Honestly, if your take is the reality, I'd be thrilled. If ETN is the only one of the starters that we really tried to hold onto (and couldn't), that feels a lot better than the same scenario with 5 (or 6 if you count Douglas). The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, in all likelihood. Of course, we'll never know, but it's fun to talk about and consider.
Like I said I watch a lot of YouTube and shows such as Ali Peeks, Hightop, Buddy Martin, etc. They all assure they have sources and it's the consensus that only ETN was the shocker. My thing is hey, we just came of 2 really disappointing seasons vs 2 back breaking SOS's. If they're not willing to help build, then so long! And I'm excited about the strength & nutrition hires.
I do wonder about the "losing" part. Even though it seems things are mostly about what each player can get for themselves now and in the future, losing, esp so much losing, sucks. I think it is hard to maintain a positive and healthy culture when we lose week after week after week. On the other hand, WINNING has a way of righting the ship. I think if we were 9-3, maybe we don't lose 5-6 of these guys. Maybe that's naive. But I sure hope Billy is here long enough to WIN and start the ball rolling downhill. I'm afraid there is still quite a bit of uphill rolling ahead of us.
I completely agree with this entire post, after that Tennessee game the optimism was sky high. Then the comeback in SC where it looked like the team was turning a corner. But I'm going to point to youth, injuries, & a salty staff for the main reasons things went south.
My point is that I think maybe a lot of us are underestimating how much losing is negatively affecting the culture and, therefore, causing recruit defections and player defections. NIL is an easy scapegoat, but I think there is more than that.
My point is that I think maybe a lot of us are overestimating how much losing is negatively affecting the culture and, therefore, causing recruit defections and player defections. Besides, if the players defecting played and we lost, then their defections may not be the worst thing.
Something good happens and then we have a starter or two transfer. A hire that was thought to occur doesn’t because decides against coming to Florida, LB Coach leaves unexpectedly and sounds like surprised everybody….
LB coach left because he probably got a huge raise and promotion to become DC at A&M. IMO, not a lateral move. We all saw what happened last year.. DL getting pushed around, LB's not filling gaps properly, lack of chasing, poor or non-existent tackling. Coaches have been replaced or left. Players have also left. I had doubts whether CBN would address the issues in a wholesale manner, yet he did. When ETN's brother made that post mid-year, we all knew that something was amiss. I suspect he wanted more of a primary role to enhance his future draft position. None of us know if he will get that with the Mutts. Those who say that incessant negative posting and complaining on message boards don't affect recruits, IMO, are way off base and the reality is it probably does. None of us can know who is a fan or who is a troll unless we know that person personally. IMO, the serial negative posters are the ones who I believe are trolls, however some can be shills of GC to generate traffic as negative posting seems to do.
Very well said!! I’ve said it for several years as well as many others saying the same thing in that we can critique our staff and still be big fans. I wear orange and blue glasses honestly sometimes way too much but I’m also objective and feel it ok to give honest thoughts on a message board. There are several other posters on this board that I have a great deal of respect for that have also been raked over the coals from time to time. Saying something that is positive is the easy thing. Saying what your eyes tell you you see the last three years is not always popular But many times it is right. Better times are coming and they’re coming very soon!! I’ll stay with my beat Miami theme because it all starts there. #BeatMiami!!!!
I’m not as optimistic as you, I want to be and I want you to be right and I’ll eat an ostrich sized crow and enjoy every bite. That said, your are absolutely right about the Miami game. For two seasons we’ve had a big Aug/Sep win, huge upset and then just fall on our faces. At some point this staff and team have to learn to take advantage of a big win and ride the momentum. Beat Miami, stay hungry, and keep the momentum going. Set the tone against Miami and prove me wrong, please.
With unlimited transfer and NIL it's all different. I'm sure we'll start seeing good players at 4 or 5 different teams.