The Major League of "Musical Chairs"

[DRU2012]

CHEATERS! Music hasn't even stopped yet--and almost all the chairs already filled, the slower players left standing around and out of the game.
Will leave it to y'all to rehash and analyze for now, just wanted to note the sudden resolution to a scrambling furball of a not-quite post-season--and most of all, the peculiar and oh-so-promising for some future, to me long-anticipated eventual collision: Sometime (hopefully) not so very far off, the Florida Gators and the Texas Longhorns will finally meet in the post season for what I've always dreamt will be a Nat'l Championship-deciding confrontion. On that night, the former DC and "Coach-in-Waiting" of UT will lead the Florida Gators against OUR former DC: Charlie Strong has (just hours ago) been named the new Head Coach of the Horns. Talk about "making it easy for the color-analyst"--still, adds ANOTHER level of intrigue to what has always promised to be the proverbial "Titanic Tilt", dontcha think?

 

[Escambia94]

I am happy for Coach Strong, just as I was when his team beat the heck out of the Gators one year ago. He will always be a Gator to me, except for the 3 hours of a game where he might be Gator Bait.

 

[Escambia94]

I am even happier knowing that he will have problems recruiting out of South Florida. I am sad that he may have trouble finding 5* athletes in Texas that are not...racist. Charlie has handled racism all of his life, but anyone who has been lost off the main highway in Texas will tell you that they still have some race issues out there.

 

[Leakfan12]

Keep in mind Kevin Sumlin is black and a coach for a Texas school (Texas A&M) and he's doing well in recruiting there and did good in his first two years. Plus it's Texas, he should be fine. Also that state in five to ten years give or take will be more than half of there residents will be minorities.

 

[Escambia94]

Keep in mind Kevin Sumlin is black and a coach for a Texas school (Texas A&M) and he's doing well in recruiting there and did good in his first two years. Plus it's Texas, he should be fine. Also that state in five to ten years give or take will be more than half of there residents will be minorities.

True, but--you can attest to this living in the area--College Station is a lot closer to the culturally diverse Houston area, whereas Austin still has pockets where even I felt out of place being only half white.

 

[miltongator]

From Andy Marlette in the Pensacola News Journal:

 

[Escambia94]

From Andy Marlette in the Pensacola News Journal:
View attachment 265

Yep. We have to live with this for another year. It sucks, but we did live high and mighty for the better part of 34 years.

 

[DRU2012]

One more time, together (as we all did it spontaneously, in unison, WITHOUT a "cue" last night, wherever we were):
"GROAN!!!"
(As if I haven't long since OD'd on that damn "tomahawk chop"-theme--It's enough reason, just on its own, that I despise the Atlanta Braves!)

 

[Ga8or22]

Boy does it suck, well UCF is going down hill next year and we are improving.

 

[Leakfan12]

Well not sure because anybody can win in the AAC though UCF lost their QB. The gators will rebound I hope. Also a booster from UT already said Texas made a bad hire. Why because he wasn't white? Stay classy Austin!

 

[Leakfan12]

Louisville went back to the past and got Bobby Petrino (yes that Bobby Petrino), James Franklin is going to Penn State, and Lane Kiffin is the OC of Bama.

 

[Escambia94]

Meanwhile, half of the Gator Nation is praying for Will Muschamp to leave. I hope the folks here on GE have come to terms with the facts: Will Muschamp is going to stay in 2014, the offense will at least be slightly different under Kurt Roper, we have no idea if the offensive line will improve (although it certainly cannot get much worse), and the hot seat will probably be warming up by September 20th against Alabama.

 

[Ga8or22]

I don't think the hot seat will begin with Alabama if it is a loss - we are expected to lose against them. I think the hot seat begins if the team does not play well like last year. Even if we go 9-3, a poorly performing team that just barely wins games that should be be easy is when the heat is turned on.

 

[DRU2012]

From Andy Marlette in the Pensacola News Journal:
View attachment 265

Screw THAT.
(First of all, OK. there were always gonna be those, in state and out,who just couldn't WAIT to tromp on us this way...They just MIGHT be over-playing their hand, tho'--and doing it in this extreme mocking and public manner could backfire, hasten our return, even...
Secondly, it just ain't this BAD, in my view: There are those who/feel "all is lost", and we won't even begin to "limp slowly back" 'til Muschamp's gone and some mythical "true Gator"--or worse, and more unrealistic and irrelevant still, "the ol' ball coach" himself--returns to repeat history and lead us back to The Promised Land, but I'm not one of them. I believe we now have everything heading just where it NEEDS to be headed, and, assuming our Head Coach is properly "adjusted" to the fact that you gotta SCORE BIG to win and let your Championship-caliber Defense do its thing in the SEC (and that he's finally ready to step back and let the right young guy DO that), we MAY be 'bout to "pull an Auburn" and bounce back quick.
Now, any of you would-be artists out there got a visually-entertaining answer to the above that plays off of the kind of reversal-of-fortune the rest of us are, to-varying degrees, expecting/anticipating/hoping and/or PRAYING for? I'm inclined to (not being the drawer I wish I was) commission some sort of grisly scene, a smiling, satiated version of the above Gator/"waterboy", maybe lying up against his bucket, sleepy and happy with a somewhat distended belly, amid a scene of carnage and the remains of uneaten body parts--but I'm known for a certain vindictive (and, if you'll pardon the term here, "tasteless"--yuk yuk) overkill and lack of grace when it comes to such things. Do NOT tread on my Gators.)

