Looking Ahead: The Return Of The Troubles
by mlmintampa on Nov 19, 2009 9:27 AM EST
in Football
35 comments
"These kids are spoiled. They don't know what it was like watching Ron Zook for three years."
As a Florida transplant, I wasn't a Real Gator Fan until I attended UF. The Gators were always my favorite college, but Danny Wuerffel and Steve Spurrier were as close to me as characters on a show. (Now I rip on current students for being lazy at games. I'm an old man.) It is one thing to attend games or watch on TV, but as a student, you see players walking around campus and going out. That exposed me to how unprofessional and unfocused the Zook Era was. How was Bubba Caldwell supposed to learn his playbook when he couldn't show up for the Age of Dinosaurs at 10:30am? Why should I have been surprised when UF blew a 23 point lead at Miami, when the players were more excited to go out the night before than playing in the game?
Those stories are few and far between now. College athletes will still skip out on class and everyone wants to go out on Friday night, but Urban Meyer's cultural change was a 180 from the Zook years. But those of us who were there wear the scars and remember the losses to inferior teams every time UF starts slow. I'm not trying to bring down the room, but Florida is looking at a 2010 season that looks more like Florida 2003 than Florida 2007.
Based on Meyer's comment that there are seven juniors that are "quality NFL players" and Jeremy Fowler's estimate of five guys, we will assume three guys; Carlos Dunlap, Joe Haden and Aaron Hernandez. All of them have an NFL body and NFL talent. There are always guys who leave after a championship who shouldn't, so we will include Emmanuel Moody, so would get more touches in the pros than in Gainesville.
Now include Tim Tebow, Riley Cooper, Jermaine Cunningham, Dustin Doe, Brandon James, David Nelson and Brandon Spikes. Throw in the loss of Charlie Strong and Steve Addazio (fingers crossed!), and you're looking at a legitimate rebuilding season.
I think most people trust John Brantley, but any concerns about the loss of Tebow was stifled by having a high quality backup. How many of you trust Jordan Reed to handle the ball next season? The defense should be ok, with enough guys in the pipeline to take over (Brendan Beal, Jelani Jenkins, we've seen Jaye Howard and Omar Hunter), but who would take Strong's duties? Even if you do trust Brantley, do you trust Andre Debose coming back from surgery, when it seems like every Florida player returning from surgery gets hurt again? (Cornelius Ingram, Dorian Munroe. Apparently UF's team surgeon uses push pins and Elmers' glue. The failure of those surgeries is a story on its own.) Plus, without Cooper and Hernandez, who is going to catch Brantley's rockets? I don't see UF wasting Brantley's arm and sticking with the running game like they have done this season. But I also don't see TJ Lawrence and Omarius Hines as the answer.
The cupboard isn't bare, but playing at Tennessee, at Alabama, at FSU and dealing with improved Georgia and LSU, Florida 2010 doesn't look good. Just something to think about between your weekly heart attacks during Gator games.
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Why are you so negative?
We are 10-0, ranked #1 and in contention for another SEC and National Title…..and your topic of choice is how bad we’re going to be next season? Sorry, but that sounds like something coming from a Miami fan.
Let’s enjoy the last 4 games of 2009.
I’m pretty sure that we have some future talent already on the roster and joining us next season. It may be raw, but I don’t think we’re heading for 5-7 just yet.
by skigator93 on Nov 19, 2009 11:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
There’s four games left this season. Why not look to next year?
mlmintampa
UF C/O 06
by mlmintampa on Nov 19, 2009 11:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
because
come January, we’ll have 8 months to break it down.
by skigator93 on Nov 19, 2009 3:45 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I like how I bring of the possibility of an 8-5 season and the Miami insult comes out. But when I defend UF winning by only two scores, no one comments.
mlmintampa
UF C/O 06
by mlmintampa on Nov 20, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That's because
Your “winning isn’t always pretty” post made a lot of sense. Looking ahead to a potentially bleak next season during the height of a potentially historic season doesn’t.
by skigator93 on Nov 20, 2009 10:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If a post is solid and there is nothing to debate, there isnt going to be a lot of comments, except a few good jobs…
by Hook85 on Nov 20, 2009 8:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm...
