Butters future suddenly looking brighter

[GatorAuthor]

Here's what Gator football was under Mac's predecessor:

2011 7-6 / 3d in SEC East / Not ranked at end of year
2012 11-2 / Tied for 1st in SEC East / Ranked #9
2013 4-8 / 5th in SEC East / Not ranked at end of year
2014 7-5 / 3d in SEC East / Not ranked at end of year

Mac inherited a bad program (not average; bad) with overwhelming holes in the roster on offense. It wasn't just bad; it was getting worse and had a lot of momentum that could've carried us to an even worse place.

So, it was never going to be easy or pretty. The HC needed to make a ton of improvement on all fronts, and there were going to be some lean years that wouldn't please the fan base. No way around that. Add in a first year where the only decent QB decides to be selfish and hurts the entire program by taking himself out.

At this point the ship has been righted and the program is headed in the right direction. Nobody in the entire GatorNation thinks we've arrived b/c we've won the SEC East a couple years in a row. However, stopping the slide and turning us around was a gargantuan task, and there's no comparing it to Urban stepping into the job after Zook. Back then the program still had juice.

Like it or not, there'll be more growing pains next year with the team led by a RFR playing college football for the first time. Whoever it is won't play like a Jr or Sr. He won't be as comfortable in the system as he will the following year or the one after that. It's a process, and I don't believe anyone could have come to UF and returned us to our prior glory in a year or two. Not possible. The whole program was just too far away from where we need to be. We're getting closer, but not there yet.

 

[T REX]

Did anyone see any major improvement from year one to year two on the field?

I thought both years were eerily similar across the board. That uber talented defense is gone. I am seeing some early excuses being thrown out already. If he goes 9-4/8-5 - is that progress? Do we need to see a fourth year just to be sure he's not it?

 

[Theologator]

I realize that this message board has created an alternate universe in which Coach McElwain is on the verge of being fired. However, the real world sees things in a much different fashion.

The reality of the matter is that McElwain inherited a team that was coming off a 7-5 season in 2014 and had suffered it's first losing season in over three decades in 2013. Florida football fell to the point that it lost at home to a lower tier team riddled with injuries that never completed a single pass. The program was no longer seen as elite by the general public and recruits in particular. Despite having one of the nations top defenses, the roster was in disarray and depth was at critical levels at numerous positions. McElwain produced results immediately.

• 2015 Coaches Poll SEC Coach of the Year
• 2015 Media Poll SEC Coach of the Year
• 2015 SEC East champions
• Only coach in school history to be voted media and coaches SEC Coach of the Year in his inaugural season
• First coach in school history to win 10 games in inaugural season
• Tenth coach in SEC history to win 10 games in inaugural season
• First coach in school history to win SEC East division in inaugural season
• One of only three coaches in SEC history to win their SEC division in inaugural season
• Improved regular season record from 6-5 (2014) to 10-2 (2015) tying the record for third biggest single season turnaround in school history
• 2015 Gators led the state in average attendance of 90,065 an increase of almost 5,000 over the previous season and the first time average attendance exceeded 90,000 since 2010
• 2016 SEC East champions
• First coach in SEC history to win his division in each of his first two seasons
• 11-1 record in home games
• 13-5 SEC record second only to Alabama in the same time period
• CBS Sports states that McElwain deserves 2016 SEC Coach of the Year http://www.cbssports.com/college-fo...h-of-the-year-again-after-winning-east-again/
• Saturdaydownsouth.com ranks McElwain as second best coach in the SEC behind Saban http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/se...c-head-coaches-entering-spring-practice-2017/

You can say that the East is weak, our losses are blowouts, recruiting is down......I know all of that and so does the rest of the world. We don't find losing acceptable. We don't think it's OK to get blown out. We understand recruiting needs to improve.

However, the rest of the world sees a coach that stepped into a dumpster fire and has not only put out the fire, but has the program headed in the right direction faster than anybody could have reasonably expected given the state of the program when he arrived.

McElwain is not on a hot seat in the real world. It may be message board perception, but it's not reality.

All message boards create alternate universes dominated by cranks and zealots.

I suggest you save this post somewhere & paste it in various threads as needed. Just don't expect the cave dwellers to appreciate your use of facts. You're a "pumper" because all talk of light is crazy.

It will be interesting to see how the recruiting classes look in hindsight. We need another year to really see that.

 

[SaltyGator]

so your hope is that we have someone build a national championship team and then leave immediately?

Wouldn't be the first time in our programs history...

 

[Durty South Swamp]

At this point the ship has been righted

Clearly...

 

[t-gator]

I think what we have with mac is an offensive version of Gene Chizik. He was a defensive coach who's offense carried him to a national championship while his defenses were usual shcitty. Mac is a coach from the offensive side of the ball and inherited possibly the best defense in the nation and has been awful on the offensive side of the ball. Similar situations here.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

I think what we have with mac is an offensive version of Gene Chizik. He was a defensive coach who's offense carried him to a national championship while his defenses were usual shcitty. Mac is a coach from the offensive side of the ball and inherited possibly the best defense in the nation and has been awful on the offensive side of the ball. Similar situations here.