 

[DRU2012]

Well not sure because anybody can win in the AAC though UCF lost their QB. The gators will rebound I hope. Also a booster from UT already said Texas made a bad hire. Why because he wasn't white? Stay classy Austin!

He's more than just "a booster" here...He's also a broadcaster, one-time politician and (in certain circles--limited in size, reach, influence and IQ) "local high-profile public figure". Folks here in Austin aren't missing the main point here, either: The kid who first showed me the original quote in The Austin American Statesman (our local daily) commented in his OWN Texas drawl, "Think maybe there might still be touch of racism around these parts?".
There'll be a LOT of that "out there", 'round central/southern Texas--but less so here in "da ATX". Like G-ville is, always HAS been a kind of "intellectual oasis" in Northern Fla., this may be even more the case re Austin, vs. the rest of TX and the Horns' rather large "footprint of influence" in this state. While less the "sore thumb of craziness and non-conformity" it once was before it swelled in size and high-tech corporate influence over the last 15-to-20 yrs, "Keep Austin WEIRD" (seen on almost as many T-shirts as ones with white logo-on-burnt orange, I kid you not) is STILL the proud unofficial slogan of this town. Long as he wins, Charlie will be embraced and supported here, BIG TIME.

 

[DRU2012]

Meanwhile, half of the Gator Nation is praying for Will Muschamp to leave. I hope the folks here on GE have come to terms with the facts: Will Muschamp is going to stay in 2014, the offense will at least be slightly different under Kurt Roper, we have no idea if the offensive line will improve (although it certainly cannot get much worse), and the hot seat will probably be warming up by September 20th against Alabama.

See? Now, ME, sharp-tongued, impatient "half-empty sorta guy", I'm more hopeful and confident about all of this than you sound or give some of us credit for, E-. Far from "praying for Muschamp to leave", I am convinced that his staying, under the very circumstances that I believe have now come to pass, gives us the best chance to bounce-back fast and WIN NEXT YEAR--maybe not "win it ALL", of course (it's still ME, guys, DRU), but we'll be back in "the thick of things", maybe even close to the "final 4"-talk, and definitely on track and looking good for a "Run" in 2015. Oh--and the offense WILL be more than "slightly different" under Roper--both their continued "futures" in G-ville (indeed, whether there is to BE any!) depend upon it--so he'll be pullin' out a BUNCH of things he's been developing and workin' on, and Muschamp will let him...The preceding assumption/confident assertion is based on what seems to me is a stark, realistic and obvious set of circumstances regarding the consequences of anything OTHER than wholesale changes-that-produce-positive-results...I could be wrong: Been wrong before--including 'bout Muschamp and this very subject--but this time the writing's on the wall, in big capital letters in simple terms, "CHANGE, GET IT DONE, OR ELSE!".
(Of course, if I'm wrong, and/or things don't/HAVEN'T changed materially from before, that it's all "window-dressing" and the same stubborn "dead horse beating" will be the order-of-the-day once more, then it'll all go to sh*t in a hurry, and the 2nd-half of E-'s above comment will prove to be a succinct and accurate prediction.)

 

[Leakfan12]

I hope Roper can make his own decisions with the play call with the offense. Otherwise, the team and us the fans are in for a long season again. I hoping for balance the talent is there (I hope). Just hope the blockers know who they are blocking.

 

[Escambia94]

Cutliffe himself said that Roper calls his own plays. I am not worried there. I am concerned about the OL coach, and both the OLC and OC ability to develop talent. We hear that Roper helped develop Peyton Manning and had hands on experience developing Eli Manning. I want to see a big jump from Jeff Driskel to prove Roper was a valid hire. I want to see our first strong offensive line since the days we had both Pouncey twins. Perhaps we are seeing the beginning of the fixing of the Florida program, starting with choosing coaches that develop talent rather than coaches that hoard 5 star players, let them do great things with natural talent, and win based on that talent.

