(TEN) M Tennis vs FSU

The SEC season begins in two weekends. The last tune up match is the earlier Postponed match with North Florida. I can attest to the fact that our players are working very hard to build on what Coach Steinberg wants moving into the future. I can further attest to the fact that our current coaching staff is exceptional and I fully back what they are building. However, it takes time to rise from the ashes and become a power once again. Recruiting for the spring is going very well. No one likes to be mediocre, but the only way up is a total commitment by every player. This was not the case when Coach Steinberg arrived. I can report that currently every player on our roster is all in, and we will see where that takes up for the remainder of this season.

 

I was pleasantly surprised to see all the three-set matches against the current top-ranked team. And our #6 player was up a set and leading in the second set. #1 took it to a second set tiebreaker. It gives me hope that we will be competitive in the SEC. Any idea why our top player and the others transferred last year? It is such a shame that finally reaching the top, we weren't able to sustain it. For years, the men's team was playing second fiddle to the women. They had pockets of success, but nowhere near the success by Bryan Shelton. It took him about six years to lift us from top 10 to top 3, and one year to fall down to also-ran. I do not know much about our coach. I know he won a natty at Pepperdine, and turned around Michigan's program. My initial thoughts when he was hired was someone to steer the ship to keep it from sinking. But now that the ship has sunk, I would think a younger, up-and-coming coach would be a better choice. Does Steinberg have the energy and stamina to turn our program around? Thoughts apkgator? Gator Nation?

 

49th in the first computer ranking of he year.

ITA / Rankings