We probably shouldn't even GO there at this point, but in light of how dramatically disappointing a letdown the opener to Billy Napier's 2nd season as Head Coach of our program was and is, it's difficult NOT to at least LOOK at some of our rivals' opening games in similarly early points at the helms of THEIR programs.
So: Tennessee blows out Virginia yesterday, and tonight on a national stage FSU's young Coach has his squad dismantling 5th-ranked LSU, by now running up the score in the second half of what is both of THEIR openers.
Now, neither of these programs had suffered through near as extended periods of decline as ours at UF before landing their current respective guys. In Norvrll's case at FSU, yes, Taggart seemed to have somewhat floundered there for the couple of years he came in and took a previously successful program to successive losing records, but before him Jimbo Fisher had that program smoothly and solidly rolling along, hardly leaving the cupboard bare when he jumped to Texas A&M. That's exactly why the powers-that-be were so quick to pull the trigger on Taggert. So the squad Norvell inherited upon assuming the helm in Tallahassee was nowhere NEAR in the deep hole that more than 10 YEARS of successively bringing in "the wrong guy", a process completed by an at-the-end indifferent Dan Mullen, who reduced the once much-vaunted perrenial contender to back-in-the-pack SEC also-ran status before the talented, ambitious-but-patient Billy Napier agreed to come in and rebuild-to-greatness.
My point: Ours was and IS a "BIG JOB", requiring every BIT of the supposed talent AND patience his record, reputation and varied experience was said to have instilled in him.
Still, though, seeing these rivals making such long, sure strides to the front of the crowd is particularly galling given our current floundering.
Doesn't help quiet the building din of the mob howling for Billy's scalp at this point either...
So: Tennessee blows out Virginia yesterday, and tonight on a national stage FSU's young Coach has his squad dismantling 5th-ranked LSU, by now running up the score in the second half of what is both of THEIR openers.
Now, neither of these programs had suffered through near as extended periods of decline as ours at UF before landing their current respective guys. In Norvrll's case at FSU, yes, Taggart seemed to have somewhat floundered there for the couple of years he came in and took a previously successful program to successive losing records, but before him Jimbo Fisher had that program smoothly and solidly rolling along, hardly leaving the cupboard bare when he jumped to Texas A&M. That's exactly why the powers-that-be were so quick to pull the trigger on Taggert. So the squad Norvell inherited upon assuming the helm in Tallahassee was nowhere NEAR in the deep hole that more than 10 YEARS of successively bringing in "the wrong guy", a process completed by an at-the-end indifferent Dan Mullen, who reduced the once much-vaunted perrenial contender to back-in-the-pack SEC also-ran status before the talented, ambitious-but-patient Billy Napier agreed to come in and rebuild-to-greatness.
My point: Ours was and IS a "BIG JOB", requiring every BIT of the supposed talent AND patience his record, reputation and varied experience was said to have instilled in him.
Still, though, seeing these rivals making such long, sure strides to the front of the crowd is particularly galling given our current floundering.
Doesn't help quiet the building din of the mob howling for Billy's scalp at this point either...