Welcome home, fellow Gator.

The Gator Nation's oldest and most active insider community
Join today!

If You Could Go Back to November 2021, Who Would You Hire?

Discussion in 'RayGator's Swamp Gas' started by doublewhammy, Sep 3, 2024.

  1. scooterp

    scooterp GC Hall of Fame

    2,151
    1,217
    2,703
    Feb 15, 2012
    He has certainly changed the infrastructure and the funding to get it. This roster is talented. I wouldn’t say it’s exactly “turn key”, but it’s a REALLY good situation for the next guy. It should be a smoother transition than the last 3.

    A capable leader on the sideline would win a lot of games with this roster.
     
    • Disagree Bacon! Disagree Bacon! x 1
  2. gatorpa

    gatorpa GC Hall of Fame

    11,370
    1,018
    698
    Sep 5, 2010
    East Coast of FL
    I’ve been laughed at for saying the same thing about Napiers classes compared to Mullen’s.
    I also agree Mullen got sick of the crap from various boosters and the Admin.
    There were guys that never liked him from the Meyer days because he wasn’t into kissing asses.

    Sorry if I’m a top Offensive mind in my field and I don’t want to kiss ass I’m not gonna do it.
    I’ve got 9 million reasons to say FU and take my skills elsewhere if I want to or just hang out on a beach until I feel like I want to coach again.

    Mullen’s biggest issue was not canning Grantham after 2019. Then COVId hit and we got screwed on the schedule. We dropped FSU and got TAAM away, LSU got moved to the end of the season. That doesn’t happen I bet we go Undefeated into the SECCG.
    Totally different story at that point.
     
  3. gatorpa

    gatorpa GC Hall of Fame

    11,370
    1,018
    698
    Sep 5, 2010
    East Coast of FL
    And then lose at home to N Illinois
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
  4. phatGator

    phatGator GC Hall of Fame

    5,577
    5,242
    2,213
    Dec 3, 2007
    Dayton, Ohio
    As I responded to someone else, I’m not advocating for Freeman. I was merely expressing surprise that his name was not even mentioned in the long list of possibilities being thrown out there. That’s all.

    I’m curious, would you be happy if CBN had a 20–9 record at this point, but it included a loss to someone like NIU?
     
  5. uftaipan

    uftaipan GC Hall of Fame

    8,846
    2,077
    1,483
    May 31, 2007
    Fresno, CA
    Much happier to be sure. But I would be seriously questioning whether or not this team has already reached its full potential if — in this coach’s third year, when there’s no more blaming the last guy for current shortcomings — he dropped a game at home to a school like NIU. I’d be thinking maybe that 20-9 was fool’s gold based on the benefits of an extremely weak schedule. In fact, I think Napier might very well have been able to pull off 20-9 with the exact same schedule Notre Dame had. The problem is, Napier coaches against a real schedule, requiring real coaching solutions.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  6. eightiesgator

    eightiesgator GC Hall of Fame

    1,378
    375
    1,883
    Oct 16, 2017
    Would you be happy with a "winning record?" Look at Leach's entire record instead of just his greatest hits.
     
    • Come On Man Come On Man x 2
  7. tigator2019

    tigator2019 GC Hall of Fame

    1,435
    2,563
    1,873
    Dec 25, 2018
    In my head--- UF
    you wrote ‘rarely’ did he much.

    Cant handle the facts I guess.
    Texas Tech 10 straight seasons over 500, including 4 9 win seasons

    Wazzou 4 of 8 seasons over 500. 2 9 win seasons

    That 6 of 16 with 9 or more. 2 of those were 11 wins


    MSU 2 of 3 seasons over 500

    You lose gator dude
     
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2024
    • Funny Funny x 1
  8. shane4three

    shane4three GC Hall of Fame

    8,578
    2,777
    2,768
    Dec 24, 2014
    Yep and DeBoer and the Washington base took the approach that every other new coach and base did except for one in that they had the mindset to win quickly. Our coach and many of our fan base believed it was ok to not expect winning early. I totally disagreed as I felt that mindset was totally counterproductive to program moving in the right direction.

    I would’ve Hired Lane.
     
  9. shane4three

    shane4three GC Hall of Fame

    8,578
    2,777
    2,768
    Dec 24, 2014
    Some of that yes but most of that was caused by him not getting the support one from administration with new facilities, budget, etc., etc.

    Billy came in and they gave him everything and most of the fans also supported him not winning for 3 to 4 years
     
    • Winner Winner x 1
  10. eightiesgator

    eightiesgator GC Hall of Fame

    1,378
    375
    1,883
    Oct 16, 2017
    Rings? After all, that is how we rate OUR coaches. Mullen did as well as Leach at MSU but many here said "he never won anything." The sad fact is that while providing great excitement, Leach invariably lost out to teams that ALSO played defense.

    Again, Leach's offense at Kentucky were better than Spurrier's at Florida, yet SOS never worried about losing to the 'Cats.

    I loved Leach and mourned his passing, but the real reason he is loved by many Gators is because he was Offense First, just like Da Ball Coach...

    ...except Spurrier was NOT offense first. SOS always valued a strong defense. Always.
     
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2024
  11. paidinfull

    paidinfull GC Hall of Fame

    5,957
    1,449
    2,038
    Feb 22, 2017
    Don’t even know why we’re entertaining this conversation. I don’t think Leach will be part of any coaching searches moving forward.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  12. gatorpa

    gatorpa GC Hall of Fame

    11,370
    1,018
    698
    Sep 5, 2010
    East Coast of FL
    Honest answer…

    If the loss came in year one it would be more palatable than in year 3 with that record.
    The happy meter with 20-9 would be better if there were more losses earlier in the tenure.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  13. garettk

    garettk GC Hall of Fame

    1,650
    680
    2,038
    Oct 3, 2008
    Mayo, FL
    Mark Stoops
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Funny Funny x 1
  14. gatorpa

    gatorpa GC Hall of Fame

    11,370
    1,018
    698
    Sep 5, 2010
    East Coast of FL
    Ha Ha

    He just got steam rolled by USCe at home.

    He will always be a second tier dude.
     
  15. gatorwalrus

    gatorwalrus GC Hall of Fame

    3,127
    828
    1,873
    Sep 24, 2022
    It's amazing how much a coaches perception can change in 1 week. Freeman, Freeze, Stoops, etc.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
  16. garettk

    garettk GC Hall of Fame

    1,650
    680
    2,038
    Oct 3, 2008
    Mayo, FL
    Given UF’s propensity to go budget, he likely is the best we could have hoped for when going after an established coach. He’s second-tier because that’s the school he’s at. Who knows where his ceiling is.
    I get usc just rolled him, but traditionally he has very physically tough teams.
     
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  17. gatorpa

    gatorpa GC Hall of Fame

    11,370
    1,018
    698
    Sep 5, 2010
    East Coast of FL
    Yeah they play great then crash and fade. If he was great I’d think someone would have grabbed him already.
     
  18. gatorpa

    gatorpa GC Hall of Fame

    11,370
    1,018
    698
    Sep 5, 2010
    East Coast of FL
    Meh I’ve never thought much of either of those 3. Freeze could recruit once upon a time until he got busted.

    He can coach an offense, I’ll give him that.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  19. garettk

    garettk GC Hall of Fame

    1,650
    680
    2,038
    Oct 3, 2008
    Mayo, FL
    Might be that fsu stank on him lol
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
  20. ajoseph

    ajoseph Premium Member

    6,865
    2,534
    2,998
    Jan 15, 2008
    He’s paid amongst the best I’m the nation. Stoops would not be a budget hire.
     
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1