Remember Alabama 2009?

Sec14Gator

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there are losses you can respect and try to build on to reach the peak

It is ironic that @Swamp Donkey mentions 2009 Alabama, because I think the hope we all have after watching Saturday is that we are where Alabama was in 2008 in taking the then top juggernaut down to the wire and will be moving toward Alabama 2009 levels. So, the analogy is apt.

The obvious major discrepancies that make even those of us that are more positive today than last Friday feel less excited than when Meyer was starting to turn the ship are: (1) that was year 2 for Saban vs 4 for Mullen; (2) Saban had already won one at LSU and built one for Miley; (3) Mullen has not won a championship during all his years as the Donk keeps reminding us; (4) we all fear Mullen will keep the best athlete for either team 3 days ago off the field the rest of teh season; and (5) most importantly, Alabama followed that 2008 year in Saban's first ever full cycle class with the #1 recruiting Rivals class, whereas we sit at 23 and are behind a dumpster fire fuschs$u.

In the meantime, it is hard to deny that everyone can be more hopeful Saturday at 7 pm than they were as close as Saturday at 4:45 pm.

Edit - While typing this the Donk even acknowledged: "The truth is I feel better about this team than I did at half time".
 

Swamp Donkey

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It is ironic that @Swamp Donkey mentions 2009 Alabama, because I think the hope we all have after watching Saturday is that we are where Alabama was in 2008 in taking the then top juggernaut down to the wire and will be moving toward Alabama 2009 levels. So, the analogy is apt..
If we were recruiting like 2008 Trailerbama, but we are recruiting like 2008 Cowbell instead. Id be happy, even for a turnaround 4 years in. Ive said this repeatedly, since Dan's first year. I dont really care what the results on the field are so long as we start building a championship roster, though obviously losing now hurts recruiting more than when we could blame it on Bitters.

I just dont see it, or even any interest in working harder. "Vacation on" seems to be the mantra.

Keeping it close with ball control and inferior athletes at 22 or the 22 positions will never be a winning formula.

I guess it depends on whether or not you are happy to be a 3 loss Iowa/Iowa State the rest of our lives.

By the way, did we win the SEC in 14? I dont recall it that way, but I wasnt on the Chump train either.
 
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Gatordiddy

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Keeping it close with ball control and inferior athletes at 22 or the 22 positions will never be a winning formula.

^This
And this is why we will continually be boat raced by teams with better talent.
Sometimes it will be a close boat race, but we will almost always lose, especially in the SEC.

You can't win the natty without first winning the SEC*, and as long as the dwags, tide, barn and the corn dogs keep out recruiting us, then we are going to be at home every year watching the top two teams play for it all.

(*might be an exception here...)
 

soflagator

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If we were recruiting like 2008 Trailerbama, but we are recruiting like 2008 Cowbell instead. Id be happy, even for a turnaround 4 years in. Ive said this repeatedly, since Dan's first year. I dont really care what the results on the field are so long as we start building a championship roster, though obviously losing now hurts recruiting more than when we could blame it on Bitters.

I just dont see it, or even any interest in working harder. "Vacation on" seems to be the mantra.

Keeping it close with ball control and inferior athletes at 22 or the 22 positions will never be a winning formula.

I guess it depends on whether or not you are happy to be a 3 loss Iowa/Iowa State the rest of our lives.

By the way, did we win the SEC in 14? I dont recall it that way, but I wasnt on the Chump train either.

I just watched the 20 minute post game interview. I fast forwarded a bit and specifically watched his face throughout. I saw zero smiling, no contentment, no sense of satisfaction. His head was down most of it and he looked exhausted. I've heard him talk about having the chance to be a pretty good team. We've seen players stepping up saying this wasn't acceptable. Is he Meyer after a loss, no. But he's not celebrating anything.

We can agree on the vacationing and the need to recruit better.
 

Spurffelbow833

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Youre weird insistence that Dan Mullen is just like Spurrier except for the championship trophies makes you look borderline on insane.

Again not only did SOS dominate the SEC in the 90s bringing home 6 SECs and a NC, but he also beat Saban with Gamecuck talent. And won championships at Duke.....and the USFL.

Of course, there is the name on the field.

Maybe one day Cowbell will have Dan's name.... whoops, they gave it to they only guy to win the SEC west at Cowbell.

Maybe Sutter Home will at least make a Dan commemorative.

7613f739260875.jpg


Good to see you back on the moral victory train though.
You've missed out on a lot of those small moments in life.

monop.jpg
 

Durty South Swamp

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I'm still seeing 9-3, or 8-4 if we get injured or have some bad luck. 1 out of 2 from dwags and corndwags, and our annual 'no business losing to this team' loss.

I was really frustrated at the end and immediately after the game, but 10 mins after the clock read zero I was sort of oh well, we never thought we were winning anyway. I don't know what that means but I do know that when we lost under spurrier or urban it affected me for days. Admittedly I was a LOT younger tho and more affected by things in the moment.

It would be really nice for a change to have that old feeling back when going in against a titan as the underdog but just knowing, confidently knowing, we were gonna win. Right now we are at 'we'll keep it close', which is better than blowout city like it was a few years ago, but the spread doesn't matter at the end of the game unless you had a deal with Vegas.
 

