Dan Mullen is one lucky SOB

Zambo said:

So you would have sent the shaky freshman kicker in there to try a 55 yard FG with an 11 point lead? OK coach, good call.

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It wasn't that far... was it?

Minister of Information said:

It wasn't that far... was it?

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They were on our 38 yard line.

Zambo said:

They were on our 38 yard line.

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Still, they knew they had lost when we stuffed fourth down.

stephenPE said:

I dont think this can be over looked. A real heads up play by the guy..........Big and strong enough to do that even while being tackled.
Some may say lucky but he looked like he had been the QB for a long time.

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In the grasp it could have gone awry in a New Yawk minute.

Chomper said:

I remember when, back in the 80's, Gator fans bemoaned how lucky Vince Dooley was. I don't know if he carried a rabbit's foot but surely seemed that way every time UGa played us in Jacksonville.

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It wasn’t a foot. It was an entire rabbit and it was up his ass.

ufgator812 said:

It wasn’t a foot. It was an entire rabbit and it was up his ass.

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I laughed.

diehardg8r said:

One thing is clear, he knew Trask was a better passer. No coach comes out with a backup with so little experience and throws it around like that. My question is why the obsession with Franks in the first place? Thoughts?

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Because Franks is the leader of this team, for better or worse, as evidenced by the fairly unprecedented emptying of the sideline so the entire team could rally around him before he left the field. Make no mistake about it that part of the reason we won this game was because everyone upped their game as a tribute to their fallen leader including Trask. Mullen may have numerous gaps to fill in his overall coaching style and process, but one thing he does do is cultivate a tight knit team that plays for each other rather than for themselves. That is what gives this team its grit and that is why last year's UK loss and especially the back to back UGA and Mizzou losses changed the course of this team from the team that would quit when they got punched in the mouth starting in 2010 and continuing until the USCe game last year. When Franks led that come from behind victory last year against Mushchamp's minions this became his team regardless of all his flaws because the rest of the team was willing to go to war for him (including Trask and EJ) regardless of how things went down in the game.

Team chemistry is hard to quantify because of the intangibles it represents. Franks had those intangibles and now that he's hurt its up to Trask and EJ to take the baton and lead us on from here. I think all of you Franks haters should watch him from here. My guess is he will now add even more value to the team in how he continues to lead from the sideline going forward even as the team likely performs better on the field without him due to a combo of EJ and Trask being a better fit for the QB skills the team really needs at the moment. Franks is a classy kid even if he isn't necessarily the best pure QB in the world. I therefore hope he comes back healthy and picks up a medical redshirt and, if the QB situation has moved on from him at that point, he gets a good transfer situation like Jalen Hurts where he gets a fresh start to set himself up for the next level.

LongTooth said:

I don’t think we are complete suckage at all. Other teams have had some luck vs us but we’ve had more and it’s turned out to be more influential for us cuz we won. But, at some point another team’s luck will surpass ours and that’s the point at which we need to make it not matter. Not there yet.

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I lost count the number of times that some opposing team and/or player has had a (sometimes inexplicable) career day against UF (and the commentators will emphasize it multiple times). When we get lucky, we've earned it.

CGgater said:

I lost count the number of times that some opposing team and/or player has had a (sometimes inexplicable) career day against UF (and the commentators will emphasize it multiple times). When we get lucky, we've earned it.

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Misery hadn’t converted a 3rd down in the SEC last year til us and then they converted like 8 in a damn row and beat our sorry ass.

GatorTom85 said:

Because Franks is the leader of this team, for better or worse, as evidenced by the fairly unprecedented emptying of the sideline so the entire team could rally around him before he left the field. Make no mistake about it that part of the reason we won this game was because everyone upped their game as a tribute to their fallen leader including Trask. Mullen may have numerous gaps to fill in his overall coaching style and process, but one thing he does do is cultivate a tight knit team that plays for each other rather than for themselves. That is what gives this team its grit and that is why last year's UK loss and especially the back to back UGA and Mizzou losses changed the course of this team from the team that would quit when they got punched in the mouth starting in 2010 and continuing until the USCe game last year. When Franks led that come from behind victory last year against Mushchamp's minions this became his team regardless of all his flaws because the rest of the team was willing to go to war for him (including Trask and EJ) regardless of how things went down in the game.

Team chemistry is hard to quantify because of the intangibles it represents. Franks had those intangibles and now that he's hurt its up to Trask and EJ to take the baton and lead us on from here. I think all of you Franks haters should watch him from here. My guess is he will now add even more value to the team in how he continues to lead from the sideline going forward even as the team likely performs better on the field without him due to a combo of EJ and Trask being a better fit for the QB skills the team really needs at the moment. Franks is a classy kid even if he isn't necessarily the best pure QB in the world. I therefore hope he comes back healthy and picks up a medical redshirt and, if the QB situation has moved on from him at that point, he gets a good transfer situation like Jalen Hurts where he gets a fresh start to set himself up for the next level.

