First, glad to have you posting Bob. But, Florida has a culture problem and it’s in the media when these are not just your views but prevailing views in the Gators media:
These tales are bad in retrospect, but they were also bad at the time. Mullen proved to us what he was both as to his non-adaptive offense and his lack of recruiting well before he showed back up at UF.
While everyone is more positive now about the Gators, your basis for optimism is essentially the same thing you did for the last guy. Pick the most public thing he’s doing well (here the “army”) and highlight it.
We all hope you’re right, but the track record doesn’t suggest expertise as much as a buyer of party narrative. I wish our local media inquired more than re-sold the teams story.
Disagree about the non-adaptive offense.
Mullen took over an offense that was ranked No. 13 in the SEC 2017, the year before he arrived. In fact historically, the Florida offense from 2011-2017 that was completely abysmal. In 2011 they were ranked 10 (of 12), in 2012 the offense was 12 (of 14), in 2013 they were 14, in 2014 they were 12, in 2015 they were 12 with the guy that could coach his dog to quarterback, in 2016 the offense was 14.
So in the eight years before arriving the Florida offense never finished above 10th in the SEC in total offense. In Mullen's first year in 2018 the offense jumped to No. in the SEC, in 2019 they were No. 4, in 2020 they were No. 3, and last year the offense was No. 4 in the SEC. Historically he pulled the offense out of the gregs of the conference to amuch better position.
And to your point or the point I disagree with... The Gators had the No. 4 rated rushing game in the SEC in 2018 and the No. 6 passing offense. The next year with Franks not playing as well and Trask taking over, the passing game flipped and improved to No. 3 in the SEC with the running game not quite as good and down at No. 13. With Trask back in 2020 the passing game was No 1 in the SEC and running game was 11th. Last year, with Trask gone and Emory not able to do much through the air, Mullen ran the ball and the Florida rushing game was No. 4 in the SEC and the passing game was No. .
So, yes. I do believe he was very able and did adapt on offense. And God I hate you for making me defend this guy.