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Post by tapsgator on Jan 22, 2024 12:40:18 GMT -5
Once Starkville Scotty and Cajun Willie go away and we can look at Florida Football as something other than comedic relief I think a large hurdle will be recalibrating the fanbase to expect if not demand something beyond nonsense. Call it a "culture" if you will. So, here's a couple examples of the mentality that pervades a decent segment of the fanbase: hailfloridahail.com/posts/jameer-grimsley-helps-florida-football-claw-back-it-s-2024-recruiting-class-01hmrzpn5fz7"Florida's ranking right now is a bit of semantics from the major industries. Because Alabama didn't actually releases Grimsley from his LOI he was forced to take a transfer. And so when looking at team rankings for the class of 2024, Grimsley counts as a transfer and not a signed prospect. If Grimsley counted as a prospect, Florida would be back into the top ten and would leap FSU in the recruiting rankings." Riiiiiiiiight, and if Grandma had balls she'd be Grandpa. What would not change is: 1) our composite ranking which only considers incoming talent and not the outgoing talent would still be outside the top 10 2) a top 10 recruiting class is not a win at Florida 3) due to the most talented kids to play for this staff are staying an average of roughly 1.5 years our overall talent will still drop next year www.gatorcountry.com/feature/billy-napier-was-right-to-focus-on-defense-changes-first/"Florida announced the hire of Ron Roberts as the new grandiosely titled “executive head coach”, co-defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach. The best case scenario here is that UF can experience a smaller but similar effect as LSU did on offense in 2019." This one is full of nonsense, but I think it comes out swinging with delusion and hilarity right out of the gate by stating that the theory that CWT is operating under is that the Florida Defense is in a position comparable to the greatest offense in the history of college football. Who exactly are the Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, Justin Jefferson, Edwards Helaire first round picks, Terrance Marshall 2nd round pick, Damien Lewis and/or Saddiq Charles (NFL starters) on this defense? And I'm pretty sure that he is comparing Tits McGee to Joe Brady. That's awesome. I'll keep this thread updated as the hilarity ensues.
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Post by wahhappen on Jan 22, 2024 13:23:44 GMT -5
It is absurd how a large portion of the fanbase is bending over backwards to defend Napier and the current state of the football program. There seems to be this unfounded belief that things are turning in the right direction. There is no evidence of improvement, but apparently the secret formula is just more time to build the team his way. It is crazy how blind some are that cannot see that "his way" is outdated and ineffective. Even if we use his own mediocrity as a measuring basis for success, he is underachieving in every area conceivable. But, hey, maybe we will magically transform once these mystical future changes are implemented.
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Post by SoTxCaiman on Jan 22, 2024 15:03:15 GMT -5
Is anyone else worried that Real Deal Bill is plodding along, straight ahead, non-wavering, having sold Stricklin on the fact that he knows the secret Saban formula, all at the same time Saban woke up one morning, looked in the mirror and said, well it was a good run while it lasted, but my shit don't work anymore and I'm way to old to change so, I think I'll just go fishing.
