Fake News: Locksley inks deal with UF

[GatorBart]

I assume that it would be very bad form, or perhaps verbotten, for him to recruit for the Gators players he'd tried to recruit at [whereever he came from]. So a brand-brand-new coach would be a little handicapped in the beginning.

You mean like what Chump did to us when he went to Auburn?

 

[Marianna-FL_Gator]

Thanks 65. This may get a little long, so I'll apologize beforehand. I'll share that my initial encouragement regarding Mac, what he has accomplished, and what he is doing to re-build parts of the program has diminished. I've mentioned before that a colleague at work who is a Bama alum and letterman congratulated me when Mac was hired, saying that there was some feeling among the Tide faithful that Mac was liked as an OC and many thought he might be the heir-apparent to Saban. Since that time, that conversation has not been positively revisited and no doubt the two beat-downs in the SECCG at the hands of Bama has been influential. Even though I believe we competed some better this year (compared to last) despite roster limitations, we are not close to being able to compete with the top team in the SEC at this time and I believe that goes beyond the roster to include some of the coaching that is there to see.

When I see us consistently making fundamental and technical mistakes (e.g. DE's losing contain on pass rush situations, OL failing to get to the POA, lock up and make blocks on G Scheme plays, TE's not sustaining blocks, wrong routes/reads by QB and receivers, missed tackles mainly due to failure to break down after pursuit and play at a lower pad level, etc.), not to mention head-scratching play calls at crucial times (too many to name), mediocre to poor Special Teams performance and execution (e.g. punts fielded inside the 5 yard line), and being caught in zone coverage and subsequently burned by play-action, the problems are not limited to the players. To those who keep saying "Mac needs time," I say that he was (and should have known that he was) behind the clock when he was hired. That may seem unfair, but I don't think many outside the AD's office felt that he was coming in with the luxury of developing a 5-year plan (or longer) to get us back to where we once were from a SEC and national competitive standpoint. Defense has been and thankfully continues to be a strength, but we were promised an effective offense to work hand-in-hand and it has not happened.

To date, the consecutive SECED crowns have been the high water mark and as many point out, they are necessary to get into a position to compete for and win the conference outright. I appreciate that we have made this step, but thus far, we have gotten on the porch, so to speak, only to have the door slammed in our face. Thus, we are currently the best of a declining Eastern Division, but others among us are giving indications that we might not hold that title for long if you put any stock in the value of recruiting and the numbers of elite players (read as able to make an impact, not just fill a position, in 1-2 years) that are committed. It is hard for me to be impressed with what I see from Mac in this area. While I do think we get some good players, most need time to grow and develop before effectively and consistently competing in the SEC and although I have no data to back this assertion up, I can't help but believe that our reliance on players who likely have the heart but not the requisite developed physical skills or attributes is a factor in an injury list that is comparable to a M*A*S*H unit patient roster. I am also hard-pressed to believe that he and the staff are utilizing all available resources when it appears that we are making a mad dash to flip recruits and/or get started on "Plan B" players at this late date. I may be wrong (and hope I am), but this approach reeks of either sloth, arrogance (belief, perhaps, that the program sells itself or that our two seasons under Mac are that impressive), lack of an effective plan and organization carried out by a staff that can get it done right, or a combination thereof.

I initially enjoyed some of Mac's witticisms, but they grew quite tiresome, cliche, and stale for me, especially when we collapsed at the end of his first season. His pressers became (and continue to be) mostly BS sessions that provide little information outside of coachspeak ("yeah, we need to fix that," etc.), or at least that is my perception. I see little sense of urgency in his public demeanor and I can't help but believe that has an impact on what others looking to invest in the program as well as those who we compete with see, assess, and in the case of the latter, use against us. To his credit, and I've said this in other posts, I think he does care for his players and wants the best for them, but I question the accountability he requires of them and, perhaps, his staff considering how much of the same negative things that we see over and over again. Either Mac is too tender-hearted or he lacks the killer instinct and drive necessary to elevate us to a higher competitive level in my honest opinion. In the world of big boy college football, you either eat the bear or he eats you and right now I believe Mac is chewed-up to about his waist. You probably won't see a lot of rival coaches bashing Mac, and there's a reason for that. In coaching, everybody likes you if they can or are beating you. Even if he were a high school coach and I was looking for a job, I would not care to join him based on his body of work these last two years and what my eyes tell me. I can't help but think he hit the lottery when he was hired and is too complacent and no assistant worth their salt will want to become a part of that unless it is a stop gap.

