Gator Gridiron
Roger Franklin Williams
For those of us who follow football on a 365 day basis, late February and early March brings us to the "Silly Season" of football in America...aka the NFL Combine. The combine is a 3 day period a couple of months before the April draft where top NFL prospects are assembled to perform a variety of absurd tasks such as the shuttle run, triple jump, long jump, high jump, etc. that are ostensibly designed to measure a prospects potential as a professional player. (I guess scouting players during their college careers and watching tape of their on-the-field performances makes too much sense to NFL personnel types....or represents too much work.) After all the poking, prodding, one-on-one interviews, Wonderlik tests, etc. ad nauseum, the determination of the "experts" usually goes something like this, "Tim Tebow just isn't suited to play quarterback in the NFL because he 1) played in a shotgun-spread offense instead of a "pro-style" offense 2) he is not a "pure pocket" passer 3) he leaves the pocket to gain yardage running the ball.... and Emmitt Smith is too small and too slow to ever be an effective NFL running back."
Now that Cam Newton has come along in 2011 we learn that the talented young man with the checkered past is a "can't miss" NFL prospect due to the "benefits" of his style of play at Auburn which include 1) he played in a shotgun-spread offense instead of a "pro-style" offense, 2) he is not a "pure pocket" passer 3) he leaves the pocket to gain yardage running the ball.
Say what??? Cam Newton is being touted as a can't miss prospect by the same exact so-called experts who spent most of 2010 so matter-of-factly declaring that Tim Tebow could never play QB in the NFL, even though Tebow and Cam Newton played in a very similar shotgun-spread offense, neither of them are classic "drop back" passers and they both are noted for being prolific runners as opposed to "pro-style" QBs???
Why would Cam Newton be a better NFL prospect than Tim Tebow?
The intelligent, INFORMED short answer is that Cam Newton IS NOT A BETTER NFL PROSPECT than Tim Tebow.
Mel Kuiper, Jr. and his sad-sack peanut gallery of imitators in the so-called "talent expert" industry have unwittingly exposed their bias, incompetence and malevolence. Gator Gridiron, as well as other informed observers (which, sadly, is a very small community), have been declaring for years that Kuiper and his ilk are not talent "experts" at all. They are, rather, snake oil salesmen, making it up as they go along in order to generate more publicity for themselves, as well as to reward or punish young men, based on their own personal biases (or, reportedly, satisfy other more base motives). Now with their contradictory "analysis" of Tebow and Newton, both dual threat, spread option, shotgun QBs, they have revealed to America how subjective, nebulous and self-serving their "evaluations" really are.
(Also, for the record, if anybody is really thinking out there in NFL land.....Tim Tebow is one of the greatest passing QBs in the 140+ year history of college football: almost 10,000 career passing yards, over 80 career TD passes, the highest passing efficiency rating in SEC history, the 3rd highest passing efficiency rating in NCAA history, the best passing performance in BCS Bowl game history---over 450 yards in the 2010 Sugar Bowl, not to mention he had THREE outstanding years, as opposed to 1 outstanding year for Cam Newton.....not to mention, no arrests for burglary, no arrests for resisting arrest, never caught cheating, never implicated in any "play for pay" schemes, etc, etc, etc)
Thank you, Mel....for showcasing to America what Gator Gridiron and a cadre of other informed observers have known for decades.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
ANOTHER UNDERSERVED, IRRATIONAL INSULT FOR TEBOW
Gator Gridiron
Roger Franklin Williams
New Denver Broncos Head Coach John Fox declared Kyle Orton as his "starting quarterback" on Thursday. (Gee, and I thought Steve Addazio was an idiot.) Putting aside the fact that the term "starting quarterback" in February is about as much of an exact term as the phrase "the check is in the mail", Fox' statement does reflect the mindset of the new leadership of the Broncos. It also represents, temporarily at least, another obstacle for the NFL career of Tim Tebow. Acutally, not just another obstacle, but another irrational, moronic, unfair obstacle. After providing the Broncos with a shot in the arm in the last 3 games of last season, when he led Denver from a 0-17 halftime dedicit to victory in one game, became only the 3rd QB in the history of the National Football League to throw a 30+ yard TD pass and run for a 40+ yard TD in the same game in another while making Denver's final 3 contests competitive as he piled up yardage, first downs and, of course touchdowns, Tebow now has to suffer the indignity of being relegated to 2nd rate status once again. (Tebow accounted for 13 touchdowns in his minscule time on the field---3 games as a starter---while the "starting quarterback" Orton accounted for a total of 20 in 13 games while going a scintillating 3-10 as "the starter".)
What's wrong with these idiots in the NFL? Or, more specifically, Denver?
The answer to that is complex, but mixed among the complexity are some elements of the base,dark side of the human condition. For example, longtime observers of the NFL, such as Gator Gridiron, are keenly aware that the NFL provides a textbook example of that insidious corporate disease "group think". The price, or at least the perceived price, for failure--losing your job--is so high that those in positions of authority over personnel decisions fall back on tangible qualities such as 40 yard dash times and results of such arcane exercises as the shuttle run (whatever that is). For quarterbacks there is only one accepted style of play and that is the classic drop back passer model. Any player who dares to deviate from the accepted template of physical appearance or playing style is shunned by the group (player personnel types/front office executives/coaches). No one has the originality or courage or integrity to break away from the group norm and accept the common sense notion that there is not just one way to play quarterback....even when outstanding, successful, winning play is being demonstrated right before their very eyes!
New Denver coach John Fox is apparantly another one of these sad-sack, cold, gray souls who lacks the discernment or courage to step outside the "group-think" norm of the other nameless, faceless corporate NFL drones.
DOES ELWAY FEEL THREATENED?
Alas, in Denver, Tim has ANOTHER non-performance related obstacle in his path---former Hall-of-Fame QB and Denver icon John Elway. At first glance Gator Gridiron felt that having Elway more involved would be beneficial to Tim....seeing how Elway faced some of the same frustrations that Tebow has endured when he (Elway) came into the league. Elway--admittedly more of a "drop back" passer than Tebow-- came under fire, nevertheless, for his propensity to abandon the pocket and run to buy time or gain yardage; the same complaint so often hurled at Tim. Elway, however, seems to be another Tebow detractor.....perplexing....until one reflects back to the before mentioned "base, dark side" of human nature. As the resident "All time Greatest Bronco", maybe John Elway understands, in an innate kind of way, that status is a LOT safer with Kyle Orton as starting QB than with Tim Tebow.
