PostGame/PostSeason/PreNEXT!

[DRU2012]

OK. Ended well, did what we had to do, and after nicely recovering from that "mid-season swoon", we appear to be back on track--and all in all, right about where we realisticly could have HOPED we would be at this point, best case scenario heading INTO the season.
Honestly, I don't feel we are either UNDERrated or OVERrated by the "powers that be", the yapping media dogs, OR OURSELVES. I truly get the impression that we have a pretty accurate and realistic idea of how far we've come, where we're at and where we're headed. Unusually so: Mark the moment, 'cause it WON'T last long.
Of course, like with so much else about this season and all that's happened, it HELPS that we have a COACH who (as much as it is smart and possible to do so) gives it to (in descending order) his players, the fans and the media as straight and true as he can--often right there on camera and right after the game: He did it again yesterday, making several key points that once again implied "what must and WILL change in the character of this team and will NOT be part of our future"...For example, he acknowledged the Georgia "letdown" /fiasco and that it was at least to SOME extent a classic case of a young and still evolving team getting beat TWICE by the same opponent when they didn't even really "show up" for the NEXT one--guaranteeing a likely 2nd beatdown the next week from a (Missouri) team otherwise not materially more talented than themselves. As you'll recall (and everyone else will conveniently forget, if they really even noticed at the time), we sleep-walked right into the NEXT one, were well into the 2nd half of the South Carolina game when we finally awoke late in the 3rd quarter--and have been "back", playing not just at the level they'd reached pre-UGA but launched forward, learning/growing/IMPROVING EVERYWHERE ever since the 4th in the Swamp against the Gamecocks right through Saturday's last of the regular season in Doak.
I'm not gonna get into the nuts'n'bolts
of all that here--we have the spring and beyond to see, evaluate and anticipate the future through the filter of the recent past. In fact, I'm more interested right here and now in what Y'ALL think is important, worth commenting on and/or worrying about as far as THIS season was and is concerned.
Personally, I don't think I've ever been more aware of the ongoing changes, the intentional efforts being made by a "new" Gator Coach and his staff to effect such change, and the actual changes taking hold and SHOWING ON THE FIELD so quickly game-to-game.
HERE'S a few questions to throw out there, then, just to stir things up--Provoke a response:
"Who'd YOU like to see us play in a Bowl, and where?" ...and:
"What are the opportunities and where are the pitfalls up ahead, in your opinion?" ...and:
"Never mind bad luck, cynical pessimisn and/or unrealistic overheated fan-expectation, how much better will we likely BE, how far can we go how FAST in the next 12 months under Mullen & Co.?"

 

[Escambia94]

I would prefer to play a big boy football team like Penn State or Michigan, but if crushing the little shit stain UCF Knights is where we get stuck then it had better be a massacre.

 

[DRU2012]

I would prefer to play a big boy football team like Penn State or Michigan, but if crushing the little shit stain UCF Knights is where we get stuck then it had better be a massacre.

LOL. OK OK I am WITH you, as directly answered and elaborated upon in my "reply" to your comments on this subject back on the FSU/Gameday thread.
But again, as I explain there, with all the complicated wrinkles being added and attached to this over-hyped, over-cooked and overWROUGHT BS this buncha South-Fla dickheads' (putting their U-Pres AND the city POLICE CHIEF at the very TOP of said group) have contrived to try and sell to another "bunch of idiots" on a NATIONAL scale now (LOTTA that goin' around, ya notice?), I'd personally rather NOT see us in the middle of it.
We got enough demons to expunge, dragons to tilt at. I truly believe we have a high enough profile, and enough good things accomplished and widely witnessed of late already, to accomplish what we must this off season--Get through recruiting and to NSD with a fine haul and watch what ensues, see what we got come spring and beyond. Maybe I'm wrong, don't have enough "imagination" for this "New World of Controversy and Hype", but way I feel after everything else, merely facing the challenge to go out and conquer say, The Fiesta Bowl against Penn State, would be plenty fierce and ultimately decisive a test, emblematic of our talent and courage--MORE than enough for me, our team, program, school, and what it may or may not tell us about where we are, where we've been and where we're going.