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 23, 2024 13:11:23 GMT -5
It is absurd how a large portion of the fanbase is bending over backwards to defend Napier and the current state of the football program. There seems to be this unfounded belief that things are turning in the right direction. There is no evidence of improvement, but apparently the secret formula is just more time to build the team his way. It is crazy how blind some are that cannot see that "his way" is outdated and ineffective. Even if we use his own mediocrity as a measuring basis for success, he is underachieving in every area conceivable. But, hey, maybe we will magically transform once these mystical future changes are implemented. The disconnect between national perception and the local media/sunshine pumping crowd is staggering. The willingness to accept company lines with no semblance of objective analysis feels new to me, and as far as I am from a fan of Jeremy Foley, I feel like it has really grown under Stricklin. Which confuses me because not only has Stricklin had absolutely zero success on his own merit (the coaches he has hired have losing records overall, he's had two female player abuse scandals, and now we're under an NCAA investigation FOR A KID WE DID NOT GET), but his hires have not come in with a track record that would justify any sort of patience. The closest thing to a proven commodity was Mullen who had been passed over for every major job for the prior 5+ years including the UF job twice and had spent the time since he departed taking pot shots at the UF program and Gainesville from Starkville aka the arm pit of the state that is the arm pit of the country. The result has been a regression of the viewpoint of the average fan, and a fanbase that is scared of being "spoiled" or "unreasonable expectations" so they put lipstick on a pig that keeps rolling around in shit. It's very tough to be an objective fan because if you dare to question either of these morons you're "not a real fan." I beg to differ, if you're a fan of the University of Florida you have no reason to support Stricklin for any reason or give Napier pass in perpetuity because he's "a straight shooter," never mind that he can't give a straight answer to save his life. Is anyone else worried that Real Deal Bill is plodding along, straight ahead, non-wavering, having sold Stricklin on the fact that he knows the secret Saban formula, all at the same time Saban woke up one morning, looked in the mirror and said, well it was a good run while it lasted, but my shit don't work anymore and I'm way to old to change so, I think I'll just go fishing. That's crossed my mind but here's what I think: Cajun Willie is trying to plagiarize the approach of 2 guys: Saban and Dabo. It is now very clear that if he gleaned anything from Saban it wasn't useful and/or he has put his own (moronic) spin on it to make in wholly ineffective. With Dabo, he got fired as OC pretty fast (impressive given that they came up coaching together), but if Dabo had any idea whatsoever of how to handle NIL and the portal he would be coaching at Alabama right now. So, he's basically poorly imitating systems that don't work. I feel like Starkville Scotty either intentionally or as a by-product of his misplaced confidence/ego ("Don't worry guys, I'm not going anywhere, but Texas A&M totally called" is about as Mullen-esque as I can think of) has hired a guy who allows him to feel like he has input or, God forbid, actually allows him to give input on staffing decisions etc. which is very odd given that he has absolutely no credentials or experience in actual athletic coaching, he's an administrator and always has been. Fuchs obviously didn't care and the longer we continue to circle the drain the more I think Sasse is the same. It's a perfect storm, I've been talking about the perils of lowering standards since Muschamp but I always thought it was accepting mediocrity, like 8-5 every once in awhile. This is accepting absolute trash and pretending it's "not that bad" or "not my fault." The result has been and will continue to be predictable.
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Post by wahhappen on Jan 23, 2024 13:55:57 GMT -5
It is absurd how a large portion of the fanbase is bending over backwards to defend Napier and the current state of the football program. There seems to be this unfounded belief that things are turning in the right direction. There is no evidence of improvement, but apparently the secret formula is just more time to build the team his way. It is crazy how blind some are that cannot see that "his way" is outdated and ineffective. Even if we use his own mediocrity as a measuring basis for success, he is underachieving in every area conceivable. But, hey, maybe we will magically transform once these mystical future changes are implemented. It's a perfect storm, I've been talking about the perils of lowering standards since Muschamp but I always thought it was accepting mediocrity, like 8-5 every once in awhile. This is accepting absolute trash and pretending it's "not that bad" or "not my fault." The result has been and will continue to be predictable. This is what infuriates me the most. The narrative of "spoiled fans" (which I have never agreed with for too many reasons to get into -- we all get it on this board) has evolved to the point where we are considered spoiled unless we lower expectations to what they were before Spurrier arrived. What if the new Ford Motor Company CEO came in and told the board that they need to lower expectations. Why? "Because things weren't always so great around here before the Model T." That attitude is why we are now considered a rival to a team we once beat 31 years straight.
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 23, 2024 14:42:47 GMT -5
Not only are we rivals, we're losing the rivalry
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Post by wahhappen on Jan 23, 2024 21:45:50 GMT -5
Here is a real response to an announcement of landing Titus Bullard:
“Billy is on fire.I better not hear another person say BIlly is gone next year with that schedule we won’t win 2 games.We are getting so much talent never seen before in Gainesville.We will dominate next year watch out.Go Gators.”
Number 1, WTF? And B.) Yeah, Billy is doing great at “landing” the legacy recruits. Totally on fire. And three, wow. Did you hear that ‘93 through 2008 Gators? More talent never seen before in Gainesville. I’m not even sure this belongs in this thread.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Jan 24, 2024 0:25:56 GMT -5
Delusionality is the only way to justify what we are seeing.
