Really ($$).
Why are Florida fans so impatient? Billy Napier has done nothing but create a culture that is destined to win big in the next two or three years and start competing yearly with other blue bloods. How naive do you have to be to not see all the momentum and stand behind a guy who was faced with a tall task? — Themanebro
Well…
Please take this statement as a genuine question and not a sarcastic jab: What is the thing that you or any Florida fan could point to as definitive proof that things are headed down a path where the Gators will be competitive with Alabama or Georgia in two or three years? Is it that five-star quarterback DJ Lagway of Willis (Texas) High is on the way? Is it that Florida signed 18 blue-chip prospects in the 2023 cycle? What is the thing that you’re holding onto?
I think it’s possible that Napier eventually arrives at that destination. Florida is making some strides in recruiting to improve its program. But in two or three years?
Florida’s 2023 class included two top-100 players. Alabama’s 2023 class had nine five-star prospects and 18 top-100 players. I don’t even know if there’s a proper analogy for adequately explaining the gap between those two recruiting classes. Add on top of it that Florida is going into a season in which Graham Mertz is its starting quarterback and the program embarrassingly fumbled an NIL deal with Jaden Rashada, and there just isn’t a ton to be outwardly excited about.
The great thing is this dude calling the Gator fans who disagree with his outlook naive. I do not think that word means what he thinks it means.
Get The Picture 
Last year ended up with a glass ranking very similar to what they have averaged the last few seasons – floating around 11th or so. So far this year, they are also sitting at 11, but that has more to do with the number of players committed (fewer) than the schools in front of them. The quality of player (so far) has jumped significantly – actually on a par with Georgia right now. Getting that to hold – might be a bigger challenge.
Recruiting is trending the right way (at least for now); but they have to start winning and quit shooting themselves in the foot. If they go .500 or just under and they get blown out by Georgia and struggle with Florida State with a big gap in the score (I’m one of those that believes FSU is big-time over-rated) – then it could se them back.
And Florida’s Fanbase lack of patience is only longer than those knuckleheads in Knoxville.
The truth of the matter is that you could argue that Spurrier and Meyer were anomalies, when you look at the Gator program over time. Their performance that last few years actually is a better reflection of who they are verses the run in the 90’s and first decade of this century.
Every year feels like a critical year for programs. I believe that the next two will decide Florida’s fate for quite some time. At least 10 years.
Last thought – the very best that a Gator can hope for is that some how find a way to get on par or at least close to what Kirby is doing at Georgia. He’s a fact of life. He’s our Spurrier, but better. He doesn’t take shots, or have little quips like Darth Visor – but he hates them as much as DV hates us and enjoys punishing the folks from Gainesville. The difference – Spurrier won one Natty – Kirby has played for 3 – won 2 and shows no signs of slowing down at the age of 47. And who has broke the draft record (20 and 21 classes) for most players taken, only to break his won record (21 and 22 classes) of most players taken
This has to be incredibly depressing if you are a Gator, or a Vol (who will at least get to duck UGA every other year – starting in 2024), or Auburn Tiger, or Bama (who can see the son rising in Athens, while their’s is beginning to show signs of setting).
Enjoy the good ole days… I know I am.
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Sun/son – freudian slip? – LOL..
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There is no argument. Spurrier and Meyer WERE outliers in the 100 year history of Florida football. Florida is back to their normal now.
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Florida joined the sec in 1932 and didn’t win a conference championship until 1991. So yeah I’d say Meyer and Spurrier were the outliers.
Also to sound like a broken record, things kirby has accomplished that Florida hasn’t in the history of their program
Made the playoffs
Back to back national championships
Undefeated season
Had 10 or more players drafted in a single draft, Kirby’s done it twice, this year and last.
Man, may this last forever in Gainesville!
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Ari is not gonna pull punches when it comes to recruiting and roster development and management.
He don’t have time for ‘turds and their delusions.
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may this storyline never die
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“…start competing yearly with other blue bloods.”
What was it Andy Dufresne said about hope being the best thing? Sorry, but hope can’t be any sweeeeter than gator dashed hopes.
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“… other blue bloods.” I missed it on my first reading, but seeing the quote in your comment I realize that he’s referring to Florida as a blue blood. You have to have a football history prior to 1990 to be a blue blood, my guy, being a blue blood by definition means you’re the oldest of the old money and part of history. Florida football before Steve Spurrier came home is more like Indiana than Alabama. Sure, Georgia has had dark periods of mediocrity and I’m not sure that I’d call Georgia a blue blood, either, necessarily. But Georgia does claim the 1942 national championship in a year when it was consensus champion and also should claim 1946 because we were the consensus champion that year as well. Florida? The Gators had never even staked a claim to a conference championship before 1991 (and they weren’t eligible that year so that one was total Spurrier bullshit). Blue blood? Hardly.
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Damned right we should claim 1946. Only undefeated team in the top 10, plus beat a good UNC team in the Sugar Bowl while Army and ND sat at home.
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When I was at GA, UF was a home coming game.
You know what I mean?
Coach Russell said we had to take a long bus ride to kick FL’s ass and he did not want to hear any bitching about the trip. Just get the job done. In the fourth quarter they will start thing about those beaches and all we got is a long bus ride home. They ain’t got a chance.
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If the 2023 season is a light at the end of the tunnel, unfortunately for Florida fans it’s a train. I just don’t see how Napier survives what could easily be a sub 5 win season. There will be too much pressure to follow the Tennessee template of blowing it up every 2-3 years into a new and bigger mushroom cloud.
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Strange, “themanebro” usually has such well reasoned analysis.
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Fuck those naive and stupid motherfuckers.
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There he is.
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The reason we should all be fans of FSU, UCF, USF and UM is that they recruit the same pool of players as UF. The State of Florida has the players but has 4 Power 5 teams and lord knows how many Group of 5 teams. The Gators old walk-ons were pretty good ballers but now now those walk-ons are playing on scholarships at other Florida schools. We on the other hand don’t have any real instate competition,(sorry Tech fans I know the Academics are holding you back LMAO). We have enough talent in GA to win with just adding a few out of state players. As Saban once said UGA has an advantage in recruiting Georgia.
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