AR blasts Florida Gator coaches

I think we discussed this in the Twitter thread in the recruiting forum. It basically is not a good look for him especially since he’s been injured most of his career.

 

My understanding was/is that Richardson's plan was always 3-and-gone to the NFL. There's also more to the overall story but it's not my place to tell it. I agree with your assessment of Richardson though.

 

The knee injury dancing in the hotel the night before the South Carolina game, that also on strength and conditioning? Modern day Nuke Laloosh.

 

I know he was hit low in both the Kentucky game and in the LSU game (I talked about it for half the freaking season two years ago... especially about those BS NO-CALLS) almost right from the start, and NOT ONE FLAG was tossed on those blatant hits to the knees... And those players were NOT blocked nor tripped into his knees. They TARGETED AR's KNEES AT FULL SPEED.

I'd be mad too IF nothing was said or done about that BS... But let's get real with his side of the whole story while he was playing QB for the Gators... AR disappeared in too many games... and he demanded that we cut certain plays from the play-book because he didn't like the plays. I think he sandbagged us in the Vandy game... he straight-up, refused to run for easy TDs at least twice against Vandy with NO ONE IN SIGHT of him… sandbag.

He got his revenge, if that's what you want to call it... I doubt he was going to start for the Gators the next year had he stayed. He had our coaches by the short hairs, if you will, because he knew we had no one to replace him with.

It was time for him to move on... and I think the feeling was mutual with he and the coaches.

 

So, was his shoulder injury last season due to the colts poor S&C program?

 

That article starts with AR saying our S&C program was poor at the end of Mullen’s tenure and citing the improvements this year and specifically saying there is hope on the horizon. Not sure how folks watched us in the past get pushed around and couldn’t agree that we had some combination of deficient recruiting and S&C? AR is not the first to raise the issue as well.

Do I think AR was (is?) injury prone? Yes. Do I think he was disappointed with his time at UF (as were many of us)? Yes. I personally think he is an all world athelete AND I’d rather have Wuerffle who is… not. I can’t say his “failings” at UF were on coach shortcomings, his shortcomings, or the outrageously impossible expectations his athleticism generated. Or a combination?

Article seems to point to a brighter future for UF on the S&C front and points out that AR has supported UF since leaving. All in all, I don’t get the vitriol directed at aR or attempt at a binary placement of blame on the coaches? Bottom line is losing records at UF leave plenty of room for blame but nobody in the room is likely fully justified in pointing the finger entirely at others.

 

AR's greatest success was getting drafted and paid. He has yet to really succeed on the field, either in college or the NFL. If I were in that position, I would probably not burn bridges.

 

I see he showed up to support the basketball team during the ncaa tournament so I'll keep my thoughts to myself.

 

I don't know why he would be disappointed at his time at Florida. He was a 3 star coming out of high school and 3 star QB's generally do not start at Florida. He played one year and did not play well and went first round.

 

Yep, and he's a good kid from all indications. I wish he'd keep his (negative) thoughts to himself as well.

 

Meh

 

I guess we are assuming that if he transferred then opposing players would not have gone after his knees on a tackle. They only do that against us?

 

Post of the thread. Just excellent thinking along with hope for the future (which is badly needed.)

If I can add from personal experience at UF track in the 80s.
The last year of an outgoing coach and the first year of an incoming coach are usually tough. For me both years felt like running uphill the whole time.
It paid off for me with SEC titles my senior year though...
I guess that's why I wanted AR to stay so badly.

I can see why those 2 years would leave a bad taste in AR's mouth, but I have my own disappointments in AR as well.
But I wish him the best...

 

He played because of the Emory Jones issue and he got drafted mostly on physical ability.

 

Emory Jones with a memorable start to his NFL career. Ravens undrafted rookie QB Emory Jones fumbles the game away on his only snap

 

Actually that one was due to the fake turf at Indy, which was so bad the league made them change it this past off season.

Same turf that knocked Andrew Luck into retirement.

From a Sports Illustrated article July 10, 2024:
Lucas Oil Stadium will now have Hellas Matrix Turf, one of five stadiums in the NFL to have this type of turf. The previous turf inside the Colts' home stadium was slit-film turf, which the NFLPA has called for a ban across the league due to safety concerns. The hope is that this turf will help reduce injuries for the players and make the playing surface faster for these world-class athletes.

 

He has a right to share his own experiences at UF. Especially when he’s calling out the shaky strength and conditioning regimen of the previous regime that I’ve seen plenty of fans on here do.