 

[miltongator]

Screw THAT.
(First of all, OK. there were always gonna be those, in state and out,who just couldn't WAIT to tromp on us this way...They just MIGHT be over-playing their hand, tho'--and doing it in this extreme mocking and public manner could backfire, hasten our return, even...
Secondly, it just ain't this BAD, in my view: There are those who/feel "all is lost", and we won't even begin to "limp slowly back" 'til Muschamp's gone and some mythical "true Gator"--or worse, and more unrealistic and irrelevant still, "the ol' ball coach" himself--returns to repeat history and lead us back to The Promised Land, but I'm not one of them. I believe we now have everything heading just where it NEEDS to be headed, and, assuming our Head Coach is properly "adjusted" to the fact that you gotta SCORE BIG to win and let your Championship-caliber Defense do its thing in the SEC (and that he's finally ready to step back and let the right young guy DO that), we MAY be 'bout to "pull an Auburn" and bounce back quick.
Now, any of you would-be artists out there got a visually-entertaining answer to the above that plays off of the kind of reversal-of-fortune the rest of us are, to-varying degrees, expecting/anticipating/hoping and/or PRAYING for? I'm inclined to (not being the drawer I wish I was) commission some sort of grisly scene, a smiling, satiated version of the above Gator/"waterboy", maybe lying up against his bucket, sleepy and happy with a somewhat distended belly, amid a scene of carnage and the remains of uneaten body parts--but I'm known for a certain vindictive (and, if you'll pardon the term here, "tasteless"--yuk yuk) overkill and lack of grace when it comes to such things. Do NOT tread on my Gators.)

That's what I like....always a ray of sunshine!! I hope you are absolutely right and Mussy has seen the light (can you hear the choir of angels in the background?). But...were I a betting man........ I believe there will be a "bounce back" (almost no other way to go) next season, but, we won't truly be back until we find the right successor.

 

[DRU2012]

That's what I like....always a ray of sunshine!! I hope you are absolutely right and Mussy has seen the light (can you hear the choir of angels in the background?). But...were I a betting man........ I believe there will be a "bounce back" (almost no other way to go) next season, but, we won't truly be back until we find the right successor.

I'll be the first to admit to at least some degree of "wishful thinking" here, mg--I mean, consider the alternative, the reality of the "realistic version" you so well describe: I figure THAT one promises at LEAST 5 years of hand-wringing frustration, and even that assumes we get "the right guy NEXT time", then a complete and pretty quick rebound once Muschamp's gone. Let's face it: my "optimistic outlook" is the fastest way "back" by FAR...but while it is a "best case scenario", it's neither devoid of supporting evidence for it's being possible, nor plenty of signs that a whole lot of hopeful, even once "long shot puzzle-pieces" already have and/or are in-the-process of falling into place.
Look--I won't hesitate to recognize the trend towards continued deterioration, just as you describe, should things continue in that way--just as YOU won't be at ALL anything-but-thrilled if/when things turn out crazy-good after all, right?
The really weird thing is, it could basically GO either way from here. In my view, some mediocre middle-ground is probably what most expect outside Gator Nation--and to me what I'd hate to see most of all: some kind of "slow death"-drift toward continued irrelevance. No. We either sink or swim, win or go-down-in-flames "RIGHT NOW", starting from here. Given this regime's practical situation, and all the signs and surrounding circumstances, that's about what we can expect now--"All or nothing on the next throw of the dice". Maybe that's not so bad after all.

 

[miltongator]

I'll be the first to admit to at least some degree of "wishful thinking" here, mg--I mean, consider the alternative, the reality of the "realistic version" you so well describe: I figure THAT one promises at LEAST 5 years of hand-wringing frustration, and even that assumes we get "the right guy NEXT time", then a complete and pretty quick rebound once Muschamp's gone. Let's face it: my "optimistic outlook" is the fastest way "back" by FAR...but while it is a "best case scenario", it's neither devoid of supporting evidence for it's being possible, nor plenty of signs that a whole lot of hopeful, even once "long shot puzzle-pieces" already have and/or are in-the-process of falling into place.
Look--I won't hesitate to recognize the trend towards continued deterioration, just as you describe, should things continue in that way--just as YOU won't be at ALL anything-but-thrilled if/when things turn out crazy-good after all, right?
The really weird thing is, it could basically GO either way from here. In my view, some mediocre middle-ground is probably what most expect outside Gator Nation--and to me what I'd hate to see most of all: some kind of "slow death"-drift toward continued irrelevance. No. We either sink or swim, win or go-down-in-flames "RIGHT NOW", starting from here. Given this regime's practical situation, and all the signs and surrounding circumstances, that's about what we can expect now--"All or nothing on the next throw of the dice". Maybe that's not so bad after all.

Love to see them "Go for it"! Let the chips fall where they may. At least go down swinging with everything you've got.
Let's quit playin' scared on offense and just go for it.