Bits & Pieces: Florida vs. Oregon State

cover2

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It’s safe to say that our Florida Gators’ inaugural season under first year coach Billy Napier ended more like a plane overshooting the carrier deck than the crash landing that was expected after a great thinning of the roster. No joy in Whoville, that’s for damn sure.

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A couple of confessions, followed by some observations and opinions:
  • I wasn’t able to watch the first half of the game as we were attending a get together of my wife’s family. I’m sort of glad I didn’t. The game, unfortunately, went about as bad as expected, concluding with the 30-3 spanking that many in the media and certainly our rivals are only too happy to endlessly point out. I did get home in time to watch the second half and what I saw reminded me of a Class A Christian School playing a 6A Power (to use antiquated FHSAA classification terms). I’ve always felt that part of football was you play the next team on the schedule, but it almost felt like a set up that a 6-win team that had experienced a big culling of the roster was matched with a 9-win bunch who’s team was not similarly composed (or maybe “decomposed”). Sour grapes? Maybe, but something is clearly amiss in my opinion. The real victim, unfortunately, just might be our immediate recruiting. Wait and see.
  • It was pretty clear that the Beavers were going to make Jack Miller beat them. Our rushing attack, if you could call it that, certainly wasn’t. That’s not rocket science. Thanks Jack, we hardly knew you. Clearly, the need for a seasoned and talented QB is beyond dire as is hanging on to our commit(s). Billy and company have done the initial groundwork, but it remains to be seen whether they can hang on to the class they are assembling, much less add to it.
  • I like Billy Napier and the culture he is trying to build. I believe that if he can survive a disappointing, if not unexpected, 6 win season and the bowl debacle as well as put together a good class of recruits and portal players, he can get us headed back to competing for the SEC and beyond. Trouble is, he’s an unknown quantity still with the exception of coming from the Saban tree and having good organizational skills along with a great work ethic where recruiting is concerned. The latter, unfortunately, doesn’t seem to be quite as important now with NIL and the portal. Many of our fans, if they had to bet, wouldn’t put money on Billy’s longevity. But at some point we‘re going to have to stick with a coach and program lest the ignominy of constant change and poor results continues. Or if change is absolutely necessary, then let the burning begin at the top administratively and prepare for more weeping and gnashing of teeth. Come to think, we’ve gotten pretty good at that already.
  • About the best highlight was the last minute field goal that kept our game scoring streak intact. It might not have mattered much at the moment, but I’ll guarantee you that those turds in the media (and likely some among our fans) who are decrying it would be hollering just as loud about the goose egg. That’s what happens when fans are in as much disarray as the team. The only cure is winning and I don’t doubt that Billy understands that, so we’ll have to see what he can do along with what help he can get from the “collective” and the administration.
  • Just sharing a general feeling, but I hate what college football has morphed into with the open bidding for recruits and the free agency that the portal has unleashed. A lot of my past enjoyment came from subscribing to “Gator Bait” and keeping up with the recruiting classes in four year intervals, reading player bios and seeing those that started as Gator fans, were legacies, or wanted to at least come away with a degree from a prestigious university. Clearly, there’s not as much of that anymore and I don’t feel like we’re any better off. But that’s me.
  • Sorry to see Jonathan Odom (a legacy) and Derek Wingo suffer injuries in a meaningless game. Hated to see some defensive players play not to get injured. Hated to see the offense be so…offensive. If we could turn back the clock and let me decide, knowing what I now know, we’d have started Christmas break early and avoided Las Vegas altogether.
  • Not much of a statistical breakdown to offer. Could probably just continue to harp on the overall effort and a depleted roster along with a boatload of mistakes. Some things are best swept into the dustbin of history and the sooner the better.

I guess the knee jerk reaction would be to pack up your Gator gear and stow it away until the good times return. Embarrassment will make you think in those terms. As for me, I’m a little edgy just waiting to see what the immediate future holds and despite any reservations that might be trying to creep in after the bowl, I’m expecting some good things to happen and I’ll take a trickle if not a flood, at least for a bit. I cant stand the NFL, basketball that I once loved would probably now embarrass the Harlem Globetrotters’ sense of seriousness, and baseball can get real monotonous. So I’m holding out for the pendulum of Gator football to swing back in a favorable direction. It’s all I’ve got, all I want.

God Bless, Gators. Merry Christmas and high hopes for a better New Year!

:chomp:


 
Last edited:

Ironhead

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Good stuff Cover.
I can’t remember ever feeling this down on the program .
I guess it’s because, I really don’t see any hope of spark or anything positive as we head into our fabled, “next year!”

Possibly recruiting?
Seems as though we will once again, finish with our hats still on the table for the nations top recruits.

Losing like we did yesterday is one thing, losing in a similar fashion at least twice this year and nearly losing to USF, points directly to coaching.

All this has been discussed ad nauseum.

I know it sounds somewhat trivial but, that televised pre game speech from Napier yesterday….Ugghhh
Cringe worthy.

That’s NOT a leader, that’s not what I want to hear before a game, any game , much less a big game.

I’m sorry, we are in trouble.
 

jdh5484

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Good points.

It's sad to see College players turn into mercenaries with no school allegence. I have a feeling in a few years, us "traditionalists" won't even recognize the game.

GIF by Giphy QA
argue grumpy old men GIF by Laff
 

Double Gator Dad

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Good points.

