How about by the standards that he didn't win and was replaced by a guy who did, and he did it before everyone had AC as well. Four winning seasons in 10 years. Also known for a propensity of punting on 3rd downs.
Florida was a middle of the pack SEC team in the 50s. I tend not to anoint coaches as "failures" if I don't understand the circumstances surrounding them. Bear Bryant finished 1-9 his first year at Texas A&M, who Charley Pell went 0-10-1 in 1979 at Florida. Were they failures? Woodruff also had a .556 winning percentage during his career at Florida. What he and Dickey (Along with Majors, Dooley, etc., did regarding our 1984 SEC title, of course, is inexcusable...
You're comparing first years with ten years of mediocrity. He was 11 games over .500 thru ten years. By your standards Ron Zook was a misunderstood Nick Saban.
Vince had Jan Kemp keeping his morons eligible until she went rogue on him. Tim Worley & Keith Henderson, UGA’s stud TB’s both flunked out of school but were allowed to play in Dooley’s final game.
The happenstance of Coach Hall’s age when UF decided to honor the ‘84 team, with or without irony, only made the day and the honor more meaningful…at least to this Gator that was at UF in 1984 and at homecoming the other day. northgagator added a worthwhile bit of info to the thread.
Wow I've never heard this one before, I thought SOS had always given Hall credit for the 90 and 91 teams being loaded with talent that enabled him to win right away.
I have run into Coach Hall many times in the Citrus Tower Publix in Clermont- always very hospitable and willing to chat
I was stuck between a “laugh” and a “thanks”. Nice to be approved by an english teacher. My mother was one and she didn’t let me get away with much.
My first year 1985, transferred in from Wisconsin. All we could do is listen to games on the radio in 1985...oh that Georgia game...we were ranked #1 for first time and lost that week. The 1984 team from a roster standpoint was 2008 good.
Such a sad game. Kerwin finished with over 400 yds passing and we moved the ball up and down the field, but couldn't generate a running game and just couldn't translate any of our drives into a score. Georgia basically won the game on 3 big plays and a nasty defensive line.
We were there to witness all that. Just before the game we went down to watch the No. 1 Gators come out. They looked really nervous and jittery and no coach or captain was pumping them up.