 

[Leakfan12]

I would prefer to play a big boy football team like Penn State or Michigan, but if crushing the little shit stain UCF Knights is where we get stuck then it had better be a massacre.

Or West Virginia just to smacked around Grier.

 

[Leakfan12]

Here's the list of from my local papers of potential matchups including UCF, Michigan (oh come on I bet we would love to see the Gator beat down Macdumby whose UM assistant), Penn State coached by Luther, Obama's former anger translator (OK not really though James Franklin can be a doppelganger to Keegan Michael Key or one-half of Key and Peele), Washington State, and Boise State if they win their conference championship and UCF loses theirs. Honestly, I don't know I want the Gators to face off against Boise State mostly because I don't wan't to face off against another Orange and Blue team, I want Franks to throw to his receivers not the other team.

 

[DRU2012]

That Franks-throwing-to-the-wrong "Orange and Blue" line cracked me up...
Myself, I can see the arguments (and more) for preferring a shot at each and every one; personally, I suppose I'D most enjoy BEATING Penn State--just because beating them is "the right thing to DO", something "pure" about it (LOL)...And:
MEETING Texas--just because of where I live (Austin), have waited so long for it, have seen it seemingly so close before but somehow never worked out and by now despair of it ever happening (and it'd be a fun deal for and BETWEEN myself and so many people I know here, longtime friends, rivals and generally creative folks in music, film and the arts whom I see at work and play for so long now who, much like in Gainesville, are also huge college football fans--often to the exclusion of almost all other sporting interests)...I once harbored the strong, secret hope we'd meet to decide the National Championship at some point, something that seemed so close to coming to fruition at least twice just before and after the millenium, but at this point I suppose just seeing us MEET may have to suffice.

 

[Leakfan12]

That Franks-throwing-to-the-wrong "Orange and Blue" line cracked me up...
Myself, I can see the arguments (and more) for preferring a shot at each and every one; personally, I suppose I'D most enjoy BEATING Penn State--just because beating them is "the right thing to DO", something "pure" about it (LOL)...And:
MEETING Texas--just because of where I live (Austin), have waited so long for it, have seen it seemingly so close before but somehow never worked out and by now despair of it ever happening (and it'd be a fun deal for and BETWEEN myself and so many people I know here, longtime friends, rivals and generally creative folks in music, film and the arts whom I see at work and play for so long now who, much like in Gainesville, are also huge college football fans--often to the exclusion of almost all other sporting interests)...I once harbored the strong, secret hope we'd meet to decide the National Championship at some point, something that seemed so close to coming to fruition at least twice just before and after the millenium, but at this point I suppose just seeing us MEET may have to suffice.

Agreed especially during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Those two seasons could have been back to back for the national championship in those seasons but with 2008 Texas losing that three-way tiebreaker with OU and Texas Tech to an Oklahoma team they beat but the Big 12 rules were screwy as they were in 2014 and Oklahoma was the team that the Gators faced and lost to the Gators (granted they faced Mizzou in the Big 12 Title game and yes Mizzou before they went to the SEC). Then there 2009 and honestly I don't know if I want to continue talking about because we know what happened there and more than likely leaves us still with a bad taste in our mouths and it was the beginning of the end for the Gators dominance. Also, it sucks because of Colt McCoy getting hurt. If he stayed in the game, UT would have at least a better chance against Bama unsure if Texas would have won but it would have been close. Also, 2009, represent the beginning of the end for Texas dominance as well though the Gators did make a BCS Bowl (Sugar) in 2012 with one-time UT coach in waiting Will Muschamp. Speaking of Muschomp, we thought it was a steal when the Gators got him. Sadly not so much. I hate to say that Charlie Strong made a mistake going to Texas but it's hard to get Florida recruits to come to Texas. It seems like both schools left at the same time and both are the up-up so far. Would be fitting if UF-Texas faced off against each other but I doubt it's going to be this bowl season even if Texas loses to Oklahoma.

