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Is Fan apathy setting in?

Discussion in 'RayGator's Swamp Gas' started by gatorzilla91, Mar 8, 2023.

  1. Wanne15

    Wanne15 GC Hall of Fame

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    Recruiting the last five years has no relevance as those players are no longer on the roster.
    I hit up Spurriers and a few more while I’m there.
     
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  2. Skink

    Skink GC Hall of Fame

    Got to after you’ve gone to the time and money to be there
     
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  3. msa3

    msa3 Premium Member

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    I'm going to bookmark these and, heaven forbid, if the scenario I wrote unfolds and we'll see who's correct about fan attitudes. Blown out in primetime at Utah, loss to UT at home, road split between USCe and Kentucky, with our wins coming at home against McNeese, Charlotte, Vandy and the other of USC or Kentucky, and going into UGa 4-3 with them, LSU, and State still ahead of us.

    Again, for the record, I do not think that will happen. I think we somehow go into UGa 5-2 and win 3 of the last five. But if that doesn't happen -- If UF finishes 6-6 or worse in the regular season -- then I don't think Napier survives.
     
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  4. ETGator

    ETGator Long-Time Gator Stuck In East Tennessee Moderator VIP Member

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    At least you've been reasonable and explaining your position.

    I'll just say that with the rebuild Coach Napier undertook, literally from the program's foundation up, and with only a less-than-SEC-ready roster to work with last year, the record last year won't hold much weight. Especially not enough to can him in Year 2 playing a lot of freshmen at 6-6 or even 5-7. No way that happens, IMO. I also don't expect to see the worst case either this year.
     
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  5. bigkid12

    bigkid12 All American

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    Napier won 6 games with a Qb that just went 4th overall. Can't wait to see how he does next year. Going to be embarrassing.
     
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  6. Skink

    Skink GC Hall of Fame

    Enough of the “Napier doesn’t survive” scenarios already. Come up with something new will ya?
     
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  7. scooterp

    scooterp GC Hall of Fame

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    Yeah …it’s just that simple :confused:
    That was a pretty bad & lazy take.
     
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  8. partdopy

    partdopy GC Hall of Fame

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    lmao. Couldn't even beat the team that finished 14-0 and won the national title. Only went 12-1 with the only loss to the team that did win the championship. Why even bother playing right? Just stay on the couch.

    You don't have to win a national championship, or even conference championship, to have a successful year. You just have to play good football.
     
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  9. Skink

    Skink GC Hall of Fame

    LOL that’s not what we were talking about. We were discussing how much difference a great QB can make on an otherwise average team. Even Tebow, arguably the best QB to ever play at UF needed a solid team around him to win even a conference championship. Not only in 2009, but in 2007 too.

    We were never discussing criteria for a “successful year”. Late to the discussion
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2023
  10. The reality is the Mullen roster churning is worse than we ever thought and we're paying the price for at least 2 more years. In some people's dream world we can snap our fingers and make things better but unfortunately it's gonna be a long process. People will highlight AR with draft position but he certainly he had his issues (not exactly experienced starter) and plenty of other positions had issues. The rebuild goes a lot deeper than people think and we should thank Mullen/Grantham for almost every issue. Maybe Mullen was good with underrecruited guys who could develop for 3-4 years but he was so far in over his head here where wins revolve around beating out your rivals for players on a day to day basis.
     
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  11. crescent_beach

    crescent_beach GC Legend

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    That could absolutely change if/when Stricklin is fired.

    That said, I don’t foresee Napier not getting a third year, outside of a committing a crime scenario.
     
  12. Skink

    Skink GC Hall of Fame

    You’re an awesome fan
     
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  13. gatordavisl

    gatordavisl VIP Member

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    "even pull off a conference championship" = flawed logic. The 2009 national championship was won in Atlanta.
     
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  14. Skink

    Skink GC Hall of Fame

    wut?
     
  15. partdopy

    partdopy GC Hall of Fame

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    I read the full quote string. You're the only one who seems to think the bar for success is a national championship for some reason. I thought the 2009 season was very successful and most of that was due to the QB position.

    If you think success= national championship or bust you're going to be in for a disappointment. It's really mystifying that so many people seem to think this way.
     
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  16. Skink

    Skink GC Hall of Fame

    You’re fixated on national championship as the bar for success, not me. I kept saying conference championship in my posts. But for the record I agree that simply playing good football with a minimum of stupid mistakes and winning more games than we lose would amount to a good season this year.
     
  17. Wanne15

    Wanne15 GC Hall of Fame

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    I don’t think anyone thinks championship or bust but tgat should be the goal every year. 8-10 wins should be the floor. Napier has to get the talent level to where tgat is possible and it won’t be overnight.
     
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  18. Wileegator

    Wileegator Senior

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    If I'm too disinterested to answer the OP's title question, does that count as a yes?
     
  19. partdopy

    partdopy GC Hall of Fame

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    I'm sure nobody will be getting fired this season but bold prediction with a wins over Vandy and splitting UK/USC.
     
  20. Gator715

    Gator715 GC Hall of Fame

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    I really think Napier's case is really contingent on the story his teams tell in addition to recruiting.

    If we have great recruiting classes and the team shows promise schematically and is just missing a couple pieces, I can see him getting more leash and he deserves more leash. That matters a lot more than wins and losses, IMO.

    Going back and looking at every coach who has been canned since Meyer, and yes they didn't win enough. But I think the biggest reason they were fired was that they proved that their system for running the program wouldn't work.
    1. It was obvious to everyone the offense was never going to get going under Muschamp by the time he was fired.
    2. Mac was more borderline in my opinion because recruiting was really improving and that was his big flaw, but as recruiting improved he lost that championship defense he inherited without the offense picking up enough of the slack. Pair that with the fact that it just looked like the job was taking a toll on him and he didn't want it anymore, and you have your explanation.
    3. I still think Mullen had the ability to win championships here if he just had the will to do what needed to be done. But he didn't, he was loyal to a fault, was asleep at the wheel recruiting for the back end of his tenure, and threatened to leave for the NFL when things were looking great for him. Putting all of that together in context, looks like he wanted a big payday and to cashout, he didn't want the pressure cooker of competing at a championship level in this world of college football. Too much time and too much of a headache. I get it, but it sucks because I think he had the ability. Wasted potential.
    4. Jury's still out on Napier. But both recruiting and scheme (or scheme fit) need to get better. If we still have a square peg round hole situation across the board and Ohio State, Bama, Georgia, and LSU are still this clear tier above us in recruiting... he's in trouble. Doubts that he will have a system that works will be reasonable.