OK--I'm setting this up early for a few reasons (discussed in detail on other threads here), but mostly 'cause I'm up and being hit with it from all sides ANYWAY--so let's GO!
I don't really think I have to do much "setting up" for anyone here: I think we all have a similar view of what's at stake today. There are a plethora (always nice to get to use that word properly, right?) of reasons and considerations to be taken into account already regarding our season: Road opener. 1st game in our 2012 SEC schedule. "Welcome to the SEC, Aggies", and on and on...and looming over all of it the sudden, early impression that in this game we may well be facing already a potential "turning point" in our season--IN ITS 2nd WEEK!
Our season won't be "ruined" by a loss, but it could send us into a bit of an early downward spin, at least show enough disorganized weakness and shaken confidence to set us back several weeks in our development...Neither begin to show who we are and what we can do, nor even to get some decent wins until the middle of that season--by which time the "comeback season of the re-energized Florida Gators, coming on strong as they get players healthy, and begin to really come together as a team", will instead be viewed at best as "a disappointing Florida team finally showing what was expected of it coming into the season here at the end, more as a spoiler than a contender".
I'm not sure how right I am about this, how important this game is or how dire the consequences of a loss--but I do fear a sloppy, bumbling one the result of something like last week's frustrating mess of a performance (and one like that WILL get us beat this time!). These are my feelings and impressions, and I get the idea I'm not alone in this among fellow Gators: This could be one of those games that at a certain point gets too nerve-wracking to even watch
Having said all that, I still have no choice--and no reservations, of course--in joining with all Gators EVERYWHERE, hunkering down and saying to our guys in no uncertain terms, "We love you, we support you, and we KNOW that from top to bottom, seniors to freshmen, heavily-hyped 5-star down to scout-team walk-on, every coach secretary and intern: y'all have the talent, heart and determination to rise to this occasion:
GO GATORS!!! EAT 'EM UP!!!"
(We really need a "Gator Chomp"-symbol here for us to use on our site. Any ideas?)
I don't really think I have to do much "setting up" for anyone here: I think we all have a similar view of what's at stake today. There are a plethora (always nice to get to use that word properly, right?) of reasons and considerations to be taken into account already regarding our season: Road opener. 1st game in our 2012 SEC schedule. "Welcome to the SEC, Aggies", and on and on...and looming over all of it the sudden, early impression that in this game we may well be facing already a potential "turning point" in our season--IN ITS 2nd WEEK!
Our season won't be "ruined" by a loss, but it could send us into a bit of an early downward spin, at least show enough disorganized weakness and shaken confidence to set us back several weeks in our development...Neither begin to show who we are and what we can do, nor even to get some decent wins until the middle of that season--by which time the "comeback season of the re-energized Florida Gators, coming on strong as they get players healthy, and begin to really come together as a team", will instead be viewed at best as "a disappointing Florida team finally showing what was expected of it coming into the season here at the end, more as a spoiler than a contender".
I'm not sure how right I am about this, how important this game is or how dire the consequences of a loss--but I do fear a sloppy, bumbling one the result of something like last week's frustrating mess of a performance (and one like that WILL get us beat this time!). These are my feelings and impressions, and I get the idea I'm not alone in this among fellow Gators: This could be one of those games that at a certain point gets too nerve-wracking to even watch
Having said all that, I still have no choice--and no reservations, of course--in joining with all Gators EVERYWHERE, hunkering down and saying to our guys in no uncertain terms, "We love you, we support you, and we KNOW that from top to bottom, seniors to freshmen, heavily-hyped 5-star down to scout-team walk-on, every coach secretary and intern: y'all have the talent, heart and determination to rise to this occasion:
GO GATORS!!! EAT 'EM UP!!!"
(We really need a "Gator Chomp"-symbol here for us to use on our site. Any ideas?)