 

[Leakfan12]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nc...-for-last-cfp-spot/ar-BBQ75A6?ocid=spartanntp

They project the Gators playing Penn State in the Peach Bowl.

 

[DRU2012]

Agreed especially during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Those two seasons could have been back to back for the national championship in those seasons but with 2008 Texas losing that three-WAY12 tiebreaker with OU and Texas Tech to an Oklahoma team they beat but the Big 12 rules were screwy as they were in 2014 and Oklahoma was the team that the Gators faced and lost to the Gators (granted they faced Mizzou in the Big 12 Title game and yes Mizzou before they went to the SEC). Then there 2009 and honestly I don't know if I want to continue talking about because we know what happened there and more than likely leaves us still with a bad taste in our mouths and it was the beginning of the end for the Gators dominance. Also, it sucks because of Colt McCoy getting hurt. If he stayed in the game, UT would have at least a better chance against Bama unsure if Texas would have won but it would have been close. Also, 2009, represent the beginning of the end for Texas dominance as well though the Gators did make a BCS Bowl (Sugar) in 2012 with one-time UT coach in waiting Will Muschamp. Speaking of Muschomp, we thought it was a steal when the Gators got him. Sadly not so much. I hate to say that Charlie Strong made a mistake going to Texas but it's hard to get Florida recruits to come to Texas. It seems like both schools left at the same time and both are the up-up so far. Would be fitting if UF-Texas faced off against each other but I doubt it's going to be this bowl season even if Texas loses to Oklahoma.

My "Like"/thumbs-up is for the actual overall article's general selection of facts and observations...and its accurate review and recounting of a number of Gators' best and worst moments among all that excitement and wild swings back and forth...stuff that make us angry, sad, and/or just plain pisses us OFF.
YEAH, I remember it all, was THERE for it: I remember all the people , too, and the parts THEY played. YOU MADE it REAL again. An argument could be supported for facing any ONE of these come bid-time. (I'd stick with my orig two, for exactly the orig reasons and attitudes, though.)

 

[Escambia94]

Agreed especially during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Those two seasons could have been back to back for the national championship in those seasons but with 2008 Texas losing that three-way tiebreaker with OU and Texas Tech to an Oklahoma team they beat but the Big 12 rules were screwy as they were in 2014 and Oklahoma was the team that the Gators faced and lost to the Gators (granted they faced Mizzou in the Big 12 Title game and yes Mizzou before they went to the SEC). Then there 2009 and honestly I don't know if I want to continue talking about because we know what happened there and more than likely leaves us still with a bad taste in our mouths and it was the beginning of the end for the Gators dominance. Also, it sucks because of Colt McCoy getting hurt. If he stayed in the game, UT would have at least a better chance against Bama unsure if Texas would have won but it would have been close. Also, 2009, represent the beginning of the end for Texas dominance as well though the Gators did make a BCS Bowl (Sugar) in 2012 with one-time UT coach in waiting Will Muschamp. Speaking of Muschomp, we thought it was a steal when the Gators got him. Sadly not so much. I hate to say that Charlie Strong made a mistake going to Texas but it's hard to get Florida recruits to come to Texas. It seems like both schools left at the same time and both are the up-up so far. Would be fitting if UF-Texas faced off against each other but I doubt it's going to be this bowl season even if Texas loses to Oklahoma.

