Buddy Martin Blog: Fi On You Gasparilla Bowl! Let’s Turn The Page To A New Era For Gator Football.

Goodbye and thanks Emory, but it's time to turn the page. (Chris Spears photo)

So where do we go from here and how does new coach Billy Napier negotiate this early speed bump?

I didn’t waste a lot of time thinking about the Gasparilla Bowl, before or after. First, I never knew it existed. And had I known about it, no doubt it would have conjured up memories of the old Cigar Bowl, from the same city that gave us the Tampa Smokers of the Florida State League a million years ago.

The only thing I remember about the Cigar Bowl was that I believe it was played at University of Tampa (20,000 temporary bleachers) and featured such powerhouses as Lenoir Rhyne, Valparaiso, and Rollins. Later I learned it was also the site of the first bowl appearance for FSU and Tampa.

That’s the only relevance I can find to Tampa hosting a post-season game back before there was a “Bay” in it — and before it became the scene of the crime for UCF’s assassination of Florida, putting the finishing touches on the remnants of Dan Mullen’s exorcism. Other than that, give me the Outback Bowl for $200 Alex or Ken or whomever.

As for the 7-point underdogs’ upset, it was bound to eventually happen someday -- as it usually does when state schools keep playing each other. Just as it first did in 1964 when Florida ran into the high-flying, pass-happy Seminoles with quarterback Steve Tensi and gifted wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff. The ‘Noles handed Florida and sophomore Steve Spurrier (he only played the second half) their first loss in the series, 16-7.

Just as a reminder, however, that loss did not set off an upheaval of stellar recruits fleeing to Tallahassee. Eventually, just 20 years later, FSU caught up and passed the Gators in recruiting while Florida was on probation, which Bobby Bowden rode to a crest of a national championship.

This year’s sold-out Gasparilla Bowl was a setup for UCF and Gus Malzahn knocked it out of the sky like a fat wounded duck with a bullseye taped to its butt and a governor on it. It was a layup. Almost the equivalency of a shooting fish in a coffee cup. So don’t go hanging up any “State Champion” banners next to that fake “National Champion” one. Go back in the line that says “Group of Five” and we’ll be in touch.

So where do we go from here and how does new coach Billy Napier negotiate this early speed bump?

I say forget about it and move forward. In the end Dan Mullen quit on his team, choosing not to coach them anymore and deserting the players who carried him on their shoulders for almost three full seasons. Gator fans will always be grateful to Dameon Pierce and a few others who gave so much at the office.

Minus those who opted out, the remaining players gave it a shot for pride in a meaningless game until they kept blowing it

chance after chance and eventually succumbed to the Knights.

As for Emory Jones, bless him for his loyalty and effort, but we can see now why he should never have been the starting quarterback. His inability to see the field and connect on long passes was never more evident. And the same shameful stupid mental mistakes by the rest of the team never went away.

I don’t think Napier will stand for such foolishness, which is reason for hope as we turn the page on a new era and New Year. Get thee behind us Gasparilla Bowl and 2021!