Lurker

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Back in my undergrad days, there was always something to complain about, even with Spurrier as the head coach. Fans were frustrated that Spurrier played Terry Dean over Danny Wuerffel. We were frustrated that Spurrier didn't use the shotgun in his offense. I was particularly upset that kept Zook as the defensive coordinator for so long. And, as noted in this thread, there were the high profile losses. Getting whooped in the Sugar Bowl by 18th ranked Notre Dame, which shouldn't have even been in the game based on its crappy ranking. Back to back losses to Terry Bowden's Auburn teams. Back to back losses to FSU, the choke at Doke and losing the "5th Quarter in the French Quarter."

Through it all, though, there was the expectation of winning the SEC and playing for national championships. The losses hurt because they were games that the fans and Spurrier expected to win. That, to me, is the biggest different with Mullen. The current fan base wants to win big with Mullen, but doesn't expect it. And that's not just because Bama and Ugly are rolling right now. Mullen hasn't recruited anywhere near as well as he needs to, and his qb decisions have fans scratching their heads.

After Kyle Trask took over the starting job after Franks got hurt, I give Mullen credit for swallowing his pride and adopting the "play to who you are and recruit to who you want to be" philosophy. (Note that I am not attributing that quote to Mullen. It is just what he did by actually throwing the ball all over the place last year.). I just don't care for who Mullen wants to be. With Mullen, the ceiling appears to be the 3rd best team in the SEC and the possibility of a bid for a New Years 6 game that the players may, or may not, give a darn about playing in.
 

Swamp Donkey

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The SEC Champs signs are great. It's also a lot less laborious than putting up:

"Blown out by Syracuse and ND" 1991

"Second in State" 1993

"Third in State" 1994

"Distant Third in State" 2000

I just feel like it's not as cool that way, and frankly, a bit wordy.
Championship Trophies are Championship Trophies.

I cant even imagine how much you Douchebag Dan lovers would crow if Dan somehow ever won one.
 

soflagator

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Championship Trophies are Championship Trophies.

I cant even imagine how much you Douchebag Dan lovers would crow if Dan somehow ever won one.

Oh I agree. Trust me, back in 2000 when we were fresh off a third blowout to finish the season(losing by 52 points collectively) and settled in at #10 with the closest conference team being #18 Auburn who went 9-4 that year, all while archrival fsu played for their third consecutive BCS title, I assure you I wore that SEC Champs shirt like a boss. In fact, I sometimes wouldn't even wear pants. It was just that awesome.
 

Durty South Swamp

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Oh I agree. Trust me, back in 2000 when we were fresh off a third blowout to finish the season(losing by 52 points collectively) and settled in at #10 with the closest conference team being #18 Auburn who went 9-4 that year, all while archrival fsu played for their third consecutive BCS title, I assure you I wore that SEC Champs shirt like a boss. In fact, I sometimes wouldn't even wear pants. It was just that awesome.
donks schtick is to crow incessantly, it's as much a board treasure as it is a broken record. But the never ending debate with him is a bit beneath you and lowering your street cred. Just let it be.
 

jdh5484

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Yes, we did determine we yave a strong enough running game to beat Trailerbammers oddly undersized feont seven. What we do when teams adjust and put 8-9 in the box with corners pressing is still to be seen.

The truth is I feel better about this team than I did at half time, but Im not happy about it. And I dont want to see my coach reveling in a loss.

Some HAVE declared we will be a one loss team which is, of course, declaring us SEC champions.
I was expecting Bamma to do exactly that... load the box. play aggressive man, and make us beat them throwing. The reality is we played Bamma the way KY/Vandy played Us in the 90s. They were NOT on our level, yet there were several very close games that, frankly, they deserved to win. I'm sure KY/Vandy went away thinking "UF isn't that good". Pfft... yes we were. So is Bamma now.
 
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jdh5484

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It is ironic that @Swamp Donkey mentions 2009 Alabama, because I think the hope we all have after watching Saturday is that we are where Alabama was in 2008 in taking the then top juggernaut down to the wire and will be moving toward Alabama 2009 levels. So, the analogy is apt.

The obvious major discrepancies that make even those of us that are more positive today than last Friday feel less excited than when Meyer was starting to turn the ship are: (1) that was year 2 for Saban vs 4 for Mullen; (2) Saban had already won one at LSU and built one for Miley; (3) Mullen has not won a championship during all his years as the Donk keeps reminding us; (4) we all fear Mullen will keep the best athlete for either team 3 days ago off the field the rest of teh season; and (5) most importantly, Alabama followed that 2008 year in Saban's first ever full cycle class with the #1 recruiting Rivals class, whereas we sit at 23 and are behind a dumpster fire fuschs$u.

In the meantime, it is hard to deny that everyone can be more hopeful Saturday at 7 pm than they were as close as Saturday at 4:45 pm.

Edit - While typing this the Donk even acknowledged: "The truth is I feel better about this team than I did at half time".
BINGO.
 

Swamp Donkey

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I was expecting Bamma to do exactly that... load the box. play aggressive man, and make us beat them throwing.
This is a REALLY small trailerbammer team.

Methinks they went to far away from big and strong and are trying to rely on fast.
 

ThreatMatrix

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Why would any Gator fan want to remember the 2009 bama game.
I can understand Swonkey wanting to remember it.
But not any Gator fans.
 

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