A New Season Of Expectations And Quarterbacks

Were still 152 days out from opening day kickoff against the University of Massachusetts Minutemen at The Swamp but that doesn't mean the discussion can't start for the possiblities the new football season has in store for the Jim McElwain led Gators.  I was optimistic last year for Coach Mac's inaugural season and I wasn't disappointed.  

The 2015-2016 season still reflected the damage done by the floundering last year of Will Muschamp that left the team in disarray with no identity and without a prospect of a starting QB to take the reigns and lead the offense.  But Coach Mac took the team and did something Muschamp was never able to do:  to make the whole of the team greater than the sum of its parts and have the team perform beyond expectations.  

Now that Treon Harris has been tentatively moved to a TE/WR position [though he's still listed on the roster as a QB] the starting QB position is reported to be a wide-open contest between Purdue graduate transfer Austin Appleby and Oregon State transfer red shirt sophomore Luke Del Rio, son the former head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.  For me expectations are high for the new set of QB's due to Coach Mac's reputation for QB development and the putting together high powered offenses. I'm really excited and looking forward to what Coach Mac has cooked up for the new season beginning on Saturday, September 3rd.  Here's Coach Mac talking about what his expectations are for the Gator offense in the lead up to the Orange & blue Game on Friday night [April 8th] at 7:00PM on the SEC Network:

Sounds like he's pretty clear with what he wants out of his offense for this preview of the team dynamic with a new set of QB's.  The schedule looks favorable to help the team develop the quarterbacks for the offensive scheme Coach Mac wants and to prepare it to perform up to expectations that he and the fans expect.

Danny Wuerffel Finally In College Football Hall Of Fame

Well, Its about time.  Tim Tebow's star, celebrity and athletic prowess most certainly got all the press.  But when it came right down to it Danny's record as a starter is 45-6-1.  Tim Tebow's is 35-6-0.  I don't like to compare Danny or Tim because they were two very different QB's.  But for field presence and an uncanny ability to read defenses Danny will always be my favorite because he always seemed so cool and collected in critical games and downs.  On top of that he is the only quarterback to start for four conference championship teams.  There is no doubt the Gators have had their share of great quarterbacks:  Stever Spurrier, Kerwin Bell, Shane Matthews, Chris Leaf, and Tim Tebow.  But for me Danny stands out alone.  For him to be overlooked he first year of eligibility is a disservice to his record.  But still, its better late than never.

28 Days

In Steve McQueen's classic racing movie "Le Mans" he explains to the wife of a racing colleague who died the previous year in a fiery accident why he still races in a sport so fraught with danger, "For us there is only racing. The time in between...is just waiting." For Gator alumnus and fans alike its no different. There is Gator football season and all the time in between is just waiting. That's why hearing the news that Gator football practice started yesterday is like mainlining adrenaline. Being jacked for a new season and salivating at the prospect of another run at an SEC championship, revenge at Tuscaloosa for last years SEC Championship game loss, the debut of John Brantley as the new on the field leader of the offense, and the return of Urban Meyer makes the rush even greater.

That loss to Alabama last year in Atlanta still hangs in my throat along with a bad taste in my mouth that simply will not go away. I don't know if Brantley is the guy to make things right but the anticipation is almost unbearable. There is a lot to sort out. Will Andre DuBose be the guy we think he is capable of being? There's that issue of depth at linebacker. What's Meyer's plans for a possible appearance of Trey Burton with some wildcat time at QB. What can we expect from the Freshmen? And finally, the QB position. Will Brantley be the QB we think he can be? The time to sort all this out is almost upon us.

Yep. For us there is football season. All the time between is just waiting. That wait is almost over. In 28 days / 20 hours/ and 36 minutes its going to be game time at the swamp.

I'm already there.

Chandler Parsons' Buzzer Beater! Go Gators!

Wow! Check out this buzzer beater by Chandler Parsons of the Gators! UF steals one before the SEC tournement begins at 11 - 3. Lookout SEC!

The Golden Age of Gator Football?

Why is the man smiling?

You would be too with his record. A record btw that's unprecedented. Also, Sporting News has just annointed him the best coach in college football. I keep wondering if I'm dreaming.

In my senior year at the University of Florida the Gators went 0 - 10 - 1 (the tie was with Georgia Tech if you are wondering with Steve Spurrier as one of its assitant coaches). Up to that time the thing about the UF football's "golden age" is there wasn't one...not really. I guess the 1960's under Doug Dickey was about he best they could do and Spurrier's Heisman trophy year. Usually when you hear alumni from other schools talk about a "golden age" for their alma mater it seems it is always some x number of years ago that requires a taxing of their memory to get all the details just right.

I'm just lucky. There is no doubt we are in the golden age of Gator football. Spurrier stated it all and put us on the map. But Meyer has taken us to heights I never imagined. Two national championships in three years? Wow. I still can't believe it. If the football gods keep smiling it just might be three in four years. The only bad thing about that is where do you go from there? I don't want to turn into the model Alabama alumnus that always seems to favor digging up Bear Bryant and have a cadavor, or what left of it, as a preference over anyone of the replacements that have graced the sidelines since his departure.

But the thing of it is, I don't have to tax my memory. Its all on my DVD collection. And I can relieve it anytime when I feel like it. Damn. Someone pinch me. Let's see how long Urban can make this last. No matter what happens now, I'm satisfied with the memories I've got in HD.