I'm afraid this latest sudden loss (relatively late in the inter-season too) of DBs Coach Will Harris (to the Mismi Hurricanes, of all teams!) may well turn out to be a crucially bad one--and at the worst possible time. (For all the details and potential repercussians, check out last night's (Feb.13) Gator Breakdown, where Dave covers it in detail and gives fans a chance to air THEIR concerns...)
But the main problems are all there: We lose a good one, a Coach well-loved by the players who played a huge part jn the sudden change, the upward surge in the play of our secondary and threshold defense in general as 2024 season went on. Not only will it threaten the continuity of the very "momentum" all were looking forward to seeing intensify in 2025, but it COULD cost us some players to the transfer portal: He was that well-liked--and an awesome, tireless recruiter, to boot.
This "Gator Resurgence" is a delicate thing, early in its gathering strength and easily dissipated. It could get away from us fast: its loss would begin in just these ways, and resulting complications only multiply.
The likeliest reasons for this particular defection are raised and discussed by Gator Dave, and they are hardly encouraging, having to do with interpersonal conflicts behind the scenes on the coaching staff that it was HOPED were ironed out, but clearly NOT.
On TOP of which, though there'd been talk some time back of his unhappiness with the "Defensive Head Coach" he directly answered to (and discussions at the time between Will and Texas) the fact not only that he jumps NOW, at this late date, and to downstate rival MIAMI whom we almost immediately FACE again early in 2025, makes this a REAL kick in the face!
Again, for the details of the who's, how's and ways this happened and how it may well affect us, soon and in multiple ways, take a look at that latest "Gator Breakdown" while it's still up and availsble--He put it up on YouTube and X just hours after it all came out yesterday (Feb.13), in acknowledgement that "THIS IS BAD NEWS".
My "carefully qualified roots" of optimism have personally begun to wither on this news.
Much will depend on how soon and how STRONG a replacement is hired, not to mention how bad the consequent actions among players, team chemistry, ongoing recruiting activity and any potential roster movement, but I sense that little will soon offset the disappointment and/or general downward turn in all of these on the heels of this news.
I don't know, my friends: Even when this Coach seems to be "finally getting things RIGHT", "getting it turned around", somehow he misses something; an important situation or set of details is mishandled on his watch--and THIS one isn't "just ANOTHER too-many-men-on-the-field" penalty: THIS one could well cost us a truly decent season, our "return to relevance".
And in so doing, would likely cost Billy his job.
How many YEARS more in the wilderness would THAT mean for this program?
So much for "building for the long term", Coach.
All because of another "missed detail". The one thing these guys who served under Saban SHOULD have noted and internalized IS his "ATTENTION TO DETAIL".
Somehow Billy MISSED that one.
But the main problems are all there: We lose a good one, a Coach well-loved by the players who played a huge part jn the sudden change, the upward surge in the play of our secondary and threshold defense in general as 2024 season went on. Not only will it threaten the continuity of the very "momentum" all were looking forward to seeing intensify in 2025, but it COULD cost us some players to the transfer portal: He was that well-liked--and an awesome, tireless recruiter, to boot.
This "Gator Resurgence" is a delicate thing, early in its gathering strength and easily dissipated. It could get away from us fast: its loss would begin in just these ways, and resulting complications only multiply.
The likeliest reasons for this particular defection are raised and discussed by Gator Dave, and they are hardly encouraging, having to do with interpersonal conflicts behind the scenes on the coaching staff that it was HOPED were ironed out, but clearly NOT.
On TOP of which, though there'd been talk some time back of his unhappiness with the "Defensive Head Coach" he directly answered to (and discussions at the time between Will and Texas) the fact not only that he jumps NOW, at this late date, and to downstate rival MIAMI whom we almost immediately FACE again early in 2025, makes this a REAL kick in the face!
Again, for the details of the who's, how's and ways this happened and how it may well affect us, soon and in multiple ways, take a look at that latest "Gator Breakdown" while it's still up and availsble--He put it up on YouTube and X just hours after it all came out yesterday (Feb.13), in acknowledgement that "THIS IS BAD NEWS".
My "carefully qualified roots" of optimism have personally begun to wither on this news.
Much will depend on how soon and how STRONG a replacement is hired, not to mention how bad the consequent actions among players, team chemistry, ongoing recruiting activity and any potential roster movement, but I sense that little will soon offset the disappointment and/or general downward turn in all of these on the heels of this news.
I don't know, my friends: Even when this Coach seems to be "finally getting things RIGHT", "getting it turned around", somehow he misses something; an important situation or set of details is mishandled on his watch--and THIS one isn't "just ANOTHER too-many-men-on-the-field" penalty: THIS one could well cost us a truly decent season, our "return to relevance".
And in so doing, would likely cost Billy his job.
How many YEARS more in the wilderness would THAT mean for this program?
So much for "building for the long term", Coach.
All because of another "missed detail". The one thing these guys who served under Saban SHOULD have noted and internalized IS his "ATTENTION TO DETAIL".
Somehow Billy MISSED that one.
