WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for American Sports Story.
The new FX seriesAmerican Sports Storydepicts former University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer being rushed to the hospital following the 2009 SEC Championship Game. WhileAmerican Sports Storyepisodes 1 & 2andAmerican Sports Storyepisode 3have been mostly accurate to the true story of Aaron Hernandez, several notable differences alter the history and facts for the sake of entertainment. Josh Rivera leads theAmerican Sports StorycastasAaron Hernandez, the former collegiate and NFL superstar tight endwho was convicted ofmurdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloydin 2015.
The first three episodes ofAmerican Sports Storydive 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 Gators, winning a national championship in 2008 and theprestigious John Mackey Awardin 2009, a rare and distinguished achievement. Although the series depicts Hernandez’s early run-ins with the law, including sucker punching a bar manager for not paying a $12 tab, it also portrays the effect that Meyer had on Hernandez due to his relentless commitment to the game.
Urban Meyer Did Have A Panic Attack After Florida’s Loss To Alabama In 2009
He was rushed to the hospital from his home early the following morning
University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer was rushed to the hospital after the 2009 SEC Championship Game. In the series, it’s established that the official word for his hospitalization is dehydration. While Meyer was truly hospitalized after that game,it was not like how it was depicted inAmerican Sports Story. In reality, Meyer went home and went to bed before his wife Shelley Meyer called 911"at about 4:30 a.m. ET on Dec. 6, after Florida lost in the SEC championship game".Meyer was taken in an"ambulance after complaining of chest pains and a tingling sensation on his side" (viaESPN).
How Many Florida Football Players Were Arrested When Urban Meyer Was Coach
FX/Hulu’s American Sports Story takes note of the 21 Florida Gator football players arrested during Urban Meyer’s first 3 seasons as head coach.
InAmerican Sports Story, Meyer was portrayed 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 depicts himgrabbing his chest and falling to the ground moments after the Gators lost to Alabama. In reality, “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.“Meyer was reportedly breathing but would not wake up after taking the sleeping pill Ambien, which is a completely different scenario than the scene depicted inAmerican Sports Story.
Urban Meyer & Florida Did Not Disclose His Panic Attack At First
The news didn’t break to the public until nearly a month after the fact
A dramatized version of Meyer, portrayed by Tony Yazbeck, is shown sitting up 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.
Who Is Reed? Florida’s Tight End After Aaron Hernandez & What Happened To Him
NFL tight end Jordan Reed is briefly depicted in American Sports Story as a former teammate of Aaron Hernandez on the 2009 Florida Gators.
The real-lifeMeyer announced that he was resigning from the head coaching position in late December 2009after being released from the hospital. However, he quickly changed his mind and coached the Gators in their dominant 2010 Sugar Bowl victory in January 2010. Meyer told reporters that he “might 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 did point out 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 Has Said About His Panic Attacks While Coaching Florida
Meyer spoke on the pressures and internal battles he was facing in Netflix’s Untold: Swamp Kings
Meyer kept most of the details surrounding his health privateas he continued to coach at an elite level at Florida and Ohio State University. It wasn’t until after Meyer retired from coaching following one unsuccessful season as the head coach of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars that he opened up on the subject. InNetflix’sUntold: Swamp Kingsdocuseries released in 2023, Meyer revealed that he was “addicted to Ambien” and “lost weight and couldn’t sleep.” Meyer added, “I couldn’t get out of bed, no energy, no desire. I thought I was going to die.” Ultimately, Meyer carried the unbearable pressure to win back-to-back championships, leading to his hospitalization inAmerican Sports Story.
Was Cam Newton Kicked Out Of Florida For Stealing A Laptop? American Sports Story Fact Check
Cam Newton’s college dismissal is American Sports Story may only be a small part of the show’s narrative, but it’s important to know the truth.
American Sports Story
Cast
American Sports Story is a TV show from Stu Zicherman and executive produced by Ryan Murphy. The series stars Josh Andrés Rivera as Aaron Hernandez and Patrick Schwarzenegger as Tim Tebow. The sports anthology series serves as the fourth installment in Murphy’s “American Story” franchise.
