Bits & Pieces: Florida vs Tennessee

[cover2]

For a while Saturday night in Knoxville it looked like the Gators, who were competing and actually leading 10-0 in the third quarter, might be on the verge of pulling off the upset and beating hated rival and #8 ranked Tennessee. Hope, which has been in short supply for much of this season, Heck, for much of Billy Napier’s tenure, seemed to be mounting a bit. Despite some typical (and unfortunately expected) mistakes the defense was playing well and keeping the Vols at bay. Could this be the game Billy and the beleaguered Gators finally put it all together and win a significant game in the SEC, on the road, and in primetime?

NOPE! When the Vols scored their first TD at the 2:57 mark of the third quarter you could feel the shift beginning. From there the Vols would go on to score the next 10 points to go up 17-10. In that span DJ Lagway, our rising freshman QB who was now in command with Graham Mertz out of the game with a phantom non-contact injury, was intercepted and it looked like the hope that was building had been extinguished. But Lagway shook off the mistake and stepped up in the pocket to avoid the rush and threw a dart to a streaking Chimere Dike for the tying score with :29 remaining. Hope had been resuscitated! On to overtime!

Then just as quickly, the Gators with the ball to begin OT went backwards and could only muster a long FG attempt which Trey Smack narrowly missed to the right. And with that, Hope collapsed. The anticlimactic ending was complete when the Vols easily scored a TD to seal their comeback and hand the Gators a third loss and simultaneously negated a valiant effort, especially defensively, against a hated rival in a season that can only be described as “on the brink!”

In no way with what I’m about to share is my intent to marginalize the horrific plight of the Polish Jews during WWII, but immediately after the game ended a quote regarding ”Hope” from Schindler’s List came into my mind…”This is cruel Oskar, your giving them hope!” I won’t go any farther into the context only to point out just how strong an emotion that hope can be. It can keep you pushing forward in the face of what may feel like insurmountable odds. And Napier and the Gators were giving us some. But Hope can only carry you so far and I fear that we have reached the end of that line with the second half of the season yet to come.

To sum it up the Gators led in many of the statistical categories…Total Yds 361 to 312, Passing Yds 223 to 169, TOP 34:56 to 25:04 but mistakes, 12 men on the field for a FG attempt, poor play calling as emphasized by Chris Doering on the SEC wrap up, and a very apparent inability to close the deal from a Coaching standpoint that filters down to the players transformed a very winnable game to simply another anticipated loss. THIS is the legacy of the Napier era at the University of Florida!

Next up…Kentucky, who’ll be coming off a loss to surprising Vandy (who’d have ever thought we’d be saying “Thank the Lord we don’t play the Commodores this season?!”) and will be looking to get well against us. Any other year you’d think this game would be very winnable, but it’ll take a lot more than Hope and returning to BHG. In fact, it’ll take a 180 turn from what we’ve been doing…for the better part of three seasons now and I’m certainly more skeptical now than hopeful. Doing the same things over and over cumulatively yield the same results no matter how much we want something different to happen. Still, Go Gators! It’s the “Mildcats” at home. At this point we’re just playing for a little pride.

 

[GatorFL]

I think that might have been the worst coached Gators game I've ever seen. And with coaching alumni like Butters and the Chimp, that is saying something.

 

[Cozumel Gator]

Thank you, cover2, for this addition of "Breakfast with the Gators"!

 

[cover2]

I think that might have been the worst coached Gators game I've ever seen. And with coaching alumni like Butters and the Chimp, that is saying something.

Truly a textbook case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory! I remarked to one of our esteemed posters that our guys remind me of some military cases you read about where the troops take on the mantle of their leader(s)…fearful vs fearless. Sadly we lack the collective stones to do any different.

 

[FireFoley]

Thank you Cover, but since you authored it, I want to ask you that if my interpretation of your writing is: "It is time to take the lame horse behind the barn and put it out of its misery"?

If my interpretation is incorrect, please let me know so I can.........

 

[AuggieDosta]

Well done Cover. Thank you for putting a bow on a pig.

 

[Zambo]

The decision to kick for the tie after we scored at the end is probably the stupidest decision of the game.

Of course there is no guarantee its going to work and you might lose the game right there, but this is about playing the odds.

You are a big underdog, playing on the road in front of one of the loudest crowds you'll ever see, and you have a chance to win the game with one play. Your other option is to get into a redzone shootout against an opponent who is technically much better than you....after almost 60 minutes of demonstrating that your team is TERRIBLE in the redzone. So you call a stupid-ass trick play formation, and then when TN calls a timeout to make sure you don't trick your way into the endzone, you just give up on the obvious strategy and kick the tying point and doom yourself to a loss.

WHAT AN IDIOT!

As an underdog on the road, if you have the chance to win the game with a 2pt conversion, YOU TAKE IT! Ok so it doesn't work, at least you can point logically to a reason why you took that chance. But no....all Simple Bill did was put off the inevitable loss for a few more agonizing minutes.

Our offensive series in OT was perhaps the most succinct and obvious encapsulation of Billy Ball that one could ever point to. Its beyond time to give our players a coach who doesn't routinely rip victories out of their hands.

