Well received? I call BS. Look at the vocabulary you yourself are using: hyper-negative, bellyache, whining, hating. Look at the title of this very thread. So receive this: Those who lack confidence in CBN have two year's worth of actual history from which to draw a conclusion; and have no need to challenge anyone's motives, fandom, opinions for not agreeing with them. In fact, they hope that UF football succeeds just as much as anyone.
Some complain with legit concerns. In contrast, you fall into the category of power-whiner. But all isn’t lost - I don’t think you’re a troll, like Endless Excuses and The Player clearly are. You’re just miserable, and there’s hope for you if you let it happen.
The bolded part of your reply is where a lot of people (including me) differ with you on "have two year's of actual history from which to draw a conclusion". From 2011 to 2021, many Gator fans watch a top ten football program slide into despair. During that time the UF football program had a revolving door for 3 head coaches and staff. For the last 3 of those years, the portal was a revolving door for the players to exit UF. It would be accurate to say that at the end of 2021 season that the Gator football program was a Dumpster Fire. So now we come to the a part to determine whose conclusion is a reality and who is a fantasy. Many of us (included me) saw a painful rebuilding period of three or four seasons. How many Head Coaches have turned failing programs around in one or two seasons? I am not sure but I would not be surprise if that this item has a short list. Please note that Norvell at F$U, went 3-6 and 5-7 in his first two season. His third season was 13-1. Napier is entering his 3rd season. It is reasonable to expect improvement this season. How much improvement? I suggest that we be optimistic and realistic. By the way, Napier has upgraded the recruiting, the use of the Portal, and the coaching staff. All of these items are worth crowing about. Some of the Nay Sayers appear to be unaware of this item.
Turning around a team is easy. Rebuilding a PROGRAM is not. Some can't see beyond W-L. Forest-Trees. Some will cheer again win there are more Ws than Ls. Some won't. Today is a fun day in Orange and Blue.
Drinkwitz is a better example than Norvell. 5-5, 6-7, 6-7. 11-2. It took him year 4 to have his program on solid footing. IMO, optimism is warranted at this time. It makes the spring, summer, and start of the season more enjoyable. I don't know if it will be this year or next, however after 14 years of garbage, I'm willing to give CBN a good amount of time. Recruiting and the program infrastructure seem to have been upgraded during CBN's tenure. We might not have the optimal recruiting rankings, but we are certainly getting top quality studs on O and D.
I appreciate the thoughtful response. But I differ with the conclusions you draw from your final 3 points - particularly the unfortunate reference about naysayers. I would also submit that everyone is quite aware of CBN activities re recruiting, portal, and staff. Point 1. You, everybody else, and their brother, saw a painful 3-4 season rebuild. No disagreement there. But that was two years ago. I still foresee an additional painful 3-4 season rebuild, because...... Turning the program around? Is that what's currently happening at UF? ' Cause I don't see it. At best (IMO) it has, so far, been static-to-downward. Quality of play: I still see blown assignments and dumb penalties all over the field. Every game. Wins and losses? Let's use your example of Norvell at FSU: his second year's record was better than his first. CBN? Nope. Year 3 a massive improvement? We'll see. You suggest simultaneous optimism and realism. I suggest that our entire discussion is about optimism vs. realism. I watched a couple of YouTube clips from UF spring practices. Admittedly, they're not much. But what I saw, particularly the incomprehensible OL drills shown, were enough to elicit a response that I can only describe as despair. I don't see any differences between seasons 1,2, or 3 in terms of recruiting and transfer portal. What are these upgrades to which you refer? Staff? TBD. CBN's track record has been poor so far. (And I may never get over the lameness of CBN' excuse making in the UK post-game PC: "They ran things we didn't expect.") But, here's to better coaching in 2024. BTW, I much prefer that you are correct than me.
And Derek Dooley went 6-7, 5-7, 5-7, buyout. Anecdotal comparisons to other coaches is useless. Even coaching success after a decline in win% from year 1 to year 2 across a large sample size is limited because every situation is unique.
Norvel's and Napier's first two season mirror each other very closely. You stated that Norvel's second year was better than his first. It looks like your measuring stick for Norvel is more forgiving than it is for Napier. Norvel went 3-6 and 5-7. Lets see, In the second season, he won two more games than the prior season. However, he lost one more than the prior season. Yes that is improvement, but it is very marginal at the best. You seem to forget that Napier had to do the rebuilding twice. The first rebuild was due to what Mullin left him. A lot of the then players exited via the Portal. Last season Napier had to do it again because of the Portal loses to the O-line and some other loses (injuries). Static to downward improvement for UF/Napier? I suggest that you take a look at the last recruiting class and the transfer in via the portal. This class is a very good upgrade from the prior three or more seasons. It is filled with quite of few 3, 4, and 5 star players. Are you suggesting that Lagway and the other players are a static or downward improvement? I also suggest that you look at the experience the o-line and d-line has for 2024. UF actually has a better blend of players with 1, 2, and 3 years of experience. Look for big things out of both of these units. As for this coming season. Is Napier going to pull a 13-1 record. I would love to see it, but I am going to be happy and realistic with a respectable 7-6 or 8-5 season. For the first time in four seasons, UF is going to have dept in talent as well as individual and team experience. This is what my tea leaves are telling me.
I'm just staying positive for nine months, per the OP;s request. You should try it... Current coaches are more relevant than Derek Dooley for a comparison.
Apparently not understanding what I'm trying to say. Useless doesn't indicate positive or negative, it has no meaning. Current, former, historical, doesn't matter, every situation is unique. I've said it before, the damn near obsession with Norvell by many on this board is weird. I want Norvell to fail spectacularly, why on earth would I compare our coach to him?
I think the op has returned under a new username. Same person who flooded the board with threads in years past. Like every other front page thread. To the opening question: HELL NO. I will be positive when there's something to be positive about.
Norvell had the ACC also. I don’t think anyone could say it compares to our schedule. A four game improvement in the SEC would equate to what, a 13 win season in the ACC?
Our roster is clearly deeper and much more talented than the roster he inherited and if you don't see that then you don't want to see it. Obviously, he has to prove it on the field against the most difficult schedule I have ever seen in the history of college football, but if he had FSU joke of a schedule last year what would his record be with this roster? 13-1? If he wins 8+ games does he deserve more support?
The fact is nobody knows. We're all hopefully, some are more optimistic than others. I'm in the wait and see mode. Rugged schedule is going to make it tough.
