GRUDEN???
(Suddenly, it's a thing.)
(Suddenly, it's a thing.)
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Out of the BLUE!
- Thread starter DRU2012
- Start date
Gentlemen, we have been through this enough times to know that as long as Florida is cycling through coaches every 3-4 years that we are going to hear every rumor imaginable. In 2022 it was James Franklin, Lane Kiffin, or Kalen DeBoer but we got Billy Napier (ref: https://www.gatorenvy.com/threads/re-evaluating-the-coaching-search-2022.21398/). In 2018 it was Chip Kelly and Scott Frost but we got Dan Mullen (ref: https://www.gatorenvy.com/threads/2018-coaching-search-retrospective.21272/#post-92184). In 2014 it was Mark Hudspeth (Billy Napier's predecessor who was fired for NCAA violations) and Chip Kelly (ref: https://www.gatorenvy.com/threads/a-look-back-at-the-2014-coaching-search.19668/). Amongst all those coaching searches there was always a mention of Urban Meyer, Steve Spurrier, Bill Belichik, et cetera.
I am actually fascinated by the idea of bringing in Jon Gruden as a general manager of football operations.
I am actually fascinated by the idea of bringing in Jon Gruden as a general manager of football operations.
Not against it but with the state legislature removing DEI programs which is bad enough trying to recruit students-athletes especially for football, does the Gators want to hire a guy who said some racist stuff among other things?
I'm WAY past the point of voicing preference for ANY of these rorschach-test suggestions that rise from the "cultural zeitgeist" like subconsciously psychopathological clockwork every few years of continued program deterioration.
"Just WINNING" isn't enough--though at this point it would have likely bought Billy a bit more time and PATIENCE.
I have nothing in the way of real insight or prophecy. I can't even begin to GUESS what this "Gator Braintrust" is considering doing short-to-MID-term...I can well understand their "standing pat" as the current group fails spectacularly amidst the wider chaos and dust of change that hasn't fully settled yet. Why should THEY be any different than anyone or ANYTHING ELSE here in today's college football??!
If y'all are as sick of it all as I am, all you can DO is watch about as much of each game as you can stomach, add what you see and learn to the ongoing scale of analysis, and slowly edge your way towards some kind of ongoing "judgement" as to whether you will continue to "HOPE".
HOPE is the sole currency that matters in a team and program's ongoing appeal. Once it is mishandled, betrayed to the point that it is set aside, the school in question will be mired in HELL trying to reclaim, slowly rebuild its once unquestioned strength.
They haven't QUITE blown it THAT badly yet at UF--but they are "in the neighborhood".
Things are getting that bad, I believe, so a lot of the normal rules go out the window.
I don't know which or WHAT kind of changes they need to make, BUT:
CHANGE MUST COME.
Fundamental change.
"Just WINNING" isn't enough--though at this point it would have likely bought Billy a bit more time and PATIENCE.
I have nothing in the way of real insight or prophecy. I can't even begin to GUESS what this "Gator Braintrust" is considering doing short-to-MID-term...I can well understand their "standing pat" as the current group fails spectacularly amidst the wider chaos and dust of change that hasn't fully settled yet. Why should THEY be any different than anyone or ANYTHING ELSE here in today's college football??!
If y'all are as sick of it all as I am, all you can DO is watch about as much of each game as you can stomach, add what you see and learn to the ongoing scale of analysis, and slowly edge your way towards some kind of ongoing "judgement" as to whether you will continue to "HOPE".
HOPE is the sole currency that matters in a team and program's ongoing appeal. Once it is mishandled, betrayed to the point that it is set aside, the school in question will be mired in HELL trying to reclaim, slowly rebuild its once unquestioned strength.
They haven't QUITE blown it THAT badly yet at UF--but they are "in the neighborhood".
Things are getting that bad, I believe, so a lot of the normal rules go out the window.
I don't know which or WHAT kind of changes they need to make, BUT:
CHANGE MUST COME.
Fundamental change.
I hate to be the one to break this to you, but just about any younger Baby Boomer, any Gen X or older Millennial coach says these kind of things in a football environment or an office environment and they are not racists. They are products of their environment and it takes at least a generation to fully change culture. The only difference between Gruden and others is that his comments were shared in public. Name for me one "nice" and "DEI friendly" coach who has won at a high level and I will show you oceanfront property in Arizona. Florida has been fortunate that coaches like Urban Meyer did not coach here while the Internet was at its peak like it is now. You can find reports on Nick Saban saying these kind of things in the locker room, and now that he is in the public eye as a media member in the peak of the Internet age he has to change his tone. Lucky for Saban, he has Jon Gruden as an example of what not to do.
