- Oct 5, 2017
- 2,315
- 6,299
I have two requirements before I will admit that Dan Mullen was a good/the right coaching hire:
Gator Football, for me, is split into two time periods/sets of expectations, and it is split in 1990 with the arrival of Steve Spurrier as head coach. There was plenty of greatness before 1990, but then it was taken to the next level, the level we want to be at and the level we want to stay at, and also the level we currently are not at. In that time, we have developed new rivals to own (Tennessee) and overall, have owned others (Georgia). Since that time, there is only ONE, SOLO, SINGLE, UNO, rival who we play regularly and have a losing record against, the Florida State Seminoles. We are 12-17-1. For those of you playing the home game, yes, we have played them more than anyone else since we got Spurrier, 30 times in 28 years and we have lost more than we have won. This isn't a joke, this is the game of the season. This season means nothing if you lose the the worst FSU team in 40 years. You want to talk recruiting? Here are the pitches based on the outcome of the game:
If we can run the ball, we will be fine. This game does not need to be put in the hands of Feleipe Franks. If he were more accurate down the field, I would 100% back taking some shots. I say take the 2nd half offensive plan from Carolina and let it ride. This FSU defense isn't that good. The D-line is decent, but that's about it. Get our guys in space and let them do their thing. Tyler Jordan, Fred Johnson, Martez Ivey, time to play like you actually care about being a Gator. Show the younger guys that this game means more, it does. If you block, Scarlett, Perine, Pierce, Toney, and dare I say Franks may have a field day running the ball. The last time we won, we put it away with the running game. Do Your Part. Tight ends, in 2014, we were dominating until one of you popped a ball up for a pick 6 that changed that game. Do Your Part. Receivers, block like you never have before and don't drop passes. Do Your Part. Running backs, find the holes, protect in the passing game. Do your part. QB('s), hit the open man, don't overthrow, take care of the football. Do Your Part. If you all play like your capable of, we've seen you drive 90 plus yards to take the lead multiple times this year. We've seen you come back from 3 score deficits multiple times this year. It all comes down to one thing, that you Do Your Part.
Defense
Let's not act like those 3 score deficits were all on the offense. Let's not pretend that the D-Line who did well against a good #failstate O-line and a good LSU team hasn't disappeared in recent weeks. Let's not lie and say that anything you've put on tape since the bye week (excluding Idaho) would lead an NFL team to draft you in a decent round. This is one of the worst offensive lines in the game, show everyone why you should get drafted. Do Your Part. Linebackers, your results have been mixed at best since the bye week. FSU has killed us on the ground the last 5 years. Do Your Part. DBU, let's not forget about Jake Fromm and Drew Lock having fun, especially on 3rd and long at your expense. This FSU has won a few games by BIG plays in the passing game in the final minutes. Ensure that this doesn't happen. In fact, keep the game going. Don't brag if a ball hits your helmet because if you even looked, its a pick. That's a failure on your part. Do Your Part.
Special Teams
Kick it out of the end zone, make your field goals, stop punt returns cold, pin them deep. Do Your Part.
I could spend a lot of time ranting about the last 16 games, so I will do it more briefly than I want:
2003: Refs AWFUL, still win if you don't give up a 50+ yard bomb near the end of the game.
2004: First time in Tally, probably taking the exact same crew this year for the first time since. Fun game. Got home around 4-5 am. After missing our hotel due to a wrong turn.
2005: Game began and UF scored TD's and FSU scored FG's, leads to a differential easily.
2006: 1 point win, Percy leaves injured in first half. Fiancee (now wife) and I get up at like 4-5 am in Pine Mountain, Georgia and drive to Tally to scalp tickets, good seats, we go on to a Natty.
2007: Geno Hayes, the cop beater, says Tebow is going down. He had one tackle, on Chris Rainey, which he acted like he was a badass after. Too bad Tebow embarrassed him with a spin move.
2008: Only UF-FSU I've missed in this span, in the rain, Percy leaves injured, Tebow gets warpaint, makes iconic image. We roll.
2009: Tebow says goodbye in a White helmut and destroy FSU.
2010: Microcosm, Jordan Reed drives us down the field, John Brantley inserted to play hero and he does...for FSU by throwing pick in the end zone.
2011: How we weren't shut out is amazing. This game was all that people needed to see to know Muschamp not going to work, if they didn't know already.
2012: The lone win this decade. The 4th quarter rushing game and Antonio Morrison put it away.
2013: Wow, just wow. "It's great to be a 4 and 8'er" rings through the Swamp...Muschamp retained.
2014: Really dominant start. Muschamp philosophy that DE's are good TE's bites us in ass as Tevin Westbrook stone hands a ball, allowing FSU to change the game with a pick 6.
2015: All around awful game. Treon, defense, o-line, running backs, everyone.
2016: I don't remember much, I do remember Callaway slowing down on a corner route that would have been a TD.
2017: God, o-line let's FSU get hot early by letting Franks get strip sacked as he gets out of the play action. Franks plays awful. Can't repeat.
Fans
If your going, show up early, get loud, let the team know your behind them. I've noticed many teams we have lost to in the Swamp have brought raucous crowds. I'm not saying it's a sure thing, but it does help. Show up and show out.
Dan Mullen has never lost to FSU, I don't think this is the time he does. This FSU team is too bad. I think the give some fight early, but our rushing attack takes it toll.
Florida 31 Florida State 21
Go Gators!
- BEAT FSU
- Win the SEC, because if winning the East mattered Mac would be a saint. 100% glad they got the East title painted over this year.
