I needed a break and took it. Meanwhile we went to the Vanderbilt game and picked up our new puppy. It's like having a new baby in the house and when we put her in her crate last night it was quite some time before she calmed down enough to go to sleep. Then when we took her out this morning she let us know her opinion of being locked up all night. We will probably have more of the same the next few nights. Ok, back to football, as I said I needed a break but have some thoughts I need to express. First, I've always gone with the Skybox philosophy and tried to respect the other guys team. That has been difficult for me at times as it seems for whatever reason the Gators have been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism through the Skybox years for a number of issues that I am going to comment on here. The most recent, Brandon Spikes. He deserved to be suspended, a half game a whole game fine. More than that ridiculous! To start with was never much chance that the Georgia player was going to be injured. The Georgia player knew that, Spikes knew that, and as I said once before I simply do not remember ever hearing much about serious eye injuries in football games. Spikes is not a thug, and in now way belongs in the class with several other that were mentioned in the comments, Hainesworth, Stallworth, Little etc. No way! On the other hand Mike Golic is a complete jerk. Anyone who in an interview with USA Today a few years ago made a lot of comments of what went on in a pile then admitted he tried to choke a player in the pile, to send them a message, then can spend the better part of a week berating Spikes is a complete hypocrite. The Heisman, this year Tebow doesn't deserve the Heisman because his numbers are down, but in 2007, according to some experts here, he didn't deserve the Heisman because his numbers were inflated and he played for a team that lost 4 games. One poster even said he couldn't play 5th string for S. Cal. Seems to me there's kind of a double standard here. No big thing though as Tebow will always be special in the eyes of the Gators and there are about 4 - 5 players this year who have a legitimate chance to win. I do believe that baring some major injury or breakdown in the next several weeks Tebow will be one of the three players on the stage. Of course I want him to win but can live with it if he doesn't. The Gators schedule, all I can say on this old rehashed subject is that it's fine with me for your team, whoever that may be, to schedule according to your standards. However I would also say to you, whoever your team may be, that there is no team represented on this board that year in and year out that at the end of the season has a more difficult schedule than the Gators. So have your team schedule the way they want and I don't intend to debate it with you but know that your schedule on balance is not more difficult than the Gators play year in and year out. Urban Meyer, hey I guess if you don't like him I just have to live with that. I will only tell you that in my opinion there is none better in putting a team together, winning, making a difference in his players lives. There is not another coach I would have at Florida right now and that includes Steve Spurrier, as much as I think of him. I am not saying any of these things to start an argument, and in fact don't intend to debate them. I just felt that I need to get them off my mind. I doubt that I can change my personality completely and refrain when people make what I consider to be ridiculous statements about the Gators, but I do intend to try.
First of all, I really enjoy your posts and your perspectives Bill. I think you try to be fair even if I think you don't always see the other side of the argument. I see your side on several of the points you mention here. 1st point-The Gators being on the receiving end of a lot of criticism. I think that comes with the territory when you've won 2 national titles in 3 seasons and are on the verge of #3 out of 4. It's a backhanded compliment to the enormous success the Gators have enjoyed dating back to the mid-90s under one Steve Spurrier. Spurrier rubbed a lot of people the wrong way when the Gators were enjoying unprecedented success for their program. His style isn't appealing to some in a very similar fashion to the way Lane Kiffin's style isn't appealing to you. Second point-Brandon Spikes issue. We're going to have to agree to disagree here as I think this eye gouging incident is just as horrible as some, and I repeat some of the issues you bring up. Drinking and driving is an entirely different realm that has nothing to do with football and character displayed on the football field. It was, however, a heinous act. Maybe it's jumping the gun to call him a thug as I don't know him and he did seem to be repentant of the deed but it was horrible and I don't see how anyone can try and justify it or not see that it merited severe punishment but, like I said, agree to disagree.... I don't recall hearing either of the comments that you mention Mike Golic making here, not saying he didn't make them, I just wasn't tuned in. However, it sounds to me like he was very hypocritical in this instance. However, as has been stated on this board over and over again, they are media personalities. Just a step below actors in many cases (some several steps below even though they try and it's painful to watch, see Holtz, Lou). I have no beef with Florida's schedule. They play tough SEC games every year that includes Tennessee, Georgia, and LSU as well as an SEC championship game if they make it and you throw in FSU, and in some years Miami. The Gators play their share of cupcakes but so do most. Big deal. Non-issue. Urban Meyer is a tremendous coach whom I would love to see take himself straight to the pros or to Notre Dame. I love, love his innovative offense and although I can't stand Florida, I love watching them play. I also think his first NC was his best coaching job and shows a lot about him as a football coach. Chris Leak could not run the spread option the way it was meant to be run but he adjusted for the personnel he did have and won anyway. I don't necessarily like him as he screams jerk to me but I've read and heard many good things about him and boy wonder seems to worship the ground he walks on. I'm not positive about his making a difference in players' lives anymore than any other coach as he has more than his share get in serious trouble off the field but I'm sure he does a decent job of this and I don't believe in casting stones about off the field troubles as we all live in glass houses that can be broken at any time. That's all I have. I'm not trying to start an argument either, just responding.
