Ok, so a few days before the game my BIL calls to inform my wife that he's in on another parlay bet. The two earlier this season he won up to the last game, one of those to the last play (some NFL game that came up a yard or a point short). He's been close, but hasn't closed. He had another going, and had one the first 3 of 4, with the last being the OU-UF game where he took the over at 72pts. This was before we informed him out top 4 receivers were out....and then we learned the defense was missing 4 as well but figured that wasn't going to really hurt an already awful defense much in the big picture. In fact, it got us looking for anything good about the bowl game going in, and maybe OU could score all 73pts on their own.
Then the game began. First INT on Trask from what my non-football eyes told me. Second was on the receiver, and third appeared again on Trask. Down 17-0 in the first 8 minutes with 3 INTs. :sigh: Did I mention my wife (big Gator fan, big NCAAF fan in general) insisted our son join us to watch the game? Or that my son has a problem running his mouth non-stop at the oddest times? Yeah, it was one of those times. Before we could score the FG I had left the room so I wouldn't verbally destroy my son and his innocence. It wasn't his fault. I blame his mother, as early in the relationship her 'jabber jaw' was cute and amusing. Nearly 30y later, not so much. Even less so coming from her son. Kid is smart, knows a lot about football, was calling plays and questioning Dan in the SECCG, so he knows what he's talking about generally. But that didn't help the situation.
I retreated to the bedroom to watch on mute and flip between the football game and the basketball game. I could ride the small glimmer of hope as we clawed back a bit without really believing it could last, and I could quickly flip to MW whenever things went to sht. I watched a lot of the bball game. For the football game, a few takeaways:
- Stiner abused on every play of the opening drive. Please tell me he isn't coming back.
- Gamble appeared to drop at least 6-7 passes. Maybe he wasn't ready for the pressure of filling in for Pitts, but we did decent for the two games Pitts missed earlier so I dunno what was up there. It definitely hurt.
- Dan calling not one, but TWO qb keepers with Trask early in the game has defined Mullen's offense for me. I've fought it all this time, and as much as I want to say 'there wasn't enough space for Trask to make a decent pass and the rec'rs have shown ineptitude'....f that, Mullen's play calling sucked.
- As noted earlier, too many numbers (and names) I didn't recognize. Trying to look up the roster during the game, and repeatedly asking out loud WHO-T-F is THAT?
- RB was the only decent position (nod to N. Wright, and later Pierce-Davis), but it was spotty at best (glaring look to the OL).
- Emory got to do a little more, when he wasn't throwing up. That gave me a little hope. AR gave me a little hope. I shouldn't be watching my team getting skullfkd* on national tv in a big bowl game and trying to find a little hope.
Wife tried to start one of those "If we had the other players...." and I shut her right up. We don't have them, end of story, don't play the IF game with me. Not here, not now. OF the players who made the trip, none appeared truly ready. *Skullfkd is a term I've never really cared for. Usually it's in sports, a friend used it in reference to a blowjob once and it's forever skewed my grasp and handling of that term. However, in the sports sense, I truly understood what it meant and it totally fit the situation for the entirety of the game.
SKULLFKD! Yes, that's what OU did to our entire team, our program for 60min. Coaches are responsible for that, for nobody being ready and for embarrassing Gator Nation like that. Blame the players again and I'll load another bullet everytime you to, Dan. YOU hired the staff that recruited them. YOU and YOUR staff failed to develop them, failed to have them prepared. YOU failed the kids, and the fans. If you want to point to opt-outs, thats again on YOU failing to build a culture of accountability (witnessed repeatedly, and most glaringly by making that dip**** a captain in the SECCG after he threw the shoe against LSU). YOU, Dan, are not meeting 'the Gator Standard'.
I'll try to support my team next year, IF he makes significant changes to your staff (read that as GRANTHAM et al). And if you fail to grow as an offensive coach with your play calling, then fk YOU and your dog.
Meanwhile, I actually enjoyed the basketball game. Yes, it was against perennial cellar dweller Vandy, but our boys were playing fast and loose on offense, it was honestly FUN to watch. Defensively, it was getting back to the pressure that MW was supposed to have. Both ends of the court were more energetic, and more TEAM play than we'd seen all of last season. I thought I read he slowed it down last season in order to maximize playing time with the Grad transfer (maybe Nembhard as well), but with those guys not there this team was FUN to watch. Tell me again 'it was Vaaaannndyyyy' and I will tell you I don't care. It was a helluva lot more fun that the bowl game. Players gave a sht and played their hearts out, winning big. I'll take that every day.
PS - we spent the last 20-25min of the bowl game (wife and I, as the kid had been released for his safety) cheering and high fiving, figuring out how if we got that last TD and if OU didn't let up, our BIL would win. He did. $800!! Now to see if any of that comes our way.
PPS - loved how the 4th quarter was spent talking about any game but ours by the announcers. Even sideline wench was talking about any other game but ours. Gawd we sucked.