Florida may forever be a relic

[lawgator1]

I have no respect for Bianchi, writer here in Central Florida, but this article of his, expounding on what Saban has had to say about UF, seems pretty spot on.

Florida's NIL collective is disorganized, even now, and the money we keep investing in coaches, expecting a turn around in 24 months, is just not going to work anymore. And we are comparing new coaches to what Spurrier and Meyer did, and without resources comparable to other teams.

Mike Bianchi: Nick Saban isn’t wrong when he says it’s a Gator problem, not a Napier problem

Is this the week? If the Florida Gators lose to UCF in six days, is this the week when they once again start from ground zero? When they fire their old coach — Billy Napier— and hire a new one? When they tear it all down? When they totally rebuild their roster? When they likely spend more than...

sports.yahoo.com

If I’ve written it once, I’ve written it a million times. The Gators have been living off Spurrier and Meyer for decades now. As somebody who grew up following Florida football and graduated from UF, I speak from experience. For most of their history, the Gators have been perennial underachievers.

Historically, Florida’s championship history is a flash in the pan; like a comet streaking across the southern skies. They had 18 aggregate seasons with two of the greatest coaches of all time — Spurrier and Meyer. The duo combined for three national championships and eight SEC championships. In the 72 other seasons of SEC competition under 14 different coaches, the Gators have combined for 0 national and conference championships.

Thing is, I have been up there a few times in recent years, and the university is different. I'm not complaining, its a much better academic institution than when I went there. Tougher to get into. More productive and focused. But that student body now seems far less interested in football than 30 years ago. And so does the school, itself.

I just think we may have reached a point where the momentum is not there to invest the time and money to try to be competitive again. We may easily be the next Nebraska. A legend to the old timers, a perpetual also-ran the rest of the way.

 

[VOLLeeann]

Rat poison

 

[Lawrence Wright]

Bianchi is notorious for click bait articles to boost Orlando Sentinel online subscriptions, but he’s spot on in this case.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

I have no respect for Bianchi, writer here in Central Florida, but this article of his, expounding on what Saban has had to say about UF, seems pretty spot on.

Florida's NIL collective is disorganized, even now, and the money we keep investing in coaches, expecting a turn around in 24 months, is just not going to work anymore. And we are comparing new coaches to what Spurrier and Meyer did, and without resources comparable to other teams.

Mike Bianchi: Nick Saban isn’t wrong when he says it’s a Gator problem, not a Napier problem

Is this the week? If the Florida Gators lose to UCF in six days, is this the week when they once again start from ground zero? When they fire their old coach — Billy Napier— and hire a new one? When they tear it all down? When they totally rebuild their roster? When they likely spend more than...

sports.yahoo.com

Thing is, I have been up there a few times in recent years, and the university is different. I'm not complaining, its a much better academic institution than when I went there. Tougher to get into. More productive and focused. But that student body now seems far less interested in football than 30 years ago. And so does the school, itself.

I just think we may have reached a point where the momentum is not there to invest the time and money to try to be competitive again. We may easily be the next Nebraska. A legend to the old timers, a perpetual also-ran the rest of the way.

I disagree. You may have an administrative issue similar to what we had 10-15 years ago, but with the right guy in place, Florida can be a monster again. The difference is that Georgia doesn’t suck like it did when Spurrier took over and the league in general is better overall. The geographic advantage that Florida has is significant when it comes to recruiting, so I don’t think you’re going to be the next Nebraska. Florida needs its identity back, which is athletic guys on offense and defense playing fast and a coach that has an edge to him. Napier isn’t that .

 

[lawgator1]

Bianchi is notorious for click bait articles to boost Orlando Sentinel online subscriptions, but he’s spot on in this case.

Yes, pretty much my take. He's well known to write insane things just to get a rise out of fans, of us, FSU, Miami on occasion. Normally pure crap, but the discussion in this piece is correct.

 

[05_never_again]

I have no respect for Bianchi, writer here in Central Florida, but this article of his, expounding on what Saban has had to say about UF, seems pretty spot on.

Florida's NIL collective is disorganized, even now, and the money we keep investing in coaches, expecting a turn around in 24 months, is just not going to work anymore. And we are comparing new coaches to what Spurrier and Meyer did, and without resources comparable to other teams.

