Well, you are comparing to the high point of Gator football without question, which is understandable. However, during the 70s and 80s we won 9 games once and three times, respectively (we did play one less game). If any season less than winning NCs/making playoffs is mediocrity then we have not even been mediocre the last 5 years, but well below. To me mediocre would be around 7 regular season wins and a minor bowl, i.e. 2024. Hopefully, we are not having similar discussions after 2025.
IMO, the most important achievement in the next few years is consistent improvement. Mullen had those 2 good years and coasted as the bottom fell out.. we were back to square 1. I also don't want to see the quick fix noles approach were we build a one and done NIL team and the next year we are garbage. It seems CBN is doing it the right way, building from the ground up. Hopefully we climb out of the hole for good and going forward we have consistently top teams that can compete for championships by making long runs in the playoffs. We have a way to go to get there.
The "thing" about 9 wins this season, especially if RS wins, would be that BN did not reach his high water mark last season with 8 total. That would be a good thing for sure.
Disagree. Beck is not, or was not good last season. He was not in the same league as alabama's serviceable but NC winning QBs. He was sub serviceable.
I never said"just" a qb. I said a qb can overcome a slight talent advantage. We will be at a slight talent advantage in some games.
As I posted on a different thread, everytime you (or I or anyone) get an optimistic feeling for Napier and the regime, you (or we) should buy a bottle of our spirits of choice for the "stormy season". You WILL be glad you did. Trust me.
Since we're saying opinions suck now, this sucks. UF has lost to Vandy more recently then we have beaten UGA.
It's called leadership, ultimately it's on him, any coach worth a damn would say so themselves. It's also the common denominator across multiple QBs.
There are several that seem to think this is a salient point, did you all just attend your first leadership training together? Maybe in the next installment they'll teach you there's a difference between taking responsibility and being the sole factor.
This thread, while interesting, confirm Gator Country (and Gator Nation) are really on the fence concerning Napier and Scott Stricklin and their continued employment and futures in Gainesville. There is a lot of fan bitterness about the Program, literally every aspect is under intense and rather bitter scrutiny. I mistakenly thought the fan base was on the same "momentum" high, I was on, with the close of the 24 season, the SEC's longest win streak, a bowl "W" and a strong recruiting close. Despite these positives, my thinking is changing. I thought Gator Nation mojo was cautiously optimistic, now I think Gator Nations mojo is more "well we couldn't get these guys fired", and lets watch it crash and burn in 2025. Not unexpected for a fan base that experienced a run of 25 years, 1984 to 2009, of high level excellence, to be followed by 15 years of up and down play, mostly down, from the 25 year run of fun. Well, by my way of thinking, the current management will be replaced without demonstrating significant, if not a double digit win total in 2025. Interestingly, watching Gators Breakdown and the uber analytics guest (Will Miles) last night, Will seems to think given the ROSTER analysis of 25 and what "may be" in 26,............ Will said several times, he strongly believes the year of maximizing DJL and recent roster depth, is this year, 2025, not 26. Of course Will may be wrong, but his argument about "proven" roster attrition and loss of experience after the 25 season, does lend support to his argument.
I think a lot of what you perceive as bitterness toward the program is generated by bitterness toward what has become of College Football in general. Perhaps mixed in with some grumbling about the lack of preparation for NIL that the UAA "appeared" to manifest (particularly with the salaries that the fans are paying). I agree with Miles. 2025 is Napier's shot at really cementing his tenure here. A budding superstar QB, a rugged, experienced OL and really good RB's. The D will be a question mark again in 2025, but there is no telling what we'll have on the O in 2026 other than a rebuilt OL.
I think a lot of us on the "meh" train just don't see Napier as an elite coach. I personally don't think he will get an SEC Title or Championship at UF. I don't put all the blame on him for that. The landscape has changed drastically and I don't think UF is in a place to compete with the upper echelon of programs. Good coach? Sure, but I could see the argument he's not based on his record Elite? Nah Good recruiter? Yes. Elite recruiter? Not really-though I think it may be more a UF thing than a Napier thing or a mix of both. Now the question is does UF need an Elite coach or a Good coach right now. I honestly could see the argument both ways. Elite coaches don't grow on trees and come with risk. Good coaches may not get us titles but maybe they stabilize the program a bit and build a good foundation. Sometimes you gotta risk it for the biscuit though. Is Gator Nation patient enough to tolerate a Good coach? That's the million dollar question. He does worse than 8-5, I think the heat will be intense.
Well, for my money, I intend to continue to enjoy a rather remarkable Basketball season, A baseball team run ruling everyone, ladies softball, track, gymnastics, tennis and swimming. (if I left a team out....apologies) I imagine UF may well have a National title or 2 spring from this grouping. Especially track
The difference between a perceived good coach and a perceived elite coach can also be affected by circumstances that are somewhat out of their control. I think it takes a great coach, who surrounds himself with the right people, has the right support system, enough money to compete on the NIL market, and a little luck. I'm honestly not sure Kirby or Saban are what they are if they'd come here after Macelwain or Muschamp. I certainly wouldn't say they couldn't be, but I wouldn't necessarily bank on either of them being a sure thing here either. Timing, circumstances, support, luck. If they're not all in place at the right time, you get what we have no matter who you place at the helm. It's not all on the coach, or the ad, or the boosters, or the general fanbase. It's a collection of all of those things working in conjunction, and a bit of luck, IMO. The right guy in one of those positions can make a lot of difference, but they still can't do it all by themselves. In this day and age, a billionaire or group of millionaires willing to bankroll you and spend whatever is necessary no matter what can make up for a whole lot of shortcomings in other areas.