I actually think this team will be good next season. There are no senior starters along the offensive line and no seniors at all at RB. I think everyone should be comfortable with Brantley’s talent and his starting as a junior. I don’t believe that Hernandez, who has been underutilized, will be undersized in the NFL and is not a well-rounded TE yet will leave for the NFL when he can come back to Gainesville with a shot at being THE top target of a new QB. The receiving corps is otherwise wide open, but that could be a good thing knowing how well Urban recruits and how underwhelming that group has been this year.
As for the defense, I doubt the safeties test the NFL draft in the year that superstars Eric Berry and Taylor Mays look like locks to be the few first round guys. Jenkins returns, even if Haden bolts like he should because he might be the first CB taken in the draft. The linebacking corps may be unproven, but it may also be the most talented (at least heralded) unit on the team. The interior of the DL with Howard and Hunter looks solid and there hasn’t been a lack of rush ends at Florida even if Dunlap AND Cunningham both go pro.
The schedule does look tougher that this year’s remarkable weak slate, but I wouldn’t say we are more likely to end up with under 3 losses than we are the over.
"A player who conjugates a verb in the first person singular cannot be part of the squad, he has to conjugate the verb in the first person plural. We. We want to conquer. We are going to conquer. Using the word 'I' when you're in a group makes things complicated." ~ Wanderley Luxemburgo, 1999
by ejruiz on Nov 19, 2009 11:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Kudos to you and your logical and realistic reasoning towards next year
"It boils down to one of two things: It's either the horses or the jockeys. And we think we have some pretty good horses."
by RaysnNoles on Nov 19, 2009 1:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Brantley is going to be Alex Smith 2.0
I think he’s a better fit for the spread than Tebow, actually.
There will be some attrition on the defense, but not anything like the 2007 disaster.
I’d say 9-3 is the goal for next year. Worse than that’d be a disappointment, better would be a nice surprise.
2011, though, watch out.
by wangalusa on Nov 19, 2009 2:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
How do you think Alex Smith would have faired in the SEC?
"It boils down to one of two things: It's either the horses or the jockeys. And we think we have some pretty good horses."
by RaysnNoles on Nov 20, 2009 9:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You miss the point beautifully
…which is that Brantley will do to the SEC what Smith did to the MWC.
It’s not that complicated; if Smith had been an SEC-caliber recruit (#1 QB in the country), he’d be Brantley.
But please feel free to deliberately misconstrue all arguments by Gator fans.
by wangalusa on Nov 20, 2009 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Capital One or a BCS-at-large I think are appropriate targets, considering the talent at hand. A better evaluation can be made, like skigator said, after the season and we know what personnel will be here next year.
by falcontom on Nov 19, 2009 4:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
When the only person who agrees with you is a Noles fan, it’s a sign that your negativity has gone too far. I’m outta here.
by peachy rex on Nov 19, 2009 7:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Still some business to conduct , but...
While I don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, the “now” and the NEAR future encompassing so much hope and potential, I do take your point about next year. I don’t think it’ll be a disaster—that 9-and-3-line sounds about right, plus or minus one either way. There WILL be losses in the off-season, some combination of players and coaches, after all. Takes time, coaching and experience, walking thru’ the fire together to make a TEAM. Yeah, “Look out in 2011” will ring true. Meanwhile, let’s not forget to enjoy THIS ride.
Eat ’em up, Gators!
by texgator on Nov 19, 2009 10:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
When cream rises to the top it is taken. However, there is always a little cream left from the process and this along with the base stock to will produce again. Wait… Am I on the right blog or did they move the "plight of dairymen 2010" page again?
by swampgas on Nov 19, 2009 11:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not Worried
The way that Urban recruits we will have enough talent to hold us over for a long time. And even if He leaves for Notre Dame, Florida is not going to hire some slouch for a coach, and he will be able to haul some big names in.
My hope is that Charlie Strong will stay around long enough for him to become our head coach. Thatd be bad ass, anyone agree?
The personnel we have next year is very good still, Andre Debose will be fine and has proved that he has the hands to become our big threat. Plus the size coming in at TE is pomising with Desmond Parks lookin to maybe play some next year and Gerald Christainsen coming in learning from the best.