Mike Bianchi: Nick Saban isn’t wrong when he says it’s a Gator problem, not a Napier problem

Is this the week? If the Florida Gators lose to UCF in six days, is this the week when they once again start from ground zero? When they fire their old coach — Billy Napier— and hire a new one? When they tear it all down? When they totally rebuild their roster? When they likely spend more than...

sports.yahoo.com

Thing is, I have been up there a few times in recent years, and the university is different. I'm not complaining, its a much better academic institution than when I went there. Tougher to get into. More productive and focused. But that student body now seems far less interested in football than 30 years ago. And so does the school, itself.

I just think we may have reached a point where the momentum is not there to invest the time and money to try to be competitive again. We may easily be the next Nebraska. A legend to the old timers, a perpetual also-ran the rest of the way.

You're joking, right? You'll never be Nebraska because of 1) recruiting footprint and 2) appropriate conference fit. Everything you just said about UF was said about Tennessee circa 2008-2021. Especially the "our admin doesn't care about football anymore" stuff.

The wild thing about college athletics is that once you get the "right" people in certain positions, things start to fall into place pretty quickly. Tennessee was a completely dysfunctional mess for almost 15 years but once competent people got involved the turnaround took a couple of years. TBH, you haven't had anything near as embarrassing as Schiano Sunday or Pruitt happen to your program (yet). We went 0-8 in SEC play in 2017, Hell, you've still managed to have 4 double-digit win seasons since 2012 and we had our first double-digit win season in 15 years a couple of years ago.

Basically what I'm saying is that I don't think you have hit the depths that UT hit, and you have structural advantages that UT does not (mostly recruiting-related). And FSU is currently a mess too, so you have that going for you.

 

[marcusluvsvols]

Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch IMO.

LG:

Coming to a VOLS board looking for sympathy or even empathy is a horrible idea. Fans of my generation still hate flarduh more than the pups OR gumps...and it isnt close. Due to Spurrier's arrogant arse keeping us from winning at least 2 or 3 national championships when we had the best team on the field. Fulmers staff just could not beat yall when we could have beaten any other team in the nation by at least a TD...those 90s teams were absolutely LOADED and still won at about a 90% rate despite losing to flarduh most years. We hate you. We will always hate you. If yall played a game against Obama, Charles Manson, the Toolbox Killers, and a bunch of child molesters I still couldnt pull for you to win. I would be pulling for a meteor or an earthquake.

Btw...yall managed to sneak in between US landing the best HS QB in the nation in both 2023 and 2026 and land the best QB in the country for the 2024 class...while having a 4-8 season and no bowlgame. So quit your whining. The state of florida is so loaded with HS talent and yall have beaches relatively close and good weather year round. Yall can land top 10 classes even when the kids know your coach sucks balls and is gonna get fired. Tennessee fans know how easy it is to win at FU, FSU, or Miami. You suck, we hate you, and we are probably gonna hang a 50 spot on you in Neyland in 2 weeks.

 

[05_never_again]

Yes, pretty much my take. He's well known to write insane things just to get a rise out of fans, of us, FSU, Miami on occasion. Normally pure crap, but the discussion in this piece is correct.

This part is wrong and clickbaity:

If I’ve written it once, I’ve written it a million times. The Gators have been living off Spurrier and Meyer for decades now. As somebody who grew up following Florida football and graduated from UF, I speak from experience. For most of their history, the Gators have been perennial underachievers.

There wasn't a great reason for UF (or any Florida school) to have been a good program before about 1985 or 1990. It isn't a coincidence that UF, FSU, and Miami all started getting really good for the first time at about the same time. Demographics are destiny in a lot of cases, and that + having good coaching = dominance.

UF has been a massive underachiever since Urban left with brief respites, sure, but that is hardly UF's entire history.

Historically, Florida’s championship history is a flash in the pan; like a comet streaking across the southern skies. They had 18 aggregate seasons with two of the greatest coaches of all time — Spurrier and Meyer. The duo combined for three national championships and eight SEC championships. In the 72 other seasons of SEC competition under 14 different coaches, the Gators have combined for 0 national and conference championships.