Roger Franklin Williams
New Denver Broncos Head Coach John Fox declared Kyle Orton as his "starting quarterback" on Thursday. (Gee, and I thought Steve Addazio was an idiot.) Putting aside the fact that the term "starting quarterback" in February is about as much of an exact term as the phrase "the check is in the mail", Fox' statement does reflect the mindset of the new leadership of the Broncos. It also represents, temporarily at least, another obstacle for the NFL career of Tim Tebow. Acutally, not just another obstacle, but another irrational, moronic, unfair obstacle. After providing the Broncos with a shot in the arm in the last 3 games of last season, when he led Denver from a 0-17 halftime dedicit to victory in one game, became only the 3rd QB in the history of the National Football League to throw a 30+ yard TD pass and run for a 40+ yard TD in the same game in another while making Denver's final 3 contests competitive as he piled up yardage, first downs and, of course touchdowns, Tebow now has to suffer the indignity of being relegated to 2nd rate status once again. (Tebow accounted for 13 touchdowns in his minscule time on the field---3 games as a starter---while the "starting quarterback" Orton accounted for a total of 20 in 13 games while going a scintillating 3-10 as "the starter".)
What's wrong with these idiots in the NFL? Or, more specifically, Denver?
The answer to that is complex, but mixed among the complexity are some elements of the base,dark side of the human condition. For example, longtime observers of the NFL, such as Gator Gridiron, are keenly aware that the NFL provides a textbook example of that insidious corporate disease "group think". The price, or at least the perceived price, for failure--losing your job--is so high that those in positions of authority over personnel decisions fall back on tangible qualities such as 40 yard dash times and results of such arcane exercises as the shuttle run (whatever that is). For quarterbacks there is only one accepted style of play and that is the classic drop back passer model. Any player who dares to deviate from the accepted template of physical appearance or playing style is shunned by the group (player personnel types/front office executives/coaches). No one has the originality or courage or integrity to break away from the group norm and accept the common sense notion that there is not just one way to play quarterback....even when outstanding, successful, winning play is being demonstrated right before their very eyes!
New Denver coach John Fox is apparantly another one of these sad-sack, cold, gray souls who lacks the discernment or courage to step outside the "group-think" norm of the other nameless, faceless corporate NFL drones.
DOES ELWAY FEEL THREATENED?
Alas, in Denver, Tim has ANOTHER non-performance related obstacle in his path---former Hall-of-Fame QB and Denver icon John Elway. At first glance Gator Gridiron felt that having Elway more involved would be beneficial to Tim....seeing how Elway faced some of the same frustrations that Tebow has endured when he (Elway) came into the league. Elway--admittedly more of a "drop back" passer than Tebow-- came under fire, nevertheless, for his propensity to abandon the pocket and run to buy time or gain yardage; the same complaint so often hurled at Tim. Elway, however, seems to be another Tebow detractor.....perplexing....until one reflects back to the before mentioned "base, dark side" of human nature. As the resident "All time Greatest Bronco", maybe John Elway understands, in an innate kind of way, that status is a LOT safer with Kyle Orton as starting QB than with Tim Tebow.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
INTRIGUING NEW OC FOR GATORS
Of the many new plot lines for Gator Football this coming seasoson, the dramatic change in the Offensive Coordinator coaching position is one of the most intriguing. At first glance the Gators go from a self-promoting, incompetent, in-over-his-head, career damaging (Tim Tebow), career destroying (John Brantley,Urban Meyer), meathead (Steve Addazio) to one of the most accomplished offensive minds in the game (Charlie Weis). From a guy who parlayed a middling career as an offensive line coach into a position of commanding the fabled Florida Gator offense, then taking that offense, along with careers of John Brantley and Urban Meyer down into the depths of the Atlantic to a guy who helped to groom a player who will go down as of the greatest NFL QB's of all-time (Tom Brady), while directing an offense that picked up 3 Super Bowl rings. What a dramatic step up....at least on the surface. A closer look, however, produces a more somber perspective. For example, Weis' greatest successes have taken place in the professional ranks; the NFL and college football are dramatically different, to the point of being almost two different games. In Gainesville Weis won't be teaching his complex pro-style offense to professional, experienced men, but to teenagers and college kids, some of them immature and others still learning to develop a professional work ethic off-the-field while balancing the rigors of college life, the Gainesville "social scene" and the challenge of being away from home for the first time. The new OC with the gold-plated resume will also be living in a much different geographical/cultural milieu. Will Weis, a self-proclaimed "Jersey Guy" known for his gruff exterior who has spent the bulk of his life and career in the Northeast be comfortable coaching college kids in the rural small town South? I mean, Gainesville ain't exactly South Beach...or even Tampa or Orlando, for that matter. It is important to note that even though Weis did not ultimately succeed at Notre Dame as head coach, his offense was consistently highly productive and he groomed two QB's who were early round NFL draft choices.
How will Charlie Weis do as Florida Gator Offensive Coordinator? Will he produce a newer, more high-tech 21st Century version of the exciting, high flying offense that has characterized Florida Football, for the most part, since Steve Spurrier's arrival as a Soph QB in 1964? Or will he struggle to adjust to a different social/cultural/regional climate while attempting the difficult process of teaching young college players the nuances of his sophisticated, professional system? Like just about every other aspect of the dramatic recent changes in Florida Gator Football; only time will tell.
How will Charlie Weis do as Florida Gator Offensive Coordinator? Will he produce a newer, more high-tech 21st Century version of the exciting, high flying offense that has characterized Florida Football, for the most part, since Steve Spurrier's arrival as a Soph QB in 1964? Or will he struggle to adjust to a different social/cultural/regional climate while attempting the difficult process of teaching young college players the nuances of his sophisticated, professional system? Like just about every other aspect of the dramatic recent changes in Florida Gator Football; only time will tell.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
GATOR FANS EAGERLY AWAIT SPRING FOOTBALL
Gator Gridiron
Roger Franklin Williams
With the start of spring football just around the corner--first day of practice is March 16--Gator fans across Florida and across the country are filled with various degress of anticipation, optimism and anxiety.
As Gator Gridiron has discussed the upcoming first glance at the new Gator regime with other Gators, we have heard a variety of very interesting questions (in addition to posing a few or our own). We'll share a sample with you today...
