“Do as I say, not as I do” is not good leadership in any profession. “Do as I say, not as I do” is a terrible approach for a coach.
I strongly believe and I often espouse that it is fine for a leader to make a mistake, but there are mistakes and there are colossal errors in judgment. Jaguars coach Urban Meyer was guilty of the latter after his team lost to the Bengals in Cincinnati and fell to 0-4.
You know by now that Meyer, rather than flying back to Jacksonville, stayed behind in Ohio, deserting his team and abandoning his responsibilities.
I can’t recall a time in almost 30 years of working for an NFL team that a coach remained behind when the team headed home after a road loss. If there were such an instance (and again, I can’t recall one), I am confident it would have been for an important life event (a funeral, visiting an ill loved one, etc.). It would not have been for the reason Meyer said he stayed back, to “see the grandkids.” The ensuing restaurant “lap dance” is a separate issue for Meyer, his wife and family to address.
Coaches routinely instruct players to put team interest ahead of individual interest. Meyer did not do that. Coaches routinely instruct players to behave in a manner that does not cast negative light on the organization. Meyer…