Charlie Strong had to leave Florida, because of what happened with the coaches in 2008-2009. Remember the history here: Urban Meyer brought and grew his coaching staff of Dan Mullen, Billy Gonzalez, and John Hevesy from Notre Dame, Bowling Green, and Utah between 2000 and 2005. From 2005 to 2008 that core group really had Florida poised for a decade of domination. "Something" happened in 2008 that began the breakup of the band. Steve Addazzio was able to keep the momentum in 2009 using a part of the play book, but there was a lot going on behind the scenes that came to head in 2009 when Zombie Urban Meyer retired and un-retired, then Charlie Strong had enough and he left for Louisville the following year with the coaches that replaced Mullen, Gonzalez, and Hevesy.

In summary: Florida's dynasty was ruined by strife between the coaches, with Meyer on Addazzio's side, and Mullen/ Gonzalez/ Hevesy being on the other. The final nail in the coffin was Charlie Strong, who had been a part of the Gator program off and on since 1983! Strong took the guys who replaced Mullen/ Gonzalez/ Hevesy, and here we are a decade later finally restoring order. This is why I was adamant the whole time about Mullen coming back to Gainesville. We lost our chance at a dynasty when he left in 2008. We do not know if this core group plus the Mississippi State and Utah additions is a better version of that group that showed up in 2005, but it looks promising.

 

[Escambia94]

Here are my position and chaos scenarios for Florida to break into the top 5. The first scenario is possible. The second one is chaos. Chaos is defined as losses by Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and UCF.

1. Alabama (12-0): If Alabama loses to #4 Georgia, they would be tied with #5 Ohio State by having 1 quality loss to the #4 team. Chaos leaves Georgia and Notre Dame as locks at #1 and #2, and Clemson as the best 1-loss might hang onto the #3 spot.
2. Clemson (12-0): If Clemson loses to #24 Pitt that would be a low quality loss and Clemson would drop 3-4 places. If chaos ensues (described above), they probably stay in the top 3.
3. Notre Dame (12-0): Notre Dame has no conference championship game, and has no statistically realistic way of dropping in ranking. In the chaos scenarios they are still in the top 3.
4. Georgia (11-1): Georgia controls its #4 position. Beat Alabama and they are the best 1-loss team in the land. Lose to Alabama and they are the best 2-loss team in the land and they drop 4 places. In the chaos scenarios they block Florida's ability to get into the top 4 unless the committee purposefully opens up the #4 spot for a new contender.
5. Ohio State (11-1): OSU has the advantage of playing the last conference championship "playoff" game of the day. Urban Meyer will run up the score on #19 Northwestern and audition for Georgia's #4 spot. OSU gets the nod over Oklahoma if chaos ensues with Alabama and Clemson by virtue of being a more complete team. They are in a position to drop only 1 or 2 spots if they lose unless the chaos scenario plays out. Ohio State likely takes the #5 spot in the chaos scenario, unless the committee picks them to replace Alabama (unlikely).
6. Oklahoma (11-1): The Sooners need to run up the score on #14 Texas in order to audition for Georgia's #4 spot and hope for chaos. If they lose, they drop below Michigan (with or without chaos).
7. Michigan (10-2): Jim Harbaugh is now 0-4 against Ohio State. Michigan is in a bad spot. If chaos ensues, they block Florida from climbing higher than #7 or #8.
8. UCF (11-0): The Knights only get promoted to the Big Boy Table if Alabama, Clemson, and one other higher ranked team lose. In the chaos scenario, UCF could fall out of the top 10 or swap places with Florida.
9. Florida (9-3): The Gators are just happy to be here. If Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and UCF lose on the same weekend, then Florida is the best 3-loss team and they sneak into the #7 spot.

 

[DRU2012]

Charlie Strong had to leave Florida, because of what happened with the coaches in 2008-2009. Remember the history here: Urban Meyer brought and grew his coaching staff of Dan Mullen, Billy Gonzalez, and John Hevesy from Notre Dame, Bowling Green, and Utah between 2000 and 2005. From 2005 to 2008 that core group really had Florida poised for a decade of domination. "Something" happened in 2008 that began the breakup of the band. Steve Addazzio was able to keep the momentum in 2009 using a part of the play book, but there was a lot going on behind the scenes that came to head in 2009 when Zombie Urban Meyer retired and un-retired, then Charlie Strong had enough and he left for Louisville the following year with the coaches that replaced Mullen, Gonzalez, and Hevesy.

