I’m new to this board, and this is my first post. I’ve been on here about 6 months. I’m a season ticket holder, and my first Gator game I saw in person was in 1969. I was a little kid then.
I was just wondering who do you all think the Gators should get (that would actually come) that could a better job than Mullen.
I’m no expert, but I started knowing a little about football in the 70’s
Dickey - wanted to force players into a system he wanted to play (wishbone) that he didn’t really have the type of players for, and he really didn’t know much about the wishbone.
Pell - came in and laid the foundation for where we are now. He skirted the rules (probably was doing things that many other programs did, but got caught.
Hall - survived for a while with the recruits that Pell brought in. Emmitt chose UF over Auburn. It was Emmitt to the right, Emmitt to the left, Emmitt up the middle, punt. Hall got caught with, probably could have survived if UF hadn’t just been on probation.
Spurrier - perfect coach for UF. He either wanted to give the NFL a whirl, got fed up with UF fans not being happy with “only winning SEC championships”, or upset with Foley because Foley didn’t defend him (Spurrier) after what Darnell Docket did to Earnest Graham, or some combination of all.
Zook - I’m not going to say he was a good hire, because he wasn’t. Gator fans didn’t like him when he was the Gator DC. Give Zook the hook was chanted during the Choke at Doak years. If Foley’s coaching search wasn’t Bob Stoopes, Mike Shanahan and Zook (one of these things is not like the other), Zook May have had a little more chance. Thankfully, he didn’t.
Meyer - a home run hire. He admitted when he was hired he wasn’t going to be a Bowden or Paterno. We thought maybe 10 years. He burned out and lasted 5 (his last year he wasn’t really there).
Muschamp - he was a hot commodity at the time. He endeared himself to the UF administration, but not the fans. He had a different offensive coordinator seemingly every year (not because they were leaving for better jobs, but because they weren’t working out). I didn’t personally didn’t really like him from the get go. He really lost me when the Gators lost to Vandy when he scolded the Gator fans by saying something to the affect that Gator fans need to re-set expectations, then he went on to lose to Georgia Southern.
McElwain - Muschamp had to go, UF couldn’t really take a chance on a unproven, there wasn’t really much out there at the time. Of the not that much out there, McElwain was the best. He didn’t endear himself with either the UF admin or the fan base. Very bad combo
Mullen - we couldn’t go with an unproven, we needed someone that embraces the Gators (Chip Kelly was an even bigger McElwain than McElwain - no way does he do the Gator Chomp coming off the plane). Of the available coaches at the time, Mullen has been the best. He doesn’t have that much staff turnover. He seemingly makes good in game coaching decisions. He knows what his type of players are that he wants, but can adjust to the players he has. I get the feeling that an NFL team will take a chance on him soon (if Kingsbury can get fired by Texas Tech and then hired as a HC in the NFL, surely Mullen could get a shot).
So, if you get rid of Mullen or he leaves on his own, you either need to get an unproven - could be a home run, could be a disaster (then you venture into Tennessee territory). You go after a proven - could use UF as a stepping stone, could be a success, or could be a meh.
Mullen’s offenses have been fun to watch. Last years defense was awful, but everyone’s defense was seemingly awful last year (was this because of Covid?)
University of Texas has had one disappointing HC hire after another. So has Tennessee.
Unless Mullen really does something very bad (violation or worse - and he’s already survived a violation and got a raise), or his team really falls off a cliff in record, I don’t see him getting canned.