Mac and Company on the Trail

[ATXGator]

Part of the problem is that the Florida brand has taken a big hit starting in 2010.

We haven't had a good offense in 6 years... these 18 year old kids were 12. They just don't have memories of seeing the Gators being exciting and truly relevant.

Michigan has a big name coach in Harbaugh which has given them visibility.

Florida's brand is down and that is what Mac needs to fix more than anything. He has to get an exciting offense on the field next year so kids start to have a more positive impact of the band and Florida gets more highlight/press coverage.

I'm not saying this is the whole problem. Certainly the staff is not doing as good as they need to do in many areas, but some of the staff flaws can be covered by a really strong brand and national image and Florida doesn't have that with current players.

 

[MJMGator]

Part of the problem is that the Florida brand has taken a big hit starting in 2010.

We haven't had a good offense in 6 years... these 18 year old kids were 12. They just don't have memories of seeing the Gators being exciting and truly relevant.

Michigan has a big name coach in Harbaugh which has given them visibility.

Florida's brand is down and that is what Mac needs to fix more than anything. He has to get an exciting offense on the field next year so kids start to have a more positive impact of the band and Florida gets more highlight/press coverage.

I'm not saying this is the whole problem. Certainly the staff is not doing as good as they need to do in many areas, but some of the staff flaws can be covered by a really strong brand and national image and Florida doesn't have that with current players.

I could buy that as an excuse, but explain why all of the teams kicking our ass in recruiting aren't struggling like we are. Dwags, Cocks, Vols, etc..
It can only be explained by the fact that our staff isn't worth a sh*t at recruiting.

 

[ATXGator]

I could buy that as an excuse, but explain why all of the teams kicking our ass in recruiting aren't struggling like we are. Dwags, Cocks, Vols, etc..
It can only be explained by the fact that our staff isn't worth a sh*t at recruiting.

A weak brand + a great recruiting staff = good recruiting classes
A weak brand + bad recruiting staff = bad classes (this is us)
A strong brand + bad recruiting staff = good recruiting classes
A strong brand + great recruiting staff = Bama/OSU

 

[MJMGator]

A weak brand + a great recruiting staff = good recruiting classes
A weak brand + bad recruiting staff = bad classes (this is us)
A strong brand + bad recruiting staff = good recruiting classes
A strong brand + great recruiting staff = Bama/OSU

Dwags?

 

[ATXGator]

Dwags?

Weak brand + amazing recruiting staff = exception... I actually think their brand is better than ours right now because they have had Gurley and Chubb who were Heisman candidates at least at one point.

I also think for some reason we don't get the love from ESPN anymore. It is almost like since Urban went there they haven't been as positive about UF. Even the way announcers talk during our games... like the Iowa game... they spend all their time slobbering the Iowa QBs NFL Package while our D was destroying him.

 

[MJMGator]

Weak brand + amazing recruiting staff = exception... I actually think their brand is better than ours right now because they have had Gurley and Chubb who were Heisman candidates at least at one point.

I also think for some reason we don't get the love from ESPN anymore. It is almost like since Urban went there they haven't been as positive about UF. Even the way announcers talk during our games... like the Iowa game... they spend all their time slobbering the Iowa QBs NFL Package while our D was destroying him.

I'm sorry but the Dwags are thought of in the same fashion as Ole Miss...glory days are a distant memory. The truth is, either you can recruit or you can't. Kirby immediately assembled a staff that could and hit the ground running. Mac? Well, you can see the results for yourself. FFS, the Vols are out-recruiting us and they haven't won sh*t in over 20 years.

 

[alcoholica]

The biggest thing we need is a QB. OLine will be stronger and likely better. Skill players are there. On defense, I'm encouraged by our young LBs and how Harris and Gardner had started coming on. DT is a huge ?. Don't know what is taking Brantley so long to announce. If he stays it will be bigger than Leatherface coming here.

 

[ATXGator]

I'm sorry but the Dwags are thought of in the same fashion as Ole Miss...glory days are a distant memory. The truth is, either you can recruit or you can't. Kirby immediately assembled a staff that could and hit the ground running. Mac? Well, you can see the results for yourself. FFS, the Vols are out-recruiting us and they haven't won sh*t in over 20 years.

