This is a huge rival game! So far under BN we are 0 - 4 if you include LSU. Once again we have 4 games this year in which we will be underdogs. Out of these next 4 rival games, UT is probably the weakest of them all. A win Saturday will boost this teams confidence like nothing else and will begin to alleviate the negative banter from both media and fans. Further, it will go a long way of retention of recruits for seeing UF win at home with a rocking stadium is sure to leave an impression. This is a pivotal game more so for BN going forward. Not that he is in danger of losing his job but for casting more doubts if he is the right guy and ends up losing the rest of our rival games, let alone making it easier for rival teams to poach our recruits. As a fan this Saturday's game makes me nervous because there's a lot riding on it. I know the fans at the stadium will do their part. For me this is a must win that I think will speed up the process of rebuilding UF into a top competitor. Once again, I believe this game will be the highlight of most college football fans this Saturday. Go Gators.
I also think UT is very overrated, so it's as good of an opportunity to "steal" one (win when being an underdog) as we're going to have this season. I hate "must wins", but as already stated on this thread, it's a critical game.
I agree, especially for the psyche of Gator Nation and to "muffle" what would be some LOUD noise in the system.
They're all big games for a UF team in the midst of a monumental rebuild. But I'd really like to start by beating UT. GG!
I am too. Question is will some recruits be. I don't think it would have been as important 15 or 20 years ago when social media and 24 hour sports media wasn't a thing but now "momentum " good or bad seems to take immediate affect, Especially with how stupid recruiting has become with "committed/decommitted" and "shut down" but not really....
Kentucky, S Carolina and Mizzou have all shown weaknesses at home. We really need to win 2-out-of-3 of those road games to send a message.
Sorry, but I think Napier needs to show he can win all three of those. We are getting to the point of normalization of losses to SEC bottom feeders. That has to stop in its entirety if there’s going to be a future here.
I agree...but I was trying to be kind. Not sure how CBN reaches 6-or-7 wins otherwise. Can't stand the thought of losing 3-in-a-row to Kentucky.
No argument here. Regrettably for coach next years is as brutual a schedule as I ever recall for the Gators. Myself, I would like to finish this current recruiting cycle off and get those kids in and working. Record wise it would do my psyche good to go 7-5 and hit a bowl. I'm not looking for miracles in 24, just steady improvement. If Napier makes it to 25, his 4th campaign, he needs to bring in some hardware of some sorts. SEC East Champ or great record.
Agree with this and while I appreciate the spirit of the OP, I don't agree with their assertion re: Understating, err . . . overstating the importance of this game. If we win? Sure - it's a huge game and like others have suggested, one that can go a long way toward the rebuild. But what if we lose? In that case, I think it's a "Meh" like @MarineG8R wrote . . . just another game the Gators were expected to lose. I'm just trying to approach the game and this season rationally, not emotionally. One can easily make a claim that this game is WAY bigger for TN than it is for the Gators. They are the ones playing for the top ten and trying to stake a claim for relevance in the SEC. The Gators are a year or two away from that imo. The vols also bring all of those high stakes to a place where they haven't won in decades.
A loss to UT could be the tipping point whether we have a winning or losing season. Three losing seasons, 2 under BN with another tough schedule next year doesn't do this program any favors. I'm not one of those that says turning a team around takes multiple years. At some point a coach has to turn the ship around. I've lived far too long to want to go back to the ole "wait til next year". In my mind, UT is not better this year than last. UF we have been told is better this year than last. We are at home. We need to win this game.
