How critical is the Miami game?

My eyes haven't seen them yet since there hasn't been a game. The odds that they will continue to get worse for the 4 straight year are infinitesimally low, but I am concerned that there won't be enough improvement to make enough difference against a schedule that more than one pundit has referred to as the "most difficult college schedule in the history of college football."

 

It's definitely a tough schedule, but those are the schedules that this true fan lives for.

 

I get being cautious to protect your ego especially when dealing with rival fans. I just don’t get the constant negativity towards the team. It’s the time of the year when everyone is undefeated, but some would prefer to think everyone is winless.

Not sure why some follow the team so closely and keep up with a message board devoted to the team, yet appear to be rooting against the team. Just my observations.

 

Always a legit concern with a strong start. Overconfidence is also a huge factor in how difficult it is to win back-to-back championships. But this team is so down and has been bashed so relentlessly in the media that getting overconfident any time soon would be the height of stupidity

 

Aww I’m just another poster on a message board. What I’m doing here is playing the positive contrarian on a thread cultivating negativity - basically the inverse of what guys like uftaipan and dieagator do to our other threads

 

This, too, has been asserted many times, but I don’t see anyone rooting against our team. I see managed expectations in light of the last two years, which were disappointing and unacceptable even with managed expectations. I also see some in our ranks, including myself, pushing back against the notion of “fourth season no matter what.” I am of the opinion that a fourth season has to be earned through performance on the field, and any excuses related to the previous coaching staff are beyond stale. While we may disagree what “real improvement” is and how to measure it, we mostly agree that we need to see “real improvement” this season, immediately, starting with Miami. For me, understanding that reasonable people can disagree, the only real measure of effectiveness is wins, and we need to see a winning season this year. Now, of course, there might be scenarios where we have another losing season and still demonstrate “real improvement,” but not from where I sit on August 3, 2024.

 

There’s also the possibility that Miami is a really good team this year and we lose a close well played game and still beat Tennessee Texas A&M, FSU Ole Miss and still salvage a fairly decent season.

 

Absolutely possible, but not likely with the information available today.

 

I don’t see where Texas A&M, Tennessee and FSU are likely any different than Miami. As we play, some games will actually see who is who. Forecasting which teams are going to be in the top 10 to 20 is really impossible at this point.

 

Keeping a positive attitude and saying what if we win is so much better than always looking at all that answers to what we have do if we lose. losers worry about losing and winners worry about winning.

 

100% agree, but I would still say today that all of those games except for aTm look more difficult than Miami.

 

@gator34654 @uftaipan cautiously optimistic is fine. I agree we need to see improvements and I think we will.

Not sure what you guys want Billy to do at this point. We can’t win games in the offseason, we can only make changes as he did in the wholesale changes in the defensive staff and the shakeup in strength & conditioning and at special teams. He also attacked the portal better than in previous years and addressed the play calling criticisms by promoting Calloway.

The team looks to be as talented and as bought in as we’ve seen in probably over 10 years. Guys are progressing and we brought in a ton of experience in the portal.

I think it will lead to a good season, but I’m willing to take the OVER on 4.5 total wins. And I’m also willing to take UF plus 2.5 points at home vs Miami.

 

I can detect a few that have completely given up on this regime being successful, but I really can't think of one that I've seen directly root against our team.

There are definitely a few trolls loose on this board, however. They must get their jollies by getting anonymous message board posters riled up.....kinda sad if you ask me.

 

Agreed....hopefully this team will have leadership that will kick any butts that would get overconfident by beating a mid-level ACC team.

 

UM is similarly ranked talent-wise as our Gators. I don't know if A&M have retained enough of their recruiting riches of the past, but I would guess that they are ranked ahead of UF talent/recruiting-wise. I'm glad that one is at home, because with competent coaching they could really turn a corner this season.

 

I thought winners didn't worry at all?

 

Or one might say that winners win because they worry about the details and leave as little to chance as possible

 

Overconfidence is a looooong way away. Maybe next year if we start 8-0 with Lagway under center.