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Post by SoTxCaiman on Jan 24, 2024 11:42:39 GMT -5
Titus Bullard - 6'2" 205 lbs Defensive End
Bullard will join the Gators as a preferred walk-on, electing to align with his father's alma mater over FBS offers from Liberty, Toledo, Buffalo and Georgia Southern.
We probably had to come with our "A" game to get him off that Georgia Southern offer.
Underlines pretty much say it all for me. He may become something in time, but program savior, really?
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 24, 2024 11:56:43 GMT -5
Yeah, I don't think the sunshine pumpers know how often and how far they slide the bar.
Can't let him go because he's got a top 5 class, well it's not a top 5 class but it's still top 10, well it's the 15th ranked class but we just added a couple kids ranked 175 and 197 in the country after one got let out of their NIL and the other used the portal after Saban retired nevemind all the high 4 and 5 stars that went elsewhere, we lost Princely but we got a kid from Penn, big win. Running back room will be better without Etienne, and on and on and on.
You know who I think does notice that though and is making every effort to capitalize on it? Starkville Scotty and Cajun Willie. Or the Delta Dumbass Duo. So we get a speaking tour from an AD with 0 football experience. We get nonsensical, meandering coach speak that isn't even close to accountability or rationale thought. An apathetic, uninformed fanbase is the golden goose for subpar coaching and administration. So they keep trying to fatten it up. The end game here is that the president has to get hit in the pocket book by some boosters with big bucks and clout and his hand is going to need to be forced. Not really giving credit here, but Foley at least knew he needed the Bull Gators and Machan took an interest in football, so there was some accountability. Also, the fact that a coach is letting the AD put out there that he's holding his hand? Horrible look. Can you imagine the Bama AD saying "I met with Nick regularly to make sure he was doing well in the football and to give him suggestions, he was a real wizard and knew his stuff, for Kellen's first year we're going to really collaborate. We'll probably share an office and have slumber parties because he's that level of fun guy"
It's preposterous. Also, through the magic of Twitter I recently found out that one of the guys on the board of the Gator Collective is a guy I went to school with whose family owns a construction company. So, when there's an announcement of a 400 million dollar renovation project as kids de-commit left and right making it clear our NIL is still miles behind other destination school that kind of makes you think.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Jan 24, 2024 15:18:05 GMT -5
Henceforth, Napier and Stricklin will be known as the Delta Dumbass Duo, DDD for short for simplicity when posting about them simultaneously. Because efficiency. That's a deal there, right?
Another Taps gem.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Jan 24, 2024 15:24:59 GMT -5
“At Florida, we expect to compete for championships in all our sports. There are no exceptions to that.”
- Scott Stricklin
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 25, 2024 11:40:09 GMT -5
That's amazing
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 25, 2024 12:10:17 GMT -5
hailfloridahail.com/posts/top-players-in-the-transfer-portal-keeping-looking-elsewhere-besides-florida-football-01hmecnsjq33This article is still applicable despite the huge wins of getting the 16th best kid that jumped in the portal from Bama (who was quickly hailed as a savior of the recruiting class) and the kid Texas let out of his NOI because he was the 15th highest ranked kid in a 23 man class whereas he was 6th in our class because our ace recruiter can't recruit. Our highest ranked incoming transfer (out of 10) is #43 in the country, next is Howard at 87. We aren't doing jackshit in the portal, we've gotten worse, but on the bright side next year they can play the "we were a young team" card because the older transfers coming in aren't very good and the upper classmen who left were starters including our 2 guys that could go early in next years draft (17th and 31st kids in the portal). So, I fully expect for us to hear "we're still very young, next year we will be older" again come Fall.
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Post by wahhappen on Jan 25, 2024 12:10:41 GMT -5
If I didn’t know any better, seeing those stats side-by-side looks like comparing UF’s athletics success to those of Mississippi State.
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 25, 2024 12:48:58 GMT -5
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Post by SoTxCaiman on Jan 25, 2024 15:03:25 GMT -5
"If I didn’t know any better, seeing those stats side-by-side looks like comparing UF’s athletics success to those of Mississippi State."
Wahappen said.... Mr. nail you are about to meet Mr. hammer, and then hit it right on the head.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Jan 25, 2024 22:21:31 GMT -5
The only issue that I have is that it gives Foley too much credit. To show how truly bad that both of them have been at hiring coaches, it is necessary to back Urban Meyer out of the equation. He was strictly a Bernie Machen hire.