Well sure, he's right, but why is he suggesting that it be something other than that? Is he suggesting that UF should instead have a program history like Ohio St or Michigan? There's a reason why those schools have successful histories going back that far, and it isn't just because they had administrative buy-in or good coaches.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

It’s ironic that Jemery Foley’s zero tolerance for booster shenanigans during the pre-NIL days has UF disorganized and playing catch-up today in this brave new world.

Couple that with our AD and president both being lame ducks, it’s a perfect storm to keep us from being competitive for the time being.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

It’s ironic that Jemery Foley’s zero tolerance for booster shenanigans during the pre-NIL days has UF disorganized and playing catch-up today in this brave new world.

Couple that with our AD and president both being lame ducks, it’s a perfect storm to keep us from being competitive for the time being.

Time being is the crucial term here.

 

[LouderVol]

I see FSU as much more Nebraska-esque than UF. especially if they leave the ACC for anywhere but the SEC. not that I want them.

I also don't think either one of you have been down to that level, or down long enough to make those comparisons.

as time often shows its sometimes best NOT to go chasing new coaches. Keeping Dan Mullen for another year or two wouldn't have been the worst thing. Us keeping Fulmer another year, or at least not making a rush hire, would have us in a better spot. Nebraska and Pelini. If your school/AD isn't lined up it doesn't really matter who the coach is.

 

[OrangeEtBlanc]

Florida will not stay down much longer. I fear they are nearing the end of their down cycle once Napier is let go and they hire someone new. They have too many built-in advantages, and their in-state competition is not too strong to overcome. I think they are at a UT 2020 point, but with better current talent than we what we had then. Will their next coach be a Josh Heupel or a Hugh Freeze for their program, though?

 

[Charlie Kelly]

I have no respect for Bianchi, writer here in Central Florida, but this article of his, expounding on what Saban has had to say about UF, seems pretty spot on.

Florida's NIL collective is disorganized, even now, and the money we keep investing in coaches, expecting a turn around in 24 months, is just not going to work anymore. And we are comparing new coaches to what Spurrier and Meyer did, and without resources comparable to other teams.

Mike Bianchi: Nick Saban isn’t wrong when he says it’s a Gator problem, not a Napier problem

Is this the week? If the Florida Gators lose to UCF in six days, is this the week when they once again start from ground zero? When they fire their old coach — Billy Napier— and hire a new one? When they tear it all down? When they totally rebuild their roster? When they likely spend more than...

sports.yahoo.com

Thing is, I have been up there a few times in recent years, and the university is different. I'm not complaining, its a much better academic institution than when I went there. Tougher to get into. More productive and focused. But that student body now seems far less interested in football than 30 years ago. And so does the school, itself.

I just think we may have reached a point where the momentum is not there to invest the time and money to try to be competitive again. We may easily be the next Nebraska. A legend to the old timers, a perpetual also-ran the rest of the way.

You’re complaining to the wrong fan base.

If you still suck in 2035, come back and you may find some sympathy.

 

[Dudleys87]

The problem isn’t just the administration it’s knowing deep down they’ll hire some one who just goes through the motions. They’ll be happy with the results they get because the fat cats don’t want to win.

 

[marcusluvsvols]

You’re complaining to the wrong fan base.

If you still suck in 2035, come back and you may find some sympathy.

Nope. I was there for the Jabar Gafney NO CATCH. Maybe 15th row, lower level in the opposite corner of that endzone from where Gaffney was. It was right in front of my Dad and I. Only flarduh game I have ever been to in person at Neyland. Still makes me sick to this very day. Also... "Can't spell Citrus without UT."

I freaking hate them. With the intensity of 1000 pulsars. Beating Bama in 2022 meant more for the program...but to VOLS of a certain age, in the 40 to 60 range (i am 47) there is no better feeling than beating flarduh in cfb. I sincerely hope we hang 50 on them in 2 weeks. Last year, like so many years past, we had the superior team by far and still lost because Cooper couldnt play, and we were lost without him. Insane how many times we have lost to an inferior FU team. Payback time you sissies.

 

[feathersax]

It’s ironic that Jemery Foley’s zero tolerance for booster shenanigans during the pre-NIL days has UF disorganized and playing catch-up today in this brave new world.

