I have no idea if we have CK or not. But, in trying to look at this from various perspectives, we can learn a lot without definitive answers.
Flying leadership up to NH and not coming back announcing a signed deal:
I'll admit, I'm a pumper and hold out hope a LOT longer than is warranted for people to be better than they are showing thus far. Stricklin, IMO, hasn't had a chance to show himself much with the only two instances of taking AD action being the extension for Mac or Nuss (a Foley deal) and the firing of Mac. However, in the thought of him being more than we've seen...
Wouldn't it make sense that he knows the history of UF going cheap and the way to change that perspective is to drag them into the living room and be part of the discussion on what it takes to land a top level coach? And to sell CK that the entire university is behind this and supporting him - you'd want that same group present and able to articulate to CK themselves, and answer any questions.
As to selling our soul....there is a difference between the three levels of hiring. Bargain bin which we proved doesn't work, selling our souls (debatable on where that line gets drawn - for me Hugh Freeze character would be on the wrong side), and lastly there is being competitive and paying what the market would pay for someone, but ensuring you go just a little bit further to land the guy you want. I believe that's where we are.
UCLAOMGWTFBBQ?
Most of us here have O&B glasses and have a hard time thinking anyone would consider UCLA over us. I agree with Ox's statement, but I'd expand it to more than just money. CK has a shtton of cash from NFL, and it is likely that with SS pulling us out of the Foley tightwad era we will be willing to pay what it takes to get our guy. However, CK is in the perfect position to not only evaluate which situation is best, but to see what each offers. Not just pay, but in other things either deemed necessary to win (recruiting staff and budget, assistants for assistants, etc) and personally frivilous (an always full jar of only O&B m&ms on his desk, a condo at the beach, whatever). He can evaluate who offers what, and know that UF will step up and match or beat any area of concern....or that we won't. At which point, we're still cheap, he goes on his happy UCLA way and SS knows the battle he has ahead with the UAA tying his budgetary hands.
SS is the man(?)
Really, how much positive press can you generate for a 4-6 team heading into rivalry week picked to lose by 4.5 at home, sitting at nearly 30 players under scholarship limit, with a lame duck interim HC? For Trump, I think half of his tweet noise is because he is insane and can't help himself, the other half of the time he's making calculated moves. For SS, I'm not seeing the insane half...I think he's playing this out exactly how he wants to keep UF in positive headlines to end out the season and drive for early commits.
The stuff about respecting current staff is BS. It is about prolonging our time in the spotlight. Nobody expects Shannon to be retained as HBC - even the pilot of the UAA plane knows better, these aren't joy rides they are taking. This is all about playing the right cards at the right time. Beating F$U is nice, but not required for the coaching process right now. Not even for the psyche of the players, given how crappy they played before UAB, nor are they going to a bowl. I believe stopping F$U from going bowling will be plenty of motivation. SS can announce today and kick up enthusiasm (player and fan) several notches if he chooses, or he can hold that card until after the game - maybe even play it on the following weekend while most people are focused on conference championship games (or F$U playing just one more game to remain bowl ineligible). SS has the cards, he'll play them as he wishes.
All of this is assuming we have CK. If not, SS is still playing his cards well - keeping the positive spotlight on us while he sorts his sht behind closed doors with UAA.
Player Tweets
See above about SS orchestrating things for maximum play. Now, it's possible, but very immature, to have queued up the kids and had them send it out as pressure on CK to sign (I have no recollection of timing between the tweetfest and flight times). It could have been a ploy to pressure the coach, but more likely, it was meant for maximum attention - among fans, for sure, but also for the players and more especially recruits.
