Coaches can be paranoid and pathetic

Urban Meyer is cracking down — no more criticism of him by former Gators!

The University of Florida football coach apparently took exception to a comment former Gator QB Shane Matthews made during the team’s only loss of last season — a 31-30 setback against Mississippi.

On his radio show, Matthews was critical of the Gators’ failure to aggressively attack the Rebels’ man-to-man coverage. Apparently, that criticism got under Meyer’s skin and has been festering for a while — despite the Gators’ BCS title.

"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," Meyer said at a recent Gator Club appearance.

Matthews has been defended by other ex-players in the media, the point being made that commentators need to be honest to do their jobs.

"Shane, because he bled and sweat for the Gators, has a right to say whatever he wants about the program," former Miami defensive lineman Dan Sileo told the Orlando Sentinel.

"Urban Meyer's not a Gator. He's a caretaker of the Gator program," Sileo said. "Most times these coaches think they're the programs, but really, the program is the players. That's the problem I have with coaches whose egos get too big for their britches. If Urban doesn't like it, that's too bad."