Yes it was, and even though his offense would have still been successfull regardless , if we're being real there wasn't near as much parity among the teams , whether conference or nation wide. It was pretty much Tenn, FSU and for a bit there in the beginning Bama. But otherwise there weren't many feared SEC schools. And if I remember correctly I don't think there were as many big time matchups of top teams from different conferences like we see these days, like UGA vs Clemson or UF vs Miami or FSU vs LSU etc. We the fans win in that regard because whomdoesnt like big time games with big time teams. Doing them week 1 in a sport that 1 loss can derail your season is a bit crazy if you ask me but the balls on those teams that do. respect!!
For the 2025 class, Indiana (20 players, 19 3*'s) is ranked only #52. None of the Hoosier players are ranked in the top 100/300. #52 - IU (2025), UF - #45 #46 - IU (2024), UF's was #7 after the TF portal signings. #43 - IU (2023), UF - #12 #25 - IU (2022), UF - #17 These numbers support that Florida significantly out recruits Indiana in football which is obvious. Basketball is another story as UF had recently lost some head-to heads to IU in recruiting (i.e F Malik Reneau, C Oumar Ballo, etc.). ===================================== Meanwhile after Napier had just flipped the #1 Kicker to the Gators, Florida's rank improved from #50 to #45. We will see if Napier can get the recruiting going again or not. So, according to 247-site, Florida's class is still higher in quality than Indiana's; however, UF is lagging behind in-state teams: #45 Florida (12 players: 1 5*, 5 4*'s, 6 3*'s) #31 Florida St (13 players: 1 5*, 8 4*'s, 4 3*'s) The Seminoles have a good Oline class with 1 5*, 2 4*'s and 1 3*. #12 Miami (22 players: 15 4*'s, 7 3*'s). The WR that flipped from UF to UM is about the 5th highest rated player (ranked # 189 overall) in this class. Could Napier flip this WR back? Miami has not signed a highly recuited QB in their last few classes. For the 2024 season, the Hurricanes will again try to rely upon a TF-portal QB (i.e Cam Ward in 2024) but that is most likely a high risk. ============================ If someone does not sign Cignetti this year, Indiana could restructure his current contract to a higher level & his asking price may go up significantly after the 2024 season - something to consider. Some other programs that may be interested in Cignetti (either this year or next year): - Ohio St (should the Buckeyes break from Ryan Day) - ?FSU - many other SEC teams that are looking for another coach: ?Kentucky, Arkansas, even Alabama or Ole Miss (should UF get Kiffen) ==========================
How many more years you think he has coaching at this level. He will be 64 before next season starts. I like the guy. I just wish he was about 10 years younger. Otherwise what's not to like from what we've seen.
We arent all the same , no telling how much drive he has to reach the top. 70 isnt really all that old for a coach if hes in good health and enjoys what hes doing. Id cash it in and go fishing but football may be his joy.
Seems like 70 or right around there is the point they start to hang it up if they make it that far. Spurs was 70, Saban was 72, Beamer 69, Holts 67,. He is currently the 5th oldest coach in CFB behind Mack Brown 72, K.ferentz 68, Kyle Whittington 64, Willie fritz 64, Curt Cignetti 63. I like the guy, I'm surprised he hasn't coached at this level prior to now. Seems like some teams really missed out. I imagine he would have a good 5/6 years. I'd take it. Would Just hope he's not like mullen who thinks he's smarter than the other coach and can out scheme them with less talent and win. Must recruit, recruit, recruit.
============================ Sure there was. Spurrier just made it seem very easy for gator fans as he won a vast majority of the times. Three SEC teams had won the NC (AL-'92, FL-'96, TN-'98) and as for the Sunshine State teams that had won the NC during this period (FSU-'93, '99, Miami-'01). FSU lost the NC in '96, '98 & '00 while Miami lost in '02 and Florida lost in '95. There were four NC programs on Florida's schedule during the regular season as well as in bowl games. One could also add Notre Dame from the '92 Sugar Bowl - the Irish's last NC was in '88. ========================= Auburn, LSU & Georgia were pretty good at times. Sometimes South Carolina (w/ Lou Holtz), Miss St (w/ Jackie Sherrill), & Arkansas (an SECCG in '95) gave a challenge to opponents. During the SOS-Florida years, the Tennessee-Florida rivalry was a perennial top5/top10 matchup. Alabama-Florida in the SECCG was the most frequent one (10x overall; 5x in the 90s) in the 1990s and all-time; other times, Florida would see Auburn (1x) and Arkansas (2x) in that SECCG. On average, Florida would play 3-4 top 25/top10 teams a year which was plenty: (Note: I'm keeping track of the last shutouts by Florida towards SEC opponents & others) 1990:(3 top 25 team played): 1-2 #5 Tenn (L: 3-45), #4 Auburn (W: 48-7), ##8 FSU (L: 30-45) 1991:(6 top 25 teams in reg. season: 5-1 record, exceptiona with two SEC-shutoutsl) #16 Alabama (35-0, 1st win ever against Tide in Gvlle after 57+ years in the SEC), @ 18 Syracuse (L), #21 Miss St (W), at LSU (16-0), (#4 Tenn (W: 35-18), #23 GA (W), #3 FSU (W: 14-9) ^Gators should have played Miami for the NC in the '92 Sugar Bowl rather than Notre Dame whom they had lost to. 1992: (5) 1-4; Georgia was only top 25 win! #14 Tenn (L: 14-31), at #24 Miss ST (L: 6-30), #7 Georgia (W: 26-24), at #3 FSU (L: 24-45), #2 Alabama (L: 21-28) 1993: (4) 2-2 #5 Tenn (W: 41-34), #19 Au (L: 35-38), Vandy (52-0), #1 FSU (L: 21-33), #16 AL (W); #3 WVU (W: 41-7) 1994: (4) 2-1-1 at #15 Tenn (W: 31-0), #6 Auburn (L: 33-36), #7 FSU (T: 31-31), #3 Alabama (W: 24-23) 1995: (4) 4-0 #8 Tenn (W: 62-37), at #21 LSU (W: 28-10), at #7 AU (W: 49-38), #6 FSU (W: 35-24), #23 Arkansas (W: 34-3) 1996: (5): 4-1 (in reg. season, excluding bowl game) at #2 Tenn (W: 35-29), #12 LSU (W: 56-13), #16 AU (W: 51-10), at #2 FSU (L: 21-24), #11 AL (W: 45-30); Sugar-NC vs#1 Florida St (W: 52-20) 1997: (5): 3-2 vs Top 25 #4 Tenn (W: 33-20), at #14 LSU (L: 21-28), at #6 AU (L: 24-10), #14 Georgia (L: 17-37), #2 FSU (W: 32-29) 1998: (4): 2-2 at #6 Tenn (L: 17-20, OT), #11 LSU (W: 22-10), #11 Georgia (W: 38-7), at #5 FSU (L: 12-23) 1999: (5): 2-3 #2 Tenn (W: 23-21), #21 Alabama (L: 39-40, OT), #10 Georgia (W: 30-14), #1 FSU (L: 23-30), #7 AL (L: 7-34) 2000: (6): 5-1 at #11 Tenn (W: 27-23), #19 AU (W: 38-7), #13 Georgia (W: 34-23), #21 S.Car (W: 41-21), #3 FSU (L: 7-30); Auburn (W: 28-6); Sugar: #2 Miami (L: 20-37) 2001: (6): 5-1 #21 Mississippi St (W: 52-0), at #18 LSU (W: 44-15), #15 Georgia (W: 24-10), at #14 S.Car (W: 54-17), #21 FSU (W: 37-13), #5 Tenn (L: 32-34); #6 Maryland (W: 56-23) SOS last season at UF! SOS record vs Top 25 (Reg season excluding bowls): 36 wins, 20 losses. ============================
right this is what i said. I didn't add the one off teams every few years but as I posted during spurriers time here it was Bama early years and Tenn as far as conference rivals. He didn't have issues with UGA but they were OK. Otherwise of who we played it was FSU. Stopped playing Miami so they were not the yearly opponent. Now i do remember in I believe it was '93/'94 when Auburn had a great season with Terry Bowden and allegedly got accused of inflating balls with helium by Jackie sherill and went on tonfinish 11-0 but was on heavy probation and couldn't go to post season games. Beat #1 UF that year and Bama in the iron bowl. But conference was nowhere near as strong as it is now. I do wish we were still the team from those days. That's when I fell in love with the Gators. It was always so exciting.
UT and FSU were two of the preseason favorites to win the national title that year. Alabama had a very good year and gave us a tough game in the SECCG and probably would have ruled the conference in the 90s if not for us. But LSU and Auburn were also both ranked in 96 and were considered tough challenges. Auburn was only a year past going undefeated twice in a row, and even that 95 game against them was a tough, hard fought win. I think that was the year someone from LSU (d coordinator?) said our offense was so productive only because that hadn't met a defense like theirs to test them. Before the game the joke was how we'd be bringing our #2 pencils. After blowing them out, Steve quipped something about how we still hadn't been tested. It was a legit schedule and we plowed them. The 96 team was just that good.
And parity overall was more so. Every conference was winning titles and tge sec hadnt shown todays dominance yet. Lots of hof coaches and anyone in the top ten each year really seemed to have a legit shot.
A signature win (LSU or Ole Miss) would do wonders for players/fans/recruits' confidence in this staff. Three losing, bowl-less seasons with no signature wins (maybe Utah?) just makes us look like a losing program. It's actually pretty crazy we haven't had a big, upset win over anyone...even Vandy, UK, Ga Tech, etc. seem to sneak in a big upset every year or so. Losing makes us look like losers, and it starts at the top.
Interesting, wonder why they are even looking around since those 2 teams seem to be where you would want to be.
IMO 3 possible reasons 1- They get paid for visit nowadays 2- Ffrench and Tramell Jones are teammates. 3- They decided to Keep CBN for another year which frees up money for recruits.
