There are a lot of complaints on social media, even though the Gators outgained the Wahoos almost 2:1 for most of the game. The defense was reminiscent of the Ron Zook “bend but don’t break” defense. Oddly enough, Virginia only beat Florida using two types of passes: middle hitch and deep post “rainbow”.
I hate to say this was bad especially since the Gators did win but they played better against Michigan in the Peach Bowl last year against better talent.
Both comments valid—and, that being the case, together I think reveal a DEEPER, more relevant insight beneath them BOTH:
Given all the aforementioned items in a game that in retrospect set up as a total trap for US and OPPORTUNITY for a mainly (with that one glaring stumble down their stretch run to GET here) resurgent Cavaliers program and squad’s reacting well to THEIR “new Coach’s” plan and leadership, AND that quite cogent point noted by our own Coach Mullens about how difficult a climb the last few steps, “one game at a time” in the WIN-column as we appear to be trying for now—LEAST of all in the SEC!
Of course, hopefully we do it another way entirely: Instead take an overall PERFORMANCE step forward, upgrade ourselves here and there across-the board and STEP to the front! (The extreme example having just been smoothly and COMPLETELY demo’d by LSU, btw...). But we’ll just have to see what we got, and what Mullens & Co. can do with it, come next late-spring.
One note, as we watch this Bowl-season clump by (and BTW, for example: Who here believes EITHER of these Rose-bowl participants, based on performance this far, would have beaten VIRGINIA, at least the team we faced peaking, well-planned and prepared as they were to face US last night! Right now, I can’t see awarding EITHER of these “not so powerful whatever/BOTH like old-style ‘big’n’slow Ten’ teams” a final ranking higher than us, after the FINAL is played, and all the dust and blathering settles...
(BUT...All that “blathering” WILL take its toll, our own rather short-sited and impatient fans were looking for and expecting “Blow Out”—but give Bronco, his staff. the latest play and/or transfer and/or Go Pro prules and all the rest, lead-up time and a really great game plan coming in, maximized to beat us and US alone, to make us work for it. We showed once more what a tough, resilient and above all STALWART team this Gator Team is. Keep that up, KEEP getting BETTER, boys—and WE WILL GET THERE. I still feel it is close.
Y’all MUST feel it too! Life, sports and reality being as strange and unpredictable as it is, I refuse to play the prophet. But come with me this far: As fans, Gators thru’n’thru, are you ANY less sure than EVER that we got the best Coach out there, perfect fit then, there and for the FORESEEABLE.
It’s just a matter of time (I almost prefaced that last line with “Relax—...”)
But hell, truth is even I couldn’t manage THAT...maybe, “Hang IN there...”?
