appearance, Meyer took issue with comments in the last year by former players, specifically but not officially former Gator quarterback Shane Matthews. While Matthews wasn’t called out by name, it was apparent to most that he is who Meyer was referring to.

You see, Matthews had the audacity as a radio host to question some of the decisions made in Florida’s embarrassing 31-30 loss to Mississippi last year.

At the time, Matthews said, “When I watched the Ole Miss game and Ole Miss played our wide receivers about 90 percent man-to-man, it was a slap in the face to our wide receivers and passing game. I can’t understand why we didn’t take advantage of that.”

Apparently, Meyer didn’t like that. And while Matthews has absolutely nothing to be sorry for and no need to explain himself, he still cleared the air with Meyer and made nice.

Now, with Matthews in mind, Meyer sent out a clear message to former players:

“If you want to be critical of a player on our team or a coach on our team you can buy a ticket for seat 37F, you’re not welcome back in the football office. You’re either a Gator or you’re not a Gator.”

So get it straight, former Gators. If you want to take a job in television, radio, or in coaching (not at Florida), you are likely forfeiting your Gatorhood.

Of course, it doesn’t matter if Matthews was right. All that matters is that you don’t dare question Sir Urban and the Mighty Gators, else Lord Tebow will strike down upon you.

I mean really, come on. Criticism is part of the game. Let’s face the facts. Urban Meyer cost his team the game against Mississippi in 2008 with terrible play calling. You are not being anti-Gator to point that out, you are being mildly educated in football. When down by one, in field goal range and facing a 4th and 1, you don’t call a shotgun quarterback sneak. Simple as that. If all Matthews said was what is quoted here, he was being soft on Florida and Meyer.

But hey, Meyer’s got himself two national championships, so he calls the shots. Let’s see what happens when Tebow himself criticizes Florida in four years if Meyer is still there. How do you banish the football Messiah to seat 37F?

It is just unreal the power that college football coaches (think they) have. It’s this mentality that keeps most of them from succeeding in the NFL.

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