I could probably go on, but I've been longer than most will want to read as it is. I'll conclude by repeating the required "hope I'm wrong," but barring what happens on NSD, I've seen little to convince me that there will be a 180 degree turn as quickly as I hoped for.

Nailed it

 

[Alagator]

.....Plus I assume that it would be very bad form, or perhaps verbotten, for him to recruit for the Gators players he'd tried to recruit at [whereever he came from]. So a brand-brand-new coach would be a little handicapped in the beginning....

That did NOT stop one mr. will muschamp from doing exactly that.

Not only WAS he recruiting the same kids... He was actually NEGATIVE recruiting AGAINST us...

All the while we were paying him millions to dollars... to actively bash our brand and steal recruits away from us...The mere thought of that makes me want to kick that bastard in the teeth...

 

[Slevin]

There's a coaching hire insider thread on 247 getting upvoted anybody wanna spill the beans?

 

[MJMGator]

There's a coaching hire insider thread on 247 getting upvoted anybody wanna spill the beans?

Mac took the OL coaching job in Philly.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

Just give me my sig now, I give up.

You'll probably still win. As big a fool as he is, even I can't imagine Mac EXTENDING Nord's contract. But the longer this goes on, the more it proves just how horrific this hire was.

 

[GatorBart]

There's a coaching hire insider thread on 247 getting upvoted anybody wanna spill the beans?

Getting our hopes up again?
Why I oughtta............

 

[AugustaGator]

This is my point. Why leave for a lateral, or even a promotion if you are going to a place full of turmoil and to work for a coach who isn't exactly a fan favorite unless you don't have many other options? Money is nice, but Ive been offered much bigger money than i currently was making to go somewhere where a lot of problems existed. I declined and it was a smart move. A year later the org was out of business and a lot of folks were looking for work.

And why would Head coaches come too.

 

[t-gator]

I get your point and I agree on the staff issue. There may be reasons he is waiting... I don't know what he is waiting for, but I'm hoping it is a good reason... I'm not confident that it will be or that we will ever know...

There's no reason for him waiting. Mac doesnt have a ****in clue what he's gonna do. His decision making has proved this. His staff assembling and recruiting is a complete unorganized cluster ****. There's no excuse not have a coach right now just like there was no excuse to wait until after signing day last year to sign gray. Locksley is a good recruiter but not worth waiting it out right now. The dude is an off the field coach making mininmum wage. It's not like we're waiting on saban himself.

 

[Since65]

Either Mac is too tender-hearted or he lacks the killer instinct and drive necessary to elevate us to a higher competitive level in my honest opinion. In the world of big boy college football, you either eat the bear or he eats you and right now I believe Mac is chewed-up to about his waist.

Thanks for the detailed analysis. I quoted the section that I think is pertinent to long term success. I have become convinced that the most successful coaches (and other types of leaders) are, on some level, dysfunctional as people. They have some deficiency or insecurity that they are driven to overcome and they go many extra miles to succeed. The list includes names like Saban, Urban, Harbaugh, Belichick, Popovich, Parcells, Even Spurrier is a little bit odd. These are not, on average, normal people.

On the other hand, McElwain seems quite normal. He would probably be a good guy to have a beer with while watching a game. But that drive, that obsession to win.....I'm not sure that's there. I would present the Belk tv commercial as exhibit A. When you see him trying on different clothes and showing them to his wife, it just seems....silly. I can't imagine Saban agreeing to film a commercial that portrays him in that light. For whatever reason, that one dumb commercial has convinced me that he will not have long term success as an elite, national title level coach.

I know there have been recent comparisons with early struggles of Dabo at Clemson but despite his good ole boy persona you can tell the competitive fire burns white hot deep inside Coach Swinney. Don't see it in Coach Mac.

