Not getting the Florida Fear/Hype going into 2025

[GAV4L]

I know they had a good run against us during the dark years, but now they are in their dark years and quickly heading towards being a bottom feeder in the SEC for a long long time. But when talking about next year, I've seen many fans on here pencil in @UF as a loss (despite us playing them in late Nov, which, the last time we played them at the Swamp after Nov 1, we won...and that was when they were still actually good!). I also see people talking about them being "on the rise" in different ways in many different threads and disucssions.

Don't forget, Big Josh owns UFail and has a winning record against Sunbelt Billy, winning 2 of the last 3. Nico is coming back and will be better than ever. And we just brought in a top 10 team off a playoff appearance and are in good position to go on a real run next year.

And where did all this arrogance and confidence come from the Lizard fans?

For the last three years all we heard from Lizard fans was how Sunbelt Billy was hot garbage and they were ready to can him. Now, it’s like they’re hoping we all have amnesia and they’re ready to crown him as the second coming of Saban and they wanna erect a statue in front of The Swamp for 5 loss seasons. Those jort-wearing fools have gone from calling Billy clown of the century to GOAT literally overnight.

I just don't get where all this is coming from considering that they're hot off a 5 loss season with a terrible coach with a 19-19 record there.

 

[IndianaVol]

Florida is trending in the right direction under Sunbelt Billy.
2nd half of their season was a lot, lot better than the 1st...to the point that I was glad UT didn't play them in the final 4 or 5 weeks.

One thing that concerns me here as well is in this first portal window it doesn't seem that Florida is losing very many pieces, and are picking up a few pieces.
The game is at Florida in late November, so history is on our side there, but still having to play them later can be not ideal if next year's Florida team develops like this year's squad.

I voted 'Maybe', but right now, I'm on the UT side of that 50/50 vote.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

“Big Josh” has been embarrassed both times he went to Gainesville, both against teams that finished with losing records. He is really bad on the road, there’s just no way around it. If you truly “don’t get where all this is coming from,” then you haven’t been paying attention.

 

[volmandu]

Florida is trending in the right direction under Sunbelt Billy.
2nd half of their season was a lot, lot better than the 1st...to the point that I was glad UT didn't play them in the final 4 or 5 weeks.

One thing that concerns me here as well is in this first portal window it doesn't seem that Florida is losing very many pieces, and are picking up a few pieces.
The game is at Florida in late November, so history is on our side there, but still having to play them later can be not ideal if next year's Florida team develops like this year's squad.

I voted 'Maybe', but right now, I'm on the UT side of that 50/50 vote.

I actually like playing them late. Billy will be on the hot seat by the time we play em and his team will have packed up. He is a bad coach who had a good season ending run (reminds me a lot of Butch)

 

[EastTNVol423]

eh it mostly comes down to the fact that we suck on the road in big games (especially at UF)

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

Voted “Maybe”. We barely beat them last year when they sucked and same in 2022. I'd feel better about the game if it was in Knoxville. We're breaking in a new OL, new WR group (for the most part), new RB1, and some new pieces on defense. Personally I'll be glad when they finally fall off the schedule with the new format.

 

[VOLfrombama]

Dangit its hard not to be pessimistic here, but going on the road in the SEC has been Heup's kryptonite so far. Having to do it against a rival, late in the season at that, is just plain concerning.

I will change my tune when they prove me wrong. I voted maybe because I hate the idea of that loss derailing our playoff chances. Maybe they can fix the offense and get it out of granny low. Maybe they can fix the pass rush and find a way to pressure Qbs when it matters most. Maybe the defense and the running game doesn't take a huge step back while the passing game takes a huge step forward.

Maybe I'm just in denial about the direction of the program, but there's a lot of things to iron out before I can vote yes.

 

[GAV4L]

I actually like playing them late. Billy will be on the hot seat by the time we play em and his team will have packed up. He is a bad coach who had a good season ending run (reminds me a lot of Butch)

Lagway is his dobbs

although Dobbs was way better

Lagway sucks tbh

 

[Volizona]

Expecting us to be underdogs at the Swamp next year and expect us to play our worst game of the year there. After 15+ years of playing at Florida, I am not willing to get my hopes up for this game. It doesn’t matter what the year is, who the coach is, or which team is better, we will lay an egg.

 

[rdk4121]

They'll be a pretty talented team and it's on the road. Certainly no gimme regardless of the team. We certainly can beat them by all means. I think it'll depend where their team stands at that point. The wheels could have fallen off by that point since this game is late in the year, or they could be on a heater like they ended this year. I think it is great we get to play them in November, since now the Florida heat won't be a factor.

 

[OrangeCola]

They had one hell of a schedule last year.

 

[rocketskates]

I can probably count on two hands the number of times that we were the “better team” and still blew it. Until we consistently beat them every year I will always be cautious about the Florida game.

 

[zeppelin128]

We've always struggled in Gainesville. Most teams do at the Swamp, even when they are having a down year.

