šŸˆ A Humorous Article from the Gator's perspective

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TUSCALOOSA, ALA. | Players with heads down, an ineffective offense and yet another loss have the Florida locker room feeling like not much has changed from last year’s 4-8 season.

Linebacker Jarrad Davis isn’t content to watch his teammates down in the dumps, so he and other team leaders did their best to change the tenor of the mood while the impact of an embarrassing defensive performance still festered. The Gators yielded a school record 645 yards to Alabama, surpassing the blowout loss in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl when they allowed Nebraska to gain 629 yards.

ā€œA lot of guys are down of course. That’s how it is after any loss,ā€ Davis said. ā€œMe personally and a couple other guys on the team I try to go around and make sure everybody keeps their head up, because this is only one game out of however many games we have an opportunity to play this season.ā€

For the Florida defense, lack of execution was key. Whether it was bad communication in the secondary or poor eye discipline the Gators were out of sorts on that side of the ball all day, giving up 449 yards through the air.

The Crimson Tide rolled over the Gators at a 7.4 yards per play clip, and were clinical on third down converting on 12-16, eight of which came through the air.

ā€œI’m going to say yes it is [a wake-up call], because we’re a lot better team than we were last year,ā€ Davis said. ā€œWe felt like we could come in this game and win. This is Alabama, but they’re not Alabama of old.ā€

Mistakes uncharacteristic for a Will Muschamp-coached defense killed the hopes of an upset even though the Gators at one point were tied 21-21. From there, the Crimson Tide ripped off 21 straight points and outgained the Gators 247-94. Alabama rode running backs Derrick Henry and T.J. Yeldon to a victory after quarterback Blake Sims was sidelined with a bruised right shoulder.

ā€œWe were knocking on the door for a win, and we just couldn’t pull through,ā€ Davis said.
End Ariticle

What makes this ariticle humorous to me is the guote from Jarran Reed, which I have placed in bold type above. He says "they're not Alabama of old" and, consequently, the gators expected a better showing and a possible win. Davis seems to blame the Gators mistakes for the loss instead of Alabama's dominance, and the same sentiment was expressed by Muschamp and other Florida players. To hear them talk they took the game to the wire.
 
ā€œI’m going to say yes it is [a wake-up call], because we’re a lot better team than we were last year,ā€ Davis said. ā€œWe felt like we could come in this game and win. This is Alabama, but they’re not Alabama of old.ā€
...
What makes this ariticle humorous to me is the guote from Jarran Reed, which I have placed in bold type above. He says "they're not Alabama of old" and, consequently, the gators expected a better showing and a possible win. Davis seems to blame the Gators mistakes for the loss instead of Alabama's dominance, and the same sentiment was expressed by Muschamp and other Florida players. To hear them talk they took the game to the wire.

Perspectives...

The comments I've heard/seen from Muschamp and two of their players gave me the impression they weren't (and to a degree, still aren't) sure what hit them.

I'm not trying to make this a pro-Kiffin thread and with that said consider this...

How many times did we see a specific play call catch Florida, their defense, and Muschamp almost standing still? In the third, 3rd and 23, UF blitzing over the left side and we've got a screen play called? There were six, seven, maybe eight Gators left looking back over their shoulders saying, "Oh shit."

First play of our offensive possessions.

There are two different plays that had to be exhausting to a defensive coordinator and head coach. Two, of many. (We only had 11 explosive plays Saturday with a team goal of nine per game.)

Even though I was watching the box score during the game the total yards gained this week still shocks me a bit. I think about the game and the times we turned the ball over and then compare these two? How the heck did that happen?

There are still some areas I can see presenting problems for this years team. I'm still of the mind set that it's not as bad as it's been made out to be...
 
I admit that I was not a fan of the Kiffin hire. and yes, I been one who repeated the old coaching ditty 'it's not the exes and ohs, its the Jimmies and Joes', but events have changed my thinking. Anytime your scheme can get one of your fastest players matched up in space against a middle linebacker in pass coverage, you are performing at a near genius level. If the defense insists on playing man and Drake is in the game, they just about have to take out a linebacker and play an extra corner to account for Drake in the passing game. His use of formations to get matchups he wanted was brilliant. Yes, talent does matter, but so does planning that will create an exploitable advantage for your guys. A tip of the hat to Kiffin.
 
ā€œI’m going to say yes it is [a wake-up call], because we’re a lot better team than we were last year,ā€ Davis said. ā€œWe felt like we could come in this game and win. This is Alabama, but they’re not Alabama of old.ā€

My thoughts about the "Alabama of old" would also kick their A$$. I don"t understand why they thought they were a contender after their great overtime victory last week. Someone had their gator goggles on too tight.
 
i don't think Muschamp has it. I don't think the players are with him.

Their offense did exactly what i expected it to do. They have a poor to average running game primarily because they can't make holes for their running backs. The QB floats the ball into coverage and is always a pass or two away from a pick.

The only thing surprising to me about our D vs their Owas that we had no pick-6s or fumble returns.
 
@psychojoe I, too, questioned the Kiffen hire. With all his baggage and his titanic ego I feared he would clash the autocratic Saban. Now, I'm not only in the camp with him we're sharing a tent!

Take that, and then the decision is made to put him on the field? Most would have called that a recipe for disaster.

I've enjoyed watching the two interact on the sidelines this season—it's made for what I call "good TV."
 
Take that, and then the decision is made to put him on the field? Most would have called that a recipe for disaster.

I've enjoyed watching the two interact on the sidelines this season—it's made for what I call "good TV."

Have you seen incidents of the clash of egos? The media is salivating for such and has implied it is occurring. Personally, I believe they are working well together.
 
Have you seen incidents of the clash of egos? The media is salivating for such and has implied it is occurring. Personally, I believe they are working well together.

Personally, no. I've had a few tell me they've seen them yelling back and forth on the sideline: but that's no different than anyone.
 
The media wants it to be a big clash of egos with both on the sidelines. Coaches yell at one another all of the time. I was once part of a staff that got fired and rehired 5 times IN ONE NIGHT!!!
 
I think Muschamp is scrambling to keep his job and "our mistakes", "didn't capitalize", yada, yada... sound better than "they dominated us and we were fortunate to get some points on the board."
I hope the Gators do play well and win a lot of games this year - for our sakes.
As for Kiffin, if he continues the awesome play calling (and controls what he says...) I say "Welcome to the family" and ROLL TIDE!
I think he's back in his "zone", this is what he does best and he's doing a heck of a job so far!
 
"Lane, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship"

lane-kiffin-nick-saban.jpg
 

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