Mullen: Talent isn't UF's issue, it's work ethic and buy-in

BMF

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(Goldkamp article) more indictment on Butters and his lazy fat ass....


Mullen: Talent isn't UF's issue, it's work ethic and buy-in
Florida coach Dan Mullen is adamant that it isn't talent preventing the Gators from competing for championships. It's the buy-in. From both players and fans.


https://florida.247sports.com/Bolt/...UFs-issue-its-work-ethic-and-buy-in-114886853

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida coach Dan Mullen has been all about embracing expectations to win championships since he took over. And that's all well and good, but it takes an extremely talented roster to compete with the real championship programs.

It's no secret that Florida's recruiting was extremely sub-par under former coach Jim McElwain. He was the only coach in the modern recruiting era to go three straight years without a Top 10 recruiting class.

But Mullen is pretty pleased with the roster he inherits.

"Their buy-in will accelerate the time it takes them to win a championship," Mullen told fans gathered to see him speak in the team's indoor practice facility after National Signing Day.

"This whole recruiting class is buying in. But of the guys that are currently here, I don't know if talent is an issue. I don't know. I think we have some talented guys that are here on this roster. I don't know if talent is our issue, work ethic is our issue."

Several players have already noted the changes Mullen has implemented that have been a stark contrast from the former regime.

The strength and conditioning program has done a 180 (a major point of emphasis from athletics director Scott Stricklin in making the Mullen hire), and players have raved about the results there. However, it's not just in the weight room where the changes are apparent.

Mullen has set up a structure for teammates to hold each other to the standards he expects.

"They're buying into every aspect of their life," he said. "They're buying into the accountability to themselves and their teammates. They're buying into the discipline of what it takes to do everything right with exact detail."

We'll see what kind of things he does to encourage more support from the fans, but it's clear Mullen expects that, too. The buy-in isn't just about his team.

He made that clear when he said he expects fans to pack the Swamp for the spring game, not leaving a single seat empty.

"I'm going to tell you what, you will not win a championship if someone outworks you," Mullen told the fans. "If there is any team in the country that is outworking us, don't expect to win a championship.

"That goes for all of us. If there's any supporter, any alumni group, any student body, any fanbase, anybody that outworks us, don't expect to win a championship. You've got to be the hardest-working team in the country if you expect to win. Hardest-working program if you expect to win."

The players? They've fallen in line.

"Our guys have really bought into that," Mullen said. "And I'm telling you, in every sense, they've bought in."

Now it's your turn, Florida fans.
 

MJMGator

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80,000+ for a glorified scrimmage? Ain't happening Eddie.
Other programs do it (Bama, Dwags off the top of my head). That said, there’s a helluva lot more things to do in Florida during the spring than attend a scrimmage.
 

Marine1

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Other programs do it (Bama, Dwags off the top of my head). That said, there’s a helluva lot more things to do in Florida during the spring than attend a scrimmage.

There are so many other things to do in the spring. But....nearly all of them can be done on any other day or weekend. Why not go to the Swamp on that particular Saturday? I can’t think of anywhere I would rather be on that Saturday in April. We’ll load up the fam and head to the Swamp. Sounds like fun.
 

lizardbreath

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I like what he's trying to get at. Let's face it, the always crazy, over-the-top fan support, the 87 consecutive sell-outs (or whatever it was) the collective feeling on the part of 90,000 screaming Gators that we COULD NOT LOSE is a thing of the past - at least for now. DM was an important part of that sublime orange & blue madness - and I think he could be the over-zealous, wild-eyed "crazy man with a vision" to bring it back. I really like the guy's attitude and drive. Challenging everybody, including the fans is a stroke of genius. Anything to shake off the funk of mediocrity and half-heartedness that has descended upon the entire program over the last 8 or 9 years.

The last two so-called head coaches failed for a variety of different reasons. One common denominator was their inability, or unwillingness to connect with the fan base. And when both proved unequal to the task of reinstating the level of expectations and effort the Gator faithful expected, the sell-outs ended, the confidence waned and the program went in to a decline that brought us to where we are today. I sincerely hope to see Florida Field become the madhouse it was for so many years - a snake-pit - a festering swamp from which only Gators get out alive. It's all there if we have the will to make it so. Go Gators!
 

Okeechobee Joe

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deuce

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Mullen can kiss my Fan azz!
 

divits

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I've been buying in for decades. He might want to spend some time addressing the students who show up late if at all.
 

bayou gator

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Well, at least this is better than hearing underserved high praise for a sh!tshow of an offensive line like we did last year.

How many will we win? I don't know. We haven't played a single down with Mullen at the helm, and yet... I'm convinced that we'll at least be competitive in all phases of the game for the first time since I can remember.
 

Tunaboat

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Buy-in should not be a hard sell for a bunch of guys who've been rag-dolled for 2 years by every decent team we've played.
 

GatorStud

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It's a breathe of fresh air just hearing a coach talk about being Champions again... and you're not getting there dreaming about it on your scooter. Flush all that and yet its a choice crap we endured with the scammer... if DM puts a product on the field with some excitement, you don't have to worry about the swamp or away game entourage rocking the house. Go Gators!!
 

lizardbreath

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It's a breathe of fresh air just hearing a coach talk about being Champions again... and you're not getting there dreaming about it on your scooter. Flush all that and yet its a choice crap we endured with the scammer... if DM puts a product on the field with some excitement, you don't have to worry about the swamp or away game entourage rocking the house. Go Gators!!
I'm with you GS, all that meandering, namby-pamby, pseudo psychological BS that HC nimbo pumped out was enough to gag a goat. He never said a damn thing of substance and exhibited zero leadership - hell, he didn't even try. Even if DM occasionally goes off the deep end with the rah-rah stuff, at least he's trying to breath some life into this moribund program. And I actually understand what the guy's trying to say and what he actually thinks without having to run it through the magical moronic mojo filter. Breath of fresh air indeed.
 
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Jbossgator8

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I have certainly bought in on Mullen. Mullen following the Meyer plan for success minus the chest pains and arrests. I am telling you, we are gonna be good under Mullen. He is bringing us back baby! Go Gators!!
 

BMF

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I have certainly bought in on Mullen. Mullen following the Meyer plan for success minus the chest pains and arrests. I am telling you, we are gonna be good under Mullen. He is bringing us back baby! Go Gators!!

I'm curious about this, as we haven't read much about it.

When Meyer came into UF (and Bowling Green....and Utah....and Ohio State) he pulled the: no Gator gear until you earn it....threw everyone out of the locker room until they earned the right to use it....set up teams that competed - winners got steak dinner and the losers had franks & beans....etc, etc.. Herman did this at Texas (and so did Charlie Strong...and apparently the way Strong implemented it it didn't go over real well).

I haven't heard any of this w/ Mullen. We're hearing that the S&C program is tougher than it was under Butters, but other than that I'm not sure if he's "following the Meyer plan". He's been apart from Meyer for TEN YEARS now. I'm sure Meyer' approach has evolved a bit as well. I'd be curious to hear what's going on internally w/ the program.
 

Jbossgator8

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My inside sources are saying that the laziness within the program is all but gone. There is a sense of urgency to get better and make this program top notch again. Mullen and coaches are getting players and personnel to completely buy in and to actually play FOOTBALL. You will see.
 

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