Jeffy boy, Emmanuel and Chris will all be their normal selves plus the added action of Mike Gillislee and Frosh to be Mack Brown will be nice. Still plenty of speed.
And i cant wait to see what Brantley the Bentley can do in a starting position, hes always shown promise and will finally be able to put it on display. So everybody fix your wedgies and lets kick some ass this year.
by gatorempire127 on Nov 19, 2009 11:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Your always talking about
The current students at UF. Not everyone graduated from Florida, I get this feeling that you dont realize that. My great grandparents lived very close to gainsville, I am sure you have heard of the itchtuknee river. We still own property off of it, and its my second home. Gators have been in my life since I was born. Since my father was born it was in his life.
i respect that you were motivated and intelligent enough to be a student there, but theres a lot of people who didnt and are huge fans. I know you didnt say anything like that, but it just comes off that way. no offense btw. I am just clarifying the who alumni aspect.
by Hook85 on Nov 20, 2009 8:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Icheticknee River
I tubed down it once when I was at UF…..saw a snake. I hate snakes.
by skigator93 on Nov 20, 2009 10:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I have an "Us against The World" mentality when it comes to the University of Florida.
I can be critical of the football and basketball teams, but the University can do no wrong. Usually, I can separate athletics and academics, but not always. It’s not a generational difference because I know old alumni who flip out when UF has to take budget cuts and students who don’t give a damn. Anyone who was in Gainesville in this decade saw a lot of change. Charles Young (who never really wanted to be President) left and was replaced by Bernie Machen. He might believe in Prohibition, but Machen is hellbent on making UF a top-10 school. It is terrible that we are 47th in the US News rankings. As a sports fan, would you ever be happy that the Gators were the 47th best team in the country? Then why do we accept that the school is 47th?
The school is also trying to improve as the State Legislature and Governor is trying to knock them down. The budget cuts Florida has had lately are not the result of politicians fulfilling a campaign promise to cut government waste. It’s a result of the Legislature not spending right and the State no longer making any money since the entire State economy is based on people coming here (as residents or tourists). Unlike California, North Carolina or Virginia, the State does not view Universities as economic engines, only as locations for pork barrel projects (the previous State House speaker might go to prison for this). That means Machen and Gainesville/Alachua County have to create their own economic programs. To prevent “brain drain” (professors leaving for better jobs), Machen, a Republican, created a domestic partnership insurance package for employees. Machen did it to compete with top-10 schools with similar packages. The State Legislature then wrote a law specifically banning UF from creating the program and was going to take money away from UF if they did it. Machen called their bluff and created the program, using private donations. The radio station I worked for, WRUF-AM850 is now all sports after 12pm. That seems great for everyone else, but it used to be news 2-6pm. All the students who worked that shift were bounced for sports shows, which sells more ads, which is necessary now that the State took cash away from WRUF. Those students now work for WUFT-Classic 89 (who just laid off their News Director as a part of the cuts), which has even less opportunities for students, since they are an NPR station. The result is that Machen is trying to improve UF without the benefit of public funds.
So yes, if it does come across that I am a huge Gator Snob and I am protective of my school, it is because I am.
/end rant
mlmintampa
UF C/O 06
by mlmintampa on Nov 20, 2009 11:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
woa...
I dont kow if you understood where I was coming from. Imagine a family that lives in Green Bay for decades, they are die hard cheese heads. That is my family with the Gators.
Basically, we are just as big of fans as any one else. My brother inlaw graduated from Penn St. and acts the same way, like he earned his right to be a fan more then someone who didnt grad there….
by Hook85 on Nov 20, 2009 8:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
hey hook, i have read numbers of your comments
and replies and I know that you are a true Gator. mlm won’t accept anyone into the UF family ‘less you got your degree from UF, or I guess at the least was a student at UF, he believe’s that if you are not a UF graduate that you should not speak for Florida. By his logic coach Urban Meyer is not a real Gator and shouldn’t be able to speak fore UF. Kinda rediculous when you think about it. I went to college in NWFL and we did not have a football team. Like you I grew up a Gator and have always loved the University of Florida. mlm’s elitest beliefs do not carry water. but as for me i am proud to know you and feel that i am better for it. thank you and GO GATORS
by pLANEolG8RB8 on Nov 21, 2009 12:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Glad you understand me
he believe’s that if you are not a UF graduate that you should not speak for Florida
but I wouldnt go and say all that.