In summary: Florida's dynasty was ruined by strife between the coaches, with Meyer on Addazzio's side, and Mullen/ Gonzalez/ Hevesy being on the other. The final nail in the coffin was Charlie Strong, who had been a part of the Gator program off and on since 1983! Strong took the guys who replaced Mullen/ Gonzalez/ Hevesy, and here we are a decade later finally restoring order. This is why I was adamant the whole time about Mullen coming back to Gainesville. We lost our chance at a dynasty when he left in 2008. We do not know if this core group plus the Mississippi State and Utah additions is a better version of that group that showed up in 2005, but it looks promising.

IF "better", it is because we got "the key guy", to start with a WHOLE lot more "balanced" (in every way) than The Liar, as we (and the rest of the college football world) now knows all too well...But it's more than that: All the collectively hard-learned/hard WON experience embodied in Mullen and "his coaching TEAM" are now brought to bear in OUR efforts (all of "Gator Nation"--of which Mullen & Co. are by now fully a part of: Mullen having never fully abandoned HIS "membership" in the first place, I think...)
I especially appreciated Escambia 94's recounting of "past events" germaine to the issue of where we are now. A certain amount of the behind-the-scenes machinations that led to decisions and events that ensued during that crucial period during which what seemed a budding "potential Gatoe dynastic era" was lost, seemingly "thrown away", have never been fully revealed or examined; perhaps never will, PERHAPS best NOT at this point.
Regardless, here we are, now: Good and getting better, just as (belatedly) hoped and planned.
I believe this will only continue, if anything consolidate and gather momentum as time and events move on.
There'll be setbacks, hurdles and surprises strewn in our path ahead, ups and downs--"the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" (always a good move if/when you can work SHAKESPEARE into the argument LOL)...Can't WAIT to see it all through, be there to witness and FEEL it all, experience it WITH Mullen, his staff, the players and ALL OF GATOR NATION.

 

[Leakfan12]

Charlie Strong had to leave Florida, because of what happened with the coaches in 2008-2009. Remember the history here: Urban Meyer brought and grew his coaching staff of Dan Mullen, Billy Gonzalez, and John Hevesy from Notre Dame, Bowling Green, and Utah between 2000 and 2005. From 2005 to 2008 that core group really had Florida poised for a decade of domination. "Something" happened in 2008 that began the breakup of the band. Steve Addazzio was able to keep the momentum in 2009 using a part of the play book, but there was a lot going on behind the scenes that came to head in 2009 when Zombie Urban Meyer retired and un-retired, then Charlie Strong had enough and he left for Louisville the following year with the coaches that replaced Mullen, Gonzalez, and Hevesy.

In summary: Florida's dynasty was ruined by strife between the coaches, with Meyer on Addazzio's side, and Mullen/ Gonzalez/ Hevesy being on the other. The final nail in the coffin was Charlie Strong, who had been a part of the Gator program off and on since 1983! Strong took the guys who replaced Mullen/ Gonzalez/ Hevesy, and here we are a decade later finally restoring order. This is why I was adamant the whole time about Mullen coming back to Gainesville. We lost our chance at a dynasty when he left in 2008. We do not know if this core group plus the Mississippi State and Utah additions is a better version of that group that showed up in 2005, but it looks promising.

I didn't say Charlie Strong should have stayed for the Gators back then. I AM SAYING CHARLIE SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN THE TEXAS JOB IN 2014. He recruited Florida and had success recruiting Florida for Louisville like Teddy Bridgewater. He was building up something in Louisville who are now in the ACC. He should have stayed at least another season or so in Louisville. When he took the TEXAS job, his big advantage was gone. It's hard to recruit Florida for a Texas program.