It's sad to see College players turn into mercenaries with no school allegence. I have a feeling in a few years, us "traditionalists" won't even recognize the game.

GIF by Giphy QA
argue grumpy old men GIF by Laff

Agreed

Moreover I wonder how many of us, me included, will still be able to watch college football in a few years.

Like Cover said, I hate the NFL and yet I am starting to feel like I am watching it on Saturday’s now
 

BeachGator

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Quite an elegant summary, Cover. Let’s face it, if we love the Gators, hanging on to what is possible is all we’ve got. Things look very bleak right now, but tomorrow the sun will still rise in the east.
 

Ironhead

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Good points.

It's sad to see College players turn into mercenaries with no school allegence. I have a feeling in a few years, us "traditionalists" won't even recognize the game.

GIF by Giphy QA
argue grumpy old men GIF by Laff
True
We all saw this coming.
There is no place for “traditional” type fans in this new era.

I’m not sure how long it will take for me to walk away from College ball like I have from the NFL, but I can see the end from here.
 

Spurdog98

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Agreed

Moreover I wonder how many of us, me included, will still be able to watch college football in a few years.

Like Cover said, I hate the NFL and yet I am starting to feel like I am watching it on Saturday’s now
Shyt runs down hill, it was inevitable.
 

MertzJay26

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I keep seeing the sentiment that we have to hold onto Billy so we don’t “become Tennessee” and have a constant revolving door of hiring and firing coaches. But, I have a GENIUS idea:

Hire a proven winner. A Riley, Kelly, Saban (referencing what Bama did) and stop trying to find the “up and comer/learn on the job” type. Now this scenario is only if Napier flames out (tbd). Let’s hope he makes the necessary adjustments and we take off under him
 

fischerwood

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BN reminds me of a deer in the headlights. He has NO CLUE as to our Gator traditions or expectations or else he would have kept his mouth SHUT...I couldn't bring myself to even watch that Sh*t show even deleted the recording. God I hope we can show marked improvement next year, but I'm not betting on it.
Go Gators... :jog:
 

wrpgator

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@cover2: Nice little wrap-up on the season.
If you were to add an off-season weekly column Bits & Pieces ‘observations on the passing scene’ from every day life as seen from a seasoned citizen, I am sure you’d have a big following here. Not to give you homework, but I could sweeten the pot by offering you all of my old Ox Bucks which are safely stashed in an abandoned salt mine in the Swiss Alps.
 

wrpgator

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As fans, we're reduced to rooting for the uniforms and the helmets each fall. The occupant may be temporary, and for sale to the highest bidder at any time to go fill someone else's uniform. Flows of money unbound by contracts and we have The Deion Sanders Gold Chain Dolla Sign Fupbaw League.
 

Detroitgator

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True
We all saw this coming.
There is no place for “traditional” type fans in this new era.

I’m not sure how long it will take for me to walk away from College ball like I have from the NFL, but I can see the end from here.
For me, it's the near equivalent of allowing pro basketball, and especially hockey, players on our Olympic team... instant zero interest.
 

Frozen Gator

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I understand that BN took over a Mullen shyt show. I understand the changes caused by the NIL. I understand the loss and turnover of players.

I appreciate the extra staff and facilities up grade.

However, I am totally flummoxed by the continued lack of discipline throughout the season, lack of basic fundamentals from the players, the complete hard headedness not to pass on first down no matter how many defensive players are in the box and the total lack of clock and game management. There are no acceptable excuses for this tripe.

Hopefully better days are ahead and I live that long, "in all kinds of weather" GO GATORS.
 

Double Gator Dad

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As fans, we're reduced to rooting for the uniforms and the helmets each fall. The occupant may be temporary, and for sale to the highest bidder at any time to go fill someone else's uniform. Flows of money unbound by contracts and we have The Deion Sanders Gold Chain Dolla Sign Fupbaw League.

Jerry Seinfeld shared this in a comedy routine several years ago regarding free agency.

He said that we fans are reduced to “Cheering for Laundry” which is exactly where college sports are heading quickly.
 

gatormandan

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but I could sweeten the pot by offering you all of my old Ox Bucks which are safely stashed in an abandoned salt mine in the Swiss Alps.
What? I was told I had to give back my oxbux or the board would shut down and he would have to file bankruptcy. I thought I was doing the right thing.
 

GatorJ

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Good stuff Cover.
I can’t remember ever feeling this down on the program .
I guess it’s because, I really don’t see any hope of spark or anything positive as we head into our fabled, “next year!”

Possibly recruiting?
Seems as though we will once again, finish with our hats still on the table for the nations top recruits.

Losing like we did yesterday is one thing, losing in a similar fashion at least twice this year and nearly losing to USF, points directly to coaching.

All this has been discussed ad nauseum.

I know it sounds somewhat trivial but, that televised pre game speech from Napier yesterday….Ugghhh
Cringe worthy.

That’s NOT a leader, that’s not what I want to hear before a game, any game , much less a big game.

I’m sorry, we are in trouble.
Never get this down? How about Mac’s last season? Mullen’s last season? Muschamp’s last season? The year we lost to Georgia Southern and only won 4 games? When we learned MacElwain was getting hired? How about the time MacElstain was laughing DURING THE GAME when we were getting azz pounded by Georgia?


The list goes on and on.
 

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