A program turn-a-round doesn't need to be a long process...

Good post. My dip into the conversation began with the specious argument that "since so-and-so" did it (w/o noting that these so-and-sos happen to be some of the best ever), our guy should too. Meanwhile, we don't even know what the Gators will really look like this year. Maybe they will underperform wildly or maybe they will do about how the "experts" think, or maybe they will pull a rabbit out of their hat, get the run game going, and win a bunch of games.

If Gator fans are willing to entertain just an ounce of reality, though, they will remember that this was not likely to be a real "up" year; nor should it be the year that we really expect to make a valid determination of the quality of CBN.

 

Unfortunately it won't happen. BN got UF job because he's really lucky at ULL and went 6-0 in 1-score games in 2021. SS didn't even bother to look at the scores of the ULL games before he decided to hire him, what a stupid and irresponsible hire!

The lack of offensive power of BN's team is fundamental. He couldn't score consistently vs Sunbelt DCs with a much more talented team than opponents. It's like had he had GA's roster GS's would have six 1-score games last year...

 

And so? First off, it's not entirely true. Otherwise, it still doesn't support whatever point you are trying to make. I'll stick with what @Wanne15 suggested - that we must now hire a HOF'er before the TN game.

 

100% agree

 

Especially Dan, 21-5 to start.

 

"SS preached SUSTAINABILITY many times when discussing his choice to hire BN. We have had several coaches come in hot and then flounder."

TBH, it's still way better than floundering from the get-go...

 

The problem is we shouldn’t have to wait 3 years for an “up” year.
We define up as 8 wins now so that in itself is us being ridiculously realistic, lowering our standards, etc.

 

That’s the thing. An 8 win season isn’t even good.

 

Back to the original topic, one of the seemingly more impressive things Sanders did was hiring Sean Lewis as OC. Not only because it appears Lewis is good but because I don’t know of an obvious connection between Sanders, Lewis, and Colorado in general. He hired a good OC for being a good OC and not being one of “his guys”.

 

That was my major concern in the BN hire. His offenses had no real identity at ULL. History tells us that those kind of coaches, lacking great Offensive mind or a true philosophy on O, tend to fail miserably at UF. The timing of letting Mullen go could not have happened at a worse time, because we were left with very limited options for a replacement.

Scott Stricklin probably used ChatGPT and asked who is the hottest coach during the late fall of 2021, and then went with the first available option.

I can't believe UF, given their close proximity and relationship to FSU, did not learn from, but instead repeated the same approach that led to the Taggert debacle. UF Athletic Dept just did it.

 

The process for quick program turnarounds is so easy that it has only happened a handful of times. Deion Sanders is a member of both the NFL and college HOF, and is a known commodity both in and out of football. The solution if Napier is fired is to only hire hall of famers as head coaches. The University of Florida deserves nothing less.

But seriously, if Mike Norvell can win 10 games in the ACC in year 3 with a high likelihood of winning 11 to 13 games in year 4, then Napier should at least be given 4 years in the SEC—including the first year of the new conference alignment. It is all but a foregone conclusion that Napier will not win 10 games in his 2nd year (2023). As long as his teams are not that embarrassing as they were against Utah, we can expect a Norvellian performance of 5 to 6 wins as the threshold. If Napier hires an OC and only wins 8 or 9 games in 2024 then I would be okay but slightly less nervous about 2025. If he does not hire an OC in 2024 and wins 6 games then I would be very nervous about 2025.

 

Yeah, but that stint at LSU showed quite a bit of promise...

 

At least it didn't use to be.

Ron Zook: 23-14 (.622)
2010-23: 101-65 (.608)

 

We've slipped so far that the Zook years would be an improvement.

We're looking at 4-8 this year and a very uncertain future.

 

Norvell had a very warm seat in his third year.

CBN will be similar and will have to produce big in Y3 (~9 wins if we only win 5 this year).

The point is now the path is more illuminated than ever before since now we are likely staring at 2 poor years. It’s pretty simple. He follows Norvell or he is unsuccessful (nobody should get 3 poor years and earn a 4th).

 

Expectations now after game 1 seem to be leaning towards a mediocre to poor year 2. CBN May surprise us and turn this around. I cant dismiss that possibility after 1 game. Best to wait until near the end of the season to make any judgements

 

That would be correct.

After five seasons at MSU hiring Saban was not considered a home-run hire.

 

It was actually widely panned, particularly after it was revealed that none of his MSU coaches decided to follow him to Baton Rouge.

 

My biggest worry is Napier being stubborn. He is 6-8, terrible time management, and kind of predictable as an OC. Yet, he refuses to change. He won't hire a ST coach because he believes we don't need one. Has he not seen the tapes? Drop the tight ends coach and one of the offense line coaches. I believe he is a good CEO not an OC. If he doesn't change he will be coaching a mid-major very soon.

 

Or retired after pocketing 53 million for three terrible seasons.