Has 'winning' become not good enough?

[RealGatorFan]

I wouldn't say by 50, but to score 50 points in one game would be nice every few years. In the last 3 years we've scored 50 points in only 2 games. This year we scored 40 points only once. In fact, we've scored 40 or more points only 7 times over the past 3 years.

[cudigator]

Winning is enough for me. I loved this season. The last 2 years really helped my enjoyment I'm sure. Granted some of our wins are much more frustrating than they should but I don't argue with wins(unless its a big ten team winning the games lol).

And I hope they make an example of kitchens I think it was. To be the only one singing after the game as mad as I was I couldn't help but smile when I saw that. Hang that picture up every where. That's a gator right there.

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by ApexNC

That's really an awesome post, malscott. It sums up my feelings pretty well too. For me, it isn't really the economy as much as where I am in my life. I have 2 school-aged daughters, live in NC and am having to care for my dad who is in a nursing home. For the life of me I can't figure out why I'm not more excited during games. I still dress up and plan my Saturday around the games...but the "thrill" just isn't so much there this year. Sure, I got excited in the LSU, aTm, USC and fsu games.....but not like it used to be. Maybe I'm just getting old.

I'm very pleased with an 11-2 year....would never have imagined it coming in. But I just don't feel the excitement I used to about the program. Wish I could put my finger on why.

There are priorities, and then there are Priorities. My family and my work and maintaining my home come first and then my hobbies and interests. Following my alma mater is a hobby, it is not a lifestyle or my purpose.

As we age, our priorities shifts as your's have and so have mine.

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by GATOR_4Life

I think the economy is what got people to try staying home, but HDTV is what's keeping them there. It just harder to justify spending hundreds, and being away from family for a full day.

I think its a trend across the country, though some teams are seeing it harder than others. I don't think making the stadium more comfortable will make a difference. At the margins making sure the gameday atmosphere on campus is lively will help, but that's not addressing the real problem. People are just spending more of their free time at home. Whether its sports, games, parties, cooking, etc. Its a cultural change and big picture there is nothing we can do about it.

The wife and I stay home a lot more these days and we have more money to spend on going out than we've had for our entire marriage. After running around and doing all of the stuff you have to do in your daily life, you just don't have the energy to go and party with the younger ones.

Then, you have to worry about having a drink or two and being pulled over for a DUI.

You know things have changed when your cousin (who owns a nearby restaurant) invites you to a big NYE party and you choose to just chill out by the fire with a bottle of champagne and watch Kathy Griffin grope Anderson Cooper.

[93KSig]

The cultural shift to stay home and the economy lighting the match are really good observations. Heck, where I work you can tele work, so you don't even have to leave the house to earn a wage! And it's something the new management is pushing more and more.

[junebuggator]

The atmosphere has changed in many of our rivals stadiums as well. I don't know what the answer is, but I must admit that my 10 yr old son wonders why the Gators can't pass the ball. I quickly explain the new mentality coach has for our team, however that does not make the game anymore appealing for him to watch. I respect Alabama and their accomplishments, but Florida has won championships as well being FLORIDA not an Alabama clone. Why can't Pease create plays for our wr's that achieve results? Boise ST. had better talent at WR--I'm not buying that. It's on the QB or HC. Something will have to change for FLORIDA football to come back.

[Swampmaster]

Originally Posted by 93KSig

And the economy has nothing to do with it.

[gatorwilk1]

Which season should we remember? The 11-1 season fighting for victories vs some very good teams or our failure to play with poise in Sugar Bowl? We exceeded everyones expectations with a flawed offense. Young QB, adequate line and no Harvin or other difference maker at WR. Haven't heard a thing from my Nole or scum friends! Would not trade smack down at Doak for Sugar Bowl win. We are clearly the dominate team in Fla and i believe we will continue to get better! Be happy with season!

[Tolbert1906]

Originally Posted by ApexNC

But I just don't feel the excitement I used to about the program. Wish I could put my finger on why.

the reason you aren't excited is because our offense is boring (see my previous post). It simply is not fun to watch. Nobody wants to go see a boring, sloppy game filled with three and outs, drive killing penalties, lack of passion from the players (compare driskel's emotion to tebow's, for instance), and undisciplined/uninspired/unfocused play.

