Culture Shock, Part I: inside the Florida Gators’ implosion under Dan Mullen

The issue with Mullen was never a question of timing or a change of mind. The issue was that he has very low emotional intelligence, and he did not understand that he had hired coaches with low emotional intelligence, and he was lazy in certain aspects of his job (recruiting, leadership, etc). His demise was not a question of timing or of him losing his commitment, but of when his failings would cause catastrophic failure. Yes, the UF administration could have supported him more, but his misalignment with assistants, his blind spots to his and the programs weaknesses, his lack of commitment to players, and his inability to abstract his understanding of the program from himself were inevitable failures awaiting triggers.

 

I don't think you understand the concept of "talking past each other." This is futile.

Mullen was the choice. Stricklin should have known he had some issues. He apparently chose to sit on the sidelines while the program was in the process of burning down. My take: don't do it again.

 

I agree - no idea those two were such jerks! I think most knew Mullen thought he was smarter than most. Unfortunately his high intelligence is limited to the play calling arena.

 

Agree. And even more perplexing is Pierce is the classiest dude ever! A genuine good person, not some head case where one can understand a coach making him sit.

 

Gator Nation Football Podcast was prescient in looking at the Mullen teams as they performed on the field. He consistently noted the performance that this article illuminates. The confusion of the defense, the inconsistency of he offense. He saw it, was baffled by it and wondered at what was happening. Now, it seems, we understand the why.

 

I heard Meyer once say that one thing he always considered when seeking a new college head coaching position was whether or not the school was already poised to win with existing talent. He knew you had to win out of the gates or go away.

 

Napier has a much larger task. I agree with the military type atmosphere but keeping the players respect for the long haul isn’t easy when you make it hard. Winning isn’t easy though and dedication is tricky. The right players are necessary to help lead. Without Siler, you have a Spikes that may not have helped lead that 08 team. He didn’t get it when he arrived.

 

HUGE PROPS to 62 / the OP -
Well done 62!!!!

I have thirsted for so long to read feedback from those involved regarding the decline and fall of CDM, and these articles, 1 and 2, have confirmed for me and I believe a large sector of Gator Nation what was suspected, and put together from inference, but this seals it.

Direct testimony from participants is hard to refute. I liked Dan and loved his play calling. After 10-3 / 11-2, I thought we were on our way back to elite status, but Dan hit his nadir at 8 - 1 / LSU. All downhill after that. Shocking that Dan brought back Hev and Grantham. Cost him his job and put UF in a very deep hole.

Regarding part 2 / Napier - Checks all my box's and what I have read and observed. Thats why I hope Gator Nation holds the course and is patient enough to let the mans vision and recruiting shine through. Hopefully the powers at be will resist the instant gratification crowd. I don't think anybody could have turned the situation around immediately.

SOS and Urban recruited well, no one coach can thrive with sub par recruiting AND a nasty locker room, quickly.

Napier walked into a bad situation but did so at the right time.
Why do I say that:

1) UF has clearly made financial commitments to the Football program. The Gators have facilities on par with anybody now. Brand Spanking new. Add to that the coming improvements to the Stadium and UF facilities are nothing but impressive.

2) A point made by CBN - OK conceding the Jason Rashada deal was a bit rocky, but Napier has consistently said that UF is uniquely positioned, geographicly with excellent media options and markets. Combine that with a huge alumnus and resource base, UF is poised to be as strong as any other SEC squad outside of Texas and maybe their equal.

3) What have we been missing? RECRUITING. Well, with a few more committments UF is top 5 and perhaps higher this cycle.
A HUGE leap going back 10 years or more. Most here would agree that if UF can capture the State back in recruiting, championship hardware will follow.

So in closing, yes I'm babbling but we are a week away and the excitment is palpable!

 

Not sure you understood what I wrote, I said he checked out after his escape plan fell through. My 'evidence' for his change of mind was the apparent desire to move into the NFL. Presumably nobody who wanted to stay would do that.

"He’s always been a lazy manager and a lazy recruiter who thought that his offensive scheming would overcome his shortcomings."

Yeah, I get that. That was his lightbulb moment, when he realized that that mode of operation wasn't going to cut it and he was either going to need to change his spots, or move on. Which is exactly what I meant when I said he knew had to take "...actions he knew he had been avoiding and didn't want to take."

 

The Mullen hire would of never happed if the UAA had done a better job in hiring and monitoring after Urban Meyer left UF. There were two bad hires before Mullen..

 

Agree with this. I never do company surveys anymore because, from my experience, nothing EVER changes.

A company I worked for did a survey and the results were the worst they company that managed the survey had ever seen. What did my company do? They hired a team to come in to asked some questions and basically rework the survey for us to take again. The results were the same and nothing changed. Needless to say, I do not work there anymore.

 

To your point. Interesting stat I found yesterday. I’m all in on Napier. We have no excuse not to succeed. Certainly not because of money… so let’s not complain about Ga and Ala and bagmen, etc. let’s just build a program that kicks their butts


“Wes Chandler was Percy Harvin before Percy Harvin was born.”

 

To your point, Hevesy ended up becoming a home inspector along with being a "consultant" for Gtech.

I do like the embellishment in his resume...

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-hevesy-0b3632273?original_referer=https://www.google.com/

 

Every place he landed was already stocked with talent

 

Laughing at all the posters who argued with me in 2021 when I said Mullen lost the locker room...

 

And now for current events, class!!

Stricklin has already hired Napier!!

So what do you mean by "don't do it again"?

Are you suggesting that Napier will be fired, and Stricklin will have to hire someone else, and therefore must adhere to your admonishment?

Go on.

 

I had the same thought. Brenton Cox hero ball makes a lot more sense when you realize everyone was out for themselves.

 

I am okay that you disagree with my opinion.

I have worked for multiple companies and fortunately there were positive results.

Surveys only work when implemented correctly and if the management makes the correct adjustments.

On another note, forget that I said surveys The point that I was trying to make is that the UAA was not hands on enough. Either they were; sticking their heads in the sand, too inept to recognize issues, or running cover for the coaches.

Any one of those items alone is a case of mismanagement by the UAA and the Head Coaches.

By the way, I did play high school football and other sports in high school. Also, I was very much involved with my grandson's youth league and high school programs. I assisted the coaches and I observed and learned a lot. The high school is a top 7A school in Georgia and has over 100 boys in the football program.

 

It does show that at times fans can be correct in assessing coaches and players. So many times I've heard the argument these guys are paid millions and obviously know more than you do as a fan so why don't you stop complaining and let them coach.

 

would have