What does he have to do to win you over?
I fully expected Mullen to make the team look
far better and have a substantial turnaround. My concern was, and is, that we hired Richt for UF. Richt most frequently performed at a B+ level, with variation to A- to B-, and rarely a C+. He never performed an A+ level. But, they also lost games they had no business losing every year and seriously struggled to beat his biggest rivals. Richt did rise up in the bowl games to beat the Big 10. He averaged 3.4 losses at UGA.
So, did losing 3 games, including the Mizzou (in particular, how we did) and KY, while having a good, not great recruiting class convince me? No.
To the "what will" question, winning the SEC certainly helps, but not if we backed in and pulled out one really good game.
Basically, context matters. Are we legitimate national title contenders and top 3 recruiting contenders most years for at least a long portion of the year. Of course we will not make it every year, but are we legit in the running. If so, I'll be convinced, because that is the Gator Standard. This year, I didn't expect us to be at that level for most of the season (of course), but good thing, because we made it clear we weren't when we lost to UK in game two.
Based on the current trajectory, do you think that's likely or even possible?
Yes, I absolutely believe the trajectory shows its possible, as is my hope regained that we will be competing amongst the top 5-8 teams nearly every year.
If this thread was "
When did you regain true hope?", then I would acknowledge I was too down on Mullen pre-hire and at his start. I expected much better than the last two idiots, but hope was still lost. I didn't falter in that position until around the second half of the Michigan game. By that point, recruiting was starting to turn finally and we were beginning to really show desire and focus against a team that had crushed us a year early (as I watched in Dallas). I've expanded my season tickets to 4 seats for the kids and definitely expect more fun on Saturdays moving forward. I'm also hopeful we make it all the way back. I'm not "convinced" we will yet though.
Another way to phrase this where I'd come out more pumperish than my original answer: "
If you had to bet your life savings on the Gators under Mullen either will get back to the consistently elite group or will not, which would you bet right now? And, is that different from how you would have voted on December 1, 2018"
My answers would be I'd bet it's more likely we get there than not (facilities notwithstanding) and I definitely didn't think that on December 1, 2018.