 

[DRU2012]

I didn't say Charlie Strong should have stayed for the Gators back then. I AM SAYING CHARLIE SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN THE TEXAS JOB IN 2014. He recruited Florida and had success recruiting Florida for Louisville like Teddy Bridgewater. He was building up something in Louisville who are now in the ACC. He should have stayed at least another season or so in Louisville. When he took the TEXAS job, his big advantage was gone. It's hard to recruit Florida for a Texas program.

I wondered at it at the time, thinking "Why does he NEED this shit?!!"--even without the "underbuzz" of backwards Texas thinking (in various forms) taken into account to the degree it in fact came to play its sad part, living in the middle of it before (Mackovich), during (Brown) and after the Vince Young-led Rose Bowl win that only exacerbated the Longhorns' fans (and worst, most arrogantly and imbecilic collection of overactive boosters') unrealistic expectations and misapprehension of how deep their talent was then and how far it would continue to take them BEYOND that confetti-flooded moment...and the only answer I could see (admittedly one that was and IS adequate) had to do with DA MONEY, MAN: All told, including the buy out, Charlie Strong (and his FAMILY) is set for life. When you consider that for example a revealed sleazebag like MacEllWHINE can suck 12 mill outta UF, well, after the bad faith and eventual outright abuse he took here, Charlie DESERVES EVERY BLOATED DOLLAR he can now sit back, collect and squirrel away while he does his more usual great job somewhere he is appreciated, his time and efforts much more happily invested in a job he enjoys down there at USF...Not quite the BIGTIME (and unlike the folks over at uCf Charlie KNOWS "BIGTIME" FIRSTHAND, knows the difference between that and "The American Conference", but is currently happy and content, all-in-all well-adjusted to his role in and impact on his guys there and the Bulls program in general).

 

[Escambia94]

I didn't say Charlie Strong should have stayed for the Gators back then. I AM SAYING CHARLIE SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN THE TEXAS JOB IN 2014. He recruited Florida and had success recruiting Florida for Louisville like Teddy Bridgewater. He was building up something in Louisville who are now in the ACC. He should have stayed at least another season or so in Louisville. When he took the TEXAS job, his big advantage was gone. It's hard to recruit Florida for a Texas program.

I agree with your logic, but when Texas bumped his salary from $3.6M to $5.2M, how was he supposed to say no? Charlie only took the pay cut from Texas to USF ($1M for two years, then $2.5M) because it returned him to the state of Florida, and he is still getting paid by Texas. Texas pays him $2.5M for two years after they fired him ($3.5M in 2017 and 2018 combined Texas and USF), then his pay drops to $2.5M from USF alone in 2019 to 2021.

Charlie was jilted by Urban Meyer and possibly Jeremy Foley, so he took the best jobs that would provide him with coaching opportunities and salary. No other college in the Sunshine State had jobs for him with the right salary in 2010 or 2013.

 

[DRU2012]

No comment for now re that early game, where a gutsy Longhorns team was eventually out done by bad playcalling from its Head Coach, bad penalties by its players, bad calls by officials (especially a HORRIBLE NON-call/miss on a late Longhorn drive that SHOULD have given them a late LEAD), and finally a wholesale late collapse/surrender that makes the final score sound more decisive than it truly was...
But it is this SEC Championship that has gone stranger still. Tua is "in the tent" now after getting twisted up awkwardly on his ankle on what turned out to be an INT at the goalline on their first drive...eventually leading to a Bulldog drive-for-6 plus PAT.
He is back out there now, but clearly somewhat hobbled. At what point do they bring in Jalen? Tua is nowhere NEAR as mobile right now--and affecting how he steps into throws as well. Another dropped pass by ANOTHER Alabama receiver, 2nd missed chance at a wide open TD opportunity. But NOT as if Georgia is STOPPING them, really.

