(1)There's talk about our going to the Fiesta Bowl against UCF if we win out from here...But there's also discussion that Penn State (a more traditional invitee to that one) will get that bid...The interesting part of that discussion is how much either program really RELISHES that spot--to wit, defending the "honor" and pride of all the "Big Boy" Conferences and programs. Given everything that has happened this season and how our fortunes and outlook have risen and fallen over its course, I say we gladly accept that challenge, JUMP at the chance to go into what would be a much watched, highly anticipated matchup... Maybe I'm wrong, that this squad might be better off just going to something "nice" but less crucial, get what we need (extended prep and practice time, TV exposure and whatever post season "prestige" can be sqeezed from it all) going into the final stretch of recruiting, win or lose. I'd LIKE to think the challenge and focus, the national ATTENTION would serve to arouse the BEST in our team and program--and that we'd go into such a situation and RISE TO THE OCCASION, administer a BEAT DOWN that would help to further mark our "return" and only enhance our recruiting profile. But UCF will be hyped for that one too--all the more if it were against "The Mighty Gators". We could lose--and it COULD get away from us badly. But damnit, do we choose to "play it safe", choose from FEAR? Of course not: We leap at the opportunity, if it comes our way.
(2) We don't normally talk about OTHER teams' and/or Coach's problems unless we are about to play them--and even then, only from the point of view of how we might exploit it...But this business with Saban insisting on playing Tua against Citadel, even though he is CLEARLY injured, is kinda weird.
I understand his attitude--towards both the media offering THEIR opinion AND "sending a message" to his team, but it also strikes me as stubborness to the point of foolishness. His TEAM better than anyone knows what Tua means to their Championship aspirations, and understands their current situation at the QB position...Tua shouldn't even have BEEN in there for that last series where he took the hit on his (already injured) knee. At this point, no matter WHAT, no matter how severe (or not) the injury, he needs (at MINIMUM) some rest and rehab, and the 3rd stringer needs some work. If you wanna get Tua in there against Citadel for a series or two early to limit the chance of him losing that sense of rhythm with the offense, that's one thing, and there's some truth to the idea of the messages you send your team...but anything more just seems like Saban's "message" might be aimed more at the media and the WORLD "out there" he shows so much contempt for--which, manifested in this way at this time, would be the height of arrogant stupidity.
I credit the man with more sense than that. We may not like him, but you can't argue with the results achieved of late. But if "they" (everyone outside you and yours) don't matter, then you ignore them all and DO WHAT'S RIGHT. This is the easy part: Look out for your player AND your TEAM.
In this way, I think maybe we begin to see the "chinks in Saban's otherwise tough and shining armor": A perfectionist, yes, but more and more it starts to look like this is as much or more about HIM, what HE says and looks to prove out there.
If so, I believe Dan Mullen, who has similar standards but his own very different approach, and manner in which he seeks to achieve them, can and WILL find ways to exploit that.
"Pride goeth before the fall": Sanan himself begins to become the weakness in the total structure.
(3) There has been a lot of media BS criticism regarding our long-snapper's "karaoke/air guitar performance" end of the 3rd qtr on Saturday...Now, in most cases these people might have a point, but they have taken it completely out of context, oblivious to the "new tradition" TP-singalong now customary after "We Are The Boys", and calling them out for doing it when we were still DOWN 2 scores...But the TRUTH is IT HELPED FIRE THE SWAMP CROWD UP!!! We had already BEGUN to feel the "breeze" that would become a "howling wind", it had already started to FEEL different--and that slightly silly "thing" he and his fellow special teams cohorts got into over there appeared to galvinize a Swamp crowd READY to break out. Maybe they NEEDED something, ANYTHING to get them going, but at the very least it loosened everything and everyone UP: After that, good things happened and the Gator home fans went NUTS--They were a factor (like they HADN'T been) the rest of the way.
Coach Mullens has been PLEADING for that, all season and especially last coupla home games...Here it was, finally, and though maybe NOT the way he (or any Coach) would have requested or pre-approved, but NO ONE on the sidelines could be unhappy with the spontaneous results. I wouldn't make THAT part (the long snapper's "performance") a weekly thing, but as a one time deal, it was FINE: the crazy right thing at the unexpected, crazy right time.
(2) We don't normally talk about OTHER teams' and/or Coach's problems unless we are about to play them--and even then, only from the point of view of how we might exploit it...But this business with Saban insisting on playing Tua against Citadel, even though he is CLEARLY injured, is kinda weird.
I understand his attitude--towards both the media offering THEIR opinion AND "sending a message" to his team, but it also strikes me as stubborness to the point of foolishness. His TEAM better than anyone knows what Tua means to their Championship aspirations, and understands their current situation at the QB position...Tua shouldn't even have BEEN in there for that last series where he took the hit on his (already injured) knee. At this point, no matter WHAT, no matter how severe (or not) the injury, he needs (at MINIMUM) some rest and rehab, and the 3rd stringer needs some work. If you wanna get Tua in there against Citadel for a series or two early to limit the chance of him losing that sense of rhythm with the offense, that's one thing, and there's some truth to the idea of the messages you send your team...but anything more just seems like Saban's "message" might be aimed more at the media and the WORLD "out there" he shows so much contempt for--which, manifested in this way at this time, would be the height of arrogant stupidity.
I credit the man with more sense than that. We may not like him, but you can't argue with the results achieved of late. But if "they" (everyone outside you and yours) don't matter, then you ignore them all and DO WHAT'S RIGHT. This is the easy part: Look out for your player AND your TEAM.
In this way, I think maybe we begin to see the "chinks in Saban's otherwise tough and shining armor": A perfectionist, yes, but more and more it starts to look like this is as much or more about HIM, what HE says and looks to prove out there.
If so, I believe Dan Mullen, who has similar standards but his own very different approach, and manner in which he seeks to achieve them, can and WILL find ways to exploit that.
"Pride goeth before the fall": Sanan himself begins to become the weakness in the total structure.
(3) There has been a lot of media BS criticism regarding our long-snapper's "karaoke/air guitar performance" end of the 3rd qtr on Saturday...Now, in most cases these people might have a point, but they have taken it completely out of context, oblivious to the "new tradition" TP-singalong now customary after "We Are The Boys", and calling them out for doing it when we were still DOWN 2 scores...But the TRUTH is IT HELPED FIRE THE SWAMP CROWD UP!!! We had already BEGUN to feel the "breeze" that would become a "howling wind", it had already started to FEEL different--and that slightly silly "thing" he and his fellow special teams cohorts got into over there appeared to galvinize a Swamp crowd READY to break out. Maybe they NEEDED something, ANYTHING to get them going, but at the very least it loosened everything and everyone UP: After that, good things happened and the Gator home fans went NUTS--They were a factor (like they HADN'T been) the rest of the way.
Coach Mullens has been PLEADING for that, all season and especially last coupla home games...Here it was, finally, and though maybe NOT the way he (or any Coach) would have requested or pre-approved, but NO ONE on the sidelines could be unhappy with the spontaneous results. I wouldn't make THAT part (the long snapper's "performance") a weekly thing, but as a one time deal, it was FINE: the crazy right thing at the unexpected, crazy right time.