Can’t Awake From This Nightmare (Thoughts on Jon Sumrall)

[Escambia94]

I have watched Gator Dave’s AND Ali Peak’s interviews with Danny Weurfel on “Gator Breakdown” and “A Peak Inside…”, was impressed, and convinced enough of the sincerity of someone that I too admire, and could not fully square his open declarations with the things I had been told by other “insiders” whom I know personally—to the point that I went back and carefully queried these folks who’d given me these prior impressions.
One thing I had to note was the level of frustrated disappointment there was and still lingers in so much of this.
At a certain point, I can neither explain nor reconcile the complete discrepancy between the versions two different trustworthy individuals recount of what each observed and/or personally experienced.
And on the other hand, there IS a growing feeling that “we were ALL played”, by Kiffen and others (it is important for all of us to bear in mind the role of certain OTHER individuals, the influence of various people close to him, and above all Agent Sexton himself, in clouding virtually every issue in question) during this process.
That said, another common revelation has been the realization that Lane, despite his protestations to the contrary, is the main agent provocateur at the heart of this whole mess—and MAN, it was and IS a “mess”! The best I can still say in his favor at this point is that had we landed him, we would at some point have had to come to terms with the fact that Lane Kiffen WAS and still IS an IDIOT—but he would have been OUR idiot!
I still think that for better or for worse, he would have been (for a time) a great fit here at UF: I think he likely WOULD have brought the kind of success we crave, brought us quickly back to the very center among the elite programs in College Football…
And then would have probably skipped on us, for Bama or some “Big NFL Deal”—And WE were more than ready to take that, make OUR “deal”, even if temporary. Even IF “a deal with the devil”!
All the after-the-fact tales of his supposed extracurricular adventures among “the student body”, whatever their origin, truth or accuracy, may not be particularly admirable, may even violate one’s idea of what is or isn’t acceptable… poor judgment, maybe, but so far as I can see do not cross over into any area of “illegality”…However, there is enough in what we are hearing and seeing now that had long since been seen in the past, suddenly REsurfacing in STRENGTH in his present and recent behavior, enough self-serving discrepancies between what he charmingly claims and what those who were THERE say in fact went down that I, like a lot of others, are beginning to think that maybe we DID “dodge somewhat of a bullet” in NOT landing him.
But NONE of this has really altered my impression of Scott Stricklin, nor (despite the somewhat convincingly sympathetic support now of some I trust and admire) has it erased the history of lies and two-faced hypocrisy that so many inside the program have had to deal with, and have in turn helped to produce the extended period of sinking mediocrity in Gator Football that we have just suffered through—leaving us v Iq a with little but promises to NH carry us forward with any HOPE of “change-for-the-better”. I still believe we’d be better off RID of him—for the sake of the present and future growth of this program…
But regardless, we have who we have in place here and now: This is the hand we’ve been dealt, and we play this game from this point forward.
Now, Jon Sumrall does NOT strike many fans’ idea as anything LIKE “our heart’s delight” coming INTO this process.
But aside from the perceived problem at AD, whether simply the result of misinformation and misunderstanding, or truly an abscess at the heart of our program that must be cut and allowed to heal, it is time to move on—as much as possible let the people now taking direct control of THE PRODUCT ON THE FIELD do their thing; we will judge THEM by RESULTS.
As I said above earlier, in the end I WILL now line up with Weurfel, Spurrier, and even a (reformed and seemingly rejuvenated and redeemed) Urban Meyer—and STAND, AS A GATOR, behind our new Head Coach:
Jon Sumrall.

All I can say is that you have to be careful of your sources. After what just happened these past couple weeks, I have determined that we cannot trust the following:
- Neil Shulman (IAKOW)
- Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun

Be careful of these guys:
- Buddy Martin
- Pat Dooley

Trust these folks, because Danny Wuerffel does:
- Ali Peek-Wilbur
- David Waters
- James DeVirgilio

The takeaway from the actual trusted sources:
- We were wrong about Scott Stricklin
- We were wrong about Gary Condron
- We were wrong about Jon Sumrall

Here are the debunked lies:
- Whiffing on Lane Kiffin. False. The meeting between Kiffin and Stricklin went well. There were no demands. There was no bad blood. Stricklin says nothing about this because, as Wuerrfel stated, he is fine with the Gator Nation focusing its anger on him rather than anyone else. Give the man some credit.
- Stricklin wanting to reduce the size of the stadium. False. Stricklin must follow federal law when modifying the stadium. He issued requirements stating that the required modifications must still maintain as much capacity as possible while also adding luxury features that draw revenue.
- NIL and salary mismanagement. Stricklin offered to match any reasonable offer, but he wanted a contract that incentivized winning, i.e., no more Jimmy Sexton contracts that pay for losing or winning equally.
- Covering up Cam Newbauer's and Tomay Amato's abuses. Stricklin took all the appropriate and legal measures to handle the messaging of an active investigation.