Hey Bill! Hola and welcome back. No Irish fan would ever contend that Golic is the sharpest crayon in the box. A full game was enough for Spikes. Basically, we can all agree to disagree like so many other things here. At the end of the day, we'll all look forward to the next big game...news items or opportunity for Dave and I to tell each other that we're full of it with bells on As a collective, we're bigger than any one issue. That's what makes this place great.
Corey, I really wasn't going to comment here again, but I am glad you are feeling better and can post. And I agree with your thoughts. Sounds like you are out on a bit of a limb with your other Notre Dame fans about Weis.
Eh. It happens. If Charlie goes, I hope he steps down. He said it himself about where he should be in year 5 and that is an albatross he hung on his own neck. One thing you'll find is that no coach is ever good enough for us. Ara is beloved by the Irish nation, but I'm not entirely sure he was a big fan of us. Somehow folks seem to forget that while Lou Holtz stepped down, he was basically run outta town with fans screaming for him and his 'out of touch ways.'... What's real funny is that his 'Blarney Offense' that was a running joke was 10 years ahead of its time. Its a clear pre-cursor to the read zone option although you never really read that from anyone. I just hate to see good men trashed. Davie and Ty had it coming. They were and still are giant pieces of guano. Charlie isn't. He's meant well. He's tried hard. He's worked hard. I'm just not sure it's going to work out.
Fair analysis Corey and I somehow think you are not alone. I don't have an opinion, at least won't express one, about what you guys should do. After his first year I thought Charlie was going to work out and both of has hired the right coach for us. That seems to have changed and I wish you guys luck.
Thanks Bill.. I think this week might tell us a bit about what is going on here. We've lost Rudolph for the year and that hurts a LOT. If you wade thru the bullsh*t and agenda pieces, you see a lot of news reports about a team that is very, very mad. Let's see how they handle it. If they go out there and lay a turd, I think Charlie may be cooked.
Now for some Gator retaliation on Tenn.....GO Tennessee head football coach Lane Kiffin less than three days before an important SEC game is dealing with his first off the field incident involving players he recruited. True freshmen Janzen Jackson, Nu'Keese Richardson, and Mike Edwards were all arrested this morning just after 2 am and charged with armed robbery. Only kidding, just an instigator I am... :twisted:
Did not see this post but started a topic on this myself. If you go to that topic started about 20 minutes after your post, you will see that it is not a joke with me. I am ready for expulsions in this case. I do not want half game or whole game, or rest of the season suspensions... I want expulsions. I want the one holding the pellet gun to be flushed faster than a bad smelling bowl of diarrhea. i want the second guy at the car to be suspended for the rest of the season (minimum) with possible expulsion. I will reserve opinion of the third guy who was possibly not involved but guilty by association. Let's move all further comments over to the "Kiffin's discipline to be tested" topic.
Now I see that Aquila started a topic, "Is It Too Late To Give Richardson & Jackson Back?", an hour before NDFAN77's comment. I locked my topic and we can discuss this on Aquila's topic.
I don't intend to cast any stones. It distresses me when young people screw their lives up this way. I don't know what the results will be in court but I sincerely hope it's enough of a wake up call to get these kids attention. All I had heard about Richardson as he was in high school was that he was a pretty good kid, what would lead him to do something like this is beyond me.