You guys realize CBN gets credit for…….

100%. More wins and the fight probably doesn't happen in the first place. But even if it did, more wins would result in people defending Zook for sticking up for his players rather than describing the same situation as a desperate coach losing control.

 

Just going out on a limb here and say I'm pretty sure alcohol was the main culprit for a post midnight fight at a college frat house. I dont have an issue with Zook going to confront them, he probably shouldnt have brought 15 players from the team with him but oh well lol

 

Oh, it absolutely showed terrible judgement on Zook’s part. But would we have viewed the exact same circumstances differently if done by Spurrier in 1995 or Meyer in 2008? Yep.

 

I'll join you out on that limb and suggest alcohol is routinely present in overabundance at frat parties, but they don't often result in newsworthy stories about the football team. For this case in particular, though, tensions were already high because of the discontent around his record. A different season probably doesn't have frat guys pushing it that far. Without the high tensions maybe he doesn't feel the need to personally step in even if it does happen. But regardless, a successful coach could likely do the same thing and be lauded as a strong leader standing up for his players rather than melting down and losing control. Saban could have smacked those frat guys around and Bama fans would have said good for you, coach--way to set 'em straight. But when someone's already mad at you, everything you do is annoying. Anything Zook did at that point was bound to be seen in its most negative light.

 

You and others discount the offensive production but last year Graham had it humming pre injury even though he lacked the arm strength to throw deep. A 5/6 yr senior isnt an ideal operator at QB for sustained success. Many here including me were upset when GM was taken out after leading a drive for points.

The resident gurus lectured us on the the need for DJ to get reps for 2025. In hind sight it help in 2024 tremendously but it did potentially skew the effectiveness of the offense’s design not operation.

I do agree moving into the 2020s with a much better designed passing attack is a necessity to win at the level we expect

 

I blame Grossman for the Ole Miss and LSU losses. He threw four INTs in each game. His calling FnG plays that were not practiced by the team over Zaunbrecher's head would have gotten him benched if Meyer was the coach. Zook probably told Rex "If you want to see the football field again, do what you're told." After that, we beat Auburn (9-4) and beat a great Georgia team, handing them their only loss of the year. So give him two wins for the Swindle and the Tennessee game, plus the two that Grossman handed to them, and his record becomes 27-10 (.730). Not at the level of Spurrier or Meyer, but pretty damned good. It wouldn't have mattered if he won even more, however. Gator Nation wanted not only success, but style and swagger that Spurrier's offense provided. That wasn't happening with Ed Zaunbrecher or even Larry Fedora, who was more vertically oriented. It really wasn't with Mullen in 2005, either. Barring the hiring of Mike Leach as OC, that simply wasn't going to happen. Spurrier's Fun n' Gun only worked with Spurrier at Florida. He was, and remains, one of a kind...

Okay, enough Zook defense for the day. Don't want the Posse saddling up...

 

I don't claim to be a guru. I dont think you have to be to see issues at a macro level though. Sure some fans go too far but how many times have the fans as a collective been wrong about our past issues with coaches in football and basketball? Muschamp failed at offense. Maclwein had multiple issues off the field but his strength and conditioning program along with offensive line and QB recruitment were major problems that proved to be fatal. Mullen would not get rid of Grantham and look at that train wreck he brought to OSU just recently. Mike white critics realized his ceiling was his own unflinching personality issues when it came to coaching offense which led to inevitable drouts and losses snatched from the jaws of victory. Hes almost a parallel of Napier on the basketball court.

As far as Mertz and the offense last year I mostly agree however...why did it take two terrible performances to realize who should be starting on the Oline? Even when he figured it out you have the Tennessee games running a sneak with your undersized qb? Going for a tie on the road in OT? Shutting down offense with an entire quarter to go or in the case of the Tennessee game at home two years ago starting the 3rd? Napier himself admitted he went too conservative too early. Those are more micro/specific level issues but they stem from the larger issue which is the coach/OC issues.

All that said...an OC and more of a CEO approach and id actually be fine with keeping him as long as recruiting doesnt fall apart. I dont see kiffin coming here and there aren't any surefire hires. Hes doing so many other things well that he could really succeed if he could have a little reality check.

 

I was joking after the Miami loss that Napier seems to take 3 or 4 games to get his bearings and that it seems he transitions during the bye week. And lo and behold, he did it again. Now this is just 1 game. Could we run the table? Sure we could, we have the talent but can we trust Napier to be that coach? It's always a hold your breath when we are on offense. He's great on scripted drives, but it seems after that, we don't perform. Too bad he can't script the entire game. We definitely can't afford this every season or we'll never make the CFP. Imagine if we started the year playing not just 1 SEC team in the 1st four games, but 2 or 3. We could be 0-3 before he gets his act together.

 

I defended it by comparing it to a situation in the Army. If several soldiers in a platoon get in a bar fight at Fort Hood, I would go to the bar with my platoon sergeant personally to intercede. We call it "leading from the front." A platoon leader who delegated that to an NCO would lose a lot of respect, as the word would get around. And I would defend any coach if they did that. It wasn't just Zook.

But I do wonder what Muschamp would do? Scream in there and tear their throats out with his teeth? I don't think Mac's teeth would hold out with that poor dental hygiene...

 

Good comparison. And my PSG would have made a decision: Is this something the LT needs to be involved with or not? And I would accept his determination. He ran my platoon...I just led it.

And it was my fraternity that was at the center of it all. #SMDH

 

Please note that If Billy had not taken his foot off the pedal (earlier in the 2nd half) the Gators Offense and Defense would of pounded the nails into the Texan's coffin. Thus there would not of been the need to for the fire drill like actions that late in the game.

Basically, you should never be in the position to win games late in the fourth quarter.
Games are won prior to the fourth quarter.

This game should of never of got to be the nail bitter that it was.

 

Never said you were a guru but many here are micro focused. My post wrt offensive production and the type of QB necessary to make it hum, not about game management or any other aspect of the program.

You make valid points but they are for a different discussion.

 

I agree. I'm just using the scenario of the PL being called from the company commander. If I was called, i would never delegate that to my PSG. We go together. Actually happened to me once, except by the time we got there, my two knuckleheads were in the Killeen jail lol. They didn't want to see us when they were released...

 

So do we think he is fired regardless?? Results on the field are not up to par, but alot else is. I am starting to think he stays unless we get our #1 or #2 choice to commit before we pull the plug.

 

Totally agree, but it happens to the best of coaches...

 

If he were capable of a reality check, it could work. He is delusional.

 

It happens to Napier constantly.

 

With one win against, essentially, a High School team.

 

Every single word here is delusional.

 

Great ...so he is the losing record version of Ron Zook then.