Fascinating stuff from Larry Vito Randy _____ Not sure who authored this, but it is most certainly an interesting read. Background on the SECCG and the Immediate Fallout -Part 1 The Gators......... Some of this is dual source and some multiple source. None is single source. But remember, this is hearsay info, in that it was not related to me by participants, but by those who know and interact with the participants. Some is my opinion or conjecture, but not without a great deal of substantiation, or I would not put my name on it. There not a lot of sweetness and light in this post, but it's darkest just before the dawn and my next post will provide some positive developments.
1) There was a clique of players that were not serious about preparation, and it was a core group that we are not used to thinking of in this way. They are players we are accustomed to being serious-minded and to handling their affairs in a mature way. This did not happen. There was a large scale emotional/mental breakdown of discipline on the part of several players that caused a rising lack of focus beginning with preparation for FSU, and continuing through SECCG prep. 2) From a source close to the team: word spreads among teams and coaches in the SEC faster than it does in public via the media, and Bama's staff and players knew that many key UF players were not taking preparation seriously, but were on the other hand focused on their own and not the team's wellbeing. While it can't be proven, someone whom I trust stated that several key players "lost their hunger to be champions" when they began to get within sight of the NFL, and were listening to some very bad advice. TT (the ultimate competitor) was, in fact, livid at these kids with divided loyalties, and his anger erupted (as much as it ever could with him) in the locker room confronting the commitment of these players to winning (pre-SECCG). During the game he was pressing to make up for their lack of intensity, effort. That group of players is likely gone (to a man). We may see the return of one D star who lost his focus simply because his draft value is now questioned. The team came out of the tunnel looking flat because a lot of this stuff erupted on the trip to the game site and in the hotel. The team looked flat because it WAS flat. Division and mutual suspicion doomed them before kickoff. I was told by one source that he'd "never seen Tim so angry at other players." 3) I was told that there was a players meeting among some of these core contributors prior to the FSU game discussing NFL prospects and determining the list of who would be coming out and who wouldn't. A "core group" of players determined that they would all come out together. It was determined in this meeting that some kids would be minimizing their risks in the coming games. Some were offensive and some were defensive players. The impact of the looming rookie salary cap had a huge effect on the mentality of some players. The coaches were aware of some of this, but not the full extent, and there is only so much you can do even if you know, short of benching starters. Some of these were absolutely critical players we were counting on to come through, and simply quit on the team. 4) Urban is glad for the coming cap and hopes it has some teeth, because he is bitter about UF's player attrition and feels that the NFL is harming his program inordinately. UF is on national TV every day (playing or not), and the NFL buzz starts very early here (yes, earlier than elsewhere where the media glare is less intense). He is a realist and understands that the NFL is a draw/dream for a lot of these kids who grew up with making it to the league as their goal, but feels that the inordinately high 1st round money is damaging college football, and particularly damaging the teams that are more in the media glare. He feels that with the cap, kids will likely be making more conservative decisions on coming out early, as there will be less lure in an attempt to make that one, big life-changing score -missing out on the full college experience and damaging the team with divided commitment. 5) Urban has had a difficult time this year keeping the mentality of the team managed. There have been some divisive parents (which always happens when you have as much talent as we do). Complaint about playing time, and locker room jockeying/division. Sometimes when you have players for as long as some have been here, and they are of a certain background/mentality, you lose them at the end. We had a star player we "lost" at the end of the year last year. Sometimes it happens with kids who are a handful of weeks from being millionaires, who have been working their rears off for years, and who see light at the end of the school tunnel. 6) In some ways you could say we were a victim of our own success. Yet unlike some other schools, UF is a fishbowl, and a star mentality can (and did) develop with some key players. There were 3 whom I will not mention specifically who were literally "saving themselves" for the NFL, and had decided not to take any chances on injury. Spikes was not among them. He is a warrior. If you looked at him carefully, you saw a frustration in his eyes during the championship game, in that he knew there were players who were not going full out. He's been in their faces this year, but there is only so much you can do when they have an "entourage" of hangers on whispering in their ears about how rich they soon will be -people positioning themselves to be "advisors." You get a whole bunch of new friends when you are about to become a millionaire. 7) So yes, some of the team "quit" after the SEC schedule. The partying was a symptom of that. Certain star players got a kind of entitlement mentality as they got closer to the draft and it spilled over into our final games. Urban thinks that it is touch and go whether we can get them re-focused for the bowl game. A loss would not surprise me with as widespread as the "relaxation" got. Urban may end up benching some starters if he can't get them focused on trying to win the bowl game. You may see some OL and O skill stalwarts sitting for the bowl game. Don't be surprised. 