Gator sports without a National Championship

Don't ever see us winning a championship in any of these sports as long as SS is our AD. He is happy that Volleyball, Basketball and Lacrosse win more than lose. Aren't the track/cross-country scholarships eaten up by track?

 

It’s not just 5e topography, it’s the hot humid weather.
And then the schollies are commingled with track, and mouse prioritizes sprinters and jumpers with them because that’s what the recruiting base is here. So we will likely never be great at it, even if we get an occasional Parker Valby or Gen Lacaze as distance people. Kinda sucks, but it is what it is. Hard to question mouse much with his 12 national titles.

 

If you look at the standings after NCAA CC this year, most of the top schools are not in contention for the T&F titles. As all of the athletes are on partial scholarships, believe these schools are offering top CC runners more scholarship than we are; having said that, Mouse has transfers coming in on women's team from Alabama that finished 14th at this year's CC national meet and one from New Mexico that finished 22nd in the CC national meet; the New Mexico transfer also finished 4th in the 10K at this year's outdoor NCAA meet. Lastly, a transfer from UNLV that finished 4th in shot put at this year's women's outdoor NCAA meet.

 

Out of curiosity exactly what should SS have done differently with Lacrosse and volleyball?

 

Both have been great coaches but they no longer can win championships. But expect no chances because they win enough.

 

Well he’s tryin.
Picked up the fourth place finisher in the 10k on the women’s side from last year today. A UNM transfer.
Also picked up a really good 400 guy.

 

So you think SS should have fired them? What would be your plan of action?
FYI, Lacrosse has remained a top 10 type program and volleyball not far from that

 

Another day another transfer - 2023 women's 5th place finisher in 3,000m steeplechase at NCAA outdoor T&F championship to UF. Can't wait to see high school recruits.

 

No, I NEVER said fire them. Both are top 25 teams. They win but they aren't going to win championships anymore.

 

I wonder if SS can hire anybody better. I haven't been impressed with his hiring record up to this point. But hopefully Napier and Golden prove me wrong.

 

So AGAIN, what should SS do, since you put this at his feet

 

great question since his track record isn't good yet keep them on as long as their teams are in the top 25.

 

He's from the "Show Me" state. LOL.

 

The best CC runners are up north and in the mountains training..it was it is. We are very hampered by not at least not having elevation in Florida to train at. But Palmer will make us a lot more competitive at least on the womens side. NCAA wont break the schollies up there.
Volleyball and Lacrosse have both been screwed by bad calls to keep up from winning titles. Still burns me up knowing our girls got rheamed by biased officiating.

Basketball I am perplexed by, we should all on accts be good at womens basketball. But we hardly get fan support even for our very good teams. Kelly Rae is beating down the doors to get local support and also has hired some great asst coaches to help recruit like crazy. Reynolds is the best player to ever sign with UF..after watching her play she is on another level from who we have had before. That being said McGill who will sign in Nov is better then her and we are pushing to get the top pg in the next class. Plus we are getting visits from people who have us right up there with the SC, UCONNS, LSUs, Etc..We are loaded with wings and guards this year but no bigs. So very confused what she is wanting to do with this squad. But she seems pretty set on what type of players she can get down the road

 

Good questions TJ...
As a former UF XC/ track runner, and current HS coach, let me say a few things...

• There are no cross-country scholarships. All runners are on track scholarships (if they are on one.) Men's track in total is allowed 12.6. Women's are more (18?) I've heard that Mouse only allocates ONE scholarship among all male distance runners.
• You are right that the entire team determines the team finish order- it's actually "worse" than golf. In golf 5 play and you take the top 4 player's scores. In cross-country you have 7+ run and you take the top 5 runner's places.
• So in cross-country a team's #4 and #5 runners are the key. You could literally have the top 3 runners in the SEC, but if your 4 and 5 runners are 50 and 51, you will not win. For example, at last year's SEC men's meet a team scoring 1+2+3+50+51 = 107 points. That would have placed 5th.
• To give you an idea how far away our XC team is from a natty... our men placed 10th at SEC last year. (Only 12 teams competed!) Our women had the individual champ (Valby), but still got 5th. Our #4 and #5 runners were 52nd and 60th and only 98 runners even scored! That will never get it done.
• To anyone who says Florida runners can't get it done- you are wrong. The SEC watch and ring in my avatar is mine. We won SECs and finished 7th in the nation in 1986. While yes we don't have mountains in G-ville, we certainly have hills and we have wicked heat and humidity. Both prepared us well My senior year we went up to Knoxville and broke Tennessee's string of 6 straight SEC titles, and it was hilly. To beat them on their home course was so very sweet.
• With the amazing Parker Valby, as well as the increased women's scholarships, perhaps the women will break into the top of the SEC and the nation this year.
• And perhaps with the NIL and other workarounds, our men will start doing well too. I'd love to see some support for distance guys on the UF team again.
• Go Gators!!

 

I think people are getting a little carried away with NIL....the resources just aren't there to fund the everyday athletes. At least not at this juncture. Perhaps something for gamechangers in the spring sports, but not much beyond that