"Gee, can't wait to see what Coach Will and his staff have in store on offense and defense!"..."Isn't it great to land a guy with the impressive pro offensive credentials of Charlie Weis?"..."What will the new offense look like?"..."How will Senior QB John Brantley perform with new coaches and a more pass friendly system?"..."Will highly touted Freshman QB Jeff Driskel compete for playing time or even emerge as the starter?"..."And what about prize, surprise recruit Jacoby Bissette?...will he compete for the starting job?"..."What about last years QB's Trey Burton and Josh Reed; how do they fit in?" ......
..."Gee, I hope Jeremy knows what he is doing bringing in a young HC with no head coaching experience...."..."Is Will Muschamp really the man to keep the Gators at the highest echelon of college football--competing for the SEC Championship every year and for National Championships on a regular basis?...I mean he looks so young..."..."Will a crusty (some call him abrasive), self-proclaimed 'Jersey Guy' , Weis, who who struggled as a college head coach at Notre Dame really fit in college, especially in the SEC?" "Will Brantley stick around for his Senior year or transfer?
These questions and scores, if not hundreds, of others abound throughout Gator Nation. In the coming days Gator Gridiron will begin to share our thoughts on some of the possible answers...as well as pose a few more of our own....until then, we'll cotinue to be content....ecstatic actually...by focusing on our own rhetorical question,
"Isn't it great that that incompetent meathead Addazio has been expunged from Gator Nation???!!!! Yes!!!!!
Roger Franklin Williams
With the start of spring football just around the corner--first day of practice is March 16--Gator fans across Florida and across the country are filled with various degress of anticipation, optimism and anxiety.
As Gator Gridiron has discussed the upcoming first glance at the new Gator regime with other Gators, we have heard a variety of very interesting questions (in addition to posing a few or our own). We'll share a sample with you today...
"Gee, can't wait to see what Coach Will and his staff have in store on offense and defense!"..."Isn't it great to land a guy with the impressive pro offensive credentials of Charlie Weis?"..."What will the new offense look like?"..."How will Senior QB John Brantley perform with new coaches and a more pass friendly system?"..."Will highly touted Freshman QB Jeff Driskel compete for playing time or even emerge as the starter?"..."And what about prize, surprise recruit Jacoby Bissette?...will he compete for the starting job?"..."What about last years QB's Trey Burton and Josh Reed; how do they fit in?" ......
..."Gee, I hope Jeremy knows what he is doing bringing in a young HC with no head coaching experience...."..."Is Will Muschamp really the man to keep the Gators at the highest echelon of college football--competing for the SEC Championship every year and for National Championships on a regular basis?...I mean he looks so young..."..."Will a crusty (some call him abrasive), self-proclaimed 'Jersey Guy' , Weis, who who struggled as a college head coach at Notre Dame really fit in college, especially in the SEC?" "Will Brantley stick around for his Senior year or transfer?
These questions and scores, if not hundreds, of others abound throughout Gator Nation. In the coming days Gator Gridiron will begin to share our thoughts on some of the possible answers...as well as pose a few more of our own....until then, we'll cotinue to be content....ecstatic actually...by focusing on our own rhetorical question,
"Isn't it great that that incompetent meathead Addazio has been expunged from Gator Nation???!!!! Yes!!!!!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
GRIDIRON GATOR: AHMAD BLACK IS A GREAT NFL PROSPECT
Gridiron Gator
Roger Franklin Williams
Unlike 2010 when the Gators produced 13 players who appeared on NFL rosters during the 2011 season, Gainesville is not exactly a hot spot for NFL scouts for this years NFL draft. With the 2010 Senior class picked clean last year with 5 juniors leaving school to pursue their NFL dreams, only a couple of draft eligible players from last fall seem to excite NFL scouts. The concensus top Gator prospect, at least among NFL personnel types, seems to be Michael Pouncey, who will mercifully return to his natural position of OG in the pros. NFL draft-niks also seem excited by Will Hill as a prospect at S. Let's hope Will achieves more in "The League" than he did as a Gator.
The "Gator Gridiron" top prospect is an instinctive, hard hitting, "always around the ball", Safety from Lakeland High; Ahmad Black. Ahmad Black is not only one of the most underrated Gators in the last 50 years, he is one of the Greatest Gator players of the last half-century. From his first game as a starter vs Hawaii in 2008, where he provided a highlight reel of big plays, including multiple turnovers, the hard-nosed DB was always around the ball, whether the ball was in the air, on the ground or in a running backs hands. Hard hits, big plays, more that his share of interceptions, fumble recoverys and fumbles caused and smart, intelligent, instinctive play is what Gator fans, coaches and teammates received from Ahmad Black on a weekly basis over the course of his 3 year career as a starter in the Gator secondary. Of course, the (self proclaimed) "experts" , Mel Kuiper, Jr and Todd "Suzie" McShay don't think much of Ahmad Black..... which makes sense since those particular "experts" have a truly astounding track record of being wrong. (Of course, astute observers know that Kuiper is not an authentic personnel "expert" at all, but a flim-flam man--someone who has taken an extraordinary talent for skillful self-promotion, hype and irrelevant bs and made a career out of trashing achievers who have genuine talent such as Tim Tebow, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, etc.
The Gator Gridiron evaluation is this; I don't know Ahmad Black's time in the shuttle-run, how many times he can bench press 200 pounds or what he does in the verticle leap. What I do know is this, Ahmad Black is a FOOTBALL PLAYER; and not just a football player, but a great one. He has instinct, quickness, playmaking ability, football IQ, heart and guts. Ahmad Black was a great Gator and he will be an outsanding football player in the National Football League.
Roger Franklin Williams
Unlike 2010 when the Gators produced 13 players who appeared on NFL rosters during the 2011 season, Gainesville is not exactly a hot spot for NFL scouts for this years NFL draft. With the 2010 Senior class picked clean last year with 5 juniors leaving school to pursue their NFL dreams, only a couple of draft eligible players from last fall seem to excite NFL scouts. The concensus top Gator prospect, at least among NFL personnel types, seems to be Michael Pouncey, who will mercifully return to his natural position of OG in the pros. NFL draft-niks also seem excited by Will Hill as a prospect at S. Let's hope Will achieves more in "The League" than he did as a Gator.