Fans want to see points scored, in bunches. They want to see an offense that moves the ball. I guarantee if our offense produced like Oregon's or even Alabama's, the fans would fill the seats. You would look forward to Saturdays and would be much more excited about watching the games. I know I would.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Gator Country

[petro]

Originally Posted by Tolbert1906

the reason you aren't excited is because our offense is boring (see my previous post). It simply is not fun to watch. Nobody wants to go see a boring, sloppy game filled with three and outs, drive killing penalties, lack of passion from the players (compare driskel's emotion to tebow's, for instance), and undisciplined/uninspired/unfocused play.

Fans want to see points scored, in bunches. They want to see an offense that moves the ball. I guarantee if our offense produced like Oregon's or even Alabama's, the fans would fill the seats. You would look forward to Saturdays and would be much more excited about watching the games. I know I would.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Gator Country

Couldn't disagree more. I want to see my team compete hard and enjoy the experience and atmosphere and root like hell for the good guys. I guess I'm not a 'fan' in your book.

[Tipmoose]

I want to see us blow out teams we're supposed to blow out. I absolutely detest the grind it out and hope to score enough to avoid overtime type of game. There is no good reason why we couldn't manage to hang 40 on Bowling Green, Louisianna Laffayette, Kentucky and Missouri. But no...we *always* play *down* to our competition. Every single week.

[Tolbert1906]

Originally Posted by petro

Couldn't disagree more. I want to see my team compete hard and enjoy the experience and atmosphere and root like hell for the good guys. I guess I'm not a 'fan' in your book.

I'm just telling it like it is. I pointed out why people aren't getting excited about the gators or showing up to the games. I was referring to the majority of our fanbase (see the post right after yours for an example). There are, of course, exceptions such as yourself. I am not questioning your fandom.

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[whitelakegator]

Outside of the UL game...we really seem to play to the level of our opponent...good or bad.

It is weird. It is like everygame is going to be a close game no matter what(except UL - they blew our doors off).

[njgator11]

This post is good and there are probably 3 primary factors that affect our passion for gator football.
Students - kids today are much less passionate about sports then they were when most of us went to school in the 70's-90's. My sons play high school basketball and love sports, but don't have the passion about sports and more specifically watching them then I did at their age. All the other entertainment alternatives, escpecially the internet and social media have really affected the passion that the kids have for going to games today. My daughter is a jr at Syracuse and they have fraternity/sorority events on football game days which shocked me.
Economy - no doubt the economy has had an affect on ticket sales. You see that in every college stadium around the country. On top of people feeling the pinch, tickets prices continue to rise, which seems opposite to economic principles, maybe some day the balance will adjust things.
Product- yes, hard to believe but this is entertainment and we spend $ on entertainment when we feel it will be worth it. everyone on this site is a fan, probably a huge fan (that's why we are on this site), but when the team you are rooting for becomes not fun to watch, even excruciatingly frustrating to watch, you start to feel is it really fun anymore and should I do others things that are more enjoyable. Winning is important, but it's not just about winning, but how the team played. The last 3-4 years have taken a lot of the joy out of watching Gator football. I'm not saying we have to be the fun and gun again (though that was great and the most enjoyable time for gator football), but to not be ranked in the top 100 in offense is making for horribly frustrating and ugly football, which is not entertaining and casuing people to turn off on game day.

[wulimaster]

I pull for Florida for only one reason: it's my alma mater. I like to see them do well but the older I get and the further removed I am from my time there the less important it is that "my team" proves anything for me on my behalf. Seems like it was important to me years ago for my team to earn the respect of opposing school alumni, obnoxious opposing t-shirt fans, and a seemingly apathetic media for some reason and if we laid an egg on the field I took it bitterly. I guess winning, and dominating, validated my decision to go there or something but that's kind of a silly validation for attending an academic institution. Also, it just seemed sort of increasingly ridiculous to let a bunch of post-adolescent jocks and refs of questionable integrity or ability determine my mood for days at a time.

Anyhow, this past season saw the furthering of that trend for me. it doesn't bother me so much anymore if we don't finish every drive with a score, doesn't really sting if we drop a game or two like it used to. We have a legacy now that we didn't have then. We've won three NCs since I graduated and my alma mater has established an elite program that falters occasionally but often competes for it all. I can live with that. I guess I see the forest now more than each tree.