Welcome home, fellow Gator.

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

The Root Cause of Florida’s Decline

Discussion in 'RayGator's Swamp Gas' started by duggers_dad, Sep 15, 2024 at 12:25 PM.

  1. orangeblue77

    orangeblue77 GC Hall of Fame

    1,365
    427
    188
    Feb 19, 2023
    Florida
    Cruel but true
     
  2. orangeblue77

    orangeblue77 GC Hall of Fame

    1,365
    427
    188
    Feb 19, 2023
    Florida
    Decision makers should measure twice and only cut once. Save a lot of money and years. And grief
     
    • Like Like x 1
  3. 92gator

    92gator GC Hall of Fame

    13,887
    14,268
    3,363
    Jun 14, 2007
    It's not a fight song. It's an add on/ extension of We are the Boys--it's about unity (commemorating fav son and honorary alum, TP) not fight.

    We have a fight song, that's still played.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. TrueGator

    TrueGator GC Hall of Fame

    1,894
    871
    2,063
    Nov 11, 2014
    I think the root cause is that we try to hire each new head coach to specifically overcome the worst weaknesses of their predecessor, instead of finding an overall total mix of qualities in a new hire. If Muschamp was known to be defense-centric with no skills on the other side of the ball, we hire a guy like McElwain who was (supposed to be) an offensive answer. After McElwain (who never seemed like a good fit in Gatorland) gets sent out to pasture, we brought in Mullen who had a history with us in our Glory Days. Then we get rid of Mullen because he is too old-schooled and can't change his ways enough to adapt to the new world of relentless recruiting, and bring in a guy who is supposed to be a great recruiter and an up-and-comer with a new energy.

    But, in the end, none of these guys seemed to be the complete package, just the intended counter to the worst attribute of the guy before them. Seems like an endless cycle. We need a good CEO, a good offensive mind, a good defensive mind, a good recruiter, a good developer, a good diplomat, a good marketer of the program, and a good play caller... or someone who can hire and delegate all of that. The next guy needs to be an all-around answer. Just not sure there are more than a few of those guys in the country, and they may all have jobs.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Winner Winner x 2
    • Creative Creative x 1
  5. orangeblue77

    orangeblue77 GC Hall of Fame

    1,365
    427
    188
    Feb 19, 2023
    Florida
    Unity is great but when the stadiums empty…playing that song is just fodder for everyone who despises Gator Nation.
     
  6. 92gator

    92gator GC Hall of Fame

    13,887
    14,268
    3,363
    Jun 14, 2007
    Losing taints everything, but We are the Boys/ Won't back down are awesome Gator traditions that everyone loves.

    The whole stadium gets into it, especially the student section. It's a proud thing for UF.

    Screw anyone on the outside that doesn't get us.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
  7. eightiesgator

    eightiesgator GC Hall of Fame

    1,216
    332
    1,883
    Oct 16, 2017
    When did I say that? What I said was that it turned out to be weak, much like Spurrier's 2000 class, when many soon left the team. Isn't this what people blame Mullen for?
     
  8. UF24ou14

    UF24ou14 GC Hall of Fame

    3,527
    4,384
    2,178
    Apr 19, 2009
    Never said or implied such. Just made the statement that Urbs didn't dismiss him.
     
  9. eightiesgator

    eightiesgator GC Hall of Fame

    1,216
    332
    1,883
    Oct 16, 2017
    Galen Hall's defense were all top ten. His 1989 defense was 3d.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  10. eightiesgator

    eightiesgator GC Hall of Fame

    1,216
    332
    1,883
    Oct 16, 2017
    Please. Simply look at the total offenses versus the total defenses, or simple points scored versus allowed.
     
  11. 92gator

    92gator GC Hall of Fame

    13,887
    14,268
    3,363
    Jun 14, 2007
    Excellent point. Our hires have been reactive rather than proactive.

    I'd add that we got to stop trying to be Bama. We're re not bama, and bama doesn't work at UF (eg Mac, Champ, Napier)--the only time we had any success trying to do bama at UF--ie Pell--we damn near got the DP.

    IMHO, we need to do us. Gators. Dig into our own history, and be us.

    There's plenty there, especially through Spurrier's line, but plumb urbs' as well.

    Just stop with the Saban tree. It's poison in th e Swamp.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
  12. orangeblue77

    orangeblue77 GC Hall of Fame

    1,365
    427
    188
    Feb 19, 2023
    Florida
    Well it needs to be respected again. Throw in some modern songs for the hell of it. The swamp was scary when I was a child it can be again. Adapt to the times.
     
  13. 92gator

    92gator GC Hall of Fame

    13,887
    14,268
    3,363
    Jun 14, 2007
    Sure. In the 80's--carry over from Pell (Hall was able to continue the def., but not Pell's O), and those later 80's teams were hardly definitive of success.

    Take Emmitt out, and they'd have been pretty much horrible.
     
  14. orangeblue77

    orangeblue77 GC Hall of Fame

    1,365
    427
    188
    Feb 19, 2023
    Florida
    We are the Alabama of the east never set well with me. You are so right. Screw Bama and be the Gators!
     
    • Winner Winner x 2
    • Like Like x 1
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
    • Best Post Ever Best Post Ever x 1
  15. 92gator

    92gator GC Hall of Fame

    13,887
    14,268
    3,363
    Jun 14, 2007
    Ok, and if we do, 90's through 00's, plus 60's Gators, O > D. The decades that are known for success, other than the 80's.

    70's ..don't really know, except that there was very little success to emulate (like the 50's).

    ...or the teens into the '20s.

    So 3 decades of success primarily offensive, vs 1, where D had the edge.

    Plus Champ's--but no one equates champ with success.
     
  16. urbangirl

    urbangirl VIP Member

    6,433
    1,674
    2,047
    Oct 15, 2007
    Yeah…..not all that impressive since we started doing that. Hit and miss….more miss than hit though. Yesterday, I heard someone say perhaps it should be replaced with “Free Fallin’”.
     
  17. urbangirl

    urbangirl VIP Member

    6,433
    1,674
    2,047
    Oct 15, 2007
    Whatever Football god we made angry….. goodness but you’d think we’d paid that “bill”. Exorcism anyone?
     
    • Funny Funny x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  18. orangeblue77

    orangeblue77 GC Hall of Fame

    1,365
    427
    188
    Feb 19, 2023
    Florida
    When the swamp was absolutely terrifying the swamp wasn’t trying to be Bama or anything else. Swamp was the swamp and it was awesome. Compared to yall I’m young but I remember. The swamp can be terrifying again in our lifetimes. My dead grandpa said a thing I imagine many smart grandpas said. If you want to do something then do it right! UF can afford to write big checks. Stop writing small stupid checks and write one expensive good one. Easily said I guess when it’s not my money but. Measure twice cut once. I’m drinking and don’t regret posting this ( not yet at least)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 16, 2024 at 6:38 AM
  19. orangeblue77

    orangeblue77 GC Hall of Fame

    1,365
    427
    188
    Feb 19, 2023
    Florida
    We need a power song! But before we worry about songs, on the field, fundamental institutional crap needs to be taken care of first. Then we worry about music
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  20. orangeblue77

    orangeblue77 GC Hall of Fame

    1,365
    427
    188
    Feb 19, 2023
    Florida
    I’ll donate some stem cells to reinvigorate the greatest Gator of all time. This would probably work in South Park lol
     
    • Funny Funny x 1