Urban Meyer’s panic attacks in American sports history and what he said

Warning: Spoilers ahead for American Sports Story.

The new FX series American Sports Story Depicts former University of Florida coach Urban Meyer being rushed to the hospital after the 2009 SEC Championship Game. While American Sports Story Episodes 1 & 2 and American Sports Story Episode 3 is mostly accurate to the true story of Aaron Hernandez, some notable differences change the story and facts for entertainment. Josh Rivera leads the American Sports Story Cast as Aaron Hernandez, the former collegiate and NFL superstar tight end who was convicted of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd in 2015.

The first three episodes of American Sports Story Dive into Hernandez’s college years and relationships with two University of Florida legends, Meyer and star quarterback Tim Tebow. Hernandez emerged as a legend himself during his three seasons with the Florida GatorsWinning a national championship in 2008 and the prestigious John Mackey Award in 2009, a rare and distinguished achievement. While the series depicts Hernandez’s run-ins with the law, including soccer punching a bar manager for not paying a $12 tip, it also depicts the effect Meyer has on Hernandez due to his relentless commitment to the game.

Urban Meyer had a panic attack after Florida’s loss to Alabama in 2009

He was rushed to the hospital from his home early the next morning

University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer was rushed to the hospital after the 2009 SEC Championship game. In the series, it was established that the official word for his hospitalization was dehydration. While Meyer was actually hospitalized after the game, It was not as it was depicted in American Sports Story. In fact, Meyer went home and went to bed before his wife Shelly Meyer called 911 “About 4:30 a.m. ET on December 6th, after Florida lost in the SEC championship game”. Mayer took in an “Ambulance after complaining of chest pains and a tingling sensation on his side“(by ESPN).

in American Sports StoryMeyer was pictured furiously storming through his locker room, not saying a word to any of his players before collapsing in a back hallway of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The series portrays him Grabbing his chest and falling to the ground moments after the Gators lost to Alabama. In fact, “Meyer’s wife, Shelly, who placed the 911 call, said her husband woke up briefly that morning and tried to get out of bed, but fell to the floor..” Meyer was reportedly breathing but would not wake up after taking the sleeping pill AmbienWhich is a completely different scenario than the scene depicted in American Sports Story.

Urban mayor and Florida did not reveal his panic attack at first

The news was not made public until almost a month after the fact

A dramatized version of Mayer, portrayed by Tony Yazbeck, is shown sitting in a hospital bed. It was implied earlier in the series that the stresses of his profession and his obsession with being the greatest contributed to his bouts of anxiety, causing symptoms such as shortness of breath and throat tightness. News of his hospitalization first broke in late December 2009, nearly a month after the Florida Gators’ blowout 32-13 loss to Alabama in the 2009 SEC Championship Game. The game shocked audiences and sports analysts across the country, Snapping Florida’s 22-game winning streak and ruining their chance at back-to-back national titles.

The real life Meyer announced that he was resigning from the head coaching position in late December 2009 After being released from the hospital. However, he quickly changed his mind and coached the Gators to their dominant 2010 Sugar Bowl victory in January 2010. Meyer told reporters that he “May need a procedure to alleviate chest pains“But did not reveal many specific details at the time and did not classify the health incident as a heart attack or the result of a heart condition (via ESPN). He indicated that “Part of the problem is his tireless work ethic and his need to put the weight of the program solely on his shoulders..”

What Urban Meyer said about his panic attacks while coaching Florida

Meyer talked about the pressures and internal battles he faced in Netflix’s Untold: Swamp Kings

Meyer kept most of the details surrounding his health private As he continued to coach at an elite level at Florida and Ohio State University. It wasn’t until after Meyer retired from coaching after one unsuccessful season as the head coach of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars that he opened up on the subject. In Netflix Untold: Swamp kings docuseries airing in 2023, Meyer revealed that he is “Addicted to Ambien“and”Lost weight and could not sleep.– Mayer added,I couldn’t get out of bed, no energy, no desire. I thought I was going to die.” Ultimately, Meyer handled the unbearable pressure of winning back-to-back championships, leading to his hospitalization in American Sports Story.

Source: ESPN, Netflix