With new HC Will Muschamp's first spring practice now complete, the budding identity of the new Gator football program is beginning to come into focus. Close observers have detected numerous subtle---and not-so-subtle---changes that range from the depth chart, to new offensive and defensive formations to different personnel groupings.
Spring practice included a highly acclaimed new Offensive Coordinator (Charlie Weis), a brand new NFL-style offense, a new Defensive coordinator (Dan Quinn) and music by Jon Bon Jovi.
Charlie Weis, Dan Quinn and who......er......what...?
Jon Bon Jovi. The day before featured the recorded stylings of rap hipster Lil' Wayne.
Now before we "Old School" Gators race to get on the horn to Jeremy to protest the degradation of the program, let's take a deep breath. One consistent message that has emerged in the aftermath of CWM's new staff is a more relaxed approach with a particular emphasis on teaching. Tasked with taking over a team that never really gained the confidence needed to even approach true potential in 2010, Coach Muschamp has reportedly brought a more patient approach the practice field in Gainesville. Teaching has taken the place of yelling. Encouragement is "in" and manic, in-your-face, primal sceaming is on the wane.
This "Old School Gator" welcomes the change in atmosphere.
Coach Urban Meyer's intensity, focus and dedication to "hard coaching" is well documented....actually legendary at this point. In the Spring of 2004, taking over after the well intentioned but misguided compassionate, doting older brother approach of Coach Ron Zook, Meyer's no-nonsense culture of rigid discipline, accountability and intensity were EXACTLY what Florida Football needed at that time. The result is self-evident---2 National Championships, back-to-back 13 win seasons (only time in NCAA history), recruiting dominance that brought boatloads of elite players to Gainesville including 2 of the greatest college players ever and so many BCS Bowl Game Championships that Gator fans came to take them for granted. Ultimately the same manic 24/7/365 intensity that fueled CM's incredible success became the catalyst for his demise. CM literally almost worked himself to death for the Florida Gators. The flip side is that Coach Meyer not only burned himself out, he burned out everybody else as well.
Coach Will is now charged with picking up the pieces with the young, inexperienced, unsteady players who recently arrived to replace the confident, hard-nosed veterans who were 4-5 year products of Meyer's Spartan culture. 2011 is a new era, with new players and new challenges. Before Coach Will, Coach Weis and Coach Quinn can put wins on the board they need rebuild the confidence and enthusiasm of these talented, but tenative young Gators. If Bon Jovi and Lil' Wayne "music" at practice is part of that process, more power to CWM.
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