GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The factual comment came near the end of Billy Napier's press conference late Saturday night following the Gators' 45-35 home loss to LSU. Responding to a reporter's question about an important recruiting weekend for the Gators mixed with a disappointing loss, Napier first emphasized that with everything UF has to offer academically and athletically, those decisions should not be influenced by a single event. As Napier continued to speak and promote Florida as a college destination, he stated a cold, hard fact that often seems forgotten or ignored by a segment of fans and media. It might be the most crucial thing Napier has said in his 11 months on the job. "It's been 14 years since Florida has won the SEC and a national championship,'' Napier said. "We've got work to do." Carter's Corner: A Long Journey Here, Gators Have Barely Started New One - Florida Gators
It would be nice if some fans here understand what is transpiring. I wish I could have my own mantra I could place on each thread: It is Game 7 of Year 1. PLEASE get this fact.
I get that it's game 7 of year 1. I did not come into this year expecting miracles. But be honest, did you or anyone expect the defense to be so bad right now?
The term I use repeatedly is...sobering. What else is it, except beating a dead horse? I said right after the Utah game I saw issues, the play of the safeties especially. And while we can say that the defense has "regressed", is it not also possible that it has progressed some, but that the other teams we play 1) have learned what makes us tick from more and more tape and 2) they have gotten better themselves? In other words, we are regressing due to not progressing as well as our immediate competition. This is the bye week. We should see changes. This is when they come in earnest. More success? Perhaps some, but the quality of the back 7 is limited. It just is. And I do believe that we play this way because it supposedly gives us the best chance to win, damn big warts and all. And while this does not absolve anything happening on the defensive side, there are two trends that have not changed on offense (presumably for the same potential reasons above for the defense): 1) AR does not look the same, and 2) the running game is decent to good, but it does not put pressure on their defense to change what they came to do. Likely because of AR's tendencies, Napier's aversion to go to Plan B at QB (although this may change against UGa), and a general lack of "wow" in the receivers against SEC caliber defensive backs. It is what it is.
We are all aware its game 7 of year 1. I think its fair to expect ANY kind progression and not regression by game 7.
Agree. He can start us on the right course and stop losing SEC games at home. We can beat anyone, any year in the Swamp.
Fans today need a little more perspective. It has been 14 years since our last championship, but the foundation for Urban Meyer’s success was built upon 11 years of Steven Spurrier’s program rebuilding and Ron Zook’s excellent recruiting in 3 of his 4 years while not completely unraveling what Spurrier built. This is a complete rebuild similar to what Charley Pell went through in 1979, and that took a bit of time to get going. In today’s era of football I would rather have a massive rebuild in year 1 and go 6-6 than 0-10-1 if it meant winning 70% of the games after that. Just keep us out of NCAA trouble while completely renovating the program.
While all situations are different, all you have to do is look at other teams with first year coaches and see how their trajectory is going. LSU, I'm looking at you! Why have they been able to adjust to the new coaching and get better. Is their roster significantly better than ours?
NICK SABAN: 2000 LSU 8-4 2001 LSU 10-3 2002 LSU 8-5 2003 LSU 13 1 2004 LSU 9 3 2007 Alabama 7-6 2008 Alabama 12-2 2009 Alabama 14-0
Fact of the matter is that Florida, the sleeping giant of the East has been passed by at least Kentucky and Tennessee in a short period of time. We're basically at Vanderbilt and South Carolina levels. We're back at the "Wait til next year" days. I don't like it but convince me I'm wrong.
I'm not interested in 1st year. If you want a team that can go 9-3 /10-2 in some years, like Mullen had, then 1st year could be important. If you want a team that can regularly compete for championships with Bama, Ga, Ohio St... then this is a complete rebuild from bottom up and it is going to take some time. It's not only 14 years since we won a championship, it's also 14 years , with the exception of a few of them, where we have been mostly mediocre with a few bad years thrown in. This is not going to be easy and not quick.
3 years removed from a championship and really good recruiting in between. But let’s not get carried away Fans & the media in red stick were having buyers remorse 2 weeks ago when they got blown out at home. They have looked lost and undisciplined at times the first half of the season.
Guess it depends on what you mean by “passed”. Tennessee beat us this year, does that mean they passed us? Are you just using this year’s record? And yes, this season is a wait til next year. It always was gonna be a wait til next year. Heck, it might be a wait 2 years situation. You personally gotta decide if you are on the UF train or not? The future looks bright with the current recruiting class. Will we as fans hype up UF, or attempt to disparage? Uga was in the same situation in 2016 with a new coach. Will we let our guy recruit and support him and his plan?