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Post by gatordoll on Jan 26, 2024 2:22:18 GMT -5
Exactly right. I remember speaking with Machen when he was out here in No Cal on a PR visit with our local Gator club after he first became UF president. When I asked him what he thought about UM as a coach from his Utah days his eyes just lit up, and to this day I'll never forget his response: You think he'd come to UF? Maybe he was just playing with me but maybe not. The point is that I am not giving Foley credit for that hire.
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Post by wahhappen on Jan 26, 2024 10:20:23 GMT -5
I think it further illustrates the point that you don't have to be a great AD to find success at the University of Florida. I maintain the opinion that you almost have to be trying to fail in order to see the results we have had since Stricklin took over. It is nearly impossible to be so horrible. Even Foley, as bad as he was, had better success and maintained the public perception that he was good at his job.
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 29, 2024 13:47:38 GMT -5
gatorswire.usatoday.com/2024/01/27/florida-broke-even-in-transfer-portal-per-the-athletic/Fun trend developing where in the conclusion of most articles they admit the entire proceeding article is "a bit of a stretch." That's accurate is by "bit of a stretch" you mean pure bullshit. To wit: “It’s probably a bit of a stretch to say the Gators didn’t lose more than they gained in the portal,” wrote the Athletic’s Manny Navarro, “but we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and put them in this category because Napier also picked up two young former blue-chip recruits in linebacker Pup Howard (South Carolina) and 2024 Alabama cornerback signee Jameer Grimsley.” Billy Napier’s seat only got hotter as the transfer portal opened, but he’s done a decent job recovering from what many viewed as insurmountable losses.
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Post by wahhappen on Jan 29, 2024 22:11:27 GMT -5
gatorswire.usatoday.com/2024/01/27/florida-broke-even-in-transfer-portal-per-the-athletic/Fun trend developing where in the conclusion of most articles they admit the entire proceeding article is "a bit of a stretch." That's accurate is by "bit of a stretch" you mean pure bullshit. To wit: “It’s probably a bit of a stretch to say the Gators didn’t lose more than they gained in the portal,” wrote the Athletic’s Manny Navarro, “but we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and put them in this category because Napier also picked up two young former blue-chip recruits in linebacker Pup Howard (South Carolina) and 2024 Alabama cornerback signee Jameer Grimsley.” Billy Napier’s seat only got hotter as the transfer portal opened, but he’s done a decent job recovering from what many viewed as insurmountable losses. Before drawing final conclusions, you also have to consider that Napier was able to convince Mertz to stay another year. While it doesn’t show up on the stat sheet as a portal win, he kept Mertz from jumping into the portal or going to the NFL draft. The fact we have the best QB in program history since Tebow back for unfinished business should hold as much weight as any commits out there.
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Post by gatordoll on Jan 29, 2024 23:26:16 GMT -5
Wow, thanks for clarifying that about us being able to hold down Mertz. We were really sweating that one out. Thank God for Florida Victorious!
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 30, 2024 12:03:51 GMT -5
Before drawing final conclusions, you also have to consider that Napier was able to convince Mertz to stay another year. While it doesn’t show up on the stat sheet as a portal win, he kept Mertz from jumping into the portal or going to the NFL draft. The fact we have the best QB in program history since Tebow back for unfinished business should hold as much weight as any commits out there. Oh for sure. He was so fired up that he announced his intent on November 30. Good to get out in front of it before the draft buzz starts building. Didn't want "will he stay or will he go?" to become a distraction. Hearts were breaking all over Chicago when Graham Mertz ambled out of the tunnel in slow motion pointing to the crowd on an Instagram video that he has since taken down (don't let them shame you Gutsy Graham). Don't be surprised if at least half the teams in the NFL tank to try to get the #1 pick next year. Go Down For Graham. Muck it up for Mertz. That sort of thing. It's gonna be a deal. Right?
