Former Gators assistant Billy Gonzales announced his move to LSU with a sticky note

PICTURED: This is how you feel when Steve Addazio is named offensive coordinator instead of you.

GAINESVILLE -- So, it should be pretty obvious to everyone that former UF assistant coach Billy Gonzales wasn't a happy camper in his final season in Gainesville, but this story a source relayed to me on Thursday adds a whole new level to Gonzales' perceived bitterness towards Urban Meyer and the Gators' offense under the control of current offensive coordinator Steve Addazio.

Gonzales is now an assistant coach at LSU, which plays the Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday. He was one of Meyer's loyal foot soldiers for a long time, but don't expect any friendly pregame handshakes between old friends. When Gonzales left Florida for LSU, he apparently burned a bridge along the way. The story circulating through Florida's football program is that Gonzales informed Meyer he was leaving for a rival program with a sticky note. That's right, one of those annoying little pieces of yellow paper.

No face-to-face talk. No one-last-beer toast at The Grog House. None of that. According to the source, Gonzales left his keys and cell phone on a desk along with this message: "I'm going to LSU."

Billy Gonzales, off the Christmas-card list.

Angered beyond comprehension with the thought of Steve Addazio, Gonzales made a lateral move to one of UF's annual rivals.

Understand the history between Gonzales and Meyer before allowing that sink in. Meyer was Gonzales' position coach (receivers) at Colorado State from 1990-1993. In 2001, when Meyer landed his first head coaching job at Bowling Green, he hired Gonzales away from Kent State to coach wide receivers and hired an unknown grad assistant at Notre Dame to coach quarterbacks, Dan Mullen.

Together, Meyer, Mullen and Gonzales devised their own little version of the spread offense. They weren't the only ones, obviously. Mullen didn't become Meyer's offensive coordinator until they arrived in Gainesville. Still, Gonzales and Mullen were right there in every meeting and both men were important players. Mullen was charged with molding quarterbacks to the offense; Gonzales' task was teaching receivers the fundamentals of perimeter blocking above all else. Gonzales and Mullen were there from the ground up, and by the time Gonzales and Mullen coached at Utah with Meyer and packed their bags for Gainesville, they knew the offense better than anyone. 

Gonzales is a few months older than Mullen, but Mullen was named Florida's offensive coordinator in 2005. "That's cool," Gonzales probably thought. "Dan coaches the quarterbacks, after all, and the guy is really smart. Good for him. I'll get my shot."

Gonzales wanted to be UF's new offensive coordinator when Dan Mullen left for Mississippi State. He wanted the job badly. He felt like he deserved it. Heck, the man had good reason to feel this way. He had been with Meyer and Mullen since Bowling Green and had done a fine job as UF's receivers coach. Gonzales coached Percy Harvin, Louis Murphy, Bubba Caldwell and several other UF receivers who are now playing in the NFL.

That brings us to a relationship gone bad. Something happened along the way that infuriated Gonzales to the point that he would potentially sacrifice his relationship with Meyer out of spite.

Steve Addazio happened. Some could argue that UF's offense has been a shell of its former self ever since. Did Meyer promote the wrong guy? This much we know for a certainty: LSU Week has an entirely new meaning this season for the Gators.

-jo-

Comments

[OrlandoFinCane]

UFelony the NCAA Sanctions are coming!!!!

[Bull Gator]

South Carolina doesn't seem to be having any problems with Bama...at least so far!

[Bull Gator]

Big Joe-

Yeah, I love the part about Goldie being precariously balanced on a stool, while boxing the bald bull. Mr. Goldberg should receive the "Arthur Ashe ESPY Courage Award".

At the very least I hope Papa Goldberg receives a "Woody" at this year's "AVN Awards"...I've got my fingers crossed for him (while standing on a stool).

[Bull Gator]

Big Joe-

Yeah, I love the part about Goldie being precariously balanced on a stool, while boxing the bald bull. Mr. Goldberg should receive the "Arthur Ashe ESPY Courage Award".

At the very least I hope Papa Goldberg receives a nod at this year's "AVN Awards"...I've got my fingers crossed for him (while standing on a stool).

[Trouble in Trailerville]

Bama= another over-rated SEC team.

[Coach `em up Steve]

Just like it was said on here earlier
Alabama wasnt as good as Florida made them look.
FU just laid down and quit in that game.
At least S.C. has come out and shown that they arent afraid of Bama
FU should take a lesson about what its like playing with heart and wanting to win

[nsbgator]

i would like to see saban admit to being out coached today

[Coach `em up Steve]

It just showed that the Ole Ball Coach still has the skills
Even when Alabama made their run did you notice Steve didnt let them drop their heads and quit like some other team did
Thats whats called coaching and believing in the talent you have around you

[Trouble in Trailerville]

Is there really any question that Gatard trash was a one man team for 3 years. That the offense is Mickey Mouse? That the next running back Meyer develops will be the first?

Something stinks in the trailer park.

[Trouble in Trailerville]

What is the excuse this week, Gatard trash?

Brantley is hurt? We are young? Billy G stole our signals?

The most cowardly program in the nation.

[Dive Play]

no excuse trouble... offense is horrible. as long as addazio is running it, it will remain that way!

[House]

Don't blame Addazio. This has Urban's stench all over it. He took all the glory when Tebow won for them. He know has to take the heat and lose that catatonic look on his face.

[Dive Play]

maybe urban heard the boos? i know addazio did. maybe foley saw the horrid stench that our offense has become.

maybe we finnish 7-5 and get a cheesy bowl game against a weak acc oponnent

[Coach `em up Steve]

Saban shuts Urb up and now Les steps up and does the same thing
The gig is up for Urb
He needs to do whatever it takes to buyout that overpayed contract and find another job before its to late

[g8rfan1]

Hey Trailerville, you sure are a big tough guy behind your keyboard, aren't you? You're pathetic, good job representing your school (if you even went there) with your class act.

[g8rfan1]

Coach 'em - Oh yeah, Les was in complete control the whole game... What are you smoking? That was a lucky win and Florida's offense still looks as if they're searching for a clue... They damn sure need something, 'cause this play calling

[Coach `em up Steve]

Hes calling plays for talent he doesnt have on the team
If he was to adapt his play calling to the talent he puts on the field he would be better off.
You dont run wide with a guy when thats not his strength

[It was funny watching Janoris Jenkins trying to tackle Terrance Tolliver]

Billy should send a postcard to Meyer now. "We won. The food over here is MUCH better. They can actually cook seafood over here & they don't eat that overrated boiled peanuts garbage. Hope the throat spasms don't start acting up. BG."