The "Gator Gridiron" top prospect is an instinctive, hard hitting, "always around the ball", Safety from Lakeland High; Ahmad Black. Ahmad Black is not only one of the most underrated Gators in the last 50 years, he is one of the Greatest Gator players of the last half-century. From his first game as a starter vs Hawaii in 2008, where he provided a highlight reel of big plays, including multiple turnovers, the hard-nosed DB was always around the ball, whether the ball was in the air, on the ground or in a running backs hands. Hard hits, big plays, more that his share of interceptions, fumble recoverys and fumbles caused and smart, intelligent, instinctive play is what Gator fans, coaches and teammates received from Ahmad Black on a weekly basis over the course of his 3 year career as a starter in the Gator secondary. Of course, the (self proclaimed) "experts" , Mel Kuiper, Jr and Todd "Suzie" McShay don't think much of Ahmad Black..... which makes sense since those particular "experts" have a truly astounding track record of being wrong. (Of course, astute observers know that Kuiper is not an authentic personnel "expert" at all, but a flim-flam man--someone who has taken an extraordinary talent for skillful self-promotion, hype and irrelevant bs and made a career out of trashing achievers who have genuine talent such as Tim Tebow, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, etc.
The Gator Gridiron evaluation is this; I don't know Ahmad Black's time in the shuttle-run, how many times he can bench press 200 pounds or what he does in the verticle leap. What I do know is this, Ahmad Black is a FOOTBALL PLAYER; and not just a football player, but a great one. He has instinct, quickness, playmaking ability, football IQ, heart and guts. Ahmad Black was a great Gator and he will be an outsanding football player in the National Football League.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
GATOR LB NEIRON BALL HOSPITALIZED
Rising sophomore LB Neiron Ball suffered ruptured blood vessels in the brain and contunued to be treated in the intensive care unit of Shands Hospital as of Wednesday Feb 16, according to published reports. Ball was admitted Tuesday in the am after suffering headaches on Monday evening. Gator Head Coach Will Muschamp and other members of the football coaching staff were reportedly by Ball's side Tuesday evening.
According to UF Sports Information Director Steve McClain's published statement, Neiron has suffered with a congential vascular condition since birth and this episode is not related to any on the field athletic or conditioning activity. At this time Ball's participation in Spring Football, which starts on March 9, is condidered unlikely.
According to UF Sports Information Director Steve McClain's published statement, Neiron has suffered with a congential vascular condition since birth and this episode is not related to any on the field athletic or conditioning activity. At this time Ball's participation in Spring Football, which starts on March 9, is condidered unlikely.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
JA'JUAN STORY ADDS LUSTER AND LOYALTY TO 2011 CLASS
One of several brightspots on signing day for Florida was the committment of tall, athletic Ja'Juan Story of Hernando County's Nature Coast Tech. At a reported 6'3" 190 lbs with 4.4 speed, the lanky high school QB brings loads of athleticism and potential to the Gator WR corps. As a QB at Nature Coast, Story rushed for 847 yards and 12 tds and even caught 7 passes for 123 yards and 2 tds to go along with is 427 yards passing. The Gators have a long history of great WR's converting from other positions to star as receivers. That list includes former QB's Cris Collinsworth,Jacquez Green and Reche Caldwell and former RB's Richard Trapp, Carlos Alvarez and Percy Harvin to name a few. Perhaps the best thing about landing Story was the resolve he showed in becoming a Gator by ultimately rejecting aggressive suitors such Georgia, LSU, Oregon and Ohio St.In fact, in the final days,there was considerable internet buzz that Ohio St would land him. Gator Gridiron is of the opinion that committment to the program is an even better indicator for potential on-the-field success than 40 yard dash times and recruiting hype. If that is the case, the athletic young man from Hernando County arrives with excellent credentials for future success; Ju'Juan was particularly impacted by the extreme turnover in the 2010 staff---he had 3 different coaches assigned to recruit him for the Gators who left before National Signing Day. Even so, Story was impressed by the new Gator staff, especially high profile new Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis,"I'm pretty sure he's gonna throw it a lot in a pro style offense." New Head Coach Will Muschamp also made a positive impression on the prized future Gator:"He's pretty cool and I like him."
Monday, February 14, 2011
Gator Great Jack Youngblood discusses Hall Of Fame Career with Gator Gridiron
Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood is this week's featured "Old School Gator Great". In an exclusive 2-part "Old School Gator with Roger Franklin Williams" interview, Jack shares insights of his extraordinary career, from his high school days at Montecello Jefferson County High School to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Clip 1 (first posted last week in conjunction with the Super Bowl): Jack Youngblood shares the story of playing in Super Bowl XIV on a broken leg with Gator Gridiron.
Clip 2: The Gator Great and NFL Hall-of-Famer talks about his days as a Junior DE for the '69 Gators on one of the all-time great Gator teams; his role in the historic '69 Gator Bowl where the '69 Gators upset favored regular season SEC Champion Tennessee in one of the most dramatic games the Gators have ever played, and the little known story of his being passed over by FSU and signing with the only school to offer him a scholarship, the Florida Gators.
Clip 1 (first posted last week in conjunction with the Super Bowl): Jack Youngblood shares the story of playing in Super Bowl XIV on a broken leg with Gator Gridiron.
Clip 2: The Gator Great and NFL Hall-of-Famer talks about his days as a Junior DE for the '69 Gators on one of the all-time great Gator teams; his role in the historic '69 Gator Bowl where the '69 Gators upset favored regular season SEC Champion Tennessee in one of the most dramatic games the Gators have ever played, and the little known story of his being passed over by FSU and signing with the only school to offer him a scholarship, the Florida Gators.
Friday, February 11, 2011
MEYER CONSPIRACY THEORIES OFF BASE
Gator Gridiron
Roger Franklin Williams
Since Urban Meyer resigned for the second time in December of 2010, speculation as to "why" Coach Meyer resigned has become something of a cottage industry among those who rabidly follow college football, especially the SEC. In recent days, every conversation your "Old School Gator" has had with a college football fan has included being inundated with "theories" of the "real reason" Meyer chose to end his career with the Gators. From the Gator Gridiron point of view, here is the "real reason"---CM was "burned out" from decades of relentless non-stop pursuit of career advancement, recruiting dominance and conference and national championship trophies and, after a serious health crisis, which included his being carried out of his bedroom at 4 o'clock in the morning by paramedics in front of his wife and children, he had a dramatic re-evaluation of his life and career goals which resulted in his wanting to live a slower paced life--- a life that actually included spending time with his wife and children. In other words, Gator Gridiron believes that Urban Meyer's stated reasons for resigning ARE the "real reasons" he resigned.
For some reason this perfectly rational, and medically documented (physically and psychologically), explanation of Coach Urban Meyer's change in career path is lost on legions of college football fans, including Gator fans. To those who continue to be obsessed with dark fantasies of Meyer's true motivations, the Old School Gator would like to pose a few questions.