At the end of the day I maintain that most (not all) of UF's long struggle back to national prominence is related to the lack of a difference maker at quarterback. Unless a transcendent signal caller comes along I don't see the Gators among the chosen 4.

 

[Marianna-FL_Gator]

Watching people keep falling for this $hit is hilarious...idiots!!!

 

[Marianna-FL_Gator]

There's a coaching hire insider thread on 247 getting upvoted anybody wanna spill the beans?

Florida moving Skipper to defense seems like the move barring a big shakeup. Certainly sounds like Florida would like to hire someone on the offensive side of the ball. Mike Locksley is a definite target for Florida, that we feel very comfortable with, that's not just an errant report. Locksley has been looking for a position where he can be an offensive coordinator again. I have been told he'd get a co-OC and recruiting coordinator title at Florida, however, it sounds like Locksley is still considering other options at this time, including the possibility of staying at Alabama.

With some moves impending on Alabama's staff, the Crimson Tide will likely have a position open for Locksley, which could shake things up. Obviously he won't be a coordinator there next season, but Saban's staff tends to open up for guys that prove they can do a good job. That may be a more enticing opportunity than playing No. 2 to Nussmeier.

Not sure what would happen should Locksley fall off the board, but we seem to be in a holding pattern until some dominoes fall there.

 

[Slevin]

I find it so lazy that coaches would rather make chicken scratch to stay in line at Bama. These guys should be joining staffs all across the country to try to top Bama, not sit 9th most important coach with a cafeteria lady salary just to hang on for the ride.

 

[t-gator]

So is locksley gonna coach bama's oline? I domt understand what else will be open. Especially this late in the game.

 

[chferg]

Florida moving Skipper to defense seems like the move barring a big shakeup. Certainly sounds like Florida would like to hire someone on the offensive side of the ball. Mike Locksley is a definite target for Florida, that we feel very comfortable with, that's not just an errant report. Locksley has been looking for a position where he can be an offensive coordinator again. I have been told he'd get a co-OC and recruiting coordinator title at Florida, however, it sounds like Locksley is still considering other options at this time, including the possibility of staying at Alabama.

With some moves impending on Alabama's staff, the Crimson Tide will likely have a position open for Locksley, which could shake things up. Obviously he won't be a coordinator there next season, but Saban's staff tends to open up for guys that prove they can do a good job. That may be a more enticing opportunity than playing No. 2 to Nussmeier.

Not sure what would happen should Locksley fall off the board, but we seem to be in a holding pattern until some dominoes fall there.

We are gonna **** this up and not hire anyone....the signs are all there for that

 

[Fishon]

I have been on record as being "anti-dumper" but even I'm having a hard time figuring out why the locksley deal didn't happen before the playoffs started and why Nord is still on staff. If there's a logic that Mac and co are following here, I'm not seeing it

 

[alcoholica]

So is locksley gonna coach bama's oline? I domt understand what else will be open. Especially this late in the game.

What I read is that Cristobal shared OL and TEs with another OL coach. I'm assuming that coach could be OL and Locksley could be TEs

 

[ATXGator]

Watching people keep falling for this $hit is hilarious...idiots!!!

That is why he keeps doing it! People don't look at the twitter name...

 

[Marianna-FL_Gator]

We are gonna **** this up and not hire anyone....the signs are all there for that

Yep...Mac will have to jump to his 3rd or 4th choice before it's over with just like he has to do in recruiting.

 

[rogdochar]

Hell, hire Locksley as OC-in-waiting, letting Nussmess know that his 2017 offense had better earn a ranking
better than 70th. A dynamic HC should have ways of letting his charges know that they are on the hot seat.
A truly electric (wired) HC should make sure his underlings feel their seat heating up before the HC's seat warms any.

Mac may be tender hearted, but not firing sub-par coaches may be due to "decision paralysis", meaning Mac lacks
dynamic confidence. Dynamic confidence is what let Spurrier succeed on so many offensive gambles. I think
Clemson would not be National Champions if Dabo did not apply dynamic confidence. { I'm thinking PJ Fleck
has dymanic confidence that CFB will see in Minnesota's rise?}