WHY SO SERIOUS?.
By: <http://twitter.com/NateWGator> Nathan Walker In case you didn't notice, the Florida spring game was different this year. So the Gators found a dominant force at QB to take the offense to the promised land? No. Ok, well then they at least completed more than 50 percent of their passes? Yes but barely, only with the help of players that aren't actually on the team any more. Ok, so how was it different and why am I supposed to be excited? 1. It was outside the box. We now have a coach that isn't afraid to shake things up a little bit. I could understand not wanting change if we are wearing maroon and white and coming off another National Championship. BUT we aren't.. And their way is not the only way to win. Being a blue-blood program doesn't have to mean being conventional. Our coach wears bright blue Jordans and throws rallies at sororities. He has opened the doors for former players to come back and contribute to the team (we now know he meant literally) teaching and mentoring both on and off the field. There's nothing gimmick about that. The more positive influences surrounding these kids the less we have to worry about off the field problems. He wants the fan base and media to feel welcomed at practices so that we can feel invested in the process and hardwork his team is putting in. You put in the reps in the weight room and work your butt off at practice so that the games can be a celebration. 2. The players had a blast. Every gator fan wanted to see Franks and Trask and Jones and Allen each throw for 200 yards, 3 TDs and rush for 100, while at the same time somehow the defense being dominant as well. They didn't do that, but they weren't down about it or afraid to make mistakes trying. The atmosphere was loose to get the players having fun in front of the fans again. And they clearly were. As fans sometimes we can care too much about ourselves. Some fans loved it, some hated it, but what's really important is that the players/recruits had a blast. We should want to see our QB so excited that he does a little giddy-up and rides his teammate's back to the sideline. Because scoring touchdowns is fun and they are 19 year-old kids with a world of pressure on their shoulders, and its just the spring game. 3. Its just the spring game. It comes after weeks of strenuous practices and months of a Mullen/Savage self proclaimed "something they have never experienced" strength and conditioning program. At the end of the day no one remembers the score of the game. There will be teams that win National Championships after having spring games that looked like ours did (don't quote me on that but I've seen some crazy bad ones from good teams) and some teams that go 4-8. But really its just a chance for fans and players to celebrate Gator football together and make the coming months of waiting for the new season bearable. At the end of the day Mullen's career as Florida head coach wont be judged on spring games. Let's embrace the change and let Mullen do it his way. Go Gators! Oliver Barry, CRS, GRI Real Estate Broker PARKS 305B Indian Lake Blvd Suite 220 Hendersonville TN 37075 Phone: 615-826-4040 Mobile: 615-972-4239 [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) --- 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/d/optout.