Maybe, but I am saying our staff is bad at recruiting and Georgia's coaches are amazing... so I am not disagreeing with you.

I'm also saying if our brand wasn't down Mac would have better classes... probably not Top 5, but Top 10.

 

[MertzJay26]

I read on 247 that we are going to finish strong. I'm guessing they are talking about Slaton, Levi, Robinson, Lemmons, Ruggs etc.

PS- By "strong" I imagine they mean coming in second for a lot of the top guys

 

[alcoholica]

Not to take anything away from UGA, but aren't nearly all of their recruits from GA?

 

[gatorgrad'02]

Not to take anything away from UGA, but aren't nearly all of their recruits from GA?

Not making excuses, but yes. This was a stellar year for Georgia HS recruits. I've heard some say it might be among the best classes in Georgia HS history.

 

[MJMGator]

Not making excuses, but yes. This was a stellar year for Georgia HS recruits. I've heard some say it might be among the best classes in Georgia HS history.

And amazaginlgy, they were able to convince those kids to stay home and play for the flagship university. Wonder why our staff can't do the same?

 

[gatorgrad'02]

And amazaginlgy, they were able to convince those kids to stay home and play for the flagship university. Wonder why our staff can't do the same?

It's quite the cluster **** We seemingly can't recruit in state to save our lives, while the butt sniffers have one of their best in state recruiting outcomes in years, which just happens to come at a time when the talent in GA is better than it's been in decades (case in point - one of the last gems of this class that we have any prayer with isn't a FL kid, but a GA kid - Solomon). My suggestion... start drinking more.

 

[MJMGator]

It's quite the cluster **** We seemingly can't recruit in state to save our lives, while the butt sniffers have one of their best in state recruiting outcomes in years, which just happens to come at a time when the talent in GA is better than it's been in decades (case in point - one of the last gems of this class that we have any prayer with isn't a FL kid, but a GA kid - Solomon). My suggestion... start drinking more.

Gave up drinking other than a few times a year, since my little boy confiscates any beverage he can get his hands on. Black tar heroin seems to help.

 

[SouthernGator84]

If we could get Locksley/Cristobal that would be huge for recruiting in South Florida and Virginia/D.C. areas. The longer we hold on to Summers/Nord/Nuss the longer our recruiting/offense will suffer. It's time to leave feelings at the door and get down to business.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

They are loaded every year and always lose 2-5 games, nothing will change there!

Have you looked at our record.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I guess those called "downers" are trying to head off the logical inevitable = UF cannot keep winning the
SEC East by beating teams

We didnt win the east by beating teams. We won the east by Bammer and Vandy beating Tinerc.

Butterteeth did what Chimp couldnt, lose to band boy.

 

[rogdochar]

Quite a negative POV in that UF won the East by winning more games than the East runner-up.

 

[jdh5484]

Part of the problem is that the Florida brand has taken a big hit starting in 2010.

We haven't had a good offense in 6 years... these 18 year old kids were 12. They just don't have memories of seeing the Gators being exciting and truly relevant.

Michigan has a big name coach in Harbaugh which has given them visibility.

Florida's brand is down and that is what Mac needs to fix more than anything. He has to get an exciting offense on the field next year so kids start to have a more positive impact of the band and Florida gets more highlight/press coverage.

I'm not saying this is the whole problem. Certainly the staff is not doing as good as they need to do in many areas, but some of the staff flaws can be covered by a really strong brand and national image and Florida doesn't have that with current players.

I think you hit the nail on the head. There is no easy fix when a brand gets tarnished. It's not just wins and losses either. It's winning when you aren't supposed to. It's winning BIG. That's one part of rebuilding a brand.

I wasn't expecting a win, on the road, with a banged up D, against LSU. Yet we won with a goal line stand! I wasn't expecting a blow-out win in the bowl game or holding the team with (supposedly) the #1 O-line to just 3 points (with all our LBs out). Yet we did just that. I'm not expecting a strong finish in recruiting ... and yet...

 

[Swamp Donkey]

You can call backing in to the game whatever you want. We got lucky, they played Bammer and we played two terrible teams.