O-town Gator
Gator Fan
"This past week, I have never seen anything like that, and you just try to shelter them and make sure they focus on what's important and not the silly nonsense."
The "silly nonsense" was the predictions and expectations by fans and media that Florida would absolutely torch 28-point underdog Tennessee because of the inflammatory comments UT coach Lane Kiffin made about Meyer and winning in Gainesville. That affected the players, Meyer said, because he walked into the locker room following the 23-13 victory over the Vols last Saturday expecting to find a celebration and instead got a somber greeting.
It wasn't too long ago that a 10-point victory would have sent UF fans into the streets, but now some of the players felt it just wasn't good enough. That's ludicrous, Meyer said.
"The team, I would say they're a product of the nonsense," Meyer said. "Coming from the coaching staff, I'll make that clear, we're not going to do that. I'm going to try to beat that into them that you enjoy the win. You work on things. You get better, and you're no different than you were in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009. Let's go try to find a way to win a game against a good opponent."
Cornerback Joe Haden didn't have family or friends telling him they were disappointed with the 10-point victory over the Vols, but he did say he can feel that sentiment out there.
"We do feel pressure to be perfect, but sometimes we feel like people take it to an extreme," Haden said. "We just look at it like we still got a 'W,' but we have to go out and work harder."
Link: http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/florida_gators/2009-09-24/story/gators_are_feeling_the_pressure
The "silly nonsense" was the predictions and expectations by fans and media that Florida would absolutely torch 28-point underdog Tennessee because of the inflammatory comments UT coach Lane Kiffin made about Meyer and winning in Gainesville. That affected the players, Meyer said, because he walked into the locker room following the 23-13 victory over the Vols last Saturday expecting to find a celebration and instead got a somber greeting.
It wasn't too long ago that a 10-point victory would have sent UF fans into the streets, but now some of the players felt it just wasn't good enough. That's ludicrous, Meyer said.
"The team, I would say they're a product of the nonsense," Meyer said. "Coming from the coaching staff, I'll make that clear, we're not going to do that. I'm going to try to beat that into them that you enjoy the win. You work on things. You get better, and you're no different than you were in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009. Let's go try to find a way to win a game against a good opponent."
Cornerback Joe Haden didn't have family or friends telling him they were disappointed with the 10-point victory over the Vols, but he did say he can feel that sentiment out there.
"We do feel pressure to be perfect, but sometimes we feel like people take it to an extreme," Haden said. "We just look at it like we still got a 'W,' but we have to go out and work harder."
Link: http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/florida_gators/2009-09-24/story/gators_are_feeling_the_pressure
