WHAT Will/Needs TO HAPPEN IN YEAR THREE!

So accept mediocrity? We keep hiring up and coming coaches from non-power 5 conferences, and hope we will hit pay dirt. Each coach we hired since Meyer has been a gamble except for Mullen, and even Mullen was sort of a gamble as he did ok at Mississippi State. Other high profile schools swing for the fence with their hires, while we seem to go for the diamond in the rough.

 

When is the last time UF finished outside the top 25 in recruiting? Based on what metric should UF's on field results not be top 25?

 

That's why I push back when posters just say fix the defense.

 

I believe we don’t play LSU next year.

 

Thanks i didn't look. Just working off of the quote. Our schedule is nasty for sure but the bigger point is either we are improving or we aren't. I don't believe some of those teams are as daunting as they seem IF...we have improved in multiple areas.

 

I don't like that they picked up ward but their defense to me is the bigger concern. They are amassing some talent on that side of the ball. I'm putting a lot of faith in the addition of a veteran defensive coordinator and talent infusion on the defensive side for us. I mean if it doesn't happen then it will be a loooong year.

 

We play LSU 11/16 between Texas & Ole Miss.

 

Not accepting mediocrity at all. Meyer was an up and coming head coach from a G5 conference. But I'll ask. Who would we hire that has a proven record as a winner from a P5 conference program? I've been around long enough to hear fans bray on for Stoopsie to leave a blueblood program he built back to greatness to come to Florida.

I'm all ears. Fill me in.

 

Correct. I’d keep trying until we got it. The worst that happens is a joke remains a joke. You’d rather stop trying to become respectable because we could somehow become a bigger joke?

 

I’ll bite. I think we could lure Lane Kiffin away. Ole Miss is about as high right now as any coach could take it. Florida has a much higher ceiling.

But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

 

It’s an odd argument. We should not try to improve because improvement isn’t guaranteed?

There are only probabilities.

We keep Napier as long as his probability of success is greater than what we can hire. Right now that’s true.

If we have another losing season I’d say Napiers probability of success is near 0, so it becomes a risk free move

 

You’re right. That would be an odd argument. It certainly isn’t an argument that I was making. I was merely responding to the question of what proven P5 head coach is out there who would consider coming to UF if Napier does not work out after this season.

 

Here's where you and I differ on the outlook for next year. Should one look at perceived improvement in players and coaches as a reason for optimism? Seems very reasonable, except......many believed that last offseason, and it didn't pan out. Or, should one look at the constants in coaches and "process" as a reason for concern. Those who did that last offseason were proven correct.

Sadly, I (again) see the constants outweighing the changes. That said, I really hope you (and all the others who share your optimism) are correct this year.

 

I think the Goodwin loss derailed our offensive line. Should one player loss reek havoc like that? Maybe not but our depth was still kiddie pool shallow. As far as coaching constants go I have shared many concerns. I think Napier misread the talent he had on defense and didn't utilize the portal enough his first year on that side of the ball. Last year we grabbed some bodies but mostly filler. I didn't like that he seemed to think the defense was going to surprise the country based on his comments preseason and then trotting out that abomination of a mess. I didn't like his conservative plan in the 2nd half of Tennessee and other games. I'm not a fan of his in game management at times. But here's the reason for optimism...

I really like the quality of the recruiting and some of the characters he has brought in. I think bringing in Ron Roberts can be huge. I don't expect to rely on freshmen but they can absolutely add to depth and athleticism. I think the changes he made illustrate his acknowledgement of mistakes even if they may have been a season late or derailed by other events like the hiring Bill Obrien at bc which led to the loss of Fitz. I think the Oline improving will allow the offense to be better than the first two years. Despite having an abysmal defense, we still should have beaten Missouri, a game many thought we would get blown out In. We didn't do anything great and yet still competed in most of our games. I'm far from a pumper. I don't want to go through another transition but I will say that if we have another Kentucky episode or continue to be in dog fights with teams like Arkansas my opinion will change but for the time being I have to believe we are better equipped going into this season than we have been and schedule strength be damned.

 

So we sift through coaching staffs every three years until we luck out? After Billy goes, it will be coach #6 since 2010.

Frankly, I wonder if the administration understands the portal, and if Florida Victorious understands NIL. I am not absolving Billy, but our football program is dysfunctional now, and has been for a while. I will not scapegoat Billy for the dysfunction. Like everything else, it is a team effort.

 

Since 2014, Florida averages 6th in the SEC and consistently behind FSU and Miami. We are no longer getting top 10 classes.

 

I sure hope Napier can pull a few must wins out of his posterior! If not, it's just wasn't meant to be. I'd prefer for Napier to win and keep him around.

Re: Kiffen. He has proven himself IMHO. He less of a whiny ass-hat then the old days, and absolutely knows what he's doing. The other upside is the class will remain intact, and others will come.

But, please, Napier...do it, bro!

Go Gators.

 

10 ≠ 25.

 

Meyer was the closest thing to a “can’t miss” that we hired, and even he had growing pains. However, he showed he had a willingness to change mid-season when things were not working. Each coach since then has stubbornly adhered to their system no matter the results on the field.

Additionally, the coaches we have hired since then have all been gambles with little track record. When you are gambling, do you double down on a losing hand, or do you fold and move on to the next hand. The lack of adjustment by this coaching staff and lack of attention to detail have been a major issue for me. There needs be major improvement in that regard or we need to move on.