Well, got to be glad THAT'S over--and that we "got out of it"! I'll leave it to others as to what we learned, good and/or (mostly) bad. We ARE "bowl eligible", we didn't fully panic or collapse in the face of an unexpected true test and the realization that we were ill-prepared, unmotivated, without a ready response from our coaches, and facing a proud team that WAS prepared, WAS motivated, HAD a plan and was more certain with every successful play that they COULD DO THIS--and, in the end, on this WEIRD College Football Weekend OUR relatively "back-burner fiasco" didn't really get the kind of attention it might have had we NOT "pulled it out" (which is what the final score makes it LOOK like what we did, but those of us who watched it know better: In truth, we stunk up the Swamp!) The last I'll say, "looking back", is that just about every problem this team of ours has encountered or created for itself this season showed up and were factors in the near-debacle and generally inescapable MESS that this game turned out to be. A pathetic display, all told.
As for "tomorrow and beyond", if we were "looking ahead" to the NEXT game, we sure did nothing to prepare ourselves, let alone put any cause-for-doubt in the minds of our annual old adversary (though maybe THEY did that for themselves: while they managed to lose their game by a hair at the end while we at least WON ours, they may end up making OUR mistake against Furman and fail to take THEIR opponent--US--seriously enough once they get a look at this game-film...then again, unless we play a WHOLE lot better, that just won't make enough difference: the Gator team that played today would have trouble against the FSU Lady Seminole Field Hockey team).
I guess I won't be able to completely ignore that game, as I wish I COULD do...I WILL try to bow out gracefully and go do something else, ANYTHING else, if and when they begin to put a beat-down on us. I know I'll watch it at the start, that little voice inside that is the Eternal Gator in each of us, saying "Maybe, JUST maybe we can catch lightening-in-a-bottle just ONCE this year, here at the end when NObody expects it..." Even as I try to bury that voice, try to be tough and hard and "face facts", it's still there, and I just can't quite shut it off...
Beyond that, well, no matter what, we'll be practicing, playing "one more game" against "one more pretty good team", but the main work ahead has to do with getting the prospects in, grabbing a few more while keeping what we've "got", and begin "our true road back". THAT is what we should be "looking forward" too, IMO. There ARE still question marks, stumbling blocks, hidden traps and detours. I'm sure y'all have your own that you see out there, and we can (and SHOULD) talk about 'em--that's what's REALLY important from here on out: where we're going, how we get there, and what the dangers, hidden or obvious, are.
(If I could JUST get that damn little voice, the one forlorn hope for "redemption" THIS year, OUT of my mind...)
As for "tomorrow and beyond", if we were "looking ahead" to the NEXT game, we sure did nothing to prepare ourselves, let alone put any cause-for-doubt in the minds of our annual old adversary (though maybe THEY did that for themselves: while they managed to lose their game by a hair at the end while we at least WON ours, they may end up making OUR mistake against Furman and fail to take THEIR opponent--US--seriously enough once they get a look at this game-film...then again, unless we play a WHOLE lot better, that just won't make enough difference: the Gator team that played today would have trouble against the FSU Lady Seminole Field Hockey team).
I guess I won't be able to completely ignore that game, as I wish I COULD do...I WILL try to bow out gracefully and go do something else, ANYTHING else, if and when they begin to put a beat-down on us. I know I'll watch it at the start, that little voice inside that is the Eternal Gator in each of us, saying "Maybe, JUST maybe we can catch lightening-in-a-bottle just ONCE this year, here at the end when NObody expects it..." Even as I try to bury that voice, try to be tough and hard and "face facts", it's still there, and I just can't quite shut it off...
Beyond that, well, no matter what, we'll be practicing, playing "one more game" against "one more pretty good team", but the main work ahead has to do with getting the prospects in, grabbing a few more while keeping what we've "got", and begin "our true road back". THAT is what we should be "looking forward" too, IMO. There ARE still question marks, stumbling blocks, hidden traps and detours. I'm sure y'all have your own that you see out there, and we can (and SHOULD) talk about 'em--that's what's REALLY important from here on out: where we're going, how we get there, and what the dangers, hidden or obvious, are.
(If I could JUST get that damn little voice, the one forlorn hope for "redemption" THIS year, OUT of my mind...)
