Twitter Thread 2025

Possibly. Which still was idiotic IMO. Could you imagine higherups at gump u or mutt u doing that with successful coaches. DM was damn close to winning a natty that year. I'd have been kissing his prima donna ass to stay here and be happy. Alas, I suspected even when he was hired that if he was successful, we'd screw things up and he'd leave. Unfortunately, I was right. I also predicted we were destined for mediocrity if he didn't work out. Also, unfortunately, I don't see Sumrall changing that. Although, he is a massive upgrade over BN IMO.

 

I think it goes back further than that. He was pretty hands off during the summer 2020. And was challenged by some on the team, for not being present enough. It kind of scarred him, from what I’ve heard.

 

I think Spurrier even said something to the effect five coaches later if you have a problem, it ain't the coaches

 

So, you are saying that it will never be P4 coaching season again?

 

You probably felt that way because we had a history of mediocrity and frustration since Urban Meyer. I did not see Mullen as our last chance for a great hire but going from what Mullen could have been to what Napier is, continued our demise. Why Mullen fizzled is anyone's guess. But it really doesn't matter. It's more like he took his ball and went home than he was mistreated and had to move on.

 

I do think this theory has some merit. Was this also the season when he came to the PG presser during Halloween in the Darth Vader gear? He took a lot of criticism (undeserved IMO) for that as well.

 

While I appreciate the sentiment, what does Joe Craddock know about being a Gator? He knows who signs his paycheck and hopefully how to coach up a QB.

 

It doesn't take a genius to recognize it and we know Spurrier is one.

 

I never put that together, but I bet the Darth Vader thing was his response...
I found a friendly ESPN article on Mullen pre-season 21 which details the 2020 PR drama really well...
Let me cut and paste...

But Mullen's national reputation took a hit. He was roundly panned for saying the crowd was a "major factor" in an October loss at Texas A&M and for calling on UF to "pack the Swamp'' despite an ongoing pandemic. Two weeks later, he got into a shouting match with Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz after an apparent late hit on Trask led to a brawl at the end of the first half. When the field was cleared, Mullen returned to incite the crowd. Then, during his postgame news conference, he answered questions while wearing a Darth Vader costume. He was fined $25,000 for "violating SEC bylaws governing sportsmanship."

I want to say first that I'm no insider..BUT...I did run track at UF in the 80s.
After my graduation one of my track coaches told me that UF admin is VERY image conscious.
Everyone in sports is, of course. But UF admin are far more than usual.
So can you imagine how much they hated Mullen saying "pack the swamp" during covid...

Can you imagine how much Mullen resented that?
After- AT THAT POINT he had resurrected our football team.
We had won the Orange and Peach bowls, and was in the mix for an SEC title that year...
And our players weren't the Urban Meyer- edge of destruction- types. We had mostly good guys...

So from Mullen's standpoint-- I'm sure it felt ungrateful. Winning without the arrest record...

Again-just my theory based on what I know about Mullen and UF admin, but nothing else...

 

Nice find, bobby... thanks for posting it.

You know... I would love for someone in the athletic department to make another one of those drone (view) videos of the full stadium as the players are taking to the field.

 

Those higher ups probably took the jab weekly. So glad they saved their lives.

 

And he is "here" now. What doesn't he know about being a Gator?

 

I appreciate coaches with that mentality. Not everyone can graduate from UF but want the passion, desire and work ethic to make us great.

 

Hopefully a lot more than the last guy in his position.

 

And this was the era of the administration being so conscious of public image that they forbade certain long standing songs from the band and student cheers.

 

Pretty much everything except scratching the surface. He's a mercenary, and nothing more, but that's okay if he does a good job. Like I said, good on him for posting what he posted and I hope that mind-set takes hold.

 

But even that is unlikely. Our AD let ACC officials back on Florida Field. Do you think he knows why they had been banned? Doubtful.