12-30-2009, 09:34 PM
A 911 call made from Urban Meyer's home at about 4:30 a.m. ET on Dec. 6, after Florida lost in the SEC championship game, reveals that the Gators' coach was rushed to the hospital by ambulance after complaining of chest pains and a tingling sensation on his side.
The Dec. 6 call, obtained Wednesday by ESPN, contradicts an earlier statement from the University of Florida that the coach checked himself into a Gainesville hospital that morning for dehydration, only later to admit that he also had chest pains.
Meyer's wife, Shelley, who placed the 911 call, said her husband awoke briefly that morning and tried to get out of bed, but fell to the floor. On the call, Shelley Meyer said he was breathing and had a pulse but would not wake up. She said her husband had been taking the sleeping pill Ambien, which she said often puts him into a deep sleep.
On the call, Shelley Meyer also said her husband had never had a heart attack before but had complained of chest pains due to anxiety.
Urban Meyer announced last Saturday in Gainesville that he was stepping down as Florida's coach because of health concerns.
The following day in New Orleans, where the Gators are preparing to play Cincinnati in Saturday's Allstate Sugar Bowl, Meyer changed his mind, saying he was taking an indefinite leave of absence instead of resigning.
Despite his ongoing health concerns, the 45-year-old Meyer will coach in the Sugar Bowl and expects to be on the sideline leading the Gators when next season opens.
Meyer has refused to elaborate on his health problems, and declined to answer on Sunday when asked if doctors advised him to stop coaching.
Meyer led the Gators to BCS national championships in 2006 and 2008. He is 56-10 with Florida, including 32-8 in the SEC and a school-record 22-game winning streak that was snapped by Alabama's 32-13 victory in the conference title game Dec. 5.
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The Dec. 6 call, obtained Wednesday by ESPN, contradicts an earlier statement from the University of Florida that the coach checked himself into a Gainesville hospital that morning for dehydration, only later to admit that he also had chest pains.
Meyer's wife, Shelley, who placed the 911 call, said her husband awoke briefly that morning and tried to get out of bed, but fell to the floor. On the call, Shelley Meyer said he was breathing and had a pulse but would not wake up. She said her husband had been taking the sleeping pill Ambien, which she said often puts him into a deep sleep.
On the call, Shelley Meyer also said her husband had never had a heart attack before but had complained of chest pains due to anxiety.
Urban Meyer announced last Saturday in Gainesville that he was stepping down as Florida's coach because of health concerns.
The following day in New Orleans, where the Gators are preparing to play Cincinnati in Saturday's Allstate Sugar Bowl, Meyer changed his mind, saying he was taking an indefinite leave of absence instead of resigning.
Despite his ongoing health concerns, the 45-year-old Meyer will coach in the Sugar Bowl and expects to be on the sideline leading the Gators when next season opens.
Meyer has refused to elaborate on his health problems, and declined to answer on Sunday when asked if doctors advised him to stop coaching.
Meyer led the Gators to BCS national championships in 2006 and 2008. He is 56-10 with Florida, including 32-8 in the SEC and a school-record 22-game winning streak that was snapped by Alabama's 32-13 victory in the conference title game Dec. 5.
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