Gators vs. Gamecocks: Game Day Thread

Escambia94 said:

Living in Texas, my only consolation is that the pompous University of Texas ranked at #19 only scored 5 points on unranked Missouri, our new SEC brethren. UTsw sucks as bad as we do, but they remain ranked because of the non-SEC schedule. UTsw actually made Florida look good.

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Yeah, they have that completely skewed perspective here--they just won't see the truth 'til the bottom falls out...
In fact, the main thing they were talking about on the radio here in Austin today was NOT the game itself, but disparaging the crowd up there for the Tigers' home game against THEM, TEXAS, how they were still filing in all through the first qrtr and how "that won't cut it in the SEC--they're gonna be LOST when they go into Death Valley and The Swamp...", and so on--which might be TRUE, btw, but is still beside the point right now: y'all just lost to THEM, and you're focusing happily on what a mistake they made leaving Texas and the Big 12? Uh, you folks have a few problems of your own...

DRU2012 said:

I'd like to see at least SOME of the first, "the future" (we've GOT to use the intervening weeks to get as much practice time for next-year's guys ANYWAY, after all), but I guess I EXPECT Coach to do more of the second, show some "love and respect" for the seniors like Brantley who "hung in there". Maybe play it "future for 2-to-3 qrtrs", then "respect for seniors" later in game, once outcome is (hopefully) decided (even if that means "the other way"--though I still feel that, by the evidence, no one at the Gator Bowl-level is likely to do to us what those two top-SEC teams did and, say what you will, we've at least held-our-own with everyone else--or WON)?
Hey, by the way mg: I SWEAR I hadn't heard today's Muschamp quote when I answered your post above earlier--the one where he pretty well says almost exactly the same thing about how aside from LSU and Bama, we sure aren't much different from the other SEC teams right now, not even the ones that beat us, that "you could put the rest of those teams in a bag with us and take your pick" (for real, he actually said that--I laughed AND felt silly at how it looked when I read it), and hinting at the changes coming and how we'll "do more than be a little better", etc.

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Puh-Leez. You really think I'm going to buy that? You must be inside Coach's head.

There may not be enough of those "future" guys to make it worthwhile to go in that direction. Take those seniors who have put forth the effort and let them have some fun. God knows that after everything that has happened the last couple of years (none of which they signed up for), they deserve it.

miltongator said:

There may not be enough of those "future" guys to make it worthwhile to go in that direction. Take those seniors who have put forth the effort and let them have some fun. God knows that after everything that has happened the last couple of years (none of which they signed up for), they deserve it.

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I was thinking basically the same thing while I was typing the above, which is why I think you're right, and it'll be a salute to the ones who "hung in there"--but I STILL figure they will ALSO use the intervening 5 weeks to get as much work in with the young guys as possible: they'll be ready to go, come Bowl Game Day, and there's no replacement for actual in-game experience against a talented, motivated opponent in front of a big crowd. Hence, my attempt (unrealistic as it is) at having it both ways.
(laughing) As to the "other thing"--my picking up that Muschamp brainwave, a scary thought unto itself, right?--well, I KNEW that would be how it'd look...Hell, that would be MY attitude too!

Did you see this?

Help does appear on its way for next season. UF will sign a class of at least 23 players in February. That should fill the majority of the scholarship void, as the team only loses 11 seniors. The Gators, who already have 17 commitments, are also in position to land arguably the best haul of offensive and defensive linemen in the country.
UF has a pledge from Mallard Creek (N.C.) offensive tackle D.J. Humphries, considered by Rivals.com to be the nation’s best at his position. UF is also in the mix for three uncommitted five-star defensive ends.

I sure hope we land these guys.

Escambia94 said:

I sure hope we land these guys.

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x100

this kid could be a contributor at DE next yr he's got the size


another one kent taylor looks like an amazing TE check out this kids highlights mismatch nightmare for LB's and smaller DB's

miltongator said:

Did you see this?

Help does appear on its way for next season. UF will sign a class of at least 23 players in February. That should fill the majority of the scholarship void, as the team only loses 11 seniors. The Gators, who already have 17 commitments, are also in position to land arguably the best haul of offensive and defensive linemen in the country.
UF has a pledge from Mallard Creek (N.C.) offensive tackle D.J. Humphries, considered by Rivals.com to be the nation’s best at his position. UF is also in the mix for three uncommitted five-star defensive ends.