Couple that with our AD and president both being lame ducks, it’s a perfect storm to keep us from being competitive for the time being.

For those of us Tennesse fans who have suffered throught inept admininstrations for several years, this rings true. A dead fish always STINKS from the head down.

 

[wmcovol]

I have no respect for Bianchi, writer here in Central Florida, but this article of his, expounding on what Saban has had to say about UF, seems pretty spot on.

Florida's NIL collective is disorganized, even now, and the money we keep investing in coaches, expecting a turn around in 24 months, is just not going to work anymore. And we are comparing new coaches to what Spurrier and Meyer did, and without resources comparable to other teams.

Mike Bianchi: Nick Saban isn’t wrong when he says it’s a Gator problem, not a Napier problem

Is this the week? If the Florida Gators lose to UCF in six days, is this the week when they once again start from ground zero? When they fire their old coach — Billy Napier— and hire a new one? When they tear it all down? When they totally rebuild their roster? When they likely spend more than...

sports.yahoo.com

Thing is, I have been up there a few times in recent years, and the university is different. I'm not complaining, its a much better academic institution than when I went there. Tougher to get into. More productive and focused. But that student body now seems far less interested in football than 30 years ago. And so does the school, itself.

I just think we may have reached a point where the momentum is not there to invest the time and money to try to be competitive again. We may easily be the next Nebraska. A legend to the old timers, a perpetual also-ran the rest of the way.

Jimmy ****in Cheek karma.

 

[volmanjr]

Boo fricking hoo

 

[Pepe_Silvia]

 

[Nerwen Aldarion]

I don’t think Florida will forever wander on obscurity.


Napier needs to go, there’s no doubt about that. But it’s true the problem extends far more than just your coach, you have a big administration problem that needs to be cleaned up, you certainly need to get a better handle on NIL.

Florida is behind, that’s the truth. But I see absolutely no reason why you guys can’t catch up, it won’t be easy or fun but it’s certainly possible and I’d say even probable that you will.

The gators are an institution. Get your **** together and the fans will get excited about football again. I don’t see the antipathy you guys are, I don’t think that the Florida fans are deserting the football team or just don’t care anymore.

You can and will come back. It’s just not going to be tomorrow.

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

I have no respect for Bianchi, writer here in Central Florida, but this article of his, expounding on what Saban has had to say about UF, seems pretty spot on.

Florida's NIL collective is disorganized, even now, and the money we keep investing in coaches, expecting a turn around in 24 months, is just not going to work anymore. And we are comparing new coaches to what Spurrier and Meyer did, and without resources comparable to other teams.

Mike Bianchi: Nick Saban isn’t wrong when he says it’s a Gator problem, not a Napier problem

Is this the week? If the Florida Gators lose to UCF in six days, is this the week when they once again start from ground zero? When they fire their old coach — Billy Napier— and hire a new one? When they tear it all down? When they totally rebuild their roster? When they likely spend more than...

sports.yahoo.com

Thing is, I have been up there a few times in recent years, and the university is different. I'm not complaining, its a much better academic institution than when I went there. Tougher to get into. More productive and focused. But that student body now seems far less interested in football than 30 years ago. And so does the school, itself.

I just think we may have reached a point where the momentum is not there to invest the time and money to try to be competitive again. We may easily be the next Nebraska. A legend to the old timers, a perpetual also-ran the rest of the way.

You all will be fine. You have crap leadership and until you get that fixed, you will be in the dumps. Trust us, we know all too well..

 

[OrangeEtBlanc]

I just hope we beat the Gators about 5 times in a row before they get things figured out again. Wonder if we’ll still play every year after next season.

 

[superdave1984]

You all will be fine. You have crap leadership and until you get that fixed, you will be in the dumps. Trust us, we know all too well..

Sounds like the Dallas Cowboys

 

[utvolpj]

Here's hoping this is your first prediction thread to end up being correct

 

[CAVPUT]

Bianchi is notorious for click bait articles to boost Orlando Sentinel online subscriptions, but he’s spot on in this case.

Lawrence poor mouthing like ND in baseball. Nope...ain't buying it. UF is a loss until proven otherwise.