I have to admit it. I did not. A measure of self-protection, perhaps--an effort to armor myself against further pain?
But ready to grasp hope and happiness NOW, without hesitation.
Today’s victory marked Florida's second-largest upset win in the past 45 seasons, behind a victory at No. 16 LSU in 2016 (14-point underdogs). It also was the Gators' first win as a double-digit home underdog in the past 45 seasons.
That would put us back at 1979.
Our worst season EVER: 0-10-and-1.
We were that inevitable "Sleeping Giant" that Bear Bryant had warned us Florida had been for so long, somehow about to be awakened by a just arrived Bryant disciple, Charley Pell in his first season in Gainesville.
Oh, and awaken we did: In the Tangerine Bowl (later renamed the Citrus Bowl) the next year, and on and on though the wild roller coaster ride of ensuing seasons, GENERATIONS of Florida Gator teams--of ups'n'downs, reward and punishment, rings and probation,: The depths of lonely failure and the heights of passionately shared-joy.
And now, finally, we find ourselves once again on the brink of real HOPE--once again at the starting-line of what MIGHT be another "Long Road Back":
And isn't that just the BEST, in the end?
The chance to travel a new such journey ONE MORE TIME? After (Count 'em!) FOUR failed Coaching efforts at "fixing" a "culture" we only SLOWLY over that time realized how far Urban had brought us from once-lofty standards of not just excellence but honor, respect and dignity too, only NOW does it truly dawn on us what kind of lowly disarray we had allowed ourselves to get USED to. This was the challenge facing WHOMEVER "the next Coach" was going to be. And that "next Coach" turned out to be Billy Napier. It has been a rocky road so far, no doubt about it: Three weeks into his 3rd season he was "EVERYONE'S candidate for First Coach Fired in 2024". But then something happened...As it turns out, a SERIES of "somethings". I won't bother to recount MY version of that recent tale--suffice it to say, "Things have CHANGED." We MAY have (finally) turned that proverbial "corner".
The jury is still out. We all have our own pending "conditions" attached...For me, it is simply to make good on the promises: FINISH strong, on field and off--and take it on into 2025.
There are no guarantees except the ones we insure OURSELVES with mutual trust and support, the promise to work hard, think big and do things The Right Way.
The one thing I'll give our Coach through it ALL has been his stated determination to accomplish ALL THAT AND MORE "with good people doing everything a certain way: clear hearts and a dedication to each other", together into the future.
I, WE, may have faltered at times here, but it will absolutely take ALL OF US to get it done as we move now into the FUTURE:
So we must finish well (and all that entails)--win OUT on the field and OFF somehow, properly fill out this team and as I say (AGAIN)--move on and into 2025.
Let's see how good we really can BE...