OK, I'm gonna try and avoid carping and whining here--think I've probably done enough of that last few weeks of these game intros, made my point already.
Thing is, this one strikes ME at least as classic "no win situation". Follow my thinking here:
For all kinds of (aforementioned by ALL of us) reasons, Muscahmp has to go...Biggest, over-arching reason I think we can agree on is that we've already SEEN his "best". What we've seen so far comprises the various versions of what a Muschamp-led Gator squad can do, season-to-season. We are doomed to an inconsistent, up'n'down "slow-slide to more and more long term mediocrity" with him as our Head Coach. Now, personally--and I believe most agree--I also find even most of our victories under his "guidance" NO FUN TO WATCH.
OK. But the only way he MIGHT end up being retained is if he were to somehow "win enough" of the rest to give Foley "cover" in at the least allowing him to "continue on his present course and contract" at the end of this season. Especially if he were to do so with some scores that at least LOOK convincing when seen by the rest of the college football world--who sure as hell aren't watching the actual GAMES that closely...just a few highlights here and there, and then only when we "surprise" them by appearing to soundly beat a team the media were until then hyping. And if we were to somehow find ourselves, thru' attrition and stumbling blind luck, to find ourselves with a real shot at the East-SEC spot in Atlanta at the end, well who knows? (The more I think about it, go down THAT road, the more I think maybe I SHOULD be rooting AGAINST us now...Only, well, y'all know...)
So let's actually consider today's opponent. Even THIS Gator team ought to roll today, over a Commodore squad that's almost fully back to "Square One", where it started at the bottom of the SEC's football pecking-order. They HAVE "glimpsed the top of the mountain through the clouds above", though, gotten that far before sliding back down this season--and the realities of today's opportunities for parity among college football programs (IF they are willing and able to make the financial commitment required to pursuing it) make it possible, maybe even somewhat inevitable that they won't stay this far back that long--but that's where they are now. So we should beat them, big time. Still might not be pretty--but doesn't HAVE to be.
In a way, Vandy is emblematic of this whole "down year" the SEC is having: Those at the top are very good, but no GREAT ones, they're knocking each other off...while we're WAY down, probably mid-pack or worse to even the Mississippi-squads' ascendance--barely beat UK for God's sake: Are THEY our current "equals" now???--with Vandy bringing up the rear. They can still beat a decent mid-major-having-a-bad-day, but that's about it.
So, lose to them and Muschamp might be gone by Monday...Kick their asses big time and we prove little, while possibly beginning the re-rationalization of the "Muschamp's best choice we have"-band wagon among Foley and a (still thankfully) few others. Barely beat 'em sloppily and it's another nail in his employment-coffin. I guess I have to hope for the last. It will be like almost every Gator game last couple of years--in fact since Muschamp got here, even the 11-and-2 season: "God, this is ugly!". But I just am not equipped to actually WATCH these games and root for a Gator beat-down, so the first one's out, at least for me.
As for that trend, and its very "ugliness" regardless of outcome, well, it CAN'T just be the OCs anymore, even though it's mostly the terrible offenses that have made it so, by THEIR unimaginative schemes and mediocre play AND it's inevitable effect of wearing out our defenses to wilt in the second halves. No, Muschamp and his "ball-control philosophy"--HA!--has been the one constant thru' it all. That, and what I have come to view as basically a "prevent defense from the opening kick-off"-approach have made these games near-unwatchable, and the overall trend toward "lucky if we win one or two more than we lose" seasons.
Thing is, this one strikes ME at least as classic "no win situation". Follow my thinking here:
For all kinds of (aforementioned by ALL of us) reasons, Muscahmp has to go...Biggest, over-arching reason I think we can agree on is that we've already SEEN his "best". What we've seen so far comprises the various versions of what a Muschamp-led Gator squad can do, season-to-season. We are doomed to an inconsistent, up'n'down "slow-slide to more and more long term mediocrity" with him as our Head Coach. Now, personally--and I believe most agree--I also find even most of our victories under his "guidance" NO FUN TO WATCH.
OK. But the only way he MIGHT end up being retained is if he were to somehow "win enough" of the rest to give Foley "cover" in at the least allowing him to "continue on his present course and contract" at the end of this season. Especially if he were to do so with some scores that at least LOOK convincing when seen by the rest of the college football world--who sure as hell aren't watching the actual GAMES that closely...just a few highlights here and there, and then only when we "surprise" them by appearing to soundly beat a team the media were until then hyping. And if we were to somehow find ourselves, thru' attrition and stumbling blind luck, to find ourselves with a real shot at the East-SEC spot in Atlanta at the end, well who knows? (The more I think about it, go down THAT road, the more I think maybe I SHOULD be rooting AGAINST us now...Only, well, y'all know...)
So let's actually consider today's opponent. Even THIS Gator team ought to roll today, over a Commodore squad that's almost fully back to "Square One", where it started at the bottom of the SEC's football pecking-order. They HAVE "glimpsed the top of the mountain through the clouds above", though, gotten that far before sliding back down this season--and the realities of today's opportunities for parity among college football programs (IF they are willing and able to make the financial commitment required to pursuing it) make it possible, maybe even somewhat inevitable that they won't stay this far back that long--but that's where they are now. So we should beat them, big time. Still might not be pretty--but doesn't HAVE to be.
In a way, Vandy is emblematic of this whole "down year" the SEC is having: Those at the top are very good, but no GREAT ones, they're knocking each other off...while we're WAY down, probably mid-pack or worse to even the Mississippi-squads' ascendance--barely beat UK for God's sake: Are THEY our current "equals" now???--with Vandy bringing up the rear. They can still beat a decent mid-major-having-a-bad-day, but that's about it.
So, lose to them and Muschamp might be gone by Monday...Kick their asses big time and we prove little, while possibly beginning the re-rationalization of the "Muschamp's best choice we have"-band wagon among Foley and a (still thankfully) few others. Barely beat 'em sloppily and it's another nail in his employment-coffin. I guess I have to hope for the last. It will be like almost every Gator game last couple of years--in fact since Muschamp got here, even the 11-and-2 season: "God, this is ugly!". But I just am not equipped to actually WATCH these games and root for a Gator beat-down, so the first one's out, at least for me.
As for that trend, and its very "ugliness" regardless of outcome, well, it CAN'T just be the OCs anymore, even though it's mostly the terrible offenses that have made it so, by THEIR unimaginative schemes and mediocre play AND it's inevitable effect of wearing out our defenses to wilt in the second halves. No, Muschamp and his "ball-control philosophy"--HA!--has been the one constant thru' it all. That, and what I have come to view as basically a "prevent defense from the opening kick-off"-approach have made these games near-unwatchable, and the overall trend toward "lucky if we win one or two more than we lose" seasons.