 

[cover2]

Thank you Cover, but since you authored it, I want to ask you that if my interpretation of your writing is: "It is time to take the lame horse behind the barn and put it out of its misery"?

If my interpretation is incorrect, please let me know so I can.........

You are not incorrect! Put your granddad’s old flintlock back in the closet and save it in case the election doesn’t go as hoped

 

[oxrageous]

I think that might have been the worst coached Gators game I've ever seen. And with coaching alumni like Butters and the Chimp, that is saying something.

It was the worst coached game I've ever seen in 38 years watching football.

 

[FireFoley]

The decision to kick for the tie after we scored at the end is probably the stupidest decision of the game.

Of course there is no guarantee its going to work and you might lose the game right there, but this is about playing the odds.

You are a big underdog, playing on the road in front of one of the loudest crowds you'll ever see, and you have a chance to win the game with one play. Your other option is to get into a redzone shootout against an opponent who is technically much better than you....after almost 60 minutes of demonstrating that your team is TERRIBLE in the redzone. So you call a stupid-ass trick play formation, and then when TN calls a timeout to make sure you don't trick your way into the endzone, you just give up on the obvious strategy and kick the tying point and doom yourself to a loss.

WHAT AN IDIOT!

As an underdog on the road, if you have the chance to win the game with a 2pt conversion, YOU TAKE IT! Ok so it doesn't work, at least you can point logically to a reason why you took that chance. But no....all Simple Bill did was put off the inevitable loss for a few more agonizing minutes.

Our offensive series in OT was perhaps the most succinct and obvious encapsulation of Billy Ball that one could ever point to. Its beyond time to give our players a coach who doesn't routinely rip victories out of their hands.

 

[oxrageous]

The decision to kick for the tie after we scored at the end is probably the stupidest decision of the game.

Of course there is no guarantee its going to work and you might lose the game right there, but this is about playing the odds.

You are a big underdog, playing on the road in front of one of the loudest crowds you'll ever see, and you have a chance to win the game with one play. Your other option is to get into a redzone shootout against an opponent who is technically much better than you....after almost 60 minutes of demonstrating that your team is TERRIBLE in the redzone. So you call a stupid-ass trick play formation, and then when TN calls a timeout to make sure you don't trick your way into the endzone, you just give up on the obvious strategy and kick the tying point and doom yourself to a loss.

Couldn't agree more. Now, there's ZERO doubt in my mind UF would have failed to get the 2-point conversion, but it would have been the right decision to try. We had a less than zero chance in OT. Even if Smack had made that FG, UT would have scored the TD and ended it.

 

[RiverRat]

Feel for the players, they put it all on the line last night and were rewarded with A big capital “L”
Napier has an uncanny ability to chit and then fall in it. His departure can’t come soon enough.

 

[Ironhead]

Thank you Cover.
Great write up sir.

I thought the players, really pushed themselves last night. I saw alot of fire and effort and emotion. That part was refreshing.
Having said that, coaching and play calling, was atrocious. If anyone watched any of South Carolina games this season, then you get to see almost a comical twin in Beamer and Napier.
Fumble at the goal line CHECK.
Interceptions CHECK.
Stupid penalties at the most critical times CHECK
Solid defensive plan and effort but, giving up a huge play in a critical time of the game CHECK

How does Mertz NOT know, to secure that damn ball at the goal line? But, how does Napier NOT know that Mertz, probably not the best player to attempt a sneak anyway?
Absolutely NO excuse for the blunder on the field goal to end the half. That's Napier in a nutshell.
Those three points, may have won the damn game even with all the other stupid penalties.

In retrospect, Losing Mertz and Johnson did hurt. Lagway played well but really wasn't ready for the snap anticipation by the vols. Maybe a subtle change there could have slowed that rush down a little. Lagway, probably not coached up enough during the week to alter the time between hand clap and snap. More likely, Napier had no idea you could change it up a little.

Hope.
Yep, Watching that game last night, I actually though we were going to pull something magical out in OT.

 

[cover2]

The decision to kick for the tie after we scored at the end is probably the stupidest decision of the game.

Of course there is no guarantee its going to work and you might lose the game right there, but this is about playing the odds.

You are a big underdog, playing on the road in front of one of the loudest crowds you'll ever see, and you have a chance to win the game with one play. Your other option is to get into a redzone shootout against an opponent who is technically much better than you....after almost 60 minutes of demonstrating that your team is TERRIBLE in the redzone. So you call a stupid-ass trick play formation, and then when TN calls a timeout to make sure you don't trick your way into the endzone, you just give up on the obvious strategy and kick the tying point and doom yourself to a loss.

WHAT AN IDIOT!

As an underdog on the road, if you have the chance to win the game with a 2pt conversion, YOU TAKE IT! Ok so it doesn't work, at least you can point logically to a reason why you took that chance. But no....all Simple Bill did was put off the inevitable loss for a few more agonizing minutes.

Our offensive series in OT was perhaps the most succinct and obvious encapsulation of Billy Ball that one could ever point to. Its beyond time to give our players a coach who doesn't routinely rip victories out of their hands.