For instance; why would a man who literally almost worked himself to death in the pursuit of National Championships want to risk his life continuing to work at that pace (the only pace a guy like Meyer knows) to win more National Championships when he already has two National Championship trophies sitting on his mantle?
Why would a man who loves his family go against the strong desire of his wife and teenage children to slow down and protect his health in order to continue a brutal, obsessive career grind when he has already achieved more (at his age) than virtually any coach in college football history?
Why would a guy who is at an age--early 40's--when tens of thousands of American men drop dead every day of stress related illnsesses risk his life to continue to pound away at an 18 hour/7 day a week/365 day a year monster (feeding a hungry Gator Nation with our required quota of BCS Bowl victories and SEC and National Championships) when he already has achieved lifetime financial security?
Gator fans and Gator Haters can continue to waste their time speculating on the "real reasons" Urban Meyer resigned as Head Coach at Florida, but this Gator is perfectly satisfied that the reasons stated by Coach Meyer are absolutely rational, sane and genuine; unlike the legions of conspiracy theorists who continue to advance increasingly bizzare, ridiculous and malevolent motives.
xxx
Roger Franklin Williams
Since Urban Meyer resigned for the second time in December of 2010, speculation as to "why" Coach Meyer resigned has become something of a cottage industry among those who rabidly follow college football, especially the SEC. In recent days, every conversation your "Old School Gator" has had with a college football fan has included being inundated with "theories" of the "real reason" Meyer chose to end his career with the Gators. From the Gator Gridiron point of view, here is the "real reason"---CM was "burned out" from decades of relentless non-stop pursuit of career advancement, recruiting dominance and conference and national championship trophies and, after a serious health crisis, which included his being carried out of his bedroom at 4 o'clock in the morning by paramedics in front of his wife and children, he had a dramatic re-evaluation of his life and career goals which resulted in his wanting to live a slower paced life--- a life that actually included spending time with his wife and children. In other words, Gator Gridiron believes that Urban Meyer's stated reasons for resigning ARE the "real reasons" he resigned.
For some reason this perfectly rational, and medically documented (physically and psychologically), explanation of Coach Urban Meyer's change in career path is lost on legions of college football fans, including Gator fans. To those who continue to be obsessed with dark fantasies of Meyer's true motivations, the Old School Gator would like to pose a few questions.
For instance; why would a man who literally almost worked himself to death in the pursuit of National Championships want to risk his life continuing to work at that pace (the only pace a guy like Meyer knows) to win more National Championships when he already has two National Championship trophies sitting on his mantle?
Why would a man who loves his family go against the strong desire of his wife and teenage children to slow down and protect his health in order to continue a brutal, obsessive career grind when he has already achieved more (at his age) than virtually any coach in college football history?
Why would a guy who is at an age--early 40's--when tens of thousands of American men drop dead every day of stress related illnsesses risk his life to continue to pound away at an 18 hour/7 day a week/365 day a year monster (feeding a hungry Gator Nation with our required quota of BCS Bowl victories and SEC and National Championships) when he already has achieved lifetime financial security?
Gator fans and Gator Haters can continue to waste their time speculating on the "real reasons" Urban Meyer resigned as Head Coach at Florida, but this Gator is perfectly satisfied that the reasons stated by Coach Meyer are absolutely rational, sane and genuine; unlike the legions of conspiracy theorists who continue to advance increasingly bizzare, ridiculous and malevolent motives.
xxx
Thursday, February 10, 2011
CM TO ESPN
Gator Gridiron
Roger Franklin Williams
ESPN announced last week that the network has hired a new college football analyst. The new talking head will be a familiar face to Gator fans….It’s Coach Urban Meyer. The prospect of Coach Meyer as television personality posed an interesting question; how will CM do as a television analyst? As Head Gator, Meyer’s interviews were often tedious, close to the vest, regurgitations of “coach-speak”. (Which was fine with me, the last thing I want my Head Ball Coach to do is play to the media, take time away from coaching the team to indulge media geeks or, worse yet, reveal important information to the public.) On the other hand, Meyer has a tremendous reservoir of experience in the trenches of college football from which to provide interesting insights, if he is so inclined. Plus, he’s a handsome guy with great hair.
This Gator will be looking for insights into Meyer’s personality; one of the ironic aspects of the Meyer era in Gainesville is that he was so buttoned-up, intense and relentlessly hard driving that, unlike Steve Spurrier, most Gators feel they never got to know who Urban Meyer really is.
Shortly after the announcement UF announced that the university was “severing financial ties with Coach Meyer” due to the inherent potential conflicts that his role with dual employers---ESPN and UF---might pose with NCAA regulations, especially in regards to recruiting. This announcement has raised questions for many Gators. For instance, why did UF athletics continue to have financial ties with Urban Meyer? (Apparently, Meyer was maintaining an office on campus with a healthy salary for some loosely defined role with Gator athletics.) We thought he resigned because he was “burned out” and dealing with “health issues”. How many people can go into see their boss, quit their job because they are “burned out”, then say, “and by the way, I want to you to continue to provide me with an office and salary for what will be essentially a “no-show” job”?
No wonder there are so many persistent Meyer “conspiracy theories” continuing to hover over Gator Nation.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
UNWELCOME DILEMMA FOR MUSCHAMP
Gator Gridiron
Roger Franklin Williams
Before Will Muschamp had a chance to unpack and comfortably settle into the Office of the Head Gator, he was confronted with a major dilemma---how to handle the recent arrest of All-SEC CB Janoris Jenkins for possession of marijuana. Jenkins was picked up in late January by GPD in a Gainesville night spot with a small stash of pot, according to published reports. Shortly before his arrest, Jenkins, a rising Senior, demonstrated his committment to the Gator program by choosing to forego early entry into the 2011 NFL draft where he was projected to be a sure-fire early round choice and a possible Number 1 pick. The issue is further complicated by Muschamp's earlier stated objective to drastically reduce the number of arrests of UF football players. (As we are reminded on a seemingly daily basis by the state and national sports media, over 30 football players were arrested during the Urban Meyer era.) During the home stretch of a challenging, uphill recruiting season. the newly minted Gator Leader was forced to deal with a discipline headache from one of his most valued veteran players.
What to do about Janoris Jenkins? This is a situation that cries out for perspective. First and foremost, Jenkins did break the law and his timing could not have been worse, unwittingly putting his new coach in a very difficult public situation. After Janoris' NFL playing career is over, one of the first things he will learn in the "real world" is that it is never wise to make your boss's job more difficult.
