Dear Gators:
It is my nature to worry. Unfortunately, it is one of the things I do best. In most of my pursuits (e.g. work or travel), I try to anticipate what could go wrong, and come up with a way to either prevent the problem, or a plan to deal with it if it does. The problem with worrying about the Gators is that I have absolutely no control over anything. I cannot catch a pass, make a sack, run back a kick, or convince a kid to sign a Letter Of Intent. This doesn't mean I do not try to influence the outcome of games. When I am fortunate enough to attend a game, I make sure to make as much noise as possible at all the right moments, to support and energize the team. On these occasions, I leave The Swamp totally drained and exhausted, and it takes days for my voice to get back to normal. When I am not at the game, I send psychic energy their way, hoping this can somehow tip the scales in our direction. My worry is also aided and abetted by the fact that during my years at UF, and for many years following, we always managed to lose the important games. I never forget that until Steve Spurrier returned to UF, we were stepped on, crushed, and kicked by someone just about every year. We were hated back then too, but the hatred was accompanied by contempt and derision. There was not an ounce of respect, not even the smirking, phony, condescending kind. We were of no account, period. And don't forget: when we did manage to beat almost everyone in sight [see 1984, 1990], the SOBs who ran the SEC screwed us. Even now, after almost twenty years of dominating my most hated team, the disgusting, vile, sub-human Georgia Bulldogs, I still lose sleep the week before that game. Perhaps I am psychologically scarred, but I would guess that all Gators of a certain age are right there with me. So, what does any of this have to do with the season that will (finally) begin this Saturday at 7PM? After all, isn't this the most anticipated season in Gator football history, and aren't we the most overwhelming pre-season Number One in AP history? And aren't we so deep at most positions that our second and third-stringers could start for most other SEC teams? Hasn't the team been through the most grueling summer workouts in Gator history? And hasn't Urban Meyer made it a point to keep the team motivated and hungry, and steered clear of overconfidence? Yes, yes, and yes, to all those questions. So what could go wrong? Well, let's go through some of it. What is there to worry about . . . ? Offensive Play-Calling If I recall correctly, last year we didn't really open up the offense until the LSU game. Were you as frustrated with the play calling in the early games as I was? And remember how we jumped all over Dan Mullen for the unimaginative, lousy play-calling that cost us the Ole Miss game? This year, we have a new Offensive Coordinator. How different or similar is the playbook, and how long will it take the offense to really click? (The first two games don't count.) No Percy Yes, I know we have tons of talent, but you don't lose a Percy Harvin and just continue without a hitch. Whether it is a single individual who steps up and takes over that role, or a committee, we've got to have the kinds of offensive threats that Percy posed. Receivers No Louis Murphy. Again, the current crop has to step up. Are they ready? Offensive Line - How long before the group really gels, and how many injuries can we sustain and still dominate SEC defenses? The Schedule Charleston Southern and Troy -- IMO, other than injuries, we really don't have to worry about the first two games. Yes, there is always the Appalachian State scenario, but unlike Michigan, our coaching staff is competent. The only bad to emerge from the first two games will be the press we receive from idiot sportswriters criticizing us for playing these teams. Hey morons: look at the entire schedule. Who has one of the toughest schedules in the country, year-in and year-out? Tennessee -- Yeah, they've got an idiot Head Coach, but they also have one of the most respected Defensive Coordinators in the country. Let's hope he hasn't found a way to stymie our offense. Don't take Tennessee for granted. They are still a talented SEC team. Kentucky - Once in a while, they play us tough in Lexington. LSU - In 1996, we win the National Championship; in 1997, we go into Baton Rouge and get beat. A terrible game for Doug Johnson. In 2006, we win the National Championship; in 2007, we go into Baton Rouge and get beat. A terrible game for our defense. You can bet the LSU fans will be at their most liquored-up and hostile. They will come to the stadium looking for blood, and Les Miles will be looking for respect and vindication. Personally, I hope our coaching staff does what they did last year: play all of those fourth downs that LSU converted in the 2007 game on a continuous loop in our weight room. There still should be some pain and motivation we can squeeze from that. It was humiliating. Arkansas - 1) Could really be a letdown game. 2) Homecoming could be a big distraction. 3) When has Bobby Petrino not had great offenses? In short, Arkansas could really be tough this year. Mississippi State - Starkville. Need I say more? Georgia - Georgia. Georgia. Georgia. I hate them. As with the LSU game, I hope our coaches repeat what they did last year prior to this game, and play a continuous tape of the classless Georgia end zone dance from 2007. I still feel we haven't completely settled that score. It might remind the team that the Bulldogs would do it again if we give them the chance. Vanderbilt - Okay, we should beat them. This doesn't mean that they can't give us a hard time or bang us up a bit. But we should beat them at home. And can someone explain why this isn't this our Homecoming game? South Carolina - Two words: Steve Spurrier. He can find a way to beat anyone. Florida International - Okay, even I won't worry about this game. Not really, anyway. Let's just hope they don't goad us into a helmet-wielding brawl. Florida $tate - It remains to be seen, but they might actually have a decent team this year, at least by ACC standards. And what better way to make their season than by beating us in The Swamp. It might even be that ol' lyin', cheatin' hypocrite's last game. Wouldn't they love to send him out a winner in Gainesville? So there you have it. Of course, there will be plenty to lose sleep over if we play in the SEC Championship Game and the BCS National Championship Game. I think we have a great chance to win all of our games, but at times we will be tested and we will get battered and lose some players to injury. We can do it, but it certainly won't be a coronation or a cake-walk. It will be a long, tough SEC season. However, it's a new college football season; it's the best sport in America, and what we've been thinking and dreaming about since January. I hope we can all enjoy it. Despite the worry. Go Gators!!!! Ken B. (NYC Gator) --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
