I have mixed feelings about this article. I don't expect to win every game by 50 points but I also don't want see my team committ 12 penalties and have a terrible (Sorry Bert) Arky team hanging around at 17-7 at the end of the third quarter. I also don't want to see my team lose to an unranked opponent at home. As for the references to the 2007 offense that has nothing to do with what's going on with the 2008 offense. As a matter of fact I don't have mixed feelings about this article, I think it's way over the top. And too infer that Gator fans are disapportionally passionate or spoiled as opposed to any other big time programs in an insult.
Charlie From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 10:07 AM To: Gatortalk Subject: [gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] You're what's wrong with Florida football, Gator fans Ouch! Most of the time, I'm in 100% agreement with Mikey, but there HAVE been times that I was in total disagreement with him. This time, I'm 200% with him. And furthermore, I'm guilty as charged. I can admit it. I'm a spoiled gator fan who expects to win every game, beat the spread, and pound our opponents into worshipful submission. However, I disagree on ONE point he made. If I were married to Halle Berry, I would NOT complain about her lingerie collection. Spend on, baby, spend on! I'll take a second job if you need more... ;-) Randy -------------- Original message -------------- From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> COMMENTARY You're what's wrong with Florida football, Gator fans Mike Bianchi | SPORTS COMMENTARY October 8, 2008 When did it happen, Gator fans? When did it reach a point where you became so persnickety and such perfectionists that you sucked the joy out of winning football games like a boa constrictor squeezes the life out of small rodents? The reason I bring this up is because of all the conversation and consternation about Florida's offense and quarterback Tim Tebow <http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/sports/football/tim-tebow-PESPT008528. topic> in the aftermath of Saturday's embarrassing, humiliating 31-point, um, victory over Arkansas. That's right, Florida went on the road, ran up more than 500 yards of offense and destroyed Arkansas 38-7 in a tune-up for Saturday's monumental Southeastern Conference showdown with No. 4 LSU. And you know what everybody's talking about? <http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/columnists/orl-bianchi,0,3285093.colu mnist> Mike Bia nchiMike Bianchi What's wrong with Tebow and the Gators <http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/sports/football/florida-gators-ORSPT00 0172.topic> ? I'll tell you what's wrong with Tebow and the Gators: You're what's wrong. Florida fans who actually think it's their birthright not only to win but to win by 50. Former UF coach Steve Spurrier left, in part, because of what Gator Nation had become -- a fussy, finicky fan base filled with constant complainers. You wonder how long Urban Meyer <http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/sports/football/urban-meyer-PESPT00853 5.topic> will hang around until he, too, gets sick of it. On the day he announced his resignation at UF, Spurrier revealed that the joy of winning at UF had been replaced by the fear of losing. "Do you realize how big a favorite we are all the time?" Spurrier lamented. "It's nobody's fault. It's just the way it is. We're double-digit favorites over everybody. Anytime we lose, it's us coaches. We screwed up. 'Look how huge a favorite the team was and they didn't win.' That wears on you a little bit. "It's a relief when we win. . . . It's almost a disgrace when we lose." And it's not just the fans, either. It's the players, the former players, even the media who covers the team. Case in point: After Florida's 38-7 victory over Arkansas, the big headline in the Orlando Sentinel was, "Score Isn't The Story." Below the headline there were two articles. The first paragraph of one article began with, "If the Gators play like this next week, they'll lose to LSU." The first paragraph of the other article began with, "Something's missing." Yes, something is missing all right: Elation and exhilaration after a victory. It's reached a point, according t o the Gainesville Sun, where even one of UF's most beloved former players -- ex-UF quarterbacking great Shane Matthews <http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/sports/shane-matthews-PESPT004732.topi c> -- regularly goes on his Gainesville radio show and picks apart a UF offense that led the nation last year and was third in the country. Even Tebow, the ultimate glass-is-half-full guy, has been sucked into the abyss created by the legions of the miserable. After Tebow fired a 21-yard touchdown pass to Percy Harvin <http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/sports/football/percy-harvin-PESPT0085 07.topic> in the fourth quarter Saturday to give Florida a 24-7 lead, Tebow moped off the field without celebrating. Meyer saw his quarterback's dispassionate reaction and ran out to give Tebow a chest bump. "I wanted him to enjoy it," Meyer said of his quarterback. The coach migh t want to send the same message to many of his fans, who seem to believe Tebow really is Superman <http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/entertainment/movies/superman-PEFCC000 007.topic> . They think he should complete every pass, convert every third down, score every time he touches the ball. They think Tebow should duplicate the incredible statistics he compiled last year when he won the Heisman Trophy. The problem is that was a once-in-a-lifetime season when Tebow accomplished things never before accomplished in college football. Hey, Russell Crowe <http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/entertainment/russell-crowe-PECLB00120 6.topic> is a great actor, but he'll probably never again make a movie as great as Gladiator. The fact is, the Gators lead the SEC <http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/economy-business-finance/market-exchan ge/%0d%0asecurities/u.s.-securities-exchange-commission-ORGOV000050.topic> in scoring offense and Tebow leads the league in passing efficiency. But, apparently, that's not good enough to satisfy the many spoiled, self-indulgent fans who inhabit Gator Nation. You get the idea some Florida fans are going to be miserable no matter what. They could be married to Halle Berry <http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/entertainment/halle-berry-PECLB000495. topic> and complain because she spends too much money on lingerie. "It's almost a disgrace when we lose." Those were the words Steve Spurrier uttered on his way out the door after the 2001 season. Who knew that seven years later, winning would become a disgrace, too? Mike Bianchi can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] We encourage conversation about our stories and hope you will share your thoughts. We do have some rules of the road: no comments that are obscene, sexual in nature, racist or otherwise inappropriate. If you post such comments, we will remove them. -- Orlando Sentinel _____ Note: Not all stories have active discussions. Click here to view all discussions <http://www.topix.net/forum/source/orlando-sentinel?p=6009&s=PB&co=1> _____ Read all 43 comments <http://www.topix.net/forum/source/orlando-sentinel/TCBSFSASP96DDBC6H?p=6009 &s=PB&co=1> > <BR --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
