After Sugar and you're doubting your Gators

[rpmGator]

Strong beat us without the benifit of getting the kids we can get. He would have taken over Florida recruiting imo...

And this game did not ruin our season, it was losing to UGA again, that did it for me.

[regurgigator]

People love to argue don't they?

And, there are so many that won't allow a touch of gray to ever contaminate the purity of their particular outrage

I hate losing too, and that game was painful to watch for the most part. That game could have topped off a great season and potentially landed us a final No. 2 ranking, so it was not meaningless IMO.

But, I can understand those who say it was meaningless using a long-term perspective. After following Gator football since the mid-60's, there's only one bowl loss that I think really put a long-term imprint on the program: that was the loss to Nebraska that cost us a national championship. (but it didn't prevent us from winning a NC the next season!!!)

Sure, a couple of bowl losses still stick in my craw many years after they were played (there was another loss to Nebraska I thought we should have won; Texas A&M surprised me one year when their beefy OL and RB's just ran all over us; and Notre Dame beating us with "The Bus" was painful) and this Louisville loss may join that list. But, I don't think any of these other bowl losses had much of a long-term imprint on the program - and I don't think this Sugar Bowl loss will either.

Originally Posted by number1

Once again how is that hard to do? I don't get that at all. It is a BCS bowl game. We played in the darn Outback and Gator Bowl the past 2 season with mediocre records. How could you not be hype to play in this game?

Like most of us, I have always been on the outside looking in when it comes to major college football, and I also used to pull out my hair wondering why players can't get psyched up to play every game (in basketball too). I never figured it out, but I've come to accept that it's just a part of human nature.

And in reply to StrengthandHonor's comment about this being on the coaching staff, that's true to an extent, but I doubt there's ever been a coaching staff in the history of team sports that was immune to this. Or, that could accurately predict when it would happen.

It's basically a common phenomenon that Herbstreit very accurately described right after the game. Not getting up for a lesser (actual or perceived) opponent can too often be expected. It's a large part of the reason many of us were upset that we got matched up with Louisville in the first place. Most of us old-timers have seen this show many times before.

[gatorbogey]

you got that right regurg. ditto on all your points. it's baffling on one hand why it happens, but it does. i don't think anyone knows how to avoid it either.

i think part of the problem is what we do vs fsu. it seems that game can either springboard you into a good bowl game, demoralize you or make you too full of yourself. there's too many data points now that you have to guard against getting too high after a good game at the end of the year vs that rival.

those bowl games you listed were nightmare performances to some degree. this louisville game falls into that category. and now we have the mirror image of what we did vs favored and highly-regarded/ordained buckeyes in 06. louisville did to us what we did to osu.

i think the blame - if there is any - is cast on all. they won it in the coaches offices late at night, in the both, on the sideline, in practices, and in the game, on the lines, between the helmets and....also in the stands.

[UFLAW81]

Originally Posted by petro

SOS had a good quote that would be applicable about now. Can't remember what it was though..... ; )

"Obviously, we have to do a better job of coaching."
Which meant, to his players, when we get on the plane, don't even look in my direction.

[The_Graygator]

Originally Posted by gatorbogey

you got that right regurg. ditto on all your points. it's baffling on one hand why it happens, but it does. i don't think anyone knows how to avoid it either.

i think part of the problem is what we do vs fsu. it seems that game can either springboard you into a good bowl game, demoralize you or make you too full of yourself. there's too many data points now that you have to guard against getting too high after a good game at the end of the year vs that rival.

those bowl games you listed were nightmare performances to some degree. this louisville game falls into that category. and now we have the mirror image of what we did vs favored and highly-regarded/ordained buckeyes in 06. louisville did to us what we did to osu.

i think the blame - if there is any - is cast on all. they won it in the coaches offices late at night, in the both, on the sideline, in practices, and in the game, on the lines, between the helmets and....also in the stands.

If this Sugar Bowl was one or two weeks after FSU, we crush the Cardinals IMO. I just think we lost some of our week-in and week-out focus, we got complacent, we read our press clippings too much, and basically went into the SB game completely uninvested in winning that game.

OTOH, Louisville spent four weeks preparing and game-planning and hearing how UF was going to steamroll them. They had something to prove while numerous big-time players on our team were too worried about their draft stock.

Result? We got beat for it and all you can do is tip your hat to UL, tell them "good game and you deserved to win", and move on.

But I certainly won't be letting this loss ruin a great season though.

[gatorbogey]

yep you're right, gray. i agree. we did perform well many times in the SEC-CG right after the nole game - no time to think or get that inflated ego.

and yep: when you're the heavy underdog, you invest the effort to probe the weaknesses and strategize and work, etc. while the favorite rests on their laurels, assured they can roll w/ what got them there.

[regurgigator]

Well said, gatorbogey and Graygator!!




...and lest it appear that I'm ignoring the performance, it certainly helped Louisville's cause that their QB played like one of the best QB's in the nation! I still think Manziel was the best QB we faced, but Bridgewater was awesome. That pass he threw in the 1st half to a little opening in our zone that he released long before his receiver got to the opening was incredible

Minus Bridgewater's performance, UF probably wins an uninspired game and everyone here is sooooo much happier

[malscott]

Crappy last game in a prestigious bowl that does mean something. We laid an egg. Unfortunate. NOT the end of the world. Hopefully we rise to the occasion and regroup next year. Here's to those players and coaches doing all they can to be well-prepared and better! Go Gators.

[prgator]

Originally Posted by jagervol01

I am kind of surprised at the perspective on here. It seems like the consensus is if you're not playing for a national championship you guys really don't care about the outcome of the bowl game anymore. Will this be true in years you don't make the playoff? That's a spoiled outlook isn't it?

