Looks Like a Done Deal for Chip Kelly to become Gator Coach

Corey, a lot of teams without a very good defense can come up with a great game. The problem is with consistency. Anyway, I sure Kelly would be great at Florida and will make things interesting if it happens. 8)

 

I see that Spurrier has been speaking out against the potential hiring of Kelly. Thoughts, Gator fans?

 

Local news a few nights ago said that the ACC had approved Kelly because his prior problems had been time expired. If they bothered to do that I assume that there was some interest. It might be haggling over the price at this point of the naysayers may be having some impact.

 

Corey, I think that Spurriers thoughts are not all that negative toward Kelly, do you have a link?

I believe Spurrier will be a full supporter of whoever we hire.

 

Word is out tonight that the contract is signed.

A new era for Gator football.

Corey, a lot of people on GatorCountry think Spurriers remarks were intentional mis direction.

But who knows.

I am estatic.

 

Interesting one article says Kelly's agent is reportedly on his way to UCLA/Los Angeles as Kelly is their top target.

 

I’m hearing a large citrus grower in central Florida whose name happens to adore the stadium in Gainesville says it’s a done deal as well, I would say it’s going to happen..

 

Interesting, there's a report that UCLA is scheduled to meet with Kelly tomorrow.

Duh duh duhhhhhh

The drama goes... Wherever the guy goes, he's going to bring a fun style of football with him.

 

Wel they flew up to see Chip with what was supposed to be a done deal and came back with no contract.

UCLA seems to be in the picture big time.

So much for me being ecstatic.

 

It sure does look like UCLA is in the mix doesn't, I wonder which is the better fit for for Kelly and his family, a more urban environment or a less urban?? One would think he has closer recruiting ties to the left coast..

 

Don't let it bother you Bill. View it like I do recruiting. They're all assholes, I just want the assholes who wanna be a part of my asshole family. Those that don't, are just assholes and I have little time for.

 

Out of curiosity Corey how would you compare the Florida and UCLA jobs. Taking everything into account, location best chance at winning champions and anything else.

 

I don't think there is any doubt the Fla job is the more high profile high reward job vs UCLA. If for no other reason that Fla is a football school first, sure the Gators have great programs in other sports. But Football is the flagship. While at UCLA it's basketball that is the flagship. UCLA has a proud history of good football for sure, but they pale in comparison to their cross town rival USC.

Both schools sit in hotbeds of some of the best talent in the nation.

I do think though that the commitment to winning big in football is higher at Fla than UCLA. That is what turned Meyer to Fla over Notre Dame.

I'm sure the money will be good at both schools. It probably will get down to where Kelly feels like he can comeback and duplicate his record at Oregon, which of course was damn good. Also he knows the Pac12 much more than he knows the SEC.

 

That's a good analysis in my opinion Terry.

There are people at Gator Country who are somewhat in the know that still say Kelly has agreed to a contract with Florida.

One thing I am hearing that I didn't know earlier is the severance pay he is getting from San Francisco and he could lose a good bit more if he signed a contract before this season is over. I don't know about that but it does seem to complicate the dealings.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

I would say Florida is a slam dunk for Chip (and why you had news of him being onboard) unless another significant PAC12 job was open.
UCLA could be that job.
It's probably not quite as high profile as UF from the standpoint of rabid fanbase, and recent history, but I'd say they have enough resources and commitment to football to make it a race for a coach if he's a west coast guy.
Kelly seems to be that.
In the end... it only matters which job makes him more sure he can succeed.

 

I'd say that West Coast and Pac12 familiarity would be the draw to UCLA.

 

Among other things I don't think that the bar is as high at UCLA as it is at Fla. And let's face it, what's the prize for winning your division in the SEC East? It's 3 hrs of terror playing The Tide.

 

No ****....

 

The thing that no one has mentioned yet, and this is to answer you Bill, is that taking the UCLA job firmly puts Los Angeles, the massive sprawl that is the suburban area, and San Diego all right in your back yard. That doesn't even start with national recruiting, which I give Florida the big edge on.

Forever and a day, UCLA's worst nightmare has been themselves. It's a bit more hippy than USC. It's far more rigorous academically than USC. The boosters are profanely wealthy and really laid back. They were willing to ride out another year with Mora and let him go. He was sacked by the AD. (Happy birthday Mora!)

In terms of surrounding neighborhood(s) and lifestyle, G'ville isn't even in the same building as UCLA. At the same time, coaching Florida comes with that automatic SEC prestige and weight. Argue though we might/do, there's no arguing a 2 loss P12 team belongs in the playoffs, but they'll argue a 2 loss SEC champion belongs every time. Part of it has to do with the regional media coverage and the fact that no one on the eastern shore stays up to watch Pac12 football.

I believe Foley is gone at Florida, right? That could give some folks pause as he was a great AD to work for regardless of school.

The thing about UCLA is that with the right coach, who wins over the boosters and shows them that winning big at UCLA is possible annually, they could become an absolute monster. Every year they pump guys into the NFL and really put forth a minimal effort in doing so. The LA Times Bill Plaschke is already against the move and stated so on Finebaum, but that's just one more reason for me to endorse it.

Really, there's no doubt that Florida will make the commitment to be the best and they expect/demand it now. At UCLA, honestly, you just have to be better than USC and beat teams who aren't from the West coast. (if you haven't noticed, Pac12 teams take tremendous pride in doing just that) When you don't beat SC, and you don't beat teams from the midwest and the south, you aren't long for UCLA... so honestly, the bar is lower at UCLA.

One of these days, UCLA is going to make their Steve Spurrier hire. The guy who takes a nice regional program and inserts them forever into the national picture. They still haven't done that. Will they do it now? I dunno..

Comparing the 2 programs in terms of facilities, I go UCLA straight across the board. Florida probably has a better indoor facility than UCLA, maybe I dunno, but there isn't much call for one at UCLA either.

The biggest problem, as I see it, is that Florida is already on that national stage as a program and honestly UCLA is still more regional. It's criminal that they are that, but it is what it is until they hire the right guy.

 

Thanks for the analysis Corey. And I am certainly not as confident that we get Kelly as I was when I posted this topic. I think that within a week we will all know.

Your comment about Foley matches my thoughts. However you might find it interesting that there is a big contingent on GatorCouintry that hate Foley. They think we fell way behind in facilities, that he is cheap and made bad football hires.

I don't agree with them but they are sure vocal.

Hope things are going well with you.