Thought the same thing but Napier’s brain won’t allow him to accept that we are not a good team because of him trying to play big boy football with clownish leadership and a lack of accountability for anybody, Coach and player alike. To your point about going for two…I’d be hard pressed at this point to believe Billy had a play in his pocket specifically for this situation! I believe he thinks that if he follows the cookbook he’ll somehow prevail in OT. What that he has done in the past 2 and 1/2 seasons would make any rational person believe that?

 

[Zambo]

Couldn't agree more. Now, there's ZERO doubt in my mind UF would have failed to get the 2-point conversion, but it would have been the right decision to try. We had a less than zero chance in OT. Even if Smack had made that FG, UT would have scored the TD and ended it.

Its just amazing to me that Billy lined up for a trick play, and when UT didn't piss themselves and fall for the ol' banana in the tailpipe, he just abandoned the attempt and decided to kick. JFC, I guess we just aren't even remotely good enough to score from 3 yards out when we need to by simply running a well executed play. If we can't trick our way into the endzone then lets just throw our hands up and quit like the losing loser that he is.

 

[Gator98MD]

Scared money don’t make money

 

[Ironhead]

The decision to kick for the tie after we scored at the end is probably the stupidest decision of the game.

Of course there is no guarantee its going to work and you might lose the game right there, but this is about playing the odds.

You are a big underdog, playing on the road in front of one of the loudest crowds you'll ever see, and you have a chance to win the game with one play. Your other option is to get into a redzone shootout against an opponent who is technically much better than you....after almost 60 minutes of demonstrating that your team is TERRIBLE in the redzone. So you call a stupid-ass trick play formation, and then when TN calls a timeout to make sure you don't trick your way into the endzone, you just give up on the obvious strategy and kick the tying point and doom yourself to a loss.

WHAT AN IDIOT!

As an underdog on the road, if you have the chance to win the game with a 2pt conversion, YOU TAKE IT! Ok so it doesn't work, at least you can point logically to a reason why you took that chance. But no....all Simple Bill did was put off the inevitable loss for a few more agonizing minutes.

Our offensive series in OT was perhaps the most succinct and obvious encapsulation of Billy Ball that one could ever point to. Its beyond time to give our players a coach who doesn't routinely rip victories out of their hands.

Couldn't agree more. We scored and I'm up stumbling around the TV, "Let's go for 2 and win this damn thing".
Does anyone wonder what play we were going to run there?
I mean, at first, I though Emory and Henry, but, it looked more like the ol swinging gate.

Cover is right, Billy didn't have anything in his back pocket for a game winning 2 pointer.

 

[GatorJ]

Although there have been posters saying that we do not have the talent to compete, it is simply not true. We have one of the most talented and deep teams we’ve had over the last decade.

The single biggest issue is the retard running time management and calling plays. He is absolutely atrocious. We could lead in every conceivable metric and still lose because he will bumble a drive. To go four times into the red zone and come away with only a field goal is absolutely pitiful.

 

[oxrageous]

How about the blindside block penalty on the touchback kickoff? Never seen that before, will likely never see it again. Only a Napier coached team could have a penalty like that. The man keeps coming up with new stuff.

 

[Lurker]

The decision to kick for the tie after we scored at the end is probably the stupidest decision of the game.

Of course there is no guarantee its going to work and you might lose the game right there, but this is about playing the odds.

You are a big underdog, playing on the road in front of one of the loudest crowds you'll ever see, and you have a chance to win the game with one play. Your other option is to get into a redzone shootout against an opponent who is technically much better than you....after almost 60 minutes of demonstrating that your team is TERRIBLE in the redzone. So you call a stupid-ass trick play formation, and then when TN calls a timeout to make sure you don't trick your way into the endzone, you just give up on the obvious strategy and kick the tying point and doom yourself to a loss.

WHAT AN IDIOT!

As an underdog on the road, if you have the chance to win the game with a 2pt conversion, YOU TAKE IT! Ok so it doesn't work, at least you can point logically to a reason why you took that chance. But no....all Simple Bill did was put off the inevitable loss for a few more agonizing minutes.

Our offensive series in OT was perhaps the most succinct and obvious encapsulation of Billy Ball that one could ever point to. Its beyond time to give our players a coach who doesn't routinely rip victories out of their hands.

I agree completely. Then again, I was also certain that Napier had no "go to" play in his toolbox that was capable of getting the 2 points. He'd already drawn up the ill conceived jet sweep on 4th and inches and using Mertz (instead of Lagway) on the qb keeper on the goal line.

Maybe Napier looked at the 29 seconds on the play clock and thought "too much time for Tennesee to get into field goal position to win if we take the lead here. Better just tie it up and hope the Vols take a knee to go to overtime." Of course, there should have only been 19 seconds on the play clock when we scored the td. But Napier looked clearly lost and confused when he decided to call a timeout to prevent 10 seconds that the Gators didn't need from coming off the clock. And, Hepuel went for the win in regulation anyway and would have had a game winning fg attempt at the very end of regulation, but for a fortuitous drop by a Vols receiver in fg range.

Whatever the case, Napier would have surely found a way to mess it up. He's a born loser.