- Jun 12, 2014
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Founding Member
24-17. Gators over Ole Miss. Simply put, the crowd at BHG yesterday was a difference maker, reminiscent of the atmosphere that greeted the opposition in the glory days when the Gators were on top and winning SEC and National Championships. While the team of late has had its struggles, it is uplifting to see them perhaps starting to find their way. I personally have vacillated between “what the hell are we doing” to “well it’s about time” as our Gators and Billy Napier have closed the conference portion of the schedule with two victories on an uptick. The “anomaly” of the LSU win last week has given way to “back to back” SEC wins, especially significant when you consider the win yesterday was over the coach many had on their wish list to maybe become the HBC when Napier is finally and mercifully shown the door!
That ship has most likely sailed…or sunk, as the case may be! Billy can breathe again as his team is now bowl-bound with the regular season finale next week in Tallahassee against a 2-win F$U group that has been nothing short of a disaster after their 13-0 regular season record just a year ago. A win would guarantee the Gators’ first winning season under Napier and perhaps help create some needed momentum on the recruiting front, all important since it appears certain that Billy will be at the helm again. No photos, but I’m certain that somewhere Scottie Stricklin is enjoying a post-game soy latte and smiling like the Cheshire Cat!
All the Coach drama and hand-wringing aside, the real story is what has begun taking place on the field with the play and efforts of the team. DJ Lagway, despite limited mobility from the healing hammy, has not disappointed as he’s shown a strong and accurate arm and an ability to run the offense and make good things happen. He’s a leader at the position that we’ve been looking for and certainly pointing toward “generational” if he and the team can continue on this late season upward trajectory. But I’m not so sure that the rise of the defense might not be the bigger story. All that unit has done these last two games is close the deal against two SEC opponents, one who had beaten us five in a row and one who was on track to make the college football playoffs. In both games the defense bent a little but never broke and actually seemed to grow stronger late in the game. The front kept pressure on the opposing QBs, providing pressures and sacks and kept the opponents out of the end zone. That transformation alone is quite remarkable when you consider how badly this group was mauled by Miami, Texas A&M, and Texas earlier.
It would also be almost criminal to not give a shout out to the run game that has come on of late. Baugh and Jackson have stepped up and run effectively and allowed us to control the ball and the offense, especially late in these last few games, but the return of a healthy Montrell Johnson, who ran for 107 and what would be the winning TD out of the Wildcat late in the game, was an offensive difference maker. And along with that you have to give the OL some props. Compared to what they looked like earlier in the season, they are certainly improved.
Personally, I’m still ambivalent regarding Billy and his future at the helm of the Gators. I’ve never felt that the Gators’ HC position should ever be an OJT situation despite what the past 15 years have seemed like. But as I have nothing but my own vicarious opinion, it helps somewhat that we’ve had this late season “surge,” if it can be called that, even though there is still uncertainty hanging in the air. I’ll say this for Billy…even though he’s appeared to have been on the verge, he hasn’t collapsed. So for now, one step at a time appears to be the best thing to do. Beat the Noles, recruit and work the portal with some reasonable efficiency, win the bowl game, and let the future take care of itself. Simple…right?!
“Yeah, no!”
Go Gators!