While discipline is called for, Gator Gridiron also feels strongly that Coach WM should resist the urge to respond to the more vocal elements of the sports media, state and national, which is (as we know) heavily populated with virulent Gator-Haters hiding behind a thin veneer of "objectivity". The "conventional media wisdom", not to meniton the desire of Vol's, 'Dogs, and 'Noles throughout the southeast, is that Muschamp needs to "throw the book" at young Janoris in the form of a lengthy suspension in order to "send a message" that future misbehavior will not be tolerated. Excuse me for being a real person, but it is hard for Gator Gridiron, as a former college student, in Gainesville no less, to become indignantly outraged over the crime of a college student getting caught with a small amount of marijuana.
Before leaving the topic, the Jenkins situation presents an opportunity for Gator Gridiron to address the issue of the "30+ arrests" of the Urban Meyer era that the Florida/national sports media loves to talk about so much. This is largely a situation of lack of perspective that is the result of today's hyper-sensationalist, 24-hour media coverage. A close examination of the "30+" arrests will reveal that the overwhelming majority, to the tune of at least 80%, were for traffic infractions or incidents involving alcohol. Once again, I must stress that it is hard for Gator Gridiron to become morally outraged over a 19 year old college student driving with an expired license (Dustin Doe) or college football players getting caught drinking beer.
Situations of assault, domestic violence, rape, burglary, robbery, etc. are serious offenses and should be penalized harshly. On the FEW occasions when serious crimes were committed by Gator football players, Coach Meyer and the university handled them accordingly by imposing serious penalties; just ask Cam Newton. But the fact of the "30+" arrests is that virtually all were minor infractions not even worth being reported by the media.
Janoris Jenkins, or Will Muschamp for that matter, should not be held hostage by inaccurate perceptions fueled by a largely anti-Gator media.
xxx
Roger Franklin Williams
Before Will Muschamp had a chance to unpack and comfortably settle into the Office of the Head Gator, he was confronted with a major dilemma---how to handle the recent arrest of All-SEC CB Janoris Jenkins for possession of marijuana. Jenkins was picked up in late January by GPD in a Gainesville night spot with a small stash of pot, according to published reports. Shortly before his arrest, Jenkins, a rising Senior, demonstrated his committment to the Gator program by choosing to forego early entry into the 2011 NFL draft where he was projected to be a sure-fire early round choice and a possible Number 1 pick. The issue is further complicated by Muschamp's earlier stated objective to drastically reduce the number of arrests of UF football players. (As we are reminded on a seemingly daily basis by the state and national sports media, over 30 football players were arrested during the Urban Meyer era.) During the home stretch of a challenging, uphill recruiting season. the newly minted Gator Leader was forced to deal with a discipline headache from one of his most valued veteran players.
What to do about Janoris Jenkins? This is a situation that cries out for perspective. First and foremost, Jenkins did break the law and his timing could not have been worse, unwittingly putting his new coach in a very difficult public situation. After Janoris' NFL playing career is over, one of the first things he will learn in the "real world" is that it is never wise to make your boss's job more difficult.
While discipline is called for, Gator Gridiron also feels strongly that Coach WM should resist the urge to respond to the more vocal elements of the sports media, state and national, which is (as we know) heavily populated with virulent Gator-Haters hiding behind a thin veneer of "objectivity". The "conventional media wisdom", not to meniton the desire of Vol's, 'Dogs, and 'Noles throughout the southeast, is that Muschamp needs to "throw the book" at young Janoris in the form of a lengthy suspension in order to "send a message" that future misbehavior will not be tolerated. Excuse me for being a real person, but it is hard for Gator Gridiron, as a former college student, in Gainesville no less, to become indignantly outraged over the crime of a college student getting caught with a small amount of marijuana.
Before leaving the topic, the Jenkins situation presents an opportunity for Gator Gridiron to address the issue of the "30+ arrests" of the Urban Meyer era that the Florida/national sports media loves to talk about so much. This is largely a situation of lack of perspective that is the result of today's hyper-sensationalist, 24-hour media coverage. A close examination of the "30+" arrests will reveal that the overwhelming majority, to the tune of at least 80%, were for traffic infractions or incidents involving alcohol. Once again, I must stress that it is hard for Gator Gridiron to become morally outraged over a 19 year old college student driving with an expired license (Dustin Doe) or college football players getting caught drinking beer.
Situations of assault, domestic violence, rape, burglary, robbery, etc. are serious offenses and should be penalized harshly. On the FEW occasions when serious crimes were committed by Gator football players, Coach Meyer and the university handled them accordingly by imposing serious penalties; just ask Cam Newton. But the fact of the "30+" arrests is that virtually all were minor infractions not even worth being reported by the media.
Janoris Jenkins, or Will Muschamp for that matter, should not be held hostage by inaccurate perceptions fueled by a largely anti-Gator media.
xxx
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
JACOBY BRISSETT OFFICIALLY SIGNS WITH GATORS (GATOR GRIDIRON/RFW REVERSE FIELD)
Roger Franklin Williams
Coveted QB Jacoby Brissett of Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer continued to surprise the "recruitniks" and even Gator Gridiron when he offically became a Gator on Monday. The gifted dual-threat QB disregarded immense pressure from waves of South Florida Miami loyalists, including the rabidly pro-Miami South Florida print media, as well as the vocal arm twisting of his own mother, to become a Gator. When asked about the presence of highly touted incoming Freshman Jeff Driskel, Brissett said, "He (Driskel) will have to prove to me every day, every year that he's going to be better than me for him to win that starting spot." Looks like Florida is getting an outstanding new addition; this talented young man has demonstrated an extraordinary passion to become a Gator. This kind of enthusiasm, competitive spirit and deeply felt self-confidence are EXACTLY what Florida football needs right now. Welcome aboard, Jacoby. Jacoby Brissett will be a great Florida Gator.
