Well, one would THINK we could still win this one...and if all the injuries and extracurricular losses were the only reason for doubt, I'd still believe that.
But we have other problems, deeper and more complex.
We've talked about this, directly and indirectly all over our site last few weeks--well, more and more over the course of the whole season...and fact is that, concurrent with all that, I have come to care less and less about the outcome of the games themselves. Or done my best to tell myself that--and done well enough that it has hurt less, for now. "We aren't gonna play in a bowl game anyway, no matter what happens", and so on. I suppose I am doing my best to keep my precarious hold on "carefree and philisophical longterm thinking" for now.
Oh, I'll be watching NEXT week's game with more interest, hoping to see a spark of pride and some bit of "rallying together" around whomever is the QB, just to make a game of it--maybe even pull out a desperate-if-messy win against our cross-state rivals--something a little more likely if we started that process THIS week. To a great extent, winning is a "habit" one gets into--and so is losing. Another way we can start NEXT season's preparations NOW.
And there again: One more reason I've been trying so hard NOT to care so much--and though putting on a good face, just under the surface remains a clenched fist full of frustration--and under that, a storm of caring, despite myself.
Oh well, "not caring" is one habit I DON'T want. Not really. May ease the pain for now--but in the long run, the loss is mine. Just walking the tightwire, trying to make it through this long dry spell. In the end, I guess I DO depend on HOPE after all: I HAVE to care a little less for now, but am COUNTING on it getting us to a time and place where that "hope", buried somewhat, deeper and deeper now for YEARS, can come rushing forth again.
NOW, as for this game ("Oh yeah..." LOL), I suppose it IS still the one game left "we SHOULD win" even now (it'd certainly be a BIG WIN for them if they came in and beat us in The Swamp, never mind our health and circumstances: How far HAVE we fallen? "Is there ANYTHING left right now of "Gator pride"???)...That's a tough point to rally round, though. One'd hope maybe the "Nothin' to lose, let's relax, try some new things and HAVE SOME FUN!" might be an addition worth adding to the usual coach-speak this week. That, and the implied truth that both coaches AND players are being evaluated with recruiting and the 2018 season in mind. You all know my feelings about all that: It's my view that "NEXT year" has already begun for UF football. And for now, this is all we have to work with--at least til The CHOICE is made, resulting changes ensue, and we move into NSD, Spring ball and the rest.
So lets go out there and see what we really GOT in that full-action scrimmage today.
But we have other problems, deeper and more complex.
We've talked about this, directly and indirectly all over our site last few weeks--well, more and more over the course of the whole season...and fact is that, concurrent with all that, I have come to care less and less about the outcome of the games themselves. Or done my best to tell myself that--and done well enough that it has hurt less, for now. "We aren't gonna play in a bowl game anyway, no matter what happens", and so on. I suppose I am doing my best to keep my precarious hold on "carefree and philisophical longterm thinking" for now.
Oh, I'll be watching NEXT week's game with more interest, hoping to see a spark of pride and some bit of "rallying together" around whomever is the QB, just to make a game of it--maybe even pull out a desperate-if-messy win against our cross-state rivals--something a little more likely if we started that process THIS week. To a great extent, winning is a "habit" one gets into--and so is losing. Another way we can start NEXT season's preparations NOW.
And there again: One more reason I've been trying so hard NOT to care so much--and though putting on a good face, just under the surface remains a clenched fist full of frustration--and under that, a storm of caring, despite myself.
Oh well, "not caring" is one habit I DON'T want. Not really. May ease the pain for now--but in the long run, the loss is mine. Just walking the tightwire, trying to make it through this long dry spell. In the end, I guess I DO depend on HOPE after all: I HAVE to care a little less for now, but am COUNTING on it getting us to a time and place where that "hope", buried somewhat, deeper and deeper now for YEARS, can come rushing forth again.
NOW, as for this game ("Oh yeah..." LOL), I suppose it IS still the one game left "we SHOULD win" even now (it'd certainly be a BIG WIN for them if they came in and beat us in The Swamp, never mind our health and circumstances: How far HAVE we fallen? "Is there ANYTHING left right now of "Gator pride"???)...That's a tough point to rally round, though. One'd hope maybe the "Nothin' to lose, let's relax, try some new things and HAVE SOME FUN!" might be an addition worth adding to the usual coach-speak this week. That, and the implied truth that both coaches AND players are being evaluated with recruiting and the 2018 season in mind. You all know my feelings about all that: It's my view that "NEXT year" has already begun for UF football. And for now, this is all we have to work with--at least til The CHOICE is made, resulting changes ensue, and we move into NSD, Spring ball and the rest.
So lets go out there and see what we really GOT in that full-action scrimmage today.
