This is fine to suggest what I suspected (none of us can truly know), but to me, what keeps getting missed in spades (although this ESPN article tried to tie up the loose ends) is that...Dumbo was a coach who was just plain BAD to be in a spot such as UF. I will leave Stricklin out of it...for now...but THE thing that gets missed is that he is STILL making money off of major college football as a TV analyst. What in the H__L does he have in his background that says "listen to what I am saying", either from pedigree - see Chizik - or personality - see Corso??? Not a DAMN THING!
Fascinating read. This behind the scenes look at what Napier is dealing with and the trajectory he’s trying to set up has definitely made me more patient. He’s a good guy and I hope he’s successful. Go Gators
Because I'm the type to think about such things... I think something happened in the middle of the 20 season that made him want to leave. My guess it was pushback from the admin when he suggested we "pack the swamp" after the TAMU loss. Then the Mizzou halftime didn't help. (It looked like he wanted to fight someone.) So he was mentally out the door- but then to his shock the NFL didn't bite when he put out feelers. What we saw in 21 was a team without a leader. I'll be surprised if he's a HC in a p5 school again.
The University should have sued Mullen for dereliction of his duties so they wouldn't have to pay him all the money he's making from his contract. It is such a relief knowing we have the right guy now. We have suffered for quite some time.
That's a shame, I wish Alabama would hire him when Saban leaves which I think may happen soon. Saban looks like he's about to pop a gasket.
Anyone else notice that the same article comes out every time a coach gets fired? Poor culture, fights on the team, etc. Truth is we will probably never know why Muschamp, McElwain and Mullen went down in flames the way they did. It probably goes much deeper than poor team chemistry. I'm a huge believer in Napier. I think he has all the signs of being an elite coach. However, only time will tell. Recruiting and hitting on his transfer evaluations have been ultra promising. Now we have to see what kind of in game coach he can be once he's got the jimmy's and joe's to match up with the SEC elites.
Also want to add that while my heart gets upset when we don't look organized on the field, and have problems, my head knows that this kind of re-build takes a while. IMO Napier's rebuild will be slower than meyer, but it will be built to last. Also agree with what Halo says above me- the previous guy is always the villain in times like this. He's right. BUT- in this case IMO Mullen deservesit. The Samford game is the proof.
I voted Optimistic for Distant Gator's post above - and I'm hoping for the same thing: a successful long term tenure at UF with multiple SEC titles and *gasp* a Natty or two. Everyone loves Deion Sanders (Microwave) and I'm counting on Napier (Crockpot) to eventually win the day.
Back in the mix in 26! We'll have the players and culture to compete with the best. Roller coaster until then. And even then it's a wild world. Wheeeeeeeeee!
I personally would not discount the validity of the core point of that article just because similar pieces have been written elsewhere after a firing. Mullen did not exert himself on the recruiting trail due to an insane level of hubris and good old-fashioned sloth. He just couldn't be bothered to make the effort to recruit well, and he felt that he was so smart he could win without blue-chip talent anyway. That level of supreme arrogance and lack of professionalism had everything to do with his dismissal - and was reflected by a large percentage of the recruits he left behind. Fish do seem to rot from the head, after all. Fortunately, some of DM's leftovers have bought into the idea that hard work pays off, and good on those who have. Unfortunately, though, BN had no choice but to play the hand he was dealt last year, and it showed up bigtime on the field on countless occasions. As the subpar talent/crappy attitude of the previous regime fades into an unpleasant memory, BN is busy doing real work. GG!
From the article, "If you got the discipline to create it the right way and something that's sustainable and repeatable. That's exactly what we're going to do." That's the key. Urban could build programs, but he couldn't sustain them. Billy is the kind that is doing what the Head Ball Coach did for us, the right way and for the long term.
Reminds me of the scene in Schindler’s List where the kid is questioned on who stole the chicken. He points to the guy that’s just been shot dead.
It’s time, my friend. UGA can’t keep going like this. They need to be stopped, and it should be us to do it.
Napier called last year's squad "one of the more dysfunctional teams I've been a part of." That gives you an idea of how bad it had to be. Coaches will tell you that taking over a program in disarray is a huge task. From HS on up, Im sure the stories on the fights alone would be eye openers. Personal aside- I was named a coach of a varsity HS team. Not one senior came back to play bc of their loyalty to the former coach. Can’t imagine what the ‘privileged’ guys did or how they acted- had to be poison You can see it with Ethans mom comments. Thanking Mullen but not CBN Ewers decommitting right away. Bet he was promised something- PS he’s a bench warmer at Wiscy after quitting OU
1. Who was the player not celebrating with the team? Cox? 2. I didn’t realize Banks was a freshman. The future looks bright.
