Heading Into Tomorrow

[DRU2012]

So here is what it comes down to:
We go to Tallahassee next Saturday for both teams' last game on the schedule, as always. They absolutely MUST win to preserve a long-standing streak of bowl-eligibility. WE have oh SO many reasons to go over there and BEAT THE CRAP out of them--including that one.
There are so many ways and reasons we could win or lose this one--but from a fan's P.O.V., it can be viewed pretty damn simply. Past, and future.
The Past: We OWE them. It is time to go over there, bum their fans and administer an undeniable beat down.
And Fillipe Franks needs to lead it with a solid game, start to finish. Fillipe probably can't LOSE it on his own--but he CAN, and damn well BETTER lead this Gator offense to a strong, clear win. Anything less would be a crucial, poorly-timed let down: a step back--and one more sign that the "Franks era at Florida is almost over...", that it HAS to be. If he wants to make the case otherwise, Fillipe MUST step up next Saturday.
The Future: Personally, I am ready for The Change At QB--all the MORE after seeing Emory's play yesterday--but truth is that along WITH the whole REDSHIRT factor with Emory, his requiring a LOT more work with the starters AND young talent-on-the-rise, plus the game-prep and in-game experience he'll need (and get), fact is that with all Fillipe's experience and new-found confidence, our best chance to get it done THIS COMING WEEK still rests with his going out there, taking all his progress, poise and experience and applying it efficiently. Do THAT, LEAD this offense, set the tone, shut the door (and shut UP the crowd!) in the first half, and you put forward a possible ALTERNATE future-scenario, one that perhaps has YOU in there, starting at least a while longer at UF, right into NEXT season.
(I won't even contemplate, let alone articulate the consequences of a loss.)

 

[Leakfan12]

I have a feeling it's going to be an ugly game. The FSU Defense won't be as easy as Idaho (well depending on how many three and outs FSU will have) and again Franks became Santa Claus last year. Hopefully not this season with Mullen now on the sidelines. Also, the D will have a great game against FSU offense that can't get out of its own way. Plus the Gators D is going to be the best they faced off. If the Noles offense can't do crap against the ACC then they are screwed against the Gators D. I hate to be against Willie Taggert (again former USF coach) but buckle up Willie.

 

[Escambia94]

This will be an ugly game, with the possibility of it becoming one-sided. Mullen should have the Gators ready, but as everyone seems to agree, it all depends on the mindset from Franks and the other McDeathThreats recruits.

 

[DRU2012]

I have a feeling it's going to be an ugly game. The FSU Defense won't be as easy as Idaho (well depending on how many three and outs FSU will have) and again Franks became Santa Claus last year. Hopefully not this season with Mullen now on the sidelines. Also, the D will have a great game against FSU offense that can't get out of its own way. Plus the Gators D is going to be the best they faced off. If the Noles offense can't do crap against the ACC then they are screwed against the Gators D. I hate to be against Willie Taggert (again former USF coach) but buckle up Willie.

Hope you are correct in your generally optimistic assessment of our chances.
Agree bout Willie--but you KNOW he's probably toast before he gets things turned around over there--until last night's last second turnaround it has been a thorough mess this season in Tallahassee, and you gotta know those folks have had it too easy for too long. They MAY be due the kind of extended untangling we went through and are just truly emerging from.
But WE can't count on any of that handing us a safe and easy "pass" next Saturday:
I too am concerned we NOT see the "generous-to-the-OTHER-guys"-Franks back again for this one. As I discuss above, the pressure's on for him to rise to the occasion--but he has every reason and opportunity here (along with his aforementioned and well-earned "progress, poise and experience") to lead the offense, help produce a completely different outcome from last time. But they have a LOT to go play for: the usual stuff whenever, whever we play PLUS that "Bowl eligibility"-streak they are so proud of...That's right: in addition to all the benefits of Bowl bids that HELP support continued success, it has become itself a perk they EXPECT--one their fans have bern hearing for WEEKS was in danger, but with yesterday's comeback one-point win puts US between them and another one after all. Instead of being relatively quiet and half-empty, it will NOW likely be packed, loud and wild after all. Be a nice time for one of those first-play-from-scrimmage Franks' long bombs to finally CONNECT. But that's probably unrealistic, WAY too much to ask for. But Mullen WILL ask him to raise his game--even as he designs an offensive gameplan that best adapts to and exploits his strengths and skills along8 eith those of the guys around him. And we DO have a growing group of playmakers who should be able to ultimately overwhelm the defense they've shown this far. OUR D is banged up, were thin to begin with, but still ought to be enough to at worst "keep things close". If they and/or special teams can get back to doing ANY scoring I think we win going away. Even if not, well, it isn't NECESSARILY a disaster if it then comes down to Franks' executing the gameplan, playing steady and smart: In which case, overall the game might well be as "ugly" as you say, LF--but after a full season now of game-experience AND Mullen's mentoring, I think Fillipe HAS come far enough to actually lead us to a solid win here.

 

[DRU2012]

This will be an ugly game, with the possibility of it becoming one-sided. Mullen should have the Gators ready, but as everyone seems to agree, it all depends on the mindset from Franks and the other McDeathThreats recruits.

I suspect y'all are right, as I've heard from many, that this WILL be "one ugly game"--I just hope everyone is right in the generally accompanying view that it will be a GATOR victory. In fact, there seems to be a fair amount of confidence about it being somewhat of a drubbing--in which case, personally I don't CARE how "UGLY" it is: I know what you all mean, and such wins cover NO ONE "in glory"--but we will damn well TAKE it, with relish and pleasure, at this point. Right?
"All in all, it's just a brick in the Wall..."