wow.. just wow. things are ugly in Knoxville. When you get to the players vs fans portion of the program, the wheels are nearly off the wagon.
MCG, I, for one, actually don't mind the article. I remember during the Zook era at UF making the comment that I thought the Gators were in the process of becoming a "basketball school" and they didn't even know it. Of course, they did "become" a basketball school but that was in addition to reclaiming their rightful spot as one of the nation's elite college football teams. Meyer was a great hire and he gives me hope. I never have been one to totally sell out and say that Fulmer should be fired but I just DO NOT see anyway that this program can pick itself up right now. The fans just don't care anymore. My wife and I were disgusted at the product on the field on Saturday. It was more embarrassing than last year's version of this game. I almost believe that there wasn't one individual in that entire stadium that felt like Tennessee was going to win this game, players and coaches included. Back to my "basketball school" thing. I meant that derogatory when referring to UF as though they were becoming like a Duke or a North Carolina where football takes a backseat. The sad thing is, I'm already looking forward to Tennessee's basketball season. I've never felt this way about Tenn. football. I was shocked when I checked my email on Saturday night and saw an alert that Scout.com sent that said new commitment for Tennessee. I could not believe that one of the many recruits attending the game would have committed after the performance on the field by the Vols and the fans' loud booing. Tennessee did get a commitment from a 5-star recruit on Saturday. He's a PG named Josh Selby from Maryland. Things are looking pretty good for this aspiring BASKETBALL SCHOOL. 55 days til tip-off.
... and the irony about this whole situation is that Florida is helping us. The same high $$$ alumni that pushed Majors out over not beating Bama will now turn on Fulmer. I can sit back and watch knowing that I don't have to voice my opinion. Many others now have it. The smartest play Florida could have made was to keep the game close. It was obvious that they could win the game and score any time they wanted to. They didn't even need their offense to win the game. They only had to wait for us to punt. By making it embarrassing two years in a row, they have sealed the fate of the Tennessee coach that they could be sure to beat each year. Not smart Florida. Thank you so much for opening eyes that refused to be opened last year. The natives are restless in Knoxville. If Fulmer starts a QB in the Auburn game that publicly thumbed his nose at the high $$$ alumni, he better be ready to retire.
Tough times guys. Not sure Fulmer will be able to right the ship this time. Maybe you don't want him to. I was talking on Sat. with the Tenn fan I met and explaining how the ref incident in 2004 at Knoxville coupled with the ACC hose job UF received from FSU the season before actually helped Florida in the long run because it gave Foley the opportunity to bring in Urban Meyer when he was available. Without those losses we would have a Fulmeresque type coach in Zook still at the helm.....great recruiter who could win the biggest of games but no consistency. I think Fulmer can win bowl games however and that is a huge plus over Zook though and he won championships in the years past but that was when Georgia was not such a fly in the ointment as they have become now.
Congrats on a huge win. Urban Meyer is a great coach and I admit probably better than Ron Zook... But I can't stop feeling that Zooky didn't get a fair shake...I know that will irritate y'all but that is not my intent. Things surely worked out well for you so the change obviously is justified.
Stu, there are two coaches that left Florida that I would agree probably didn't get a fair shake. First was Ghalen Hall who was dismissed during the 89 season. It had to do with an NCAA violation. He got a bad deal as he was basically honest person. Unfortunately with what happened to the Gators a few years earlier the administration was running scared and let him go. It was a crock on the part of the NCAA and the University of Florida. Ron Zook as you know was let go about halfway through 2004 season. Did he deserve better, I believe so. However I also strongly believe that at the time it was the right thing to do. The Gator Nation was in chaos and in my opinion there was enough people against him that there was no way Zook would have ever been able to have a long career at Florida. As painful as it was to him it was probably best for him as well as the Gator Nation. It is by personal belief that one reason he was let go in mid season was so that it opened the door to pursue Meyer earlier. That is just a personal opinion. Having said all the above, Spurrier followed Hall and Meyer followed Zook. As much as I feel Hall and Zook were not treated fairly, there is no way on this earth that I would take either of them over the person that took their place. And in Zook's case he is much better off at Illinois where he is well respected and he would likely never have achieved that at Florida no matter how unfair. In Spurrier's case he wasn't successful in the NFL, but he did make a bundle of $$$$$. I might add one more thing, as much as it may surprise some of you I believe that bringing back Spurrier would have been a mistake, mostly because we were able to get Meyer who is as much what the Gators need now as Spurrier was what we needed in 1990. I hope this clarifies things!!!!! :lol: :lol: Fat chance I know. :roll: :roll:
No, I think that says it all and says it properly... I don't have strong feelings on it...just think that Zook wasn't given much of a chance...y'all came out of it smelling like a rose 'cuz you got a great coach...which is ok with me. Disclaimer...Ron Zook is a local guy.
Stu, what I didn't say is that I root for Ron Zook's team and want him to be very successful at Illinois. I don't think he's as good of a coach as Meyer but he is not a bad coach and has turned Illinois around, at least that's the way it seems to me.
I think most Gator fans do like Zook and wish him the best at Illinois. I am definitely one of those fans that feel that way.