 

[DRU2012]

Saban is one stubborn sonova beach: He calls a QB run straight into the middle of a stacked line on 2nd and goal from the one, Tua on one leg over 2 beat up O linemen in the middle to block it for him.
Mighta been "the call" before the game started, but by now just plain dumb. Stubborn AND stupid. Another example of a number of reasons why Mullen and Co. WILL be able to BEAT Saban and HIS people, come the times. Once we can match talent, OUR "relaxed perfectionist" will outperform their uptight poker-up-the-BUTT one; "flexible adaptability" over "stubborn, do-it-THIS-WAY over and OVER again".
But here, they do score eventually. Still, in general here we are seeing the determined intention to do things a certain way no matter WHAT--The insistence that "if you do it RIGHT, do it the way I've shown you, we will WIN"--and never mind "alternatives".
And so HERE, 'Dogs drive the field to take the lead--AGAIN!

 

[DRU2012]

And one MORE dumb call by Saban: They had the ball about to be KICKED to them at midfield--and he calls for the block rudh, gets a "rushing kicker" penalty and hands them a chance to run out the clock instead. Woulda had 1st and 10, all 3 times-out inside Bulldog territory; now ONLY chance at points is go after the block on THIS 4th down kick. What is going ON with Saban? I mean, putting aside that whole business with Tua and how it maybor may NOT have played its part in them losing him today, this game alone so far has been a pretty strong demonstration of his WEAKNESSES as a Coach--which come down to stubborn determination to do things a certain way NO MATTER WHAT, and KEEP doing them as time runs on; eventually time WILL RUN OUT, and Nick will rise or fall on doing it his way, regardless.
Someday WE will make him PAY, just that way.
Right now, it's the half, Tide still down 7 (hardly fatal, no matter WHICH QB is in there--but better shot with healthy Tua--especially if a shoot out ensues from here)...Meanwhile, I see UCF is down significantly to Memphis, and I'll be monitiring THAT one rest of the way now too (THAT would be a HILARIOUS result--and the most fitting one of the day, should it hold).

 

[DRU2012]

Alabama just looks TIRED. It's NOT just Tua (though their not being able to sustain their normal pressure there is on him and HIS troubles)--it's a general "fading" feeling with their defense. I don't think they can HOLD Georgia from here tonight--and with Tua and the offense misfiring, they won't be able to come all the way back here. Still more than a quarter and a half to go, they just stopped Georgia when Bullgog kicker missed makeable fieldgoal, so NOT anywhere NEAR "hopeless" point yet--but overall "feel" here says that unless things change radically and SOON, the Tide goes down today: Main question now becomes, "Do they make a game of it rest of the way, a close one at the end?" Bama hasn't shown a THING on offense so far this half, and they are down 2 TDs, so it is by now Georgia's game to LOSE.
Hard to say where this ends up and what kind of final score has what kind of actual result come Sunday night. No matter what, Tide looking extremely vulnerable tonight. But it is just one game, ultimately. Even a multi-TD loss probably keeps them in the CFP at #4...(another Tua INT at the Bulldog goalline...Amazing.).

 

[DRU2012]

Here in the 4th quarter, so far we have already seen a sermingly driving-for-the-tying score Tide offense, facing a 3rd and longish, for the THIRD TIME in the game in this situation Tua holds the ball WAY too long, eventually sacked and almost losing a fumbke in the process: Somehow, in these situations he looks like an inexperienced freshman. Now Georgia in pisition to put this away with a long, steady drive.
Now, on the other hand, Bama can stop them and get thus even too--but it just doesn't LOOK like they are that "better team" out there tonight.
Finally Bama D brings heat and forces errant long pass. One more big chance for Tide to get this one evened up. If they DO, of course all bets are OFF--literally and figuratively. Thing is, based on "action so far", I doubt that happening in the "normal", relentlessly "Alabama Way". Any other Saturday night this season I'd put MONEY on it--but not here, not now. No idea WHAT'S gonna happen here--but it's "even money at BEST" from here as to how this turns out.