I haven't commented in quite awhile regarding anything that has gone on during this past football season. So - I'll take the opportunity at this time.
What I've surmised is that this season has been the Season of "Un." Simply explained as follows (in any order, I numbered them for no particular reason, nor order): 1. Unmotivated - The team played too many games looking as though they were just putting in their time on a Saturday. No sense of purpose as a group. 2. Unfocussed - Too many stupid penalties and blown assignments during the season. There's a point where the players have to concentrate and get the play right. During a game would be a good time. 3. Uninspired - There is no noticeable leadership on the team. No "face" on the offense & no "face" on the defense. Nobody on the team has stepped up to be the "face" - the leader. Sure, it's not easy to replace leaders, but if a player is named as a Captain, then they had better step up. Granted, a Tebow-like person is once in a lifetime; but most of us were lamenting as to who would replace Weurffel and Wright after the '96 season. 4. Unskilled - The team had to replace a lot of good players. When 50+ players on the roster are redshirt sophomores down to true freshmen, they are essentially unskilled for SEC football week in & week out. At any level, seniors vs. underclassmen make for an ugly game at times. One might be a 4 or 5-Star recruit, but an underclassman vs. a senior in most instances is going to be pretty ugly. 5. Underachieving - If the guys that replaced the fellows from last year were supposed to be better than their predecessors, then they most certainly didn't demonstrate it. 6. Unpracticed - I've thought about this one for a bit; and it pains me to say & write it. The skill level of the receiving corps pales when compared to previous receivers. The defense is a poor tackling team. They need more practice to get better. The offensive line needs to block a lot better. In fact, too many times both lines were basically blown off the line of scrimmage. 7. Unemotional - For too many games, the team was emotionally flat. There's a difference between emotional swagger and arrogance. The emotional swagger that we've become accustomed to has not been there or noticeable. That swagger exuded confidence and showed during games. I miss the swagger of "So what? We're the FLORIDA GATORS & we're here to make you play your BEST game." Instead, we got "We're the Gators - let's play a game & go home." Let's hope that during this off-season the coaching staff and team will undo a lot of uncommon mistakes and unite as a team that has been given (gifted?) a legacy to uphold. It's been frustrating - to say the least. In all kinds of weather - Go Gators! Dave Rice Home: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Work: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] -- 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
