Buddy Martin Blog: Kerplunk! The Sound Of Hitting Bottom.
- Buddy Martin
- Nov 10, 2024
- 3 min read
For now, let’s stick to football and the odds of surviving the remaining three laps of the Bataan Death March.
Perhaps all Gators should adopt amnesia about these past few days in the manner of a defensive back who just got toasted. So, pass the jam and pretend it never happened.
Otherwise, how you gonna face the grim reality of just how badly things suck after sitting down to the table for a week and continually drawing bust hands, then playing them terribly. And I’m not talking about just how badly Texas beat the bejabbers out of Florida.
At least Billy Napier had a good conduct medal going for him, but now the alleged bad conduct in the basketball program threatens to tarnish the whole athletic department.
Having just issued a merciful mulligan to his football program, AD Scott Stricklin now must explain who and how his basketball coach was vetted while he was believed to be indulging in the nefarious activities of an embarrassing Title IX suit.
It’s almost impossible to erase the stench of besmirched character. And it doesn’t play well at box office or offering plate.
For now, let’s stick to football and the odds of surviving the remaining three laps of the Bataan Death March.
Finding two wins in the throes of a schedule that winds up with LSU, Ole Miss and FSU is like trying to add 2+2 and get 6. Although playing LSU at the Swamp after the way the Tigers got manhandled by Alabama, maybe you could squeeze out a 5 ½.
My media friends think we have gone cuckoo down here after the Stricklin manifesto. One of them, from another SEC school, wrote me: “I can’t believe Florida is keeping Napier. Is it just about the money?”
I responded: “Don’t really know, but most of us believe that they want to use some of that $26M to buy players and keep the 70 percent of those on NIL deals to play with Lagway, who is their future. They also don’t have a strong replacement candidate identified. Most Gators I know feel it’s probably the right call, but Scott Stricklin is in jeopardy himself after the Todd Golden scandal.”
And my friend said: “Thanks. The Golden thing is bizarre.”
And I responded: “Very. It’s not a great time to be a Florida Gator.”
How bad was Florida getting beat by Texas in the first two quarters? Texas was up 35-0 at halftime, and the Gators threw an interception on the first possession of the second half.
The ABC broadcast brought The Undertaker (retired wrestler superstar) into the booth right out of halftime.
It didn’t matter, because to quote a friend/analyst of mine, these Gators “couldn’t play dead in a western.”
Some of the social media snipers began suggesting that Stricklin renege on his promise and send them all packing in a purge — including leading the contingent’s parade out of town himself.
“Let’s recant the Thursday statement immediately, Scott.”
Napier had no answers but had to try and explain: “We struggled to get anything going early. Obviously, the first half where they have 353 yards and about 10 yards a play, it just felt like the rushing and the coverage never married up and I don’t think we tackled very well. Just overall fundamentals in technique. Obviously, in the back end we struggled to keep up with them and tackle loose plays. And look, you’re not going to win turning the ball over four times against a team like that.”
Right now, there are no real answers, just excuses. But they’d better find some quickly. Because the next knock at the door will be the Grim Reaper.
Stricklin left some leeway in his statement last Thursday about sticking with Napier. Nowhere dud the Florida AD use the words “next season” or “2025”. Though I think Napier gets a reprieve for this injury-plagued season, next year’s schedule will be at least as difficult to navigate. By then a new UF Presudent will be in place, likely eager to choose his or her own athletjc director who will want to hire his choice of football coaches. One more year of mediocrity awaits Napier at Florida unless the blow-outs accumulate the next two Saturdays. Gator Nation including its biggest boosters have proven remarkably, relatively patient. Not much longer no matter what excuses might be offered.
Just look at Indiana first year 10 wins. Napier in three embarrassing years a losing record. Time for a change
Strickland fired for cause cause he's an idiot
Strickland and Napier must be fired to save Florida football
If this crap continues it will NEVER recover!!!!
I have to disagree with you Buddy. As bad as things might look, it’s always "Great To Be A Florida Gator."
The players also know how dismal things are this season; however, they are on the field every week learning and playing. The LEAST we fans can do is not criticize, support the team, and be glad every week for their efforts.