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Agree with all that. This team loves FF so much that when DM said Trask was the starter after the Mizzou debacle last year, they broke his freakin foot in practice, making FF the starter again! ;)

GatorTom85 said:

Because Franks is the leader of this team, for better or worse, as evidenced by the fairly unprecedented emptying of the sideline so the entire team could rally around him before he left the field. Make no mistake about it that part of the reason we won this game was because everyone upped their game as a tribute to their fallen leader including Trask.

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I cannot give your entire post enough likes............

I think the injury to Franks will actually save Mullin’s job, making him lucky indeed. Without it, we would have had a mediocre year (4-5 losses), and we lather rinse repeat next year.

What is concerning is what it says about how stubborn he is. I am sick and tired of coaches who don’t think they have anything to learn or improve.

Alchemist said:

I think the injury to Franks will actually save Mullin’s job, making him lucky indeed. Without it, we would have had a mediocre year (4-5 losses), and we lather rinse repeat next year.

What is concerning is what it says about how stubborn he is. I am sick and tired of coaches who don’t think they have anything to learn or improve.

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Me thinks you think wrong.

Troll

GatorTom85 said:

Because Franks is the leader of this team, for better or worse, as evidenced by the fairly unprecedented emptying of the sideline so the entire team could rally around him before he left the field. Make no mistake about it that part of the reason we won this game was because everyone upped their game as a tribute to their fallen leader including Trask. Mullen may have numerous gaps to fill in his overall coaching style and process, but one thing he does do is cultivate a tight knit team that plays for each other rather than for themselves. That is what gives this team its grit and that is why last year's UK loss and especially the back to back UGA and Mizzou losses changed the course of this team from the team that would quit when they got punched in the mouth starting in 2010 and continuing until the USCe game last year. When Franks led that come from behind victory last year against Mushchamp's minions this became his team regardless of all his flaws because the rest of the team was willing to go to war for him (including Trask and EJ) regardless of how things went down in the game.

Team chemistry is hard to quantify because of the intangibles it represents. Franks had those intangibles and now that he's hurt its up to Trask and EJ to take the baton and lead us on from here. I think all of you Franks haters should watch him from here. My guess is he will now add even more value to the team in how he continues to lead from the sideline going forward even as the team likely performs better on the field without him due to a combo of EJ and Trask being a better fit for the QB skills the team really needs at the moment. Franks is a classy kid even if he isn't necessarily the best pure QB in the world. I therefore hope he comes back healthy and picks up a medical redshirt and, if the QB situation has moved on from him at that point, he gets a good transfer situation like Jalen Hurts where he gets a fresh start to set himself up for the next level.

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What “next level” would that be? The guy can’t think his way out of a wet paper bag. He’s nowhere near being able to read defenses, get his Offense into the right play, get through progressions, etc. Big guy with big arm, but that’s pretty much it.

LongTooth said:

There were a couple wonky incidents last year where Dan’s bacon got saved by some crazy **** but so far the wave of dumb luck he’s ridden to this point takes the cake.

Both Miami and UK missed crucial and makeable late game FGs.

Both opponents lost key pieces of their teams before playing us. UK lost like five defenders during the game.

Wilson goes down before playing us and then Dan is suddenly now, unwillingly it seems, because of Franks’ injury, forced to go to a legit pass happy offense that puts our success squarely on the shoulders of our best position group and plays to what our OL currently can do well.

These WRs and pass catching TEs are the only thing that will give us ANY chance and now, because of crazy azz **** way outside his control, he’s got no choice but to use them.

All waves dissipate no matter how well you ride them and dan better figure out how this team is gonna get it done without this much luck cuz it won’t always be there.

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He damn sure ain't lucky in recruiting.

Renard904 said:

I disagree, to a certain extent.

Imo, this team was never going to win any beauty contests. I said before the season that this team has that '06 vibe. The problem is that everyone was expecting us to play more like the '08 team.

I distinctly remember thinking that the '06 team wouldn't be any good. And honestly, they weren't that great. I recall us winning some very ugly games that year. And I felt about that team what I feel about this one. But somehow we just kept winning. Scraping by by the skin of our teeth.

I can see something similar happening with this group. Where we come outta nowhere and possibly compete for a title. This team is resilient. And generally championship teams have a little luck on their side.

I honestly think we'll go into Jax vs UGA undefeated. And we'll all be mildly perplexed at the fact that we still haven't loss.

I was very impressed at the fact that we didn't fold. Any other team over the past decade would have lost last night. The fact that we pulled it out bodes well for this team, imo.

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The only championship this team may get is a "State Championship".

AugustaGator said:

We lose 3 this year. UGA, LSU and Auburn.

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At least.

GatorTom85 said:

Because Franks is the leader of this team, for better or worse, as evidenced by the fairly unprecedented emptying of the sideline so the entire team could rally around him before he left the field. Make no mistake about it that part of the reason we won this game was because everyone upped their game as a tribute to their fallen leader including Trask. Mullen may have numerous gaps to fill in his overall coaching style and process, but one thing he does do is cultivate a tight knit team that plays for each other rather than for themselves. That is what gives this team its grit and that is why last year's UK loss and especially the back to back UGA and Mizzou losses changed the course of this team from the team that would quit when they got punched in the mouth starting in 2010 and continuing until the USCe game last year. When Franks led that come from behind victory last year against Mushchamp's minions this became his team regardless of all his flaws because the rest of the team was willing to go to war for him (including Trask and EJ) regardless of how things went down in the game.

