Dan Mullen fixed a lot of things that we are overlooking as fans. For one, think of the last time that the Gators had players arrested, suspended, or expelled.
2014 recruiting class had 1 five-star, 12 four-star, and 11 three-star athletes. 7 transferred out, 2 medically retired, and 3 were dismissed. 8 players made it into the NFL, including 2 former Gators.
2015 recruiting class had 2 five-star, 6 four-star, and 12 three-star athletes in McElwain's transitional class. 8 transferred out, 1 medically retired, and 2 were dismissed. 3 players made it into the NFL, 2 under Mullen.
2016 recruiting class had 0 five-star, 10 four-star, 12 three-star, and 2 two-star athletes in McElwain's 1st full class. 1 recruit failed to qualify academically, 2 transferred out (1 for family), 0 were dismissed. 14 made it to the NFL under Mullen.
2017 recruiting class had 0 five-star, 15 four-star, 7 three-star, and 1 two-star athletes in McElwain's last class. 2 recruits failed to academically qualify, 3 were dismissed before Mullen's tenure. 2 medically retired. 1 failed to academically qualify (and re-enrolled at UF in 2021 only to leave again). 4 transferred out. 5 made it to the NFL under Mullen.
2018 recruiting class had 0 five-star, 14 four-star, 5 three-star athletes, and 2 four-star transfers in Mullen's first class. 2 recruits were dismissed prior to the season. 2 players medically retired. 3 transferred out. 5 made it to the NFL under Mullen. 10 players still active in 2021.
2019 recruiting class had 0 five-star, 14 four-star athletes in Mullen's second class. 2 recruits dismissed prior to the season. 3 players failed to academically qualify. 3 players transferred. 17 players still active in 2021.
2020 recruiting class had 0 five-star, 14 four-star athletes in Mullen's third class, with 3 former five-star transfers. 2 recruits failed to academically qualify, 1 transferred. 24 players still active in 2021.
2021 recruiting class had 0 five-star, 11 four-star athletes in Mullen's fourth class, with 1 former five-star and 2 former four-star athletes. 26 players still active in 2021.
The trend here is that Mullen has fewer arrests, suspensions and dismissals, an equal amount of five-stars, and 5-6 times as many NFL players. Mullen has fixed certain parts of the program. He still has to fix recruiting out of high school, because there will not always be former five-star athletes in the transfer portal.
As usual, you make good, solid points that are and (apparently) have been too easy for many fans and commentators to overlook before now (myself included, at times—though maybe less than you think: There are REASONS that I have supported Dan Mullen for so long—and am able and willing to “suspend judgement” even now!)...
However, that cuts both ways, and some troubling weaknesses and blind spots have worsened, at the very least NOT been addressed even as they grew—and it has all begun to tell.
I don’t know how else to explain how it all appears to have coalesced into what has now manifested as a strange, sad “riches-to-RAGS” story.
What had been an encouraging and hopeful tale of turnaround and growing improvement has seemingly fast-faded and become one of let down and self-delusion.
No matter what, the current “status quo” is simply unacceptable—and you know it as well as I do, E—.
It must be clearly and obviously fully turned back, these “trends” reversed:
High school recruiting (ESPECIALLY in FLORIDA) dramatically improved, annually dominated by us most years, depth and consistency-of-play returned to high standard too, across-the-board. Surely it isn’t just ONE GUY (now in Tuscaloosa) who can see and consciously strive for the kind of thorough competence and attention-to-DETAIL that we have come to expect as the standard here at UF.
The patchy imperfection and lack of consistency SHOULD have been found wanting and addressed by our Coach and staff long before now, don’t you think? What’s going ON with THAT?
It shouldn’t have come to this, we shouldn’t have been in a state of defenseless collapse before we all were suddenly asking, “What the HELL is going WRONG??!”
Can we NOT have young men of great talent AND good character? I just cannot accept that there are not young men who embody BOTH—or that UF cannot, HAVE not established themselves a well-established and proud home to those who do.
I have noted with satisfaction and pride as Mullen has worked and (seemingly up to about a year ago) SUCCEEDED in moving forward with exactly that standard held close and high! If he can somehow get us back on track with those values fully intact, that would be ideal.
I’m just not so sure that somehow his human weaknesses haven’t out stripped his own principles and strength-of-character, allowing him (and US) to lose his way.
And when THAT happens, there is seldom any clear way back—not without some time lost-in-the-wilderness before refinding and rebuilding one’s dream somewhere else.
His fate isn’t NECESSARILY “sealed”—but to “rise again in place” is the story LESS OFTEN seen or heard, you must admit.
Getting from “back in the fight, NEAR the TOP” is a different road and process than then getting from there TO CHAMPIONSHIPS!
It is starting to LOOK like our Coach is a guy who can take a program “on the outside” and bring them into contention among that first group, but ISN’T (or at least hasn’t yet mastered the role of) someone who can manage all the fine points of bringing off that last, huge step.
Does he HAVE a viable PLAN to GET there? And will he GET the opportunity to now try and see it through HERE, if so?