8) One thing I can assure you is this: UF is going back to a blue collar mentality, and the stardom thing will be nipped in the bud. He is not going to tolerate a prima donna atmosphere to develop here, because it is what poisoned the last coaching outfit: all talent and not much heart. And there are some tolerant coaches on our staff who will be replaced with drill instructor mentalities to purge the program of entitlement. Offseason conditioning is going to be the most brutal ever, and there are NO (as in zero) "starters" at this point. Even more so in the past, everyone except John Brantley III will earn it. John is the future, and except for one more game, this is his team now. Competition for playing time will be fierce. 9) There have been some slackers this year, members of the clique, who have not taken to doing the things well that are not quite as glamorous, but that contribute to a fundamentally sound team. At least one of those kids is gone. 10) There were what I will call "negotiation and transition" distractions for members of our coaching staff during SECCG prep week that we had tried to fend off during the season, but at last came to a head, the interested party being eager to get their replacement named to save a recruiting class. We were bombarded with calls the 2nd half of the season with inquiries about our DC, and this had a definite effect on the focus and concentration of some of his kids. Urban was passive on the sidelines because he a) knew the outcome already and b) was already ill and growing more so as the game went on. As you've come to find out, he takes his job very seriously and he's very good at it. But he needs to take a step back get some rejuvenation. It was a long haul this season with the expectations and the attitudes. The locker room has not been a fun place lately. One of the things that Brantley brings to the table is a cool confidence that is infectious. he know's he's just one flick of the arm away from a score at any moment. UF has very serious talent in the WR corps that is simply immature, and will bring in another haul this year. No worries in that area. WR's want to play with Brantley (which is not damning TT with faint praise). But there is an enthusiasm you see in recruits when we flip on the Brantley film. 11) The good news is that we have been managing the probable transition with recruits for some time now, and the names of potential candidates have been shown to defensive recruits. So this was managed and massaged from way back, and it was handled in a very conscientious manner. There will be some minor fallout from the loss of Strong, but nothing considered critical I'm told. 12) I'm currently being told that despite what I was told in the past, UF is looking to perhaps go outside of the fold for a DC. Someone to fully implement Urban's defensive philosophy is being sought. Mac and Heater are thought to have the minds/mentalities necessary, but are perhaps too close to/immersed in Strong's philosophy to bring fresh insight. It is also possible that we lose one or two on that side of the ball to L'ville, so a contingency plan is in place. Strong will be the de facto DC at L'ville, but he will need a DC for organizational purposes. So we might lose some coaches there. I would worry most about Bedford, who is considered a wizard as a position coach. Brady has mentioned some of the candidates, but I'm told that the list is slightly longer than what related. Internal candidates will be considered, but it is thought that UF needs fresh blood on the D side of the ball, and more of a "general" than a Sergeant Major (which is not a comment on Strong). 13) While there are those with program contacts who assure me it is not the case, I'm told by a couple of people I trust to look for changes on the offensive side as well. Strong is thought to want to go in a different direction offensively and will not poach our staff to any great degree, but in a pinch he may turn to men he's comfortable working with and whose character he knows. 14) There is a candidate list being floated on the offensive side of the ball. You will be told that it isn't true. It will be denied to high heaven, but there is a very strong chance we have a different OC next year. I'm told Urban wants to get back to his roots offensively, and that he feels we've made too much of a departure from the principles that got us to this pinnacle. Look for a bit more razzle dazzle next year, and an OC comfortable with flinging the ball around the yard is being considered. They are not departing from spread principles -far from it. But they will examine how they got away from what made them successful, and may bring in a spread "Jedi Master." If you don't think Urban "works that way" then you a) Are forgetting what happened to Hevesy and b) You are underestimating the commitment Urban has to winning. Personal loyalties will not be permitted to retard the program. 15) The "program" is thought to have taken a minor hit with the loss/dissension and selfishness that showed itself at the end, but Urban is actually excited to shake things up a bit a get back to roots. All our recruits are thus far still on board. There is still a TON of talent on this team, yet it is talent that needs to mature and needs to have greater accountability than some of our stars showed late in the season. I'm told that there is a sense of urgency/purpose in the staff that is dedicated to staying. 16) I will come out with a full DC prospect list, but I'm told that John Pease is still on that list (but is considered perhaps too long in the tooth), and several "star" names along with several dark horse candidates. The likelihood is that we bring in both a LB coach and a DC unless we can get a two-fer. The position is too important not to have a specialist there. Nix is at the top of the list. Trigger could be pulled very, very soon on that. Part 2 after I validate some things -- 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