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I'm going to respectfully disagree with you here. I want to be very delicate. I was moved and proud at the concern shown by the players towards Franks. Frank's is obviously one of the "boys." He is well liked and a good kid. I believe that kinship he shared among the team is what kept him at qb. Any other change by Mullen potentially could cause division in the team. That kinship, is not the same as leadership.

I could be wrong here, but what you and others fairly percieved as turning it up to play for their fallen comrade I perceive as the team seeing the opportunity to be good players again. Perine looked better after trask came in, there were two plays where I thought perine was Pierce because for the first time the whole game, he didnt stutter on his run. The whole team looked better and played more cohesive doing things they had not done all game.

I look at the psychology of the team and players and I see a team that on one hand loves Frank's but on the other hand doesn't want to be the butt of SEC jokes. They recognized a new opportunity and I saw some genuine respect for Trask from the players.

And here I must be delicate, if Franks is such a leader, why has the offense looked so sullen and sluggish prior to him getting hurt. I'm not saying hes not trying or not loved, I'm saying that he is not sufficiently skilled to be a leader as one would define it. Loved, yes. Plays hard, yes. Can get a few exciting plays, yes. Leader in the sense that he can rally the team, no.

GatorAuthor said:

What “next level” would that be? The guy can’t think his way out of a wet paper bag. He’s nowhere near being able to read defenses, get his Offense into the right play, get through progressions, etc. Big guy with big arm, but that’s pretty much it.

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I don't know about that. After all, Doug Johnson had a number of years in the pros under that very tag line.

Look, I'm not saying I'm expecting him to be great. I just wish him the best because he's always given his best even if, at times, that 'best' wasn't anywhere near what you'd hoped it would be.

revgator said:

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you here. I want to be very delicate. I was moved and proud at the concern shown by the players towards Franks. Frank's is obviously one of the "boys." He is well liked and a good kid. I believe that kinship he shared among the team is what kept him at qb. Any other change by Mullen potentially could cause division in the team. That kinship, is not the same as leadership.

I could be wrong here, but what you and others fairly percieved as turning it up to play for their fallen comrade I perceive as the team seeing the opportunity to be good players again. Perine looked better after trask came in, there were two plays where I thought perine was Pierce because for the first time the whole game, he didnt stutter on his run. The whole team looked better and played more cohesive doing things they had not done all game.

I look at the psychology of the team and players and I see a team that on one hand loves Frank's but on the other hand doesn't want to be the butt of SEC jokes. They recognized a new opportunity and I saw some genuine respect for Trask from the players.

And here I must be delicate, if Franks is such a leader, why has the offense looked so sullen and sluggish prior to him getting hurt. I'm not saying hes not trying or not loved, I'm saying that he is not sufficiently skilled to be a leader as one would define it. Loved, yes. Plays hard, yes. Can get a few exciting plays, yes. Leader in the sense that he can rally the team, no.

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Your original question was why Mullen has had an 'obsession' with Franks. I think it is because he's a leader who just doesn't have quite enough of some unintangible quaity to put it all together and be the football player he comes so agonizingly close to being at times. When Trask got hurt after Mizzou, Mullen had to give him back the team and he truly took control. After South Carolina, he's also done absolutely nothing on the field or off beyond solidify his position on the team. A leader doesn't need to be a great player to lead the team. Look at Kevarrius Hayes' role last year for the bball team.

I know we all want a QB who is a leader like Danny or Timmy and I think that's what he tries to be and even sometime is. When he's not he looks like Tebow in the pros which was quite painful to watch at times.

That said he's a good kid and I hope he does well wherever he goes. I also suggested he may have to go the Jalen Hurts route because he may be down the depth chart when he gets back.

This team will operate better under Trask because he's got a better arm and a quick release that'll get the ball to our 'gonna play Sunday' receivers in space. I also think Mullen's 's going to play EJ because I think they can employ a strategy like Georgia did so well some years back using both a running QB (Shockley) and a throwing QB (drawing a blank...) That way maybe they can buy the line more time by scheming around them with a much more unpredictable offense with a lot of very fast and experienced skill players running around.

Trask is a better passer than Franks while EJ is better with the run. Since they both are pretty good in the other category as well they can actually both play significant time within a game plan that is able to bias in game toward whichever version of play is working better. That would give a defensive coordinator nightmares!

Bottom line: I think the team is likely to get better without Franks but I hope he does well in whatever comes next Florida or otherwise. I also don't think it's fair to kick him while he's down but I do recognize the frustration caused by his very up and down performances. He is pretty clutch too, though, and he's a Gator to the core! I'll be praying he gets fully recovered since injuries like that don't always heal easy. Now, next guy up...