​

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/florida-gators/2011-11-13/story/shorthanded-gators-searching-answers#ixzz1dkFgOfC5​

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...And this isn't even ALL of it--due to "technicalities" and some "housekeeping details" (the kind that have been rather common under Mack Brown at Texas), Coach Boom & Co. actually hope to be able to bring in a few other "surprises" with this class...2 or 3 may not be revealed until AFTER "National Signing Day", possibly up to WEEKS later. This could very easily end up being "the class to top all classes" before it's over. Meanwhile, our "recruiting cabal" is UNDERplaying both the potential that is close to materializing here AND their various plans and moves throughout. Though young, this is an experienced and very shrewd group of men who have worked long and hard (and travelled widely) in every spare moment since LAST spring preparing for this recruiting cycle; they're on "the home stretch" now, and know they have only to finish strongly to pull off something special. They have no intention of letting up now.

Check it out. Just one person's guess at how some of it will shake out. But, this would work for me. Can't recall where I saw this.


SUGAR
Site: New Orleans
Date: Jan. 3
Time/TV:: 8:30 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: BCS vs. BCS
Projection: Alabama vs. Stanford

BCS TITLE GAME
Site: New Orleans
Date: Jan. 9
Time/TV:: 8:30 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: BCS #1 vs. BCS #2
Projection: LSU vs. Oklahoma State
OTHER BOWL GAMES

BEEF 'O'BRADY'S
Site: St. Petersburg, Fla.
Date: Dec. 20
Time/TV:: 8 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: Big East #6 vs. C-USA
Projection: USF vs. UCF

CHAMPS SPORTS
Site: Orlando
Date: Dec. 29
Time/TV:: 5:30 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: ACC #3 vs. Big East #2/Notre Dame
Projection: Florida State vs. Notre Dame

MUSIC CITY
Site: Nashville
Date: Dec. 30
Time/TV:: 6:40 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: ACC #6 vs. SEC #7
Projection: Miami vs. Tennessee

LIBERTY
Site: Memphis
Date: Dec. 31
Time/TV:: 3:30 p.m./ABC
Matchup: C-USA #1 vs. SEC #8
Projection: Houston vs. Mississippi State

CHICK-FIL-A
Site: Atlanta
Date: Dec. 31
Time/TV:: 7:30 p.m./ESPN
Matchup: ACC #2 vs. SEC #5
Projection: Virginia Tech vs. Auburn

GATOR
Site: Jacksonville
Date: Jan. 2
Time/TV:: 1 p.m./ESPN2
Matchup: Big Ten #5 vs. SEC #6
Projection: Ohio State vs. Florida

COTTON
Site: Arlington, Texas
Date: Jan. 6
Time/TV:: 8 p.m./Fox
Matchup: Big 12 #2 vs. SEC #4
Projection: Kansas State vs. Georgia

Works for me. Still, some things still left to be sorted out--and an opening for a "stumble" here and there (eg. OU vs. OSU, to name just one)...I guess I'm in the "Chaos Camp" again this year: any outcome that scrambles the picture, leads to controversy (and the old "beauty contest" game) and makes the BCS-thing look bad. What about if everyone but LSU ends up with 1-loss? No one outside the SEC wants to see a Tide/Tigers rematch, really, (not because of any GOOD reason, only because (1) it'd be a purely defensive struggle, not TV-popular these days, and (2) "it's the SEC--AGAIN!") but that would clearly be the most accurate one, in terms of schedule and talent: the computers would probably ALL go that way at that point, and only a west-coast push to intentionally deny the SEC that outcome by dropping Bama right off their ballots might get that UNdone.
OSU is a "strawdog", though, and could EASILY lose to OU...if they DID go up against LSU, it MIGHT be interesting, but they have no "D" at ALL, compared to ANYONE in the SEC (I am not exaggerating): LSU does have enough offense to score some points on THEM, but the Cowboys will have trouble breaking through consistently against the Tigers' "D". All in all, whatever folks might think about a long, tough and close, low-scoring battle-to-the-end, it's a lot more interesting (and better for the sponsors, btw) than a blow-out before the half. That's what I believe OSU would face against LSU, who are quite capable of tying up a team, ANY team, and just burning the clock, once they have a decent lead.
The only team that can match up with them for all 4 qrtrs right now is Alabama. Here's hoping that I am right about where OUR squad is heading, and that we'll have one of those elite SEC defenses again within another season or two (we should have the tools and begin to "see the signs" next year, and begin to reclaim our rightful place the year after). Now, if we can get those power RBs, along with strength, size and depth on the O-line, we can look forward to being the object of hate, fear, envy and resentment once more. I just can't WAIT.