This loss and how it affects our football program (recruits, juniors going pro, etc)

[swg8trgr8]

Ordinarily we'd all agree that this game meant very little. Unfortunately there will be ramifications from this "meaningless" bowl game against some Big East team from Kentucky. I'm not the "doomsday" type of Gator fan, but I feel like nothing but bad can come from this game.

Firstly, recruiting.
I can only imagine all the smack F$U, Alabama, and Georgia recruits were talking to our recruits and other kids who are undecided at the UA bowl game. All those 5* kids, stuck in a hotel, only game on, gathered around to watch that debacle. I feel sorry for Kelvin and company who had to deal with that crap all night long. No way a guy like Demarcus Robinson, watched that game and came away thinking he'd want to play in this offense, with this o-line, and this qb his first couple years. Defensive recruits might be unfazed, but offensive skill players we are trying to recruit will have serious questions about their future here.

Usually, a kid will not want to leave college on a bad note like that. You'd think the Juniors would want to come back after a bad loss, right the ship, and make a title run their senior year. Unfortunately, with a loss like that, I believe it will have the juniors thinking the exact opposite. Why would Easley, Floyd, Elam, and Jenkins want to come back to have to carry this team once again with an inept offense that doesn't look like it's getting any better? Why would Jordan Reed want to come back when he only gets targeted twice a game? This loss will leave a sour taste in everyone's mouth for a long time.

I hope the positive is that it lights a fire under the returning player's behinds during the offseason.....but they should be hungry on their own. If not, Dillman should be there pushing them every step of the way as well. I really hate to be a negative nancy, but I see absolutely zero positives to take away from this butt whooping. Hopefully JB gets a fair shake in the Spring, because if our o-line is halfway competent in 2013, I believe he is the man for the job. If not, Driskel is our best option as he is more adept at running for his life when defenders come running unblocked.

I'm looking forward to our o-line improving next year.....I know it will improve next year. Xavier Nixon has been a great Gator, but he has regressed more than anyone I can ever remember during a 4 year span. I love the way Matt Jones runs. He is patient, quick, has great cuts, and has great speed for his size. I love our freshmen trio on defense (Bullard, Fowler, and Morrison). They are going to be amazing for the next several years.

Help me out guys. List some more positives, I'm struggling.

[GATORAZ]

I think the people that were going to leave or stay already had their mind made up and this game will change nothing. (Elam & Floyd are gone).

We are almost done with recruiting and one game doesn't change much in recruiting it is mostly about relationships.

In CWM 2nd year we are 11-2 the future looks bright.

[swg8trgr8]

Originally Posted by GATORAZ

I think the people that were going to leave or stay already had there mind made up and this game will change nothing. (Elam & Floyd are gone).

We are almost done with recruiting and one game doesn't change much in recruiting it is mostly about relationships.

In CWM 2nd year we are 11-2 the future looks bright.

I hope you're right, but these are just kids and they change their mind with the wind. These guys commit and de-commit on a daily basis. Look at Brantley. Look at the kid who didn't like (Auburn?) because of the lack of a chic-fil-a. Or Blakely because of the oak trees. You've gotta think a game like this has some sort of an impact on these kids, positive or negative. Hopefully the defensive recruits saw how hard we were hitting and want to commit to help shore up our pass defense. I'm still concerned about any and every offensive skill player we are recruiting. Kelvin and Ahmad seem like die-hard Gators, hopefully they are in everyone's grill about bleeding Orange & Blue.

[oragator1]

Every year there are threads wondering how X Y or Z as singular events will affect recruiting. Truth is they are mostly specs of dust in the big picture. Kids choose schools based on who they grew up liking, depth charts, quality of the class they are coming in with, prestige of said school/conference, systems they run, relationships with the coaches, friends on the team, legacy status, academics in some cases etc etc. The odds of a kid flipping based on one bad game in an excellent season are slim when so many factors are in play.

[GATORAZ]

Originally Posted by swg8trgr8

I hope you're right, but these are just kids and they change their mind with the wind. These guys commit and de-commit on a daily basis. Look at Brantley. Look at the kid who didn't like (Auburn?) because of the lack of a chic-fil-a. Or Blakely because of the oak trees. You've gotta think a game like this has some sort of an impact on these kids, positive or negative. Hopefully the defensive recruits saw how hard we were hitting and want to commit to help shore up our pass defense. I'm still concerned about any and every offensive skill player we are recruiting. Kelvin and Ahmad seem like die-hard Gators, hopefully they are in everyone's grill about bleeding Orange & Blue.