"Why does bottled water have an expiration date?"
by Hook85 on Nov 21, 2009 1:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
mlm actually posted me these very words;
“if you are not a UF grad you should not speak for Florida” kinda rediculous huh? elitest and dumb ars at the same time. why do they call it common sense when it’s so uncommon
by pLANEolG8RB8 on Nov 21, 2009 10:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
actually...
So yes, if it does come across that I am a huge Gator Snob and I am protective of my school, it is because I am.
/end rant
What do you mean by, I am a Gator snob, and I am protective of my school.? Protective against who? That doesnt even make sense….Nobody is fighting you here, if you are concearned with them being in the top 10 as a school, I am sure a front page post all about it… everyone would support it.
As a Florida transplant, I wasn’t a Real Gator Fan until I attended UF. The Gators were always my favorite college, but Danny Wuerffel and Steve Spurrier were as close to me as characters on a show
Since you became a student, then that made you a real Gator fan? As the rest of us, are just pretending to be “real fans”…? You went to school there, good for you, but if you think that makes you a “real fan”, and the rest of us arnt on your level. Please let me know, so I dont lower the vaule of your “real fan” blog site.
Wuerffel was as close to you as characters on a show? So since you became a student, you and Meyer, and Tebow, and Spikes, are best pals now? I am sure they are still just characters on a show to you. Except the difference now is, you had back stage passes for awhile, and got to see the characters in real life. WOW, thats life changing. My father in-law worked with Hulk Hogan once, I always liked Hulk, but then I became a real fan.
I am sure you have lots of great memories, considering college was a huge part of your young life, I am sure it gives you pride to say you walked the halls with the players. I am sure that it makes you feel better, thinking you trump other fans because you went to school there. UF impacted your life for 4 years, and you have so many memories with the school, and the rest of us just see it on TV…
I dont know about you, but it was more then just a game I saw on TV once a week growing up. This school has been a part of my entire families lives for 3 generations. My family has had season tickets since before I was born, My father tells me stories of when he was a young kid and how he wasnt aloud in the house on saturdays. Everytime I call my father, or grandfather our only form of communincation is the latest on the Gators. I remember feeling literally sick all day on sunday and monday after a Gator loss. The first time I went to the swamp, I felt like I was going to disney world. During our family reunion once a year during the summer, a RV has to be borrowed to make sure a Gator Baseball or Softball game isnt missed.
At first I thought planeolg8rb8 was just over reacting, then I actually read deep into your comment. Maybe I am way out of line, and overreacting as well, but it seems like your implying that only alumni would care about things like the school being in the top 10.
Either way, I knew of the budget cuts, I knew about them not being in the top ten. The whole thing with the news station, ofcourse I didnt know, but it is actually interesting to know.
Hopefully youll understand, the Gators to a lot of people is like a pro sports team. Wich involves a lot of family tradition, family tradition=lots of pride.
"Why does bottled water have an expiration date?"
by Hook85 on Nov 21, 2009 2:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Who are you guys REALLY afraid of next year in the East newayz?
Great Game Hokies! What a battle!
by The Voice of Reason on Nov 20, 2009 1:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Chicken Little or Cart Before the Horse, Take your pick
Not to trivialize your original post BUT you’re worrying about stuff that you don’t control and your anxiety levels are way too high. Jeez!
For all we know, enough of the premium undergradutes you mentioned may want to put their stamp on next year’s team and come back for one more…ala Tebow and Spikes. We may not win the national championship but we will have a quality football team and I believe we will beat at least 3 of the 5 biggies you mention, even if your prophecy comes true. Urban doesn’t field losers.
Enjoy the ride we are having now and chill out.
by 1974gator on Nov 20, 2009 3:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Listen to the man
Seriously everybody take a blunt and chill. Cant we have one post without ppl bitchin at eachother and going on rants? Cant we just talk Gator football? Not politics, Football.
by gatorempire127 on Nov 20, 2009 4:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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