The collapse of Florida's big three

Bernardo de la Paz

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This article came up for me as a one-time freebie of subscription content. YMMV.

In addition to summarizing the things we already know - complacency, lack of investment in facilities, terrible coaching hires, poor recruiting - it also suggests that even at the highschool level in Florida the good coaches are leaving the state for more money. That's impacting player development at the highschool level and the Florida kids aren't as college ready as they used to be.
 

jdh5484

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This article came up for me as a one-time freebie of subscription content. YMMV.

In addition to summarizing the things we already know - complacency, lack of investment in facilities, terrible coaching hires, poor recruiting - it also suggests that even at the highschool level in Florida the good coaches are leaving the state for more money. That's impacting player development at the highschool level and the Florida kids aren't as college ready as they used to be.
Makes sense.
 

Spurdog98

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Not spending to keep up the facilities and pissing away money on shty coaches. Oh...and a brain dead AD. Dont need to read an entire article to know that.
 

CU-UF

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Makes sense. The single biggest factor is bad coaching hire, compounded by lack of facility investment and the talent exodus. Nothing really new here. I guess only solace is that Miami and FSU are experiencing same thing. Miami like us, MAY have a way out (I guess we will quickly see). FSU right now still seems several years behind if their current coach doesn't show some significant gains this year.
 

Double Gator Dad

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I agree that the slide is due to bad coaching hires and lack of facility improvement however these are the results not the causes.

The real cause is arrogance plain and simple.
The Big Three got caught up in all the national media gushing and convinced themselves that they were on the top of the hill forever. Nothing else can explain how all three programs could sit and watch the sport blow by them.
 
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We need to go back to concrete block facilities, carpet squares and drop ceilings. Oh, and no water between drills.

The kids were tougher then.
Another reason why I feel that those coming out of high school are not as good as they formerly were is "electronics"......They are hooked up to their phones and video games instead of being outside playing sandlot ball. My 2 sons grew up during the 70's & 80's & were always playing outside till dark. I live relatively near a former neighborhood YMCA which was sold a couple of years ago due to lack of membership. Pretty sad.
 

Pablos Tunnel

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This article came up for me as a one-time freebie of subscription content. YMMV.

In addition to summarizing the things we already know - complacency, lack of investment in facilities, terrible coaching hires, poor recruiting - it also suggests that even at the highschool level in Florida the good coaches are leaving the state for more money. That's impacting player development at the highschool level and the Florida kids aren't as college ready as they used to be.
Agree 100% about the HS coaches. I have seen many over the last ten years in S. Florida have success and head north the Georgia, Michigan and the like for much more money and often do not even have to be in a classroom.
 

Gator By Marriage

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This article came up for me as a one-time freebie of subscription content. YMMV.

In addition to summarizing the things we already know - complacency, lack of investment in facilities, terrible coaching hires, poor recruiting - it also suggests that even at the highschool level in Florida the good coaches are leaving the state for more money. That's impacting player development at the highschool level and the Florida kids aren't as college ready as they used to be.
The one position in Fla HS's (excluding IMG) that really seems to void of talent lately has been QB's. I can't recall the state producing a 5* QB in quite some time; could TT actually be the last one? Franks and some others were highly ranked, but never seemed to reach their potential. The only really talented QB's I can think of in recent years are Mac Jones and AR. Am I missing somebody?
 

Durty South Swamp

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franks was a low 4 star and a pretty big project type guy when coming out. he was from a small school in my area. I would not even really call him a blue chip.
 

blueGATOR

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The one position in Fla HS's (excluding IMG) that really seems to void of talent lately has been QB's. I can't recall the state producing a 5* QB in quite some time; could TT actually be the last one? Franks and some others were highly ranked, but never seemed to reach their potential. The only really talented QB's I can think of in recent years are Mac Jones and AR. Am I missing somebody?
Carson beck UGA. Colin Hurley is the next in line. 2024 has aaronson and rizk I think?
 

Gator By Marriage

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franks was a low 4 star and a pretty big project type guy when coming out. he was from a small school in my area. I would not even really call him a blue chip.
You’re assessment clearly proved to be the case, but he was a high 4* and a top 5 QB coming out of HS according to the recruitniks. Rivals had him as the #3 QB and 57th overall.

Edit: 247 ranked him as the #5 QB and 54th overall.
 

Durty South Swamp

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You’re assessment clearly proved to be the case, but he was a high 4* and a top 5 QB coming out of HS according to the recruitniks. Rivals had him as the #3 QB and 57th overall.

Edit: 247 ranked him as the #5 QB and 54th overall.
well then qb's sucked that year because he was pretty bad in hs. low completion percentage. the only thing he could do consistently was hit a long ball and that essentially gave him his entire 4 star status. i saw him play. he wasnt very good.
 

Gator By Marriage

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well then qb's sucked that year because he was pretty bad in hs. low completion percentage. the only thing he could do consistently was hit a long ball and that essentially gave him his entire 4 star status. i saw him play. he wasnt very good.
Like I said, your assessment was clearly on the money.

One Florida HS QB I forgot about was Lamar Jackson. Supposedly Muschamp wanted him as a DB!
 

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