Think about this: D'Antre Robinson, Texas; Jameer Grimsley, Bama; Dallas Wilson, Oregon. Three premier players pulled from elite programs *after* signing day commitments elsewhere. Napier's Army, ladies and gentlemen. Florida Boys from every corner of the Great Sunshine State are signing off on the Mighty Gators. The foundation has been built, the culture is solid, THE FLAGSHIP is riding high. Next recruiting cycle is when it all comes together with an incredibly solid quarterback room already on campus. There will be tremendous excitement about an elite Jacksonville QB -- Tramell Jones -- in line to replace D.J., and an elite Tampa QB -- Will Griffin -- in line to replace Tramell. Our future is incredibly bright thanks to Napier's Army maintaining good relationships on the recruiting trail . . . even *after* a player *signs* elsewhere. Gator Nation money, combined with our Big Money Donors, all on the same page with the Head Gator In Charge Billy Napier. All you haters, hush the hell up about an O.C.
Great relationships and integrity matter. Don't forget about transfers in as well... Like Pup Howard, Chimere Dike, and Montrell Johnson. Players love coach and his army. Complainers need something to focus on and the OC issue is easy. Time will tell but better players and execution should hum. Lots of areas on offense and defense to improve. That should bring excitement, not angst.
Ahhh... so this wasn't a post to talk about Dallas Wilson, it was a post to call out the "haters." And by "haters," you mean anyone who thinks we need an OC? Or anyone who points out Bama, Texas and Oregon are currently ranked 1st, 2nd and 5th respectively for their 2025 recruiting classes and ours is #10? Can we just be happy about Wilson and not attack other Gator fans? It's not like we won the Superbowl with his signing. We are making up ground, but it's not a time to throw down on other fans like we've broken through some plateau.
Not to discredit the talent he has brought in or the work he has done off the field. I've given many kudos there. 19-19 and 10-14 in Conference He is what his record says he is so far. He gets another year to prove those of us on the fence wrong. Some believe he can, some believe he can't. Some of us are wait and see. Neither of those is a hater or a pumper. We all just have different opinions.
We had a good season and now reasons for optimism. But your point is well taken. Fans want a program that wins most of the time. The record does not say he can do it. The back office staff is nice, solid>great classes matter clearly, the work our players do in the classroom is great. End of day, the HC and staff have to have the game day acumen. We lost the recruiting battles for the players that signed elsewhere and had to fight(and pay) for the guys that were waffling end of last cycle. It's only that the rules have changed that we get to bring back into the fold the guys that had committed and signed with other schools. Five years ago those guys would have had to stay with their original commits. Nonetheless, there are certainly some reasons to be very positive. Love the 8 win season. Job well done.
Wunderlich is right. We need an OC. Dude is the HC and CEO of the football program. Im pulling for him. Now go self evaluate again in this fourth year of Phase 1.
As difficult as it will be for Napier to hire an OC from outside the program and let that OC run the offense, he would most likely be relieved once the results are in and he has more time to focus on other things, and more free time for himself.
Wunderlich likely understands an OC isn't coming. I suspect he wants to put the issue to the fore so that if our offense falls short in 2025, it will be easier to pin it on Billy. I want an OC, but I know it ain't happenin'.
Year one - 57th scoring offense. Year two - 59 scoring offense. Year Three - 64 scoring offense. Yeah, he might need a dedicated OC while he has time to get one. ESPN's numbers, newly edited. 2022 College Football Offense Total Team Stat Leaders - ESPN
I'm totally confused on the OC and play calling issue. One of the broadcasters of the bowl game said how much he liked the play call by OC Calloway. Is Calloway an OC and is he calling plays, or was the broadcaster drunk or delusional?
You calling people haters that point to the NUMBERS that say we need an OC. But I noticed you failed to mention the lingering issues we have on special teams as far as number of players on the field, timeouts being burned because the play taking too long to get in, etc. Don't just call people haters, speak on the WHY as to the reason people see the need for an OC....
I wonder how many of the army have gatorcountry accounts? Hey guys, great job!! Keep up the good work!
I remember when quarterbacks called the plays. John Reaves called his own plays till Doug ("Fourth and Dumb") Dickey took over the program.