ATHLETIC DE TEVIN WESTBROOK ALSO BOOSTS RECRUITING CLASS
Tevin Westbrook, 6'6" and approx 265 pounds, depending on your source, is characterized as "raw" by many observers, primarily because of his relatively short tenure playing football--2 years. An accomplished basketball player, Westbrook is said to possess uncommon quickness and athleticism for a D-line prospect, is addition to his obvious size. At this point in his budding football career, Westbrook, who reportedly chose Florida over North Carolina and Purdue, had demonstrated tremendous speed and agility as well as "explosiveness off the ball" as a pass rusher according to close observers. Even though he was something of a "sleeper" during most of the recruiting process, the new Florida staff, especially incoming defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Dan Quinn developed an immediate enthusiasm for the nimble, lanky young Westbrook. With DE a position of painfully obvious need, Coach Quinn is especially excited about the opportunity for former 49er's All-Pro DL Bryant Young, Florida's new assistant defensive line coach, to tutor Westbrook. In fact, with a frame that could easily add another 40+ pounds, Quinn and Young will work Westbrook at both DE and DT. North Broward Prep head coach Roland Nottage boasts not only about his young prospects' athleticism, but also about his positive, upbeat attitude. According to published reports, Coach Nottage also expressed that Westbrook is excited to become a Florida Gator, "I think he was very impressed with the staff and overall atmosphere at Florida. More than anything, he really likes the teammates he is going to have. He just really likes the guys on the team and that's great."
Coveted QB Jacoby Brissett of Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer continued to surprise the "recruitniks" and even Gator Gridiron when he offically became a Gator on Monday. The gifted dual-threat QB disregarded immense pressure from waves of South Florida Miami loyalists, including the rabidly pro-Miami South Florida print media, as well as the vocal arm twisting of his own mother, to become a Gator. When asked about the presence of highly touted incoming Freshman Jeff Driskel, Brissett said, "He (Driskel) will have to prove to me every day, every year that he's going to be better than me for him to win that starting spot." Looks like Florida is getting an outstanding new addition; this talented young man has demonstrated an extraordinary passion to become a Gator. This kind of enthusiasm, competitive spirit and deeply felt self-confidence are EXACTLY what Florida football needs right now. Welcome aboard, Jacoby. Jacoby Brissett will be a great Florida Gator.
ATHLETIC DE TEVIN WESTBROOK ALSO BOOSTS RECRUITING CLASS
Tevin Westbrook, 6'6" and approx 265 pounds, depending on your source, is characterized as "raw" by many observers, primarily because of his relatively short tenure playing football--2 years. An accomplished basketball player, Westbrook is said to possess uncommon quickness and athleticism for a D-line prospect, is addition to his obvious size. At this point in his budding football career, Westbrook, who reportedly chose Florida over North Carolina and Purdue, had demonstrated tremendous speed and agility as well as "explosiveness off the ball" as a pass rusher according to close observers. Even though he was something of a "sleeper" during most of the recruiting process, the new Florida staff, especially incoming defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Dan Quinn developed an immediate enthusiasm for the nimble, lanky young Westbrook. With DE a position of painfully obvious need, Coach Quinn is especially excited about the opportunity for former 49er's All-Pro DL Bryant Young, Florida's new assistant defensive line coach, to tutor Westbrook. In fact, with a frame that could easily add another 40+ pounds, Quinn and Young will work Westbrook at both DE and DT. North Broward Prep head coach Roland Nottage boasts not only about his young prospects' athleticism, but also about his positive, upbeat attitude. According to published reports, Coach Nottage also expressed that Westbrook is excited to become a Florida Gator, "I think he was very impressed with the staff and overall atmosphere at Florida. More than anything, he really likes the teammates he is going to have. He just really likes the guys on the team and that's great."
Friday, February 4, 2011
MUSCHAMP ERA BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE
With the first major event as leader of Gator Nation, national signing day, under his belt, new Gator coach Will Muschamp is beginning to put his stamp on the program. Coach Will cleared his first major hurdle in nice fashion. Despite the very adverse situation of a virtual total turnover of coaching staff, including recruiting coordinator, just days before signing day, Muschamp and his new crew kept prime recruits on board, out fought predators such as Alabama, Miami, Auburn and Ohio State and even picked up a few prime prospects of his own,6'5" DE Tevin Westbrook of South Florida for example. A quick review reveals that the Gators picked up the best QB prospect in the country, the best FB and TE prospects in America, a top notch RB, 2 outstanding WR prospects not to mention a couple of excellent DE prospects and an abundance of DB's. Most impressively to Gator Gridiron is that the new Head Gator showed the wisdom to not get caught up in chasing over-hyped recruits who are the darlings of the so-called "experts". Nothing is more meaningless that "stars" attatched to recruits by recruit-niks who, in most cases, can't tell a football player from a ballerina. Coach Will demonstrated the courage and good judgement to trust HIS instincts and knowledge of who can play football and disregard the hype and buzz of the pathetic assortment of self-proclaimed "experts" who assign "stars" based on newspaper clippings, computer printouts and whether a player is being recruited by Notre Dame (and possibly, as has been alleged in print, whether their pocket is greased). For Gator fans National Signing Day not only produced a nice crop of talented fledging Gators, but an up-close look at the ability, judgement and character of their new leader when "under fire".
Another positive development in the final days of the recruiting wars was Coach Muschamp's promotion of fromer Gator WR Aubrey Hill as Recruiting Coordinator. Coach Hill, a key WR in Coach Spurrier's Fun n Gun attack of the '90's, recently returned to Gainesville as an offensive assistant after spending the last couple of years as an assistant at Miami. A Miami native, Hill brings a wealth of contacts and relationships in the crucial South Florida region.
Another positive development in the final days of the recruiting wars was Coach Muschamp's promotion of fromer Gator WR Aubrey Hill as Recruiting Coordinator. Coach Hill, a key WR in Coach Spurrier's Fun n Gun attack of the '90's, recently returned to Gainesville as an offensive assistant after spending the last couple of years as an assistant at Miami. A Miami native, Hill brings a wealth of contacts and relationships in the crucial South Florida region.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
THE RECRUITING CLASS IS FINE
After a good look at the 2011 Gator class of recruits, the word from Gator Gridiron is the recruiting class is fine! That assessment, of course, does not conform to the “conventional wisdom” of most of the so-called recruiting “experts”. Gator Gridiron and the Old School Gator encourage Gator fans not to be brainwashed by a freakish assortment of numbers geeks with hand held computers and pocket protectors who have no real ability to judge football talent. (One thing I have learned over the 25 years since computer based “talent evaluation” became a cottage industry in major college football and the NFL is that nobody on the planet KNOWS LESS about how to judge football talent that the so-called recruiting and draft “experts”. For example, the most well known recruiting Guru, Mel Kuiper, Jr., declared that Emmitt Smith was “too slow” for the NFL and that Tim Tebow is not even a prospect.)
