I think Oliver's point is well taken - Foley is trying to get a guy that comes to UF, embraces the school and the program, and intends to stick around a while, not just jump ship whenever the NFL comes calling or whatever. I am going to say that I was never comfortable with Urban Meyer even though I don't regret two National Championships, plus getting to see amazing players like Harvin and Tebow. That being said, I never felt that he was committed to UF and I kept reading and hearing rumblings that came from ex-Gator players who voiced concerns about the way he ran the program. I thought it was curious to hear these undercurrents even as the Gators were successful. As things have come to light after the Urbs left (and the whole Aaron Hernandez thing), I realized then what they were talking about. Sometimes I feel that our time with Meyer was sort of a deal with the devil and now we're paying for it in some kind of crazy karma way.
As for Foley's coaching choices, I think Woody & Randy voiced those for me best, so I won't reiterate here. Has Foley made a mistake with a football coach before? Oh yes, Zook was a disaster. But he's made outstanding choices everywhere else - obviously football is our money sport, but it's amazing what's happened to Gator athletics since he's been AD. I see plenty of folks arguing that Foley's hired people who need OJT for the football program, and maybe that's true (of course, wouldn't hiring Charlie Strong have been OJT too?), but there are plenty of AD's who've brought in established coaches and found failure (Rich Rodriguez, for example) . I would argue that finding the right football coach is the very hardest thing to do for a program. Basketball would be second. He's at least shown he can make a good hire there. I like Muschamp, actually. I think he really is going to be one we're sorry got away if we let him go too soon. I think he's learned that you can't play offense specifically to protect the defense, and changes are coming. (If he hasn't learned that, then yes - he's going to need to go.) I think he should take the same tack as Spurrier when he was coaching UF - Muschamp should focus on defense and mostly stay hands-off with the offense, leaving that to a strong OC (as everyone remembers, SOS didn't pay as much attention to D as O, so his DCs were pretty much in charge of everything). Anyway, that's my .02 On Thu, Nov 14, 2013 at 10:10 AM, Oliver Barry <[email protected]> wrote: > That’s exactly what he did. He was trying to get a program guy who would > last more than Meyer’s 5 years and nervous breakdown. > > > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] *On > Behalf Of *C.Simpson > *Sent:* Wednesday, November 13, 2013 7:17 PM > > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] Foley: Commitment to Muschamp > Remains the Same - GatorZone.com Mobile > > > > Been AD since 92 and I guess started at UF in 76. I like the guy and he's > done great things for many sports but the football program drives the UF > sports train. It has to be successful. I feel that for the second time he's > hired a guy that requires OJT for one of top programs in the country. > > On 11/13/2013 7:31 PM, Jay Cicone wrote: > > Foley has been around a long time. > > > > *From:* [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]<[email protected]>] > *On Behalf Of *C.Simpson > *Sent:* Wednesday, November 13, 2013 5:58 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] Foley: Commitment to Muschamp > Remains the Same - GatorZone.com Mobile > > > > You never know quite what to believe on the message boards but according > to some Machen actually hired Urban Meyer so that leaves Foley with > Muschamp and Zook as his stamp on one of the top 5 football programs in the > country. > > On 11/13/2013 5:10 PM, Jay Cicone wrote: > > There will be a statue of him before he retires. > > > > *From:* [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]<[email protected]>] > *On Behalf Of *Woody Bass > *Sent:* Wednesday, November 13, 2013 5:09 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] Foley: Commitment to Muschamp > Remains the Same - GatorZone.com Mobile > > > > Foley aint goin no where > > Woody (via iPhone) > > > On Nov 13, 2013, at 5:07 PM, "C.Simpson" <[email protected]> wrote: > > Well if this thing doesn't work out I guess UF will need a new coach AND > Athletic Director about this time next year. > > On 11/13/2013 4:36 PM, Jay Cicone wrote: > > About dang time!!!!! We have been extremely fortunate in the post “Dickey” > era---it hurt to type that. I want to see Muschamp rebuild a dynasty and > run it for a long time. > > > > *From:* [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]<[email protected]>] > *On Behalf Of *Shane Ford > *Sent:* Wednesday, November 13, 2013 4:25 PM > *To:* Gatortalk > *Subject:* [gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] Foley: Commitment to Muschamp > Remains the Same - GatorZone.com Mobile > > > > There you go! Perhaps, we can put his "potential upcoming firing" behind > us and move on? > > > > Who does the B'ball team play next? > > Sent From Shane's iPhone > > Go Gators! & Skol Vikes! > > ALPCA #8756 > > Europlate #1045 > > > On Nov 13, 2013, at 3:21 PM, Woody Bass <[email protected]> wrote: > > http://www.gatorzone.com/mobile/news/26727 > Foley: Commitment to Muschamp Remains the Same > > GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The won-loss record has taken a tumble in 2013, but > Jeremy Foley’s support of head football coach Will Muschamp has not. > > > > Foley said Wednesday he is fully committed to Muschamp to lead the program > into the future. > > > > “As athletic director, I’m a thousand percent convinced that Will Muschamp > is the guy to lead this football program,’’ Foley said inside his office at > Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. “Nothing has changed in what we feel about Will > Muschamp from the day we hired him. > > > > “Everyone around here wants the same thing,’’ Foley continued. “We want to > do what is right for the University of Florida. We understand that this > football season has not gone the way any of us wanted it to go, certainly > not the way our fans wanted it to go, and most of all, not the way Will > Muschamp wanted it to go. > > > > “We have a history of being successful, we have a history of fixing things > when they need to be fixed, and that is what is going to happen here, and > Coach Muschamp is the one that will fix it.” > > > > Muschamp was named UF’s head coach in December 2010. With three > regular-season games remaining in his third season, Muschamp is 22-13 > overall, including an 11-1 regular-season record in 2012 and Sugar Bowl > berth. The Gators knocked off four teams ranked in the Top 10 last season > and climbed to No. 2 in the polls before a loss to Georgia. > > > > Florida is coming off a 34-17 Homecoming loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday, > dropping the Gators below .500 for the first time since 1992. The 4-5 > Gators travel to face No. 12-ranked South Carolina on Saturday. > > > > “I understand the passion and the disappointment,’’ Foley said. “But at > the end of the day, we’ve got great fans, they love the Gators and their > passion makes this place special. They are hurting, they want the program > to be successful and we feel that hurt.” > > > > Despite the loss and fan criticism in recent weeks, Foley and UF President > Bernie Machen made it clear Wednesday they remain firmly behind Muschamp, > who was head coach-in-waiting at Texas prior to his arrival at Florida. > > > > “I want the Gator Nation to know that I have full confidence in Coach > Muschamp and his leadership of the football program,’’ Machen said. > > > > Meanwhile, Foley wants Florida fans to remain patient and as the > 42-year-old Muschamp works to turn the program around in what has been an > injury-plagued season for the Gators. > > > > “We will get better under Will Muschamp’s leadership,’’ Foley said. “This > is not the quote-unquote dreaded ‘vote of confidence.’ This is just how we > all feel around here. We have a strong faith and a strong belief in his > capabilities, in his leadership skills, in his ability to evaluate what > needs to be fixed.” > > > > “Go back to a year ago: we’re 11-1 and beat four teams in the Top 10 and > he was SEC Coach of the Year. I don’t think that was a fluke. I think > coaching had a lot to do with that. We’ll stay the course here. We’ll get > it right. We’re not going to let Gator fans down. We want the same thing > they want.” > > > > Woody (via iPhone) > > -- > -- > 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 > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorNews" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > -- > -- > 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 > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorTalk" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > -- > -- > 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 > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorTalk" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > > -- > -- > 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 > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorTalk" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > -- > -- > 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 > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorTalk" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > -- > -- > 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 > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorTalk" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > > -- > -- > 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 > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorTalk" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > -- > -- > 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 > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorTalk" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > > -- > -- > 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 > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorTalk" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > -- > -- > 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 > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorTalk" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > -- -- 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 --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. 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