 

[DRU2012]

All I can say is that you have to be careful of your sources. After what just happened these past couple weeks, I have determined that we cannot trust the following:
- Neil Shulman (IAKOW)
- Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun

Be careful of these guys:
- Buddy Martin
- Pat Dooley

Trust these folks, because Danny Wuerffel does:
- Ali Peek-Wilbur
- David Waters
- James DeVirgilio

The takeaway from the actual trusted sources:
- We were wrong about Scott Stricklin
- We were wrong about Gary Condron
- We were wrong about Jon Sumrall

Here are the debunked lies:
- Whiffing on Lane Kiffin. False. The meeting between Kiffin and Stricklin went well. There were no demands. There was no bad blood. Stricklin says nothing about this because, as Wuerrfel stated, he is fine with the Gator Nation focusing its anger on him rather than anyone else. Give the man some credit.
- Stricklin wanting to reduce the size of the stadium. False. Stricklin must follow federal law when modifying the stadium. He issued requirements stating that the required modifications must still maintain as much capacity as possible while also adding luxury features that draw revenue.
- NIL and salary mismanagement. Stricklin offered to match any reasonable offer, but he wanted a contract that incentivized winning, i.e., no more Jimmy Sexton contracts that pay for losing or winning equally.
- Covering up Cam Newbauer's and Tomay Amato's abuses. Stricklin took all the appropriate and legal measures to handle the messaging of an active investigation.

Well, it sure seems you’ve fully flipped on MOST aspects of the various “counterpoints” regarding an undeniably ongoing set of contentious disagreements behind the scenes at “Gator Central”.
While I TOO have come a large portion of the way in the same direction in recent weeks, there is still no doubt in my mind that such debates were real—and CONTINUE to exist.
This is not necessarily a BAD thing, as long as they remain “points of debate” that lead to consensus, as opposed to regular and repeated impasses that reflect a destructive “battle of wills”.
By the current ongoing results, I’d have to say that, thankfully, the latter does NOT appear to be the case.
Believe me, by their own words (written and broadcast) many of the individuals you yourself cite as “trustworthy” have in recent weeks contradicted each other AND in fact in some cases are people whom (in these prior statements) have influenced ME in my own developing views and conclusions. At least SOME of this I would argue had it’s roots in very real problems and situations, can and should remain part of a strong foundation of ongoing vigilance.
Nonetheless, I think the important point here (with respect NOT just to MY views but to the evolution in attitude and strong emotion among Gators EVERYWHERE) is to recognize, acknowledge and come to accept the common thrust of who we are and where we’re going—as a team, program and yes, a “COMMUNITY”.
I am more than willing to “move on”—at the very least to let go of anger, preconceptions, and whatever impressions (whether they are now or LATER determined to be fact-based OR misperceived) in order to let us ALL DO THE SAME:
Move on, together, and let a hopefully henceforth smooth functioning “Gator Athletic Program” in general, and Florida FOOTBALL in particular regain its traditionally successful trajectory.
There are myriad signs that this is exactly what is in fact now beginning to manifest.
The changes have been notably strong and relatively sudden—and I sure do not care to be among those sounding “negative notes” that somehow introduce “disharmony” in this, the most crucial time and potential “turning point” in the path we have all longed for, have been searching to find a way BACK to!
I feel it as well:
Somehow, in our own typically contentious, self-absorbed “GATOR WAY”, we seem to have stumbled/are in the process of stumbling ONTO “the right path”, assembling the right collection of individuals to lead and to maximize our chances of continuing to make “good choices and decisions” as we navigate the wild terrain of transfer portals, “signing days”, NIL, “revenue sharing”, and all the rest that comprise the “new territory” of modern “CFB Playoff football”.
I certainly see a LOT of things differently than I did even a WEEK or two ago. I see the need for greater general flexibility in outlook:
We demand it in our Coaches, in our leaders—perhaps it is only right and natural that we find it in OURSELVES as well.
Let us then “seize the high ground”.
I sense the rewards for doing so, for making the EFFORT, can and WILL be huge.