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 30, 2024 14:13:45 GMT -5
Ewwwwwww this is a good one right here. www.on3.com/teams/florida-gators/news/gators-mailbag-oc-to-monitor-2024-expectations-qb-recruiting/For those of you who are smart and don't have the subscription, here's some highlights. The OC search: "I reported in our War Room earlier this month that hiring a new playcaller on offense is still something Florida coach Billy Napier might do, according to multiple sources. A reason this potential move has taken longer than his other offseason hires is because Napier has been waiting until the NFL season ends to evaluate all his options. One of the candidates we’ve been monitoring — who would be a “splash” hire — is Joe Brady, the offensive mastermind behind the LSU’s 2019 title and Joe Burrow’s record-setting season. He’s been the quarterbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills the past two seasons before being promoted to interim OC after Week 10."
"Brady was born and raised in Florida, growing up in Pembroke Pines, where he was a four-year letterwinner as a wide receiver at Everglades High School. Had Brady still been a position coach with the Bills, a chance to return to his home state as an SEC OC and coach quarterbacks Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway could be enticing."Yep, Joe Brady would surely leave the NFL and come back to college for the opportunity to work for Bill Napier and coach Graham Mertz. That's very realistic. On whether the new staff hires will pay dividends in 2024: "That being said, I think the hires Napier has already made should pay dividends in 2024. He brought in new coaches at all three levels of the defense, most notably his former defensive coordinator Ron Roberts. He left Auburn to be Florida’s executive head coach for defense, co-DC and linebackers coach."He left Auburn because he was told he would no longer be working at Auburn, but sure why not? Can't take this shit seriously at this point anyway. On what it would take for another year of this hilarity: What would be the minimum required result? I think Napier could survive a 6-6 record in the regular season *if* he wins the bowl game to finish 7-6 overall and has multiple wins over rivals, preferably one at FSU. It’s important to end a 6-6 season on a high note.
And that, right there, is why we are where we are today and how you destroy a destination program. Under the scenarios for 6-6 he'd either be 3-5 or 4-4 in SEC play. I don't think you get a 4th year at Kentucky or South Carolina if you are 18-20 and 9-15 or 10-14 in SEC play, we are now taking the bar from a mid-tier SEC program to one of the bottom 3 in a 16 team league because the only other places the Ragin Cajun Wunderkind would survive with an opening 3 years like that are Miss St (tracks given that our fearless AD was born, raised, and worked in the arm pit of the state that is the arm pit of America) and Vandy. It's preposterous.
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 30, 2024 14:18:14 GMT -5
Not sure if there's any truth to the rumor that the motto of Starkville Mississipi is:
"Welcome to Starkville, where we hire coaches who abuse women athletes, can't win anything in the 2 sports that matter, and the curriculum from Kindergarten through Post-Grad includes a class on how and when to ring a cowbell"
but it should be. Or maybe that's just the Starkville Scotty Process based on lots of analysis and evaluation.
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 30, 2024 14:35:36 GMT -5
Bonus from the above interview on QB recruiting and taking 2 QBs in 2025:
I think that will be their plan. Mertz is playing his last year of eligibility in 2024 and Florida will only return two scholarship quarterbacks in Lagway and Clay Millen, who will be a redshirt senior in 2025.
After not signing a high school quarterback in 2022 and 2023, UF needs to land a pair of signal callers in the 2024 class and both should be incoming freshmen after three straight years of taking a transfer QB (Jack Miller III, Mertz and Millen).
Who needs a QB coach? Certainly not Cajun Willie. Here's the QB room when he took the job:
Anthony Richardson Emory Jones Carlos Del Rio Jalen Kitna
Here is the depth chart heading into Spring
Gutsy Graham Mertz, mentor supreme DJ Lagway, the biggest thing going for him is that Graham Mertz is back to finish some business and likes him. If Gutsy Graham approves I will accept him as the backup Matt Millen's kid Clay who was, wait for it, the #83 QB in the transfer portal. For reference, Max Brown is 45th.
That is not progress.
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Post by SoTxCaiman on Jan 30, 2024 14:43:16 GMT -5
Don't forget that in a pinch RDB has Montrell Johnson in the wildcat ready and waiting to go.
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Post by g8rfan on Jan 30, 2024 15:16:13 GMT -5
This team will not win 6 games. Might not win 5.
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Post by wahhappen on Jan 30, 2024 15:29:35 GMT -5
Don't forget that in a pinch RDB has Montrell Johnson in the wildcat ready and waiting to go. Yes, finally a complete back who can run, block, pass, and catch snaps through the legs of a QB. The defense won't know what we're going to do.
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