None of those kids decommitted because someone lost a game. Winning or losing a game has minmal impact on recruits. Recruiting is going great dont get yourself worked up over something you cant control

[GatorLaw]

You're way over-emphasizing the importance of one game to most recruits.

[oneatatime]

Fowler, Bullard, Humphries and Morrison is all I have to say.

If you are good enough to play immediately, you will

[63gator]

The world didn't end last night. It was one game - one very ugly game! However, we've had them before (UF/Nebraska?). Go vitrolic for a day or two - it's only natural. But then, you need to get over it. We will recover, notwithstanding the "this program will never amount to anything" post.

[LimeyGator]

Originally Posted by swg8trgr8

Firstly, recruiting.
I can only imagine all the smack F$U, Alabama, and Georgia recruits were talking to our recruits and other kids who are undecided at the UA bowl game. All those 5* kids, stuck in a hotel, only game on, gathered around to watch that debacle. I feel sorry for Kelvin and company who had to deal with that crap all night long.

... when I believe in something - passionately - and someone else tries to tell me "I'm wrong", it doesn't phase me. It actually makes me feel more resolute, in a stubborn way.

I think it's a good thing our recruits saw a butt-kicking and still came out very positive (at least via Twitter) about their Gator futures. If they were the sort to tuck and run after one defeat, that's the sort of entitlement we never want to step foot on campus with a full scholarship anyway.

You see character when the chips are down. Overcome the adversity!

[BigSlick]

I would like to call BS on the recruiting crap. Whether or not a team wins a meaningless bowl game is WAYYYYYYYY down the list of why a kid signs. Get over the "hurts recruting" fence already.

[oxymoron]

We've got a really good punter. Some of the majorettes looked a tad heavy. That's all I've got. Wait till next year!

[DuPontGator]

A tad?! Lol

[gatorchamp27]

Originally Posted by DuPontGator

A tad?! Lol

This

[gatorchamp27]

Originally Posted by BigSlick

I would like to call BS on the recruiting crap. Whether or not a team wins a meaningless bowl game is WAYYYYYYYY down the list of why a kid signs. Get over the "hurts recruting" fence already.

You are an idiot, if you dont think that recruits can feel ashamed after the team they are signing with goes and gets blown out on national t.v. Hell a couple years ago I know kids that were messing with OU recruits when they lost to Boise. Recruits are still people and can change their mind for whatever reason they choose

[Dreamliner]

Threads like this are hysterical. Recruits are all about playing time these days. If anything, debacles like this help recruiting.

[DeanMeadGator]

Originally Posted by GatorLaw

You're way over-emphasizing the importance of one game to most recruits.

The loss of one bowl game means nothing to recruits, and should not mean much to fans. Is there anyone who thought that we would have had such a great year?

[DeanMeadGator]

Originally Posted by gatorchamp27

You are an idiot, if you dont think that recruits can feel ashamed after the team they are signing with goes and gets blown out on national t.v. Hell a couple years ago I know kids that were messing with OU recruits when they lost to Boise. Recruits are still people and can change their mind for whatever reason they choose

If a recruit changes his mind based on the loss of one bowl game, why would we want them in the first place? Were we great when Spurrier, et. al. were recruited?

[Distant Gator]

After the Cap One loss to Michigan Zook pulled the #1 recruiting class. (with Chris Leak.) That was after the 2002 season.

After a Sugar loss to Notre Dame Spurrier pulled the #1 recruiting class (with Danny W.) This was after the 1991 season. That game reminded me of this one.

We looked bad at the end of 99, lost to Michigan St in the Citrus, and pulled a great class.

I'm not sure it's that relevant.

[g0ggles]

Don't think this loss will affect recruiting, but sh*t, what do I know. The loss is disappointing for me tho, cuz the defense was outta character.

[gatorcarnut]

Distant, you are correct. I was at all those games and had the same miserable feeling I have now. It's up to the coaches to go forward. We are the ones wearing black. It will be alright.