Am I the one who's wrong on this one, or just the only one who "gets" the point Muschamp was making there? The way I took it, as I argued in my response to mg on this very topic (see his thread, "I'M BAFFLED BY THIS..."), was simply that a championship-caliber team ideally approaches each game in a similar fashion, not getting too "up" or too "down" in relation to factors outside their own preparation, confidence and efficiency--the things they can control. I never thought for a moment that he wouldn't be aware of the relative difficulty and/or importance of the various different games, or deny the importance of emotion in the game day performance of young men playing a fast and physical team sport. If he were to say at some later date, for example, "We need to take back the Swamp, get our crowd into it and take ADVANTAGE of their energy and intimidating enthusiasm--make it a place the other teams don't EXPECT to do well in, as it once was", I wouldn't see that as ANY kind of contradiction to these other comments...but I can see that some don't take it that way, and I guess I can understand how, only I think you're taking it too literally. Geez, I HOPE you're wrong, 'cause it would be foolish to deny the relative DIFFERENCES among our opponents, AND the importance of certain games at certain times, depending on the situation, and the definite GREATER stress that will ALWAYS be placed on a distinct handful of "Games Against Our Rivals" here in Gator Nation. He is FROM Gainesville; how could he not know and understand THAT?
In an uneven season (I was going to say "...like this one", but there hasn't BEEN a season "like this one" in quite some time, and we may well be PAST the point here where even the "Rival Games" offer much but flinching pessimism), those games become even MORE important: Even as we tell ourselves (quite convincingly, in my case) that we are more or less certain to lose the annual "last regular-season game", who among us doesn't still have at least a secret voice deep inside that allows, "But if we DID beat them in the Swamp, how GREAT would THAT be?" Sure would take some of the sting out of the last couple of months, push back the darkness somewhat--and yet I'm kind of bugged with myself for even having to recognize the thought. Somehow I "know" it won't happen, CAN'T happen, or at least wish I could just accept that likelihood, so I won't have to hurt again when it DOES happen.
Here's what I think about this discussion (not really a "disagreement", after all, but a difference in interpretation), bottom line: Maybe we should stop ultra-analyzing every nuance of our Head Coach's statements, actions and outbursts: maybe we need to take a step back, let him "make his moves", do his "coaching", and give him a chance to make the changes he has promised, by all signs has begun, and ultimately JUDGE HIM BY THE RESULTS, over time. As to "How MUCH time?", well, there WILL be opportunities to see (or fail to see) progress in the months ahead. Recruiting, the quarterback competition, the spring, next season and how much of that "change" we see beginning to manifest, and how much "for-the-better", and so on. There may be some disagreement whether it's fast enough, or great enough; is one squad or another lagging significantly behind, and/or does a coach or several coaches need to be held accountable? A year from now perhaps we'll have enough experience and demonstrable data for solid consideration of such questions--and if we ARE considering them, it'll be TIME to consider them if we want to stay on track for the kind of success we anticipate (and to a certain extent Gator Nation will REQUIRE) for the year AFTER!
For now, though, much as we ache, angry and impatient as we undoubtedly are, I think we need to separate all of that from a calm and patient kind of "Realistic, Eyes-wide-open Sanity". Let's at least TRY to be responsible enough to wait all of the "madness" out, see how it all settles and resolves itself, have a little faith in the men we have entrusted with our Program's health and success into the future. That way, we'll either be among those who DIDN'T "abandon hope and reason". OR the ones who will know we GAVE them that chance, so when we DO say "enough", it'll MEAN something.
As things are, the tantruming freak-out cases are so numerous, so EARLY in what was ALWAYS going to be a "roller coaster ride", even before we knew the extent of our problems OR their depth, that after awhile they'll render ALL such online "fits" completely irrelevant.
That only increases the isolation of our team from its fans and supporters, deepens the distance between the coaches and everyone else, making them MORE guarded. This is not only sad, it is a big mistake. I'd like to see that separation, the whole doublespeak and stonewalling on the part of the staff towards EVERYONE "outside the team", be toned down, even dismantled to some extent--but as things are going, it's getting worse and will continue to do so. If I had a way to get Muscamp's ear, THAT would be the one thing I would try my DAMNEDEST to get across to him: "Gator Nation can and SHOULD be an advantage, a POSITIVE, not a distraction or a weak point, to be finessed". THAT'S where your reservoir of "emotional strength and motivation" for certain rivals and games can NATURALLY come from, while the coaches concentrate on even-keeled preparation and efficiency. That's how you can have it BOTH WAYS.
