Napier has almost every advantage going into the Miami game. Sorry to say, but that’s one he has to win without excuse. There’s no room for the same boneheaded play we saw in the opener against Utah last year. The Gators have to come out prepared and angry. And that’s all coaching.
That’s not what I said at all. I’m saying our highly ranked kids are 18-19 and not upperclassmen that are going to carry this team. The next couple of years will see the kids just starting to get snaps. Year three is Shemars class as juniors. Those guys should be coming into their own but there aren’t many of them. The next two classes have some highly ranked talent but they are too young just yet.
That’s exactly where we are and it’s in no way an automatic win. We don’t have a talent advantage and both coaches are up in the air.
Almost every advantage? What are you talking about? We are in the Swamp and I don’t see any other advantage. We will do well to win that game.
Disagree with the every advantage comment but I think having Mertz, Johnson, Wilson, along with growth along the other talented but youthful WR/TE group, what appears to be an improved defensive staff and the home crowd should tilt the scales. The concerning thing for me is the talent Miami is collecting along both lines.
From everything I read, there is no advantage for UF vs UM. Not only is UM ranked but a 9 or 10 win season is seen as very likely. The prognosticators are very high on UM, but I am not finding any mention of the Gators being ranked next year! The home crowd could get to the new quarterback, Cam Ward. I do think that if Florida plays exceptionally, they could beat UM. So, the question is, how likely will the Gators bring their A or B+ game against UM? I do think for BN, that a win against Miami is a must; or the seat gets red hot!
I acknowledge that’s where we are. But “getting used to it” is not something I’m willing to do. That might be something the “Napier gets five years no matter how bad things get” crowd would like, but sorry. I’m not willing to accept losing seasons as a norm, and neither should you.
All I see is a dysfunctional team that went 7-6 (3-5) in the weakest P5 conference, including a loss to Rutgers. If they are primed for a huge improvement, then there’s no reason Florida can’t have a big turnaround as well. That’s up to Napier.
So what should we get used to? Losing to every one of our rivals or 5 win seasons with a bunch of should a coulda wouldas. We are recruiting the nations hot bed of high school talent and all we get to say is...aw shucks?
Never heard that from me. But thinking we should beat teams as good or better than we are as though it is our Divine Right is delusional. Reminds me of OSU fans before the 2006 MNC game. Guess what? So are all the other top teams. The kids don't remember the 90s or mid 00s...
For UM, prognosticators like Cam Ward, with an experienced OL & DL, RB, and WR's. For UF, Mertz supporting cast looks murky at best (referring to the prognosticators). Personally, I am guardedly optimistic about the offense; but, I wonder if my expectations are once and again too high! There are no questions about the defense for UM, but lots of questions about UF's defense. I, also, have no way of knowing whether or not our defense is once again porous. This is year two of BN recruits, and you are expecting magic???!! I will admit this much, Mullen had a knack for playcalling and redzone success, but he admitted recruiting was not his forte! I fear this Gator squad will be average at best. Against ranked teams, the Gators will be pummeled again. But, I still think BN has two more years to prove himself. We have had almost 15 years of poor recruiting and coaching. Now that recruiting is turning around, many want to blame BN. I admit BN is not Mullen (on the field), but he sure is not Muschamp or Mac!!!
Remember, we got blown out by 6-loss Kentucky, lost to Arkansas and nearly lost to South Carolina. In 2021, we lost to 7-loss LSU, lost to 6-7 Mizzou at home and got blown out by 6-loss South Carolina at home. None of those opponents would have competed for the ACC championship. I'm starting to get more and more pessimistic about our team's chances in the near future. We need a couple major stars to emerge...
A good coach would turn the players we have into stars … then have a convincing argument for why better talent should come here. Maybe Napier is that guy. We will see. This season.
What does not accepting losing seasons as a norm look like? Whether any of us accept or not accept a losing season will not affect ultimately what happens with the coach or team (unless that person is a major donor or someone in the UAA with authority). I've always supported our gator coaches, until they weren't our coach anymore (with the exception of Mullen after he quit on the team). If and when we get a new coach, i will support that coach also. I get the purpose of a message board, but 23 pages of speculation (on my screen) on what may or may not happen put out by posters over and over does nothing to change the reality of where we are.
Yep - That's why I put up the Beating a Dead Horse video up on Page 22. Nobody is going to change anybody's mind about what they believe will, could or should happen. Nobody knows and we all have to just wait and see what happens.
