Justin Fields decides to remain a leghumper

Since65

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I'm still not following the line of thought in your last sentence. Sorry. I guess if you think 50 coaches (including assistant coaches) could have accomplished the same task then you're saying it really isn't that special.

If I have followed your thoughts correctly over the past few days you seem to believe there is nothing special about Mullen, in any phase of the entire coaching spectrum, from recruiting to play calling, game planning, S&C, etc. He is absolutely pedestrian in every aspect of the profession. Would that be semi-accurate?
 

rogdochar

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So Traz and all, what HC do you want for us instead of Mullen (Kelly and Frost unattainable)?
Seems we're left with hoping Mullen returning to locale of prior biggest success will rekindle his fires.?? By virtue of him having far better athletes at his orchestration.
 

Egor's Assistant

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Dont let the negative vomit bother you. These people live miserable existences and are always looking for company. We could have hired Jesus to coach the gators and the misery would still be flowing like a river.

We tried but he turned us down after he heard about Chip Kelly and our lack of decent facilities.
 

Since65

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Thanks for the clarification. I trust Mullen will prove to be far more than just adequate. I think he is clearly an upgrade over the previous two guys.

I have some connections to the MSU athletic program who I know to be knowledgable football minds. They know what the culture had been before and what Mullen accomplished. They would certainly view him as much better than average. I'm sure their opinions color my thinking and make me more optimistic than some Gators fans might have reason to be.
 

Theologator

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So Traz and all, what HC do you want for us instead of Mullen (Kelly and Frost unattainable)?
Seems we're left with hoping Mullen returning to locale of prior biggest success will rekindle his fires.?? By virtue of him having far better athletes at his orchestration.

That sums it up for many of us. I wasn’t high on Kelly and once Frost was off the table I didn’t have a strong preference (except no way with Kiffin). I wasn’t pining for Mullen but have felt better about him from the moment he stepped off the plane.

I’m taking the criticisms and cautions seriously because many of these guys are digging into relevant stats. All things considered and other options uncertain, I’m looking forward to seeing how this unfolds over the next few years. “Could” has to become “did” and in a terrifically difficult arena. There are lots of good coaches and good players trying very hard every day and only a few get trophies. UF has and should get more than most, but it’s really hard.

It’s not just great coach + great players = championships. (Meyer & Saban may be the 2 exceptions to that. I think either of them would win in any reasonable context.) It’s being the right coach in the right place at the right time, recruiting and connecting with players who buy in and meld into a championship team.

And even when all that is in place, Ahmad Black ripping an INT away from Joaquin Iglesias might make the difference. Michael Dyer’s knee not touching the ground makes the difference. Deshaun Watson getting the ball last makes the difference.

There’s no formula. A coordinator with no HC experience can win (Stoops). A HC who did better than most at a lesser program can win (Miles). A position coach with no HC experience can win (Dabo). But the vast majority from any category don’t.

Many of us think very highly of James Franklin and would have preferred him after Muschamp’s 4-8 season. His record at Vandy? 11-13 in conference against the weak SECe. But he took them to 3 consecutive bowls (they had never been to consecutive bowls) and a top-25 ranking. As a HC he was 3-15 vs. ranked teams coming into this year and tied with Mullen as a %. So yeah, he’s edged ahead at Penn St. this year while Mullen was still at MSU.

I’m ready to see if Mullen’s can right this ship and get us back in the mix consistently.
 

divits

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Meh. So basically the argument comes right back to where we were. Mullen isn't the best and not the worst pick. He's got a lot of positives and negatives just like those coaches you mentioned who could be picked apart in much the same way you like to pick apart Mullen but for different reasons. In the end, like any coaching pick, time will tell and no one will know for sure until foot hits ball in our first game next year.
 

Since65

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The MSU guys I interact with aren't living in a vacuum with no point of reference. They weren't just happy to have someone better than what was there before. They know football and feel Mullen was a very good coach....they were sorry to see him leave. Not just because he won more than he lost. I realize not everyone agrees with that perspective.
 

GatorJ

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So here’s the issue. They should have gone and paid to get Kelly. But I know that there were huge issues with his character which is why Fuchs flew up there.

Next in line would be Frost. He was not going to choose us over Nebraska. He was going home. Personally, I think that was a huge mistake by him and he’ll be gone in the next 5 to 7 years.


Next on that list would be Norvell. But there was something in his background that blew that up.

So who would be next?

Gundy? He has no defenses. Ever.

Leach? Probably worse record with a much weaker schedule. Also does not play defense.

Strong? Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t know if he is better than Mullen.

Campbell? Is he worth the risk? Fuentes? Is he worth the risk? Norvell seems to be miles better.

Who do you think we should have gotten?
 

GR8 2B

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That sums it up for many of us. I wasn’t high on Kelly and once Frost was off the table I didn’t have a strong preference (except no way with Kiffin). I wasn’t pining for Mullen but have felt better about him from the moment he stepped off the plane.

I’m taking the criticisms and cautions seriously because many of these guys are digging into relevant stats. All things considered and other options uncertain, I’m looking forward to seeing how this unfolds over the next few years. “Could” has to become “did” and in a terrifically difficult arena. There are lots of good coaches and good players trying very hard every day and only a few get trophies. UF has and should get more than most, but it’s really hard.

It’s not just great coach + great players = championships. (Meyer & Saban may be the 2 exceptions to that. I think either of them would win in any reasonable context.) It’s being the right coach in the right place at the right time, recruiting and connecting with players who buy in and meld into a championship team.

And even when all that is in place, Ahmad Black ripping an INT away from Joaquin Iglesias might make the difference. Michael Dyer’s knee not touching the ground makes the difference. Deshaun Watson getting the ball last makes the difference.

There’s no formula. A coordinator with no HC experience can win (Stoops). A HC who did better than most at a lesser program can win (Miles). A position coach with no HC experience can win (Dabo). But the vast majority from any category don’t.

Many of us think very highly of James Franklin and would have preferred him after Muschamp’s 4-8 season. His record at Vandy? 11-13 in conference against the weak SECe. But he took them to 3 consecutive bowls (they had never been to consecutive bowls) and a top-25 ranking. As a HC he was 3-15 vs. ranked teams coming into this year and tied with Mullen as a %. So yeah, he’s edged ahead at Penn St. this year while Mullen was still at MSU.

I’m ready to see if Mullen’s can right this ship and get us back in the mix consistently.
Thanks, Theo, for setting out my position perfectly.
 

GatorJ

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You have a solid analysis – but you didn’t name anybody that We should have gotten. Who could have we gotten that would have been better?

Maybe Gundy?
 

Durty South Swamp

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Dont let the negative vomit bother you. These people live miserable existences and are always looking for company. We could have hired Jesus to coach the gators and the misery would still be flowing like a river.
I want Jesus in heaven sitting at the right hand of God, but we dont need Jesus with a headset on our sideline. We need a take no prisoners, foot on the gas, crush every single team we face guy, and that aint Jesus. So yeah, I'd be pretty pissed. :lol:
 

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