 

[DRU2012]

All I can say is that you have to be careful of your sources. After what just happened these past couple weeks, I have determined that we cannot trust the following:
- Neil Shulman (IAKOW)
- Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun

Be careful of these guys:
- Buddy Martin
- Pat Dooley

Trust these folks, because Danny Wuerffel does:
- Ali Peek-Wilbur
- David Waters
- James DeVirgilio

The takeaway from the actual trusted sources:
- We were wrong about Scott Stricklin
- We were wrong about Gary Condron
- We were wrong about Jon Sumrall

Here are the debunked lies:
- Whiffing on Lane Kiffin. False. The meeting between Kiffin and Stricklin went well. There were no demands. There was no bad blood. Stricklin says nothing about this because, as Wuerrfel stated, he is fine with the Gator Nation focusing its anger on him rather than anyone else. Give the man some credit.
- Stricklin wanting to reduce the size of the stadium. False. Stricklin must follow federal law when modifying the stadium. He issued requirements stating that the required modifications must still maintain as much capacity as possible while also adding luxury features that draw revenue.
- NIL and salary mismanagement. Stricklin offered to match any reasonable offer, but he wanted a contract that incentivized winning, i.e., no more Jimmy Sexton contracts that pay for losing or winning equally.
- Covering up Cam Newbauer's and Tomay Amato's abuses. Stricklin took all the appropriate and legal measures to handle the messaging of an active investigation.

A continued follow-on to various earlier responses:

I don’t care to go back and extensively modify various details of opinions that have evolved in the tumultuous days and weeks since the Gator Coaching changes, and all that has followed as a result.
Suffice it to say that many of my own perceptions and resulting stands have shifted dramatically.
I DO want to note my generally wide agreement with who and who NOT to trust or count on for unvarnished, unbiased, clear-eyed commentary:
Ali Peak and Gator Dave Waters are two of my favorite online “Gator influencers” as well, for example—and they too have felt compelled to modify some of their own views…In fact, some of the very positions (and the information they reported it to be based on) that influenced my own opinions are among those struck down above.
If, in knee jerk anger, frustration and/or disappointment I wrongly condemned anyone, I regret it—but also know I am far from alone in this.
Rather than beat myself about it, I WOULD like to take this opportunity to clearly stake out my CURRENT VIEWS:
(1) I am sure on glad that Lane Kiffen is NOT our Coach now after all. I could write an emotionally-charged ESSAY on the matter, but for now will simply state it starkly and for the moment, leave it at that.
(2) How in HELL did we swallow and keep ON gorging at the endless trough of platitudes and self-serving tripe that passed for “leadership” under Billy Napier from the start—and for so long as mediocrity and outright hollow failure continued to accumulate?
(3) On a lesser note, in many cases the “facts” I thought I based my opinions on, including and especially those regarding Scott Stricklin, came from some of the very folks out there I most trusted for such background info—INCLUDING Ali and Dave.
I don’t blame them—but again, if these were all as mistaken (or at least “misunderstood” or “misperceived”) as you claim, then once more: I was far from alone in my resulting condemnations.
(4) All in all, it more and more appears that we MAY have finally taken a “reliably CORRECT first step” in the latest Head Coaching hire. Its follow through to longterm success of course remains to be seen…but the general, calmly growing positive ethos spreading throughout Gator Nation now seems a uniform “So far so good: Lets see what happens next.”
After all we’ve seen and been through this last decade-and-a-half plus, that has got to count as “positive as we could expect” and “better than anticipated” the day we all heard of Sunrall’s hire.

 

[Escambia94]

I will expand my response into a thread of its own, but here is what I have to say about the Jon Sumrall hire: I learned from the Billy Napier experience to be cautiously optimistic. There are only a handful of championship caliber coaches, and sometimes it takes time to create that person. Curt Cignetti and Mario Cristobal took their time getting to the top and they largely escaped the hard part about surviving the SEC schedule and the SEC expectations because they had Nick Saban as head coach. Jon Sumrall is taking the Dan Lanning and Pete Golding fast approach, but without tutelage of Nick Saban and without Saban to guide him through the SEC schedule and SEC expectations. The advantage that Sumrall has is that the SEC is no longer king of the Power 4. Sumrall needs to be faster at adjusting to rapidly evolving realities than his predecessor.