Culture Shock, Part II: inside the Billy Napier rebuild of the Florida Gators

Kresser won when Marshall was still *FCS*, Louisiana plays D1, *FBS* ball, same as us.

 

Thanks - I’m not sure if the divisions or whatever you call them are the same as they were 25 years ago.

 

Sorry, Kresser won when they were division 1 FCS (or div1-aa is what it was called then). There’s FCS and FBS, which are different levels of d1, but Louisiana plays FBS ball, same as us. I don’t think they won a natty.

 

I stand corrected — it was their Sunbelt conference championship not the subdivision natty. South Dakota State won that. I got that all screwed up

 

I am not disagreeing with you. However, I am having a hard time trying to figure out who really dropped the ball on the Gator Football recruiting during the Mullen years.

On one hand, we have statements that say Mullen was not a very active recruiter.

One needs to wonder why he was not out their beating the bushes harder. Was Mullen lazy, or was he being hamstringed by what appears to be an underfunded recruiting budget.

The Gator football recruiting budgets for the seasons2017 thru 2022 were basically behind four or five SEC teams (notably UGA, Bama, LSU, A&M, and Vols) and behind F$U.

The question here is why was the Gator Football Recruiting budget during this time not competitive with the top tier SEC teams and the other regional and national teams. Was it Mullen not pushing hard enough for a larger recruiting budget? Or was it the UAA holding the budget down?

Link: Unpacking college football recruiting budgets. Georgia spent the most

 

Word on the street was that mullen had no plan for the money, just asked for more. Billy had a detailed plan of what he needed, and how he’d be using it. He did a better job selling his vision and he got what he asked for.

 

The recruiting budget is a little skewed. Because technically, UF does need to leave the state to recruit. Spurrier wasn't a recruiter... but he pulled on crazy classes with Zook on staff. Urban changed the recruiting landscape, muschamp didn't have an ace recruiter for offense...

Mullen could've retained an ace recruiter on staff. No reason Knox needed 2 position titles. You find someone who can accentuate or cover up your weaknesses.

 

I believe Mullen was too arrogant. He won at MSU with 3 star talent and he was / is a very good OC so he figured he could win with 3 star talent and sprinkle in a few five stars that fell his way because “FLORIDA GATORS” was on his hat.

 

It’s changed name I think and teams move up and down but if they aren’t ranked once in a while, are they really playing on the same level. It’s just words.

 

Guys 1AA=FCS as defined by programs that split from the power conferences in 1978. They crown champions via a true playoff of 16 teams.

some noted teams like Boise St and App St have transitioned to big boy football. While others play for the check also occasionally winning Ga Southern.

The rest are name you might recognize but are nowhere near competitive. I’m sure there have been schools drop into that classification from 1A/FBS but I’m too lazy to search for those, clearly none from a previous power conference.

 

Yep, even gameday coaching knuckle-head like Kirby can with more talent. The best innovators don't always win.