 

[sonofUT62]

I actually like playing them late. Billy will be on the hot seat by the time we play em and his team will have packed up. He is a bad coach who had a good season ending run (reminds me a lot of Butch)

Yeah you can totally tell that by the way they won 4/5 after it was announced that he was being retained and they’ve since pretty much killed it in the portal and recruiting. From September 21st on they lost 3 games ALL of them to playoff teams. They took us to overtime on the road and were more competitive against UGA with a 3rd string QB.

 

[GAV4L]

They had one hell of a schedule last year.

They have the same schedule next year basically.

Another 5 or more loss season in store for the cafe risqué lot lizards

 

[GulfCoasterVol]

It's a road game and the gators..... so......

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Lagway is his dobbs

although Dobbs was way better

Lagway sucks tbh

Lagway is a true freshman who saved their season and his job, but if Lagway sucks, how can he be “Napier’s Dobbs?”

 

[The_topis_Rocky89]

It will be interesting to see, Brian Kelley and Lane Kiffin will be looking for revenge. Also they get Texas on the road and UGA I think they may be looking at 4 losses and fighting for bowl eligibility by time we come around. Lagway had a decent season but will probably be looking at a sophmore slump

 

[The_topis_Rocky89]

Lagway is a true freshman who saved their season and his job, but if Lagway sucks, how can he be “Napier’s Dobbs?”

I would argue their defense saved their season they played much better the back half of the season they are losing some pieces there as well

 

[sonofUT62]

Lagway is a true freshman who saved their season and his job, but if Lagway sucks, how can he be “Napier’s Dobbs?”

He leaves a trail of head scratching posts. I’m not sure that he isn’t the alter ego of another certain Josh Dobbs obsessee.

 

[05_never_again]

This has a lot to do with it. 7 wins since 1993, including just 2 in The Swamp.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

The fact that they won 8 games last year is scary. UF has a lot of talent and they are starting to recruit better. I don’t know. I do know one thing. If we actually do win in the swamp, it will be one of the biggest program wins in a long time. Maybe even bigger than beating Bama in 2022.

 

[farmdogvol]

Lagway is a true freshman who saved their season and his job, but if Lagway sucks, how can he be “Napier’s Dobbs?”

UT saved Napier by knocking out Mertz and forcing him to play Lagway. Lagway threw 2 ints and had a QBR of 48 against Tulane. He has a lot of talent but needs more work. Norris sucked in USCe's bowl game. He has a lot of talent also but needs more work. They, along with Nico play like Freshmen at times. Whoever progresses the most and plays the best next year, that team will probably have the best year.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

The fact that they won 8 games last year is scary. UF has a lot of talent and they are starting to recruit better. I don’t know. I do know one thing. If we actually do win in the swamp, it will be one of the biggest program wins in a long time. Maybe even bigger than beating Bama in 2022.

I disagree. Beating what is probably expected to be another 8-4 or 7-5 gator team, even in their house, is not nearly as big a deal as beating Bama at their peak, led by Saban, ranked #3 in the country IIRC.

Not even close.

Not even remotely close.

It's a nice meal at Arby's versus an all-expense paid weekend in Paris at Michelin 3-star/key hotels and restaurants.

Winning in the Swamp next year will be super nice, for sure, but it will only be a progression of the tectonic shift already underway. First we start beating them in our house (done, now, twice in a row), then we start beating them in their house.

Go Vols!

 

[jasonvol18]

I know they had a good run against us during the dark years, but now they are in their dark years and quickly heading towards being a bottom feeder in the SEC for a long long time. But when talking about next year, I've seen many fans on here pencil in @UF as a loss (despite us playing them in late Nov, which, the last time we played them at the Swamp after Nov 1, we won...and that was when they were still actually good!). I also see people talking about them being "on the rise" in different ways in many different threads and disucssions.

Don't forget, Big Josh owns UFail and has a winning record against Sunbelt Billy, winning 2 of the last 3. Nico is coming back and will be better than ever. And we just brought in a top 10 team off a playoff appearance and are in good position to go on a real run next year.

And where did all this arrogance and confidence come from the Lizard fans?

For the last three years all we heard from Lizard fans was how Sunbelt Billy was hot garbage and they were ready to can him. Now, it’s like they’re hoping we all have amnesia and they’re ready to crown him as the second coming of Saban and they wanna erect a statue in front of The Swamp for 5 loss seasons. Those jort-wearing fools have gone from calling Billy clown of the century to GOAT literally overnight.

I just don't get where all this is coming from considering that they're hot off a 5 loss season with a terrible coach with a 19-19 record there.

Fla is definitely trending up. Me personally, I mark down Fla as a loss every year, especially in the swamp. We struggle to beat them at home, much less in the swamp. Similar to Ohio St having yearly issues with Michigan, makes so sense but it happens..We really should have lost to Fla this year, we were very fortunate to have won.