GCMB Poll: Worst UF football coach ever

[Gatordiddy]

Never seen anyone refer to Alabama as UAL

United Airlines

 

[AugustaGator]

This. Darnell second.

One of the more colorful coaches was the Gator's HBC from back when men played the game and didn't need no stinkin helmets.
George E. Pyle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_E._Pyle

Pyle replaced Jack Forsythe as the Florida head football coach, and he held that position for five seasons, from 1909 to 1913. During that period, he accumulated a 26–7–3 record and a 0.764 winning percentage, making him the third winningest coach in school history after Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer. In 1911, Pyle led Florida to its first and only undefeated season when the newly named Gators posted a 5–0–1 record.

The first Swindle
In 1912, Florida posted a 5–2–1 record. After the season, the team participated in its first post-season game, the Bacardi Bowl held in Havana, Cuba. It was actually a two-game series against different Cuban athletic clubs. The first game was played on December 25 under the so-called "old rules" that existed before the American football reforms of 1906. In that game, Florida defeated the Verado Tennis Club (?), 28–0. On December 30, Florida played the Cuban Athletic Club of Havana under the "new rules." According to one source, the game's referee was a former coach for the Cuban team, and the officiating was blatantly biased. After two Florida touchdowns were nullified by questionable officiating, Pyle protested a fifteen-yard penalty. When the referee offered a five-yard penalty instead, Pyle and his team left the game in protest. Another source states that the game ended late in the first quarter after a fight broke out between the teams; Florida accused the Cuban team of still playing under "the old rules." Regardless of the reason for the forfeiture, Pyle was arrested by the Cuban authorities. He was charged with violating a law that prohibited a game's suspension after money had been collected. After his trial was delayed, Pyle and the Gators left the island country, which caused him to be branded a "fugitive from justice."

Cool story. Thanks for posting

 

[deuce]

Dickey, without a doubt!

I still remember "first you have to avoid losing before you can win"

 

[TheDouglas78]

I am not trying to say Pell did no good for the program, but he may not have been a net good. What I am trying to point out is that UF has a long history of trying to pound a UAL style coach into the UF program and it has not worked yet. There must be some reason that somethings hasn't worked over multiple decades.

Pell, Alabama everyone was 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Hall put more of a passing offense in, and Spurrier completely changed the game. But I don't fault Pell when that is what everyone was doing. I do fault Muschamp and McElwain (even though his CSU offense wasn't Alabama offense). It a difference in time and athlete. I understand what you are saying, but following Bama in late 70s early 80s is different than following Saban's bama of the 00's/10's.

 

[CGgater]

From my recollection, Wayne Peace threw the ball quite a bit. Not really the "3 yards..." Pell offense some of you are describing. Plus Hampton, Anderson and Williams covered more than 3 yards.

 

[-THE DUDE-]

Muschamp and it's not even close...but I'm only counting those i was around for (since 1991 season)

 

[gatordad3]

From my recollection, Wayne Peace threw the ball quite a bit. Not really the "3 yards..." Pell offense some of you are describing. Plus Hampton, Anderson and Williams covered more than 3 yards.

As much talent Pell brought to UF, he couldn't pull off a win against UGA.

Bob Hewko was a decent QB back in the day as well.

 

[GatorMan5K]

Hands down, its Muschamp. What he did to our program can still be seen. Though the short sighted fans can't seem to see it, coach Mac is still digging us out of that hole. once he has brought the team up to par, then we will see what he really can do. He has done much with very little. I just hope the loudmouthed minority doesn't run him out of town before this happens.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

From my recollection, Wayne Peace threw the ball quite a bit.

7000 yards over 4 years. Very pedestrian. Less than 2000 yards a year, but not bad I suppose for boring ball being played then by most teams.

 

[Chomper]

Chump, of course. We turned him into a wealthy redneck and all we got in return was McElwain.

 

[ThreatMatrix]

7000 yards over 4 years. Very pedestrian. Less than 2000 yards a year, but not bad I suppose for boring ball being played then by most teams.

But it WAS exciting when he threw it.

 

[Double Gator Dad]

I know everyone wants to pile on chump but clearly the Zooker was worse.

Zook
1. Inherited a loaded team to include one of the top 3-4 QB's we have ever had
2. Teams were bad in all phases of the game
2. Left us with a decent amount of talent but he added a losing culture


Chump
1. Inherited talent but it was mostly very young
2. Inherited a broken program and an entitlement culture
3. Purged the program of offense but built great defenses
4. Left us with gobs of defensive talent and a losing culture

Not defending chump (nobody would) but he inherited a much worse situation than the Zooker

 

[InstiGATOR1]

I know everyone wants to pile on chump but clearly the Zooker was worse.

Zook

2. Left us with a decent amount of talent but he added a losing culture

Certainly Zook was the first step UF took away from a meritocracy in football.

 

[78]

From my recollection, Wayne Peace threw the ball quite a bit. Not really the "3 yards..." Pell offense some of you are describing. Plus Hampton, Anderson and Williams covered more than 3 yards.

The '84 team was the most potent offensively of any of Pell's other teams, and you have to wonder why. Was it due to the presence of Bell, who was unusually cool in the pocket for a freshman? Was it because of the maturation of John L. Williams, Neal Anderson and Lorenzo Hampton in the backfield, who together combined for 2,575 yards? Was it the changeover at OC from Mike Shanahan to Galen Hall? Was it the blocking up front from the Great Wall? Probably all four.

The '83 team with Marshall was Pell's best defensively. The '84 team was his best offensively. BTW, the '83 team began the season with a 28-3 thumping of Miami, which went on to beat Nebraska for the national championship.

 

[Bernardo de la Paz]

I know everyone wants to pile on chump but clearly the Zooker was worse.

No way. Zook never had a losing season, he didn't lose to an FCS squad, he beat the nulls on Ron Zook field and he left Meyer with a national championship defense.

Sure, I wanted him fired before he coached his first game, but no way in hell was he the worst.

 

[KronoGator]

Zook was head and shoulders above Muschamp as a head coach.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Zook was head and shoulders above Muschamp as a head coach.

Zook is Fooley's second best hire, as sad as that is.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I know everyone wants to pile on chump but clearly the Zooker was worse.

Thats crazy talk. Im not really going to address it.

Zooker vs Butters is a decent argument. Both have about the same records vs ranked teams, we just played more good teams back then. Id say Zook actually had a stength, namely recruiting. He also prodeuced a reasonably potent offense.

Im hard pressed to think of anything Butters does with competence.

 

[TheDouglas78]

The '84 team was the most potent offensively of any of Pell's other teams, and you have to wonder why. Was it due to the presence of Bell, who was unusually cool in the pocket for a freshman? Was it because of the maturation of John L. Williams, Neal Anderson and Lorenzo Hampton in the backfield, who together combined for 2,575 yards? Was it the changeover at OC from Mike Shanahan to Galen Hall? Was it the blocking up front from the Great Wall? Probably all four.

The '83 team with Marshall was Pell's best defensively. The '84 team was his best offensively. BTW, the '83 team began the season with a 28-3 thumping of Miami, which went on to beat Nebraska for the national championship.

I think it is the combination of the factors. Hall was a better playcaller than most give him credit for. Him and Bell worked well together in multiple leagues.

 

[78]

I think it is the combination of the factors. Hall was a better playcaller than most give him credit for. Him and Bell worked well together in multiple leagues.

Hall was a brilliant playcaller, as good as any we had here until Spurrier.