Gator fans spoiled? Sense of entitlement? No. It couldn't be! LOL

But setting that aside, I don't believe that sense of entitlement is what is leading some gator fans to downplay the loss. I think it has to do with the larger context of the loss. We are in the middle of rebuilding a program with an almost brand new coach. Part of the rebuilding process includes a complete transformation of the kind of team the Gators will be. To have had the success we had this year, when we are rebuilding and completely transforming, is simply astonishing to some of us. That would include me! So as bad as the loss was, I am very happy with the direction of the program thus far.

[NJG8tor]

Originally Posted by WarDamnGator

That was my exact point. Losing a bowl game has little to no negative impact on recruiting, and I could make the counter argument that it helps in some cases. I'm not the one claiming that recruiting will be harmed by the loss, so why direct your post at me?

And, If the game was so important, then why all the empty seats? If it was such an important game, fans would have gone to see it. I'm really not buying the argument that the game was only important because we lost.

To address your second point; I dont think fan attendance has much bearing on the importance of a game. BCS games generally are considered important. Maybe they shouldnt be, but they are. Why do schools and universities lobby so hard for at large bids? This board would have thrown a fit Georgia would have been taken over us. Even though we may have gotten a (supposedly) more credible opponent in one of New Years day bowls.

And for better or for worse the game does become, at the very least, more memorable when the favorite gets beat. No one who watched BSU beat Oklahoma will forget that game; whereas how many people remember Georgia demolishing Hawaii the following year?

[gatorbogey]

Originally Posted by regurgigator

Well said, gatorbogey and Graygator!!




...and lest it appear that I'm ignoring the performance, it certainly helped Louisville's cause that their QB played like one of the best QB's in the nation! I still think Manziel was the best QB we faced, but Bridgewater was awesome. That pass he threw in the 1st half to a little opening in our zone that he released long before his receiver got to the opening was incredible

Minus Bridgewater's performance, UF probably wins an uninspired game and everyone here is sooooo much happier

i couldn't believe he even tried that pass. i can see throwing it w/ defender's backs to the qb, but not facing it. i was impressed by his performance.

[Swampmaster]

UF gets blown out by lville---fans rationalize the loss by saying it's "not important," "just a bowl game," no big deal," "doesn't mean anything," .......... classic!

[whitelakegator]

You play to win the game. It was CWM's FIRST BCS game. Did you forget Mizzou or LA? We played down to some really bad teams. We had something like 8 come from behind wins???? Seriously? That sounds like you are getting outcoached a lot and talent is overcoming a lot in the end. The defense is nails but our offense is 1887.

Too many close games where we had many balls bounce the Gator way. 7-6 was just as possible again. Either we make some serious strides on offense or I expect 8 wins next season.

[brimley]

They got their ass handed to them...period. I want a win, I think it matters!

But truth is, I bet...if anyone wants to take me up on it...

UF is ranked in the top 10 coming into next year, and Lville is not. That's why people think bowl games don't matter.

[gatorpa]

Originally Posted by The_Graygator

If this Sugar Bowl was one or two weeks after FSU, we crush the Cardinals IMO. I just think we lost some of our week-in and week-out focus, we got complacent, we read our press clippings too much, and basically went into the SB game completely uninvested in winning that game.

OTOH, Louisville spent four weeks preparing and game-planning and hearing how UF was going to steamroll them. They had something to prove while numerous big-time players on our team were too worried about their draft stock.

Result? We got beat for it and all you can do is tip your hat to UL, tell them "good game and you deserved to win", and move on.

But I certainly won't be letting this loss ruin a great season though.

Agree on all points.

[Tebowism0823]

Originally Posted by NJG8tor

Ive never seen any good evidence that winning or losing a particular game has any demonstrable impact on recruiting. Even when it is between rivals like Florida/FSU; Texas/Oklahoma; UF/UGA, ect. I dont think this particular bowl game will affect recruiting at all, except maybe help Louisville get a player or two who likely wasnt offered by Florida.

That said, we recruit players so we can win big games; we dont play the games so we can win on recruiting day. If Florida/Louisville wasnt a big game before, it is now that they whooped us. Losing happens. We'll move on and hopefully have a good 2013. But it just makes us look like sore losers when posters try to diminish the game's importance.

So because you haven't seen it means you're correct? A BCS game just so happened to be part of our schedule this year. The fact that we got dismantled will effect recruiting. Now some may see it as instant playing time but other recruits will see it as a flaw in our system, play calling, and possibly be steered elsewhere.

[Tebowism0823]

Originally Posted by WarDamnGator

I'm sure some recruits just saw a team that they come to and push for playing time as a freshman. But, in the end, I think our 11 wins has more impact on recruiting than our two losses. And if some recruit bails ... F-em ... I want guys that want to be Gators.

This can't happen if the point you're trying to argue is true.

[WarDamnGator]

Originally Posted by Tebowism0823

This can't happen if the point you're trying to argue is true.

Of course it can happen. It happens every year (even after we win our bowl games ). Do you honestly believe that recruits can't flip their verbal commitments for a variety of reasons? I don't. I'm just saying I don't think it's as likely as the drama queens want me to believe, just because of a meaningless bowl game. I mean, when is this supposed mass exodus supposed to start, anyway?

[Swampmaster]

if a team looks poorly coached in a big game, it could impact some recruits' decisions, although not many.

[whitelakegator]

Originally Posted by Swampmaster

UF gets blown out by lville---fans rationalize the loss by saying it's "not important," "just a bowl game," no big deal," "doesn't mean anything," .......... classic!

+1000000