Gator Football, for me, is split into two time periods/sets of expectations, and it is split in 1990 with the arrival of Steve Spurrier as head coach. There was plenty of greatness before 1990, but then it was taken to the next level, the level we want to be at and the level we want to stay at, and also the level we currently are not at. In that time, we have developed new rivals to own (Tennessee) and overall, have owned others (Georgia). Since that time, there is only ONE, SOLO, SINGLE, UNO, rival who we play regularly and have a losing record against, the Florida State Seminoles. We are 12-17-1. For those of you playing the home game, yes, we have played them more than anyone else since we got Spurrier, 30 times in 28 years and we have lost more than we have won. This isn't a joke, this is the game of the season. This season means nothing if you lose the the worst FSU team in 40 years. You want to talk recruiting? Here are the pitches based on the outcome of the game:
- Willie Taggart if he wins: "Honestly, this is the worst team in 40 years and if UF couldn't beat that when they had 'shown progress', how much better could they really get? Come pay for the best team in Florida."
- Mullen if he wins: "Two programs, both with new coaches, one was 4-7 and won 5 more games, while the other program had a winning record the year before and ended with a losing one. That's the difference in the direction of the programs."
If we can run the ball, we will be fine. This game does not need to be put in the hands of Feleipe Franks. If he were more accurate down the field, I would 100% back taking some shots. I say take the 2nd half offensive plan from Carolina and let it ride. This FSU defense isn't that good. The D-line is decent, but that's about it. Get our guys in space and let them do their thing. Tyler Jordan, Fred Johnson, Martez Ivey, time to play like you actually care about being a Gator. Show the younger guys that this game means more, it does. If you block, Scarlett, Perine, Pierce, Toney, and dare I say Franks may have a field day running the ball. The last time we won, we put it away with the running game. Do Your Part. Tight ends, in 2014, we were dominating until one of you popped a ball up for a pick 6 that changed that game. Do Your Part. Receivers, block like you never have before and don't drop passes. Do Your Part. Running backs, find the holes, protect in the passing game. Do your part. QB('s), hit the open man, don't overthrow, take care of the football. Do Your Part. If you all play like your capable of, we've seen you drive 90 plus yards to take the lead multiple times this year. We've seen you come back from 3 score deficits multiple times this year. It all comes down to one thing, that you Do Your Part.
Defense
Let's not act like those 3 score deficits were all on the offense. Let's not pretend that the D-Line who did well against a good #failstate O-line and a good LSU team hasn't disappeared in recent weeks. Let's not lie and say that anything you've put on tape since the bye week (excluding Idaho) would lead an NFL team to draft you in a decent round. This is one of the worst offensive lines in the game, show everyone why you should get drafted. Do Your Part. Linebackers, your results have been mixed at best since the bye week. FSU has killed us on the ground the last 5 years. Do Your Part. DBU, let's not forget about Jake Fromm and Drew Lock having fun, especially on 3rd and long at your expense. This FSU has won a few games by BIG plays in the passing game in the final minutes. Ensure that this doesn't happen. In fact, keep the game going. Don't brag if a ball hits your helmet because if you even looked, its a pick. That's a failure on your part. Do Your Part.
Special Teams
Kick it out of the end zone, make your field goals, stop punt returns cold, pin them deep. Do Your Part.
I could spend a lot of time ranting about the last 16 games, so I will do it more briefly than I want:
2003: Refs AWFUL, still win if you don't give up a 50+ yard bomb near the end of the game.
2004: First time in Tally, probably taking the exact same crew this year for the first time since. Fun game. Got home around 4-5 am. After missing our hotel due to a wrong turn.
2005: Game began and UF scored TD's and FSU scored FG's, leads to a differential easily.
2006: 1 point win, Percy leaves injured in first half. Fiancee (now wife) and I get up at like 4-5 am in Pine Mountain, Georgia and drive to Tally to scalp tickets, good seats, we go on to a Natty.
2007: Geno Hayes, the cop beater, says Tebow is going down. He had one tackle, on Chris Rainey, which he acted like he was a badass after. Too bad Tebow embarrassed him with a spin move.
2008: Only UF-FSU I've missed in this span, in the rain, Percy leaves injured, Tebow gets warpaint, makes iconic image. We roll.
2009: Tebow says goodbye in a White helmut and destroy FSU.
2010: Microcosm, Jordan Reed drives us down the field, John Brantley inserted to play hero and he does...for FSU by throwing pick in the end zone.
2011: How we weren't shut out is amazing. This game was all that people needed to see to know Muschamp not going to work, if they didn't know already.
2012: The lone win this decade. The 4th quarter rushing game and Antonio Morrison put it away.
2013: Wow, just wow. "It's great to be a 4 and 8'er" rings through the Swamp...Muschamp retained.
2014: Really dominant start. Muschamp philosophy that DE's are good TE's bites us in ass as Tevin Westbrook stone hands a ball, allowing FSU to change the game with a pick 6.
2015: All around awful game. Treon, defense, o-line, running backs, everyone.
2016: I don't remember much, I do remember Callaway slowing down on a corner route that would have been a TD.
2017: God, o-line let's FSU get hot early by letting Franks get strip sacked as he gets out of the play action. Franks plays awful. Can't repeat.
Fans
If your going, show up early, get loud, let the team know your behind them. I've noticed many teams we have lost to in the Swamp have brought raucous crowds. I'm not saying it's a sure thing, but it does help. Show up and show out.
Dan Mullen has never lost to FSU, I don't think this is the time he does. This FSU team is too bad. I think the give some fight early, but our rushing attack takes it toll.
Florida 31 Florida State 21
Go Gators!