Well it looks that way so far, but i think with time (and quite possibly the requirement that nuss is canned) the offense will turn around, but that doesn't mean I think its going to be a real weapon. I have some legitimate concerns with how good a butters scheme is going to be. Even with bama players, butters offense wasn't very impressive. They just out muscled everyone else with Saban's deer antler sprayed 5* recruits.

 

[alcoholica]

We are a QB away from something really good. He tried to get a QB his first cycle, but it was really too late, not to mention having to fill almost an entire class. He took two his second cycle and they will be competing this year. The transfers were...well transfers. Grier was a complete mess for QB stability and subsequent recruiting issues.

The staff befuddled me on the early LB and DT recruiting. I do think we are heading in the right direction but at a slower pace than what people want. He is not a Saban or Meyer, but he could turn out well for long term success. He has to keep progressing, which means more offense this year. No reason not to, since the OL will be better and skill positions are there except for a blocking TE

 

[stephenPE]

We are a QB away from something really good. He tried to get a QB his first cycle, but it was really too late, not to mention having to fill almost an entire class. He took two his second cycle and they will be competing this year. The transfers were...well transfers. Grier was a complete mess for QB stability and subsequent recruiting issues.

Exactly and agree with the rest.............see us phckn socialists can talk Football civilly ;)

 

[ChiefGator]

Getting blown out by Bama and FSU in back to back years is bad. The SEC East is the worst its ever been. 2-8 vs ranked teams. 4-5-6 losses again with another FSU loss and the noise is going to be very very loud. Year THREE is his and not on anybody else. It sounds like some of you think he overachieved with an NFL stacked defense. LOL. Next year will be more of a true representation of MAC's coaching abilities. Can we all agree on that? I feel that some folks feel that there will be a significant step back and this is all pre-emptive. Why would anyone be calling for a fourth year unless they think that next year isn't going to be all that great.

If he has a bad year then it is academic at that point. The players are his and there won't be any excuses. Year four will be like year three. I truly believe that.

So losing to the runner up in the NC is such a large loss that you desire a new HBC???

How interesting of standards you have.

 

[t-gator]

Well it looks that way so far, but i think with time (and quite possibly the requirement that nuss is canned) the offense will turn around, but that doesn't mean I think its going to be a real weapon. I have some legitimate concerns with how good a butters scheme is going to be. Even with bama players, butters offense wasn't very impressive. They just out muscled everyone else with Saban's deer antler sprayed 5* recruits.

Maybe so but I find it hard to believe that a decent offensive coach would finish in the 100's 2 years in a row on offense.

 

[t-gator]

We are a QB away from something really good. He tried to get a QB his first cycle, but it was really too late

This is something that concerns me too. Our QB recruiting has been an abomination.

 

[t-gator]

Until he shows me he can put together an offense, he's the offensive version of gene chizik.

 

[t-gator]

Atleast chizik could recruit

 

[alcoholica]

This is something that concerns me too. Our QB recruiting has been an abomination.

We'll see. I wasn't happy with Franks because he refused to help recruit. Seemed like a lack of leadership. I hope he surprises me, and he has an opportunity to shine this spring.

 

[T REX]

So losing to the runner up in the NC is such a large loss that you desire a new HBC???

How interesting of standards you have.

It was 56-14 and that's not what I said. Even I concede he should get his third year. This year is all his own players. There's no longer an elite NFL defense to bail his crappy offense out. IMHO, he's an 8-4 coach. I have seen nothing in 2+ years to change my mind. This year will clinch it for me. THIS is about giving him a fourth year.

 

[t-gator]

We'll see. I wasn't happy with Franks because he refused to help recruit. Seemed like a lack of leadership. I hope he surprises me, and he has an opportunity to shine this spring.

I didn't realize he wasn't helping recruit. Wow. Hopefully he's the real deal. I will say, hes one qb that we recruited that definitely looks the part.

 

[ChiefGator]

It was 56-14 and that's not what I said. Even I concede he should get his third year. This year is all his own players. There's no longer an elite NFL defense to bail his crappy offense out. IMHO, he's an 8-4 coach. I have seen nothing in 2+ years to change my mind. This year will clinch it for me. THIS is about giving him a fourth year.

Since I don't see a better alternative unless he has a scandal he will be here for a fourth and fifty year. So lets say he wins the East again, has a better offensive, and looses to Bama by a somewhat closer margin would that satisfy you? I have seen massive progress in areas that many complained about. Facilities improvements among the most visible.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Maybe so but I find it hard to believe that a decent offensive coach would finish in the 100's 2 years in a row on offense.

But Brick by Brick!

It takes six years to rebuild!

Three star whisperer!

Just one player away!



2222, you can pump all you want. It doesnt fix 2-8. Florida has NEVER been less competitive. Hell, Chimp beat two ranked teams in his worst two yea period. Zook beat two every year.

You can pretend that no one else has noticed 2-8, 7 blowout losses, and two years of 100th ranked offenses, but the reality will beyotch slap you and your pumpers in September.

 

[stephenPE]

You seemed to be little tardy to this party with your but like a good neighbor is there...........I see better recruiters and a pretty good class. Like said, get me QB and things will get really interesting..........