Urban Meyer Fox Sports Announcer/Former Ohio State Football Coach Announced As Guest Speaker At Annual Sarasota Manatee OSU Alumni Golf Tournament
Meyer's success at Ohio State, where he led the Buckeyes to three Big Ten Championships (2014, 2017, 2018) and a national title in 2014, making him the only modern-era coach to win a national championship in two different conferences and one of only two to do it at two different schools (fellow 2025 inductee Nick Saban being the other). His Ohio State teams went 83-9 during seven seasons, never finishing lower than first in their division. They tallied a 54-4 Big Ten record while setting an NCAA record with 30 consecutive conference victories. His Buckeyes also dominated their archrival, going 7-0 against Michigan during his tenure.
Meyer set a major college record with 165 wins in his first 15 seasons, and his 85.4 winning percentage ranks third all-time in college football history. His postseason success was equally impressive, with a 12-3 bowl record (78.5% win rate), the second-highest in FBS history. In total, Meyer coached 44 First Team All-Americans, 77 First Team all-conference players, four NFF National Scholar-Athletes (two at Florida, two at Ohio State) and two College Football Hall of Fame inductees. He won seven conference championships overall. He was named the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year in 2004, and he was named the conference Coach of the Year three times (MWC in 2003, 2004 and MAC in 2001). Faith and philanthropy are key tenets in Meyer’s life and have contributed to his successes on and off the field. Joining the fight against cancer, Meyer and his wife, Shelley, founded the Urban and Shelley Meyer Fund for Cancer Research in 2012, a support fund dedicated to advancing research for all cancers. Their fund helps recruit experts in the field to Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. In 2025 Meyer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The annual tournament being held May 3, 2025 benefits students who graduate from any Sarasota or Manatee high school and attend The Ohio State University. Over $240,000 has been awarded to local students who become a part of the Buckeye Nation; there are currently 6 local scholarship recipients attending OSU who received a combined $42,000 in scholarship money.
A $165 participation fee entitles players to 18 holes of play on the private Lakewood National Golf Club Course in Lakewood Ranch followed by lunch. Winner of the Hole-In-One Contest will win a two-year lease on a new Ford Mustang. Other prizes will be awarded for the Straightest Drive, Closest To The Pin, Longest Putt, Longest Drive (men’s and women’s individual awards), as well as cash prizes for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. There will also be a long-ball-driver from Charity Golf International. All participates will be given chance tickets to win any one of 75-100 prizes donated by local stores, courses, hotels, restaurants, boutiques, and more. Meyer will speak following the luncheon.
The Sarasota-Manatee Ohio State University Alumni Club is ranked as a Scarlet Club through The Ohio State University Alumni Association and is one of the top clubs in the country. Since 1999 the club has supported nearly 50 students and supports the local community through beach clean-ups, the My Hometown Festival, the All-Faith’s Food Bank, and through supporting the Archie Griffin Golf Classic that raises money for the local Boys and Girls Clubs. Over 375 area households make up the membership of the local alumni organization.
Those wishing to register for the golf tournament can do so by going to http://www.sarasotabuckeye.org to register. Don’t play golf? Donations are also accepted to support the local students. Participants may also email bcs55g@gmail.com to request a registration form or call 414-678-8785.
