The importance of this game can't be overstated

I think losing twice to Vanderbilt would be worse

 

This team needs to play like it EXPECTS to win in EVERY game! That will change the culture. When teams like App State can beat Michigan, it shows that it's not always about how many 4-5 stars are on a team, but who is hungry and who is lazy. Having a 5th year SR. guy like Mertz is helpful..... Now let's go KA and take names....
GO GATORS!!!!

 

App state beat A&M at A&M recently. But I know what you mean... we don't want to be known as "that" team in football.

 

Yah, I was remembering when they beat Michigan. (Throw back, LOL) Good for App State to beat A&M as well.
Winning is contagious, why not win now?
GO GATORS!!!!

 

I agree in principle, just that we don't know how we match up with their personnel this year. Traditionally (and that is where us fans reside) we are better than they. And so, losses do in fact look bad. And the noise comes with it.

What I will say to this game and its importance is, Utah was a good time to showcase Billyball. It failed miserably, for whatever reasons. McNeese was not a true showcase as it was a respite. But I am sure it got plenty of player's and coach's attention as to what needs to be done to move the program forward. Tennessee represents a re-boot of the system/program. And in the end, it would be a much bigger deal to lose at home to a fellow upper-echelon SEC wannabe than away in a non-conference made-for-TV game. But in the end, if I see what I wanted to see at Utah and we somehow lose the game, I am not going to grouse...much. But if I see similar results, execution-wise, I am going to say that Napier's tenure is going to take a serious hit. Being careful during a raging fire only gets you to one spot. Sometimes you have to kick it into another gear.

 

Could not agree more.

 

I like your take. Mine is similar. I look at my Gators from two perspectives: my heart and my head.

My heart - If we lose this game, I'm going to be pissed. I want to win every game. Don't care if we play really, really well and show improvement, but just barely lose, I'll still be pissed!

My head - This game really isn't important to the long-term success of CBN and the Gators. Just show some improvement, and make me feel confident that we should be able to take care of most of the UK's, Vandy's, and USCe type teams. However, DO NOT have a repeat of the Utah game... lol

My honest "feeling" of CBN's tenure so far is that we just came out of our low point. It started and ended with arguably two of the worst, mistake-prone, (insert all kinds of other adjectives here) games that I've seen in a long time. Vanderbilt last year, and Utah this year. Vandy last year was when he really started making some personnel moves (See: Cox), and I think it carried over to the beginning of this season. I believe all of the major personnel changes are in place, and we start "moving forward". That being said, the talent/experience is still sub-optimal, but I think that will definitely get better with time, and we'll really start to see what type of coach CBN is.

I'm still hanging on to my 8-4 prediction for the season though, which included winning the next 5 games... so there's that!

 

I remember UT/ Fulmer building up our game in the 90s. Saying things just like this.
Fulmer told his team "Play each play like it's the biggest of your life, because it probably is."
Spurrier OTOH just wanted to have fun. He was intense, but he'd never say anything so silly.

We all know how that turned out.
UT showed up tight, we showed up loose, they would make some mistakes and then fall apart, and we'd run it up on them.
That happened each year 93-97.

So yeah- let's just go out there and have fun, do what we do, and it will work out.

 

I agree with both of your takes here, good posting. I'm still cautiously optimistic about Napier's leadership and don't expect a lot of winning this year, but I also need to see some type of consistent upward trajectory throughout the season to keep my optimism alive. And like you said, taipan, if that doesn't happen, the fanbase discontent and negative national perceptions of our coach are going to increase and make it tougher for him to recruit at a high level.

beating the Vols would be awesome, but I don't really expect us to win and won't get too upset if we don't. I do expect to see the Gators perform at much higher level than we showed against Utah, though, and for me that'll be a much more important signifier for Napier's long term prospects. I can accept that rebuilding UF to powerhouse status is going to take some time, but there have to be some positive trends and results along the way in Year 2 to inspire confidence that we're on the right track.

 

I think it is crazy to give Billy 2 years or less, to have any talk of firing him this year (barring a Mel Tucker type of scenario), and I think it’s also crazy to label a game “must win” 16 games into a coach’s tenure.

That being said I have a very hard time believing any coach can be successful if he goes 0-8 against his rivals to start his tenure. Even Zook went 4-4 in his first two seasons against UGA, UT, LSU, and F$U. Not impossible, just very hard to envision you right that ship.

 

This is Heupel’s third season at UT.

 

The thing that worries me the most about this game against UT under Heupel is that... you can't spell Up-Tempo without UT. Gator defenses seem to always have trouble getting set for up-tempo. We certainly won't have time to rotate and give Watson a breather. I hope Billy Napalm has a plan and has the kids ready.

 

'95 was my first Gator game as a student. And probably my favorite. It was the ultimate RUTS game, and on a top 10 opponent no less!

 

Especially since I will be in attendance

 

There was never any indication in Norvell’s year 2, when they started 0-3 and lost to Jacksonville St, that the Noles would be where they are now.

Not all rebuilds are built the same.

 

Eyeball test.

 

Are you trying to imply that we ran Muschamp, McElwain, and Mullen out of town? Because LMAO if so.

Those three dummies deserved to get fired.

 

No. Try again.

 

@gator34654 — dude it’s “overstated”, not understated. Please fix that - I’m embarrassed for you