Imo on a scale of 1-10 it's a 12. Win this game and confidence builds, lose this game and the noise gets louder. Miami can lose this game and with their easy schedule they can still manage 9 wins, they chalk the loss off to a hostile away game. However if we lose at home the losing streak remains alive and so are the doubts. Win this game and the team deepens their belief in BN's approach. Lose and doubts begin to sink into the team. Win this game and we beat a hated rival, lose this game and our record vs our hated rivals is ugly. Win this game and momentum is built going forward, lose this game and the likelihood of another losing season persists. I have to believe and I seriously hope we have been preparing for this game for a long time. I am sure Miami has done the same. Both coaches are under the microscope. What is expected is that this is a vastly improved team that believes in themselves, in the coaches and are ready to battle. This game can go along way in moving this program forward with a win. This win gives the fanbase hope. I am predicting a win as well as a winning season. Go Gators
Scale: 7 tops If the team has doubts after 1 loss, they are weak-minded. scUM rivalry has lost it's luster, no longer a "heated rival" lose that game and we win only 7 instead of 8, long ways from a losing season.
Yes, the miami game is extremely important. A 12 on scale 1-10, no but more important than many of us realize. People are watching; recruits are watching; staff is under pressure to beat a Florida team that is recruiting VERY well in the state and against us head to head in spite of being a smaller school with less competitive in NIL, facilities, environment. Cristobal has arguably done worse than our staff on the field and are out recruiting UF by a mile. Could we lose the miami game then win the next 6 and roll into Jax 6-1, yes, but you wouldn't bet on that considering miami may be one of the weaker "good" teams we play.
I'm glad we are finally discussing this topic. It has been the elephant in the room that no one has talked about.
Camp just opened. Can't prepare for anything in the off season except strength and conditioning. New QB and new OC. Best coaches can do is guess what Miami will do.
Remember 2019, we both looked unpolished, untrained, unprepared? Hope that's miami all over again. I expect us to be polished and hopefully see scUM's QB struggle.
We have a ton of army staff that can provide reports and film on Miami's new OC from his previous gig that will help our DC in preparing very early on. Our team can begin to scout early what to expect, how to defend and now with fall practice our scout team can actually mimic UM"s offense. UM should have the same D, which again I believe we can already begin a game plan and practice early for. I remember when bama beat us in the SEC game when TT was a senior, he was told that they prepared for the UF game all year. Therefore, I believe it is possible to prepare more than a week or two prior to a game.
Very important game but it’s not season defining. In 1984 we lost our season opener to none other than Miami, followed that up with a tie to LSU, then reeled off 9 straight wins. One of our best teams ever but they didn’t roll over and play dead after a poor start. I don’t expect to lose to Miami but if we do I won’t be one of the rats to jump ship (not implying you are are either gator34654). Oh I’ll hurt. But the sun will rise in the East the following morning and we will keep playing to win every Saturday. This team won’t quit.
Dude - this has been talked to death over the past 10 months - like we needed yet another new thread to beat that horse some more. All this thread does is provide another venue for everybody to repeat their doubts and worries and concerns and whatever else you want to call the hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing y’all just love to do. Funny how the speculation always focuses on ‘what if we lose’ and never on what if we win. I’ll pass Go Gators
My bad. Dawson and Guirdy ( OC and DC ) were there last yr, both hired 2/2023. My brain didn't compute that was over a yr ago.
The OP did a good job of balancing speculation on what if we win or lose. the post seemed pretty neutral to me. I can't speak for what others may or may not post.
I'll bite. We looked pretty rough against Utah last year and they were without their starting QB. They proved to be tough and well coached but they won on the backs of an opening bomb for a touchdown, a special teams miscue aand an anemic florida offense that struggled more than we thought it would with a center making his first start for us. Also a new DC. Plus we were on the road. This year we've been told ( and I believe it) is totally different. We clearly have better depth across the board. We have a returning QB and a better organized and experienced defensive coordinator but also mostly the same scheme which is huge because the defense SHOULD be playing faster mentally. Losing this game record wise wouldn't mean much but it could be pretty foreboding considering we have the home field crowd, a 3rd year rebuild and what's widely agreed as a more talented team across the board. No such thing as a must win in game one but it could be pretty damning if we dropped it in any other fashion than a hard fought close and competently executed game.
It's absolutely critical. Per On3’s rankings, Florida has the 10th-most talented team in the nation this year. That’s behind five other SEC teams, as well as Miami, but still shows it might not be as bleak as some perceive. The bigger issue, then, seems to be whether the Gators have the right coach. We won't reach 7 or 8 wins without winning the opening game.
Everything you said is well stated and I really can’t disagree with, but my point is, this team won’t let a loss to Miami define their season. IMO the addition of coaches like Will Harris and Ron Roberts and the improvement of character on our roster, including incoming transfers, will strengthen this team’s toughness and resilience. The home field is an enormous advantage for us but, I also believe both teams will be highly motivated for this game. I hope we beat the snot out of them and don’t have to see what impact it has on the total season.
I agree but at some point it boils down to the product on the field. Confidence doesn't mean much without competent execution. Most of us don't believe Mario is a good coach and his record supports that assertion. Miami stacked some talent on their lines but after game one the question will be answered. Did we let a mediocre Miami team led by a mediocre coach come into the Swamp and beat us in a statement game? That what it boils down to for me. Plenty of time to change that narrative if it happens but the negative recruiting will spiral out of control week 1 if that happens.