Keeping in mind that talent evaluation is the most in-exact science known to man--it’s actually an art not a science, but that’s another topic for another day--and that we won’t really know the true results of these recruits until 4-5 years from now, let’s take a look at some of the players who committed to the Gators. Right off the top, the Gators got the most coveted QB in the nation, Jeff Driskel; one of the top RB prospects in America, Michael Blakely of perennial powerhouse Bradenton Manatee; arguably the best FB prospect in the country, Hunter Joyer of Tampa Catholic; two of the top CB prospects in America, De’Ante “Pop” Saunders of DeLand and Marcus Roberson of St. Thomas Aquinas; two outstanding WR prospects, 6’3” Ja’Juan Story of Brooksville Nature Coast and highly recruited speedster Javares McCroy of Lakeland High; a consensus top 5 TE prospect in the nation, A. C. Leonard of Jacksonville, who chose the Gators over Alabama and Miami; a pleasant late commit, 6’5” Tevin Westbrook, an outstanding DE prospect out of Broward County; not to mention a slew of good, solid, highly accomplished football players who have a strong desire to come play for the Gators. One of these is 6’3” 230 lb Clay Burton of Venice, brother of 2010 sleeper standout Trey Burton, a quick, athletic DE who chose UF over Notre Dame. Considering that with the wholesale turnover of the coaching staff, including the head coach AND recruiting coordinator, Florida had some of the most adverse recruiting circumstances of any program in the country, Gator Gridiron salutes Coach Will Muschamp and his new staff for not only keeping a solid class together, but adding to it in the few short weeks he was on the job. Coach WM said it best, according to the Gainesville Sun, when asked of his assessment, “I don’t count stars. I watch tape. I recruit. I put tape on…look at transcripts… and decide from a critical standpoint if this guy can fit into our program. I haven’t turned on ESPN today to check on what everybody is saying. I’m worried about what I think more than what they think.” Bravo Coach!!! This is one Gator who puts a lot more faith in the evaluation of Coach Will than Mel Kuiper, Jr.
Xxx Gator Gridiron, Roger Franklin Williams
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Lingering Questions Of 2010
As Gator fans anticipate the start of spring practice on March 16, this Gator has noticed a perceptible vacant look in the eyes of typically manic, wild eyed Gators (is there any other kind?). A quick re-cap of the past 13 months in the life of Florida Gator Football supplies the answer; a virtual decade worth of seismic shifts in the foundation of the program. The result has been an excruciating journey from defending National Champion and No 1 ranking on December 1, 2009 to the current situation of a brand new Head Coach and brand new staff with new and different offensive and defensive philosophies, abject instability at quarterback, not to mention the loss of huge swaths of standout players including, of course, one of the all-time greatest players in the 140 year history of college football.
Before peering out of the fox hole to take a peek at the scenario for the first spring practice of the coming new era, this Gator has the need to look back at a slew of lingering, bewildering questions that remain from the aftermath of the last 13 months.
· First and most obvious; What’s REALLY going on with Urban Meyer? On this topic, Gator Gridiron diverges with the various conspiracy theories of many Gators---GG thinks Coach Meyer’s public explanation is THE explanation. After a lifetime of extraordinary focus, hard work and over-achievement, including almost working himself to death, literally, on behalf of the Florida Gators he is emotionally burned out and wants to live a different life with different priorities, like actually getting to know his kids and family. The fact that he has an unusual level of financial stability for a man his age allows him the opportunity to make this decision. If you were sitting on a stash of millions of dollars, would you be destroying your health working 80-90 hour weeks, sleeping in your office and never spending time with your children, especially after a health crisis where you and your family thought you almost died?
· How did an obscure offensive line coach with dubious (at best) credentials take over the Florida Gator Football program in 2010? Gator Gridiron hesitates to re-visit one of the most insidious, incompetent nightmares to ever invade Gator football, but many of us are still perplexed, and somewhat grudgingly awed, with the way Steve Addazio maneuvered his way into control of the program, actually becoming at one point (perish the thought!), Interim Head Ball Coach. The short answer seems to be he carefully cultivated a close personal relationship with Coach Meyer, as well as other influential individuals in positions of power, skillfully burnished his meager credentials and then ruthlessly and adroitly seized the moment when Coach Meyer, and Gator Nation, was most vulnerable. Thankfully he’s gone now to lay waist to the Temple football program.
The bottom line is this; it is tragic that it took Urban Meyer’s resignation to liberate Gator Nation from the ineptitude of Steve Addazio; but, hey, if it took losing Coach Meyer to get rid of Addazio, so be it.
· How can you go through 4 weeks of Spring Practice, another 3-4 weeks of 2-a-days in August/September and not know that your center cannot snap the ball? I guess the answer is; that is what happens when Steve Addazio is in charge of your offense.
· How can John Brantley spend 3 years in the program as quarterback of the future and nobody realize he can’t run the option? This is one of the great mysteries of 2010. We can chalk the problems at center partially up to Coach Meyer delegating responsibilities to others, but Brantley has been the heir apparent at QB for 3 years. When your entire offense is based around the quarterback being able to keep defenses honest by serving as a running threat in the option, how do you go 3 years and not realize your QB of the future can’t execute the offense? What did these guys do at practice, anyway?
· On the topic of John Brantley, why did Coach Meyer and Addazio insist on sticking with the “Tim Tebow” offense, when Brantley has always been a traditional drop-back, pocket passer; not a runner or dual-threat QB?
Your guess is as good as mine; I have no clue.
· Why couldn’t talented players, specifically Andre Debose and Omarious Hines, ever get on the field? In a year when the offense was crying out for playmakers, two obviously talented players, who made plays and performed well in their limited opportunities ON THE FIELD, were seldom utilized.
· What was the Meyer coaching staff’s infatuation with Deonte Thompson? In the 45+ years that this Gator has followed Florida Football, Deonte Thompson has dropped more balls than any other Florida receiver. Yet Thompson continued to be featured as go to receiver while the aforementioned DeBose and Hines and other gifted receivers could never get on the field. ????
In the six short years that Urban Meyer served as Head Coach he achieved a truly extraordinary and unprecedented level of success. Among numerous other achievements he brought home TWO National Championships, won 13 games back to back for the first time in NCAA Division I history and dominated the recruiting landscape, bringing in spectacular players like Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow in additions to boatloads of other outstanding players. But, for whatever reason, the 2010 season was a year filled with unexplained, maddening and at times seemingly irrational frustrations. What a strange, bizarre trip it (2010) was.
Roger Franklin Williams
Gridiron Gator
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