That being said, I would venture to guess that at least half of the Gator Nation would take Satan himself as a head coach if it meant winning 10 games a season and a shot at the national championship once every generation. All this talk about Gruden being untouchable as a racist, well that is utter nonsense bought into by the masses who have already learned to change our culture because we have to in order to keep our jobs at the factory, the office, or wherever. We tolerate celebrities and public figures saying racist things because we are willing to overlook those things when they are entertaining us, winning games, or giving us things we want.
Back to football (before I have to move this thread): Jon Gruden is going to return to college football soon and the Florida administration should at least interview him before getting stuck with leftover G5 coaches and washed up power conference coaches.
I know there's no oceanfront property in Arizona, my dad lives there and I've been there a few times. It's dry and one time I went during a summer. Anyway, I don't see Gruden getting hired as a coach (besides what I listed) because he had a tendency to start older quarterbacks plus he was behind the downfall of the Bucs (him and Bruce Allen). I don't know if he would be patient with a young QB. Him as a GM, maybe. I did see he was an advisor with the Saints and if they hired him, others might. I'm sure you're right about other coaches saying similar things however Gruden got caught.
I mentioned in a couple other threads the idea of interviewing Gruden for head coach but countering with an offer as a GM. That would make best use of his NFL connections while isolating his non-politically correct personality from the public. Also by hiring him as a GM he could start in October before Napier is fired and manage the roster for the interim coach. With Gruden s as GM and consultant he can use his connections to mitigate the chaos that goes with firing head coaches. This could give Gruden a long term job at slightly lower salary where he could retire in 10+ years rather than being cycled through college football programs every 4 years… or fired for his inability to play the politically correct game.
This whole "GM alternative" opens up a host of other ways we could go--but the more time goes on the mote I become convinced that all Billy has to do is win the handful of games left that bettors think we have a CHANCE to win to keep him here for the time being.
I doubt it changes the long view. I mean, he is still operating on the edge of a yawning chasm. Barring his team winning out (a logical absurdity), I believe he is gone by the end of the year regardless. Not that it currently inspires much hope for great change.
THAT'S the problem: We just all tend to feel too MUCH is broken in Gainesville. We have lost our mojo--and the key to the next hire is to somehow we GET IT BACK!
I doubt it changes the long view. I mean, he is still operating on the edge of a yawning chasm. Barring his team winning out (a logical absurdity), I believe he is gone by the end of the year regardless. Not that it currently inspires much hope for great change.
THAT'S the problem: We just all tend to feel too MUCH is broken in Gainesville. We have lost our mojo--and the key to the next hire is to somehow we GET IT BACK!
In today’s era of transfer portal free agency, there is a high probability of 60+ players transferring out no matter when Napier is fired. The reason is not due to the losses, but the way the Gators lost and the way they barely stayed ahead of Samford in the first half.
AND the way our crap defense allowed MSU to stay in THIS one til the 4th quarter--With BOTH our quarterbacks with hot hands against a defense even worse than OURS!
I guess I could even understand sticking with Billy at this point--if only he were recruiting and HOLDING ONTO better players each year.
He HAS grabbed some talented playmajers at some key positions--but not enough of them, and on defense hardly any at ALL.
Seldom have I been left so frustrated and unsatisfied by a road win in the SEC!
A win is a win, but this might be the last win of Napier's reign as coach. I did like seeing Lagway work with a bunch of freshmen and redshirt freshmen. They seem to have better chemistry amongst themselves. Without a GM, it will take leadership from Lagway, assuming he stays, to keep this team together through a coaching change. Nothing against Mertz, who performed well, but once Napier is fired this team will turn to Lagway for the future.
I only hope we can somehow keep him.
We have the makings of a potentially strong Gator offense RIGHT NOW...
THAT at least is cause for some optimism.
With the right Coach and an urgently aggressive rebuild on defense, perhaps we CAN bring a more competitive and balanced TEAM to the field week-in/week-out in a season or two.
Trouble is, it becomes more and more clear why Billy is still here and will likely stay right where he IS for now:
AT THE MOMENT, ITHERE IS NO ONE ELSE TO RELIABLY STEP UP AND STEP IN!
Forget Jon Gruden. Except for his visibility, celebrity splash that MIGHT hold our freshman recruits temporararily, he holds very little promise for the FUTURE of Gator Football. He may well be a disaster on a "Nail in the Coffin"-level!!!
As for the crowded little storm of names swirling around out there so far in the media pond, I remain unenthusiastic regarding our choices, based on what we know and have seen of them.
I'd welcome one of E--'s "deep dives" into whom each is and what each has in TRUTH "achieved" thus far in their careers.
Do ANY of the men so far-mentioned even SUIT our program, situation or unique culture at UF and/OR the hugely CHANGING world of modern CFB?
Is there someone (or ONES?) we're missing?
...but again: I would welcome, now more than EVER, this site's unique resource in one of @Escambia94, 's extended "examination/exposes", one-by-one of the WHOLE GROUP:
"IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK, E--?"
