Alabama is not near the team they used to be. 5 years ago they never would have lost to that LSU team or Tennessee. Is saban starting to slip? Has the loss of all those good assistants started to catch up with him?
Probably a bit about less-than-ideal recruiting/player evaluation and a bit about a feebling-ish taskmaster whose minions see the chinks in the armor. People are people and are prone to relax when they have the chance.
Kinda puts floridas season in perspective. 3 losses to teams in the playoff top 10. Really the only mehhhh loss was Kentucky.
I have been guilty of thinking they were declining before and it didn't happen. However, this year it seems like they are on the decline. The penalties have been the biggest surprise to me, 15+ in two different games is so not like Bama it's weird to even imagine. They should of lost the A&M without bryce, so next year could be interesting
The reign of terror appears to be coming to an end. The aura of invincibility has been dispelled to some degree and is being replaced with speculation on just how close to the end Saban may actually be. It's interesting to note that although they are still recruiting like world beaters, they certainly aren't playing like it. The most intriguing question for me is will they begin to falter a bit on the recruiting trail if the results on the field continue to diminish. The same question could also be asked about Dabbo and Clemson. More to the point; can Billy Napier shock some folks and snatch a gem like Russaw or Smith from the clutches of the crimson juggernaut? Will Lagway spurn the Tigers for the opportunity to become a keystone of the much hoped-for renaissance in G-ville? Can the Gators take advantage of the approaching decline and fall of empires and thereby hasten the rebuild of their own? Stay tuned.
So, with two losses and them not going to the sec championship, are they moved to #3 or #4 in the payoff rankings?
Ok I get your point Florida has played 3 teams in the top ten. One of those teams was LSU so the question comes down to why is it LSU rather than Florida winning those games? I have my opinions but let’s hear what others are. I will make this point and I will state this as emphatically as I possibly can “I absolutely love my favorite football team the Gators” Having said that and after watching LSU yesterday here is my concern. They beat a full strength Alabama team, Florida in the second half finally took control of a team missing 16 starters and backups. That’s a little more than half of a team. So is my perspective wrong? Am I being unreasonable as a fan or being disrespectful to a coach ? I’m just honest to God trying to be as honest with what I’m seeing as I possibly can. CBN just might turn this thing around I hope he does as a Gator fan but being realistic I just see LSU as having made better decisions as far as coaching, portal decisions and development. I don’t want LSU to be better but the “facts” state they are.
I think you’re over thinking things like most of our fans have been doing. Journey before destination my fellow gator.
But the puppies completely manhandled Tennessee. I don’t think there’s another team in the sec comparable.
You mention variables, all negative I might add, but left out a couple. Bama lost in Baton Rouge, Gators won AT College Station. Texas A&M was missing players but have been stockpiling blue chippers since he arrived there. Where were they Saturday? I do recall that we lost several players this year to the portal which is understandable with a coaching change and you didn’t bother to mention we lost a very talented defensive player, albeit one that needed to move on, rather suddenly this week. We have had our share of adversity this year and our coaches have handled it well. I don’t hear excuses coming from BN. We have hit the lottery with this hire. It’s going to take a little more time to collect but it’s coming.
What am I overthinking? That’s what I don’t get from posters on here ? Facts……facts do not lie, they don’t lie they are what they are. I want Napier to succeed I really do but WHY ??? Why was one coach able to succeed in a much worse situation than Florida was ? What was the difference?
They aren’t that great this year. Texas beat them too. Refs gifted Bama that one. If Ewers wasn’t knocked out, not even the refs could have saved them.. their d isn’t as tough as normal and their passing game is nowhere near as explosive as it’s been.
I really appreciate your response Thank you for not being sarcastic or judgmental like most of the responses here. I’m optimistic about the future what I am questioning is the here and now. Both teams lost players I agree with you. I’m just questioning how one coach could take his team and do so much more with what he had opposed to what we have done. That’s my question it’s not meant to be negative in any sense of the word.