Florida Football: More near misses and miscues continue to plague the Florida Gators
The last four years have been filled with what ifs and a lot of “shoulda”, “coulda”, “woulda”.
By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst, Host of the Lowdown with Loren Meadows
What if it was a catch? (Chris Spears photo)
The Florida Gators rolled into the fourth quarter of yesterday’s game looking to pull of what would have been its biggest win against its hated rival from the north in five years. The Gators seemed to have Georgia on the ropes and were looking to put Georgia down two scores with less than ten minutes to go in the ball game. What followed was another “what if” moment that seems to be the standard for the Florida Gators the last four years. Jaden Baugh was stuffed on a 4th down play and Georgia as most good teams do, marched 82 yards in just seven plays to take the lead. What if Baugh gets the first down? Does Florida put the game away?
Yet there was still hope on the next series with Florida facing a 3rd and 4 from their own 31. DJ Lagway would be flushed to his left and have a wide open J. Michael Sturdivant all alone behind the Georgia secondary. What would follow was a badly underthrown pass that was ruled incomplete and upon further review (for some reason) was upheld after further review. While the on-field officials and those in the replay booth will draw the disdain of Florida fans, “what if” Lagway takes his time and throws a strike to Sturdivant for the go ahead touchdown? What if the replay booth overturns the call on the field? For context, when asked about the play in the postgame presser Billy Gonzalez confidently stated he did not think that Sturdivant caught the ball.
Florida left some plays on the field yesterday that could have sprung the trap for Georgia. Late in the half Lagway missed a wide open Tank Hawkins on a corner route that would have put Florida in position to take a 17-7 lead into halftime but again Lagway missed the throw. What if Lagway hits Hawkins and the Gators score to end the half? They also got the ball after halftime, 24-7?
For four years this has been the story with this football team. Near misses, miscues, and headscratchers that one does not need the internet to recall? What if Anthony Richardson makes JJ Weaver miss instead of throwing the ball right to him in 2022? What if Mertz finishes the game and doesn’t get hurt at Missouri? What if Florida knocks the ball down on 4th and 17? What if Mertz finishes the Tennessee game or Florida can count to 11? What if Lagway finishes the Georgia game or plays against Texas? What if two TD’s don’t get called back against South Florida or Baugh’s 60 yard run against Mississippi State? The trend has got to stop somewhere because it seems to be that the Gators like my fantasy team has been snake bit. Lamar Jackson did return to get me 29.5 points this week but that’s not the point.
Soon there will be a new man atop the pedestal that is the head football coach at the University of Florida and he will inherit a number of monumental challenges while equipped with more resources than any other coach in school history. I just have one question. What if that man is not named Lane Kiffin? One more “what if” wouldn’t hurt, I guess. We are used to them by now.
Problem is coaching, Georgia knows how to win. Learned from Saben .S.O.S. and Urban knew how.Muschamp no,McElwain no, but recruited players for Mullens best first year. Then couldn't recruit and quit on Gators Georgia game standing away from his players. Saw it. Then we hired Napier from the minor leagues. Some wanted Brian Kelly. Another disaster. Strickland said he would hire the 3rd coach in his career at Florida. We need a pinch hitter before his last swing.
“What if” Lane Kiffin actually becomes our coach? He can’t recruit enough talent or especially the depth of talent to win championships at Ole Miss. it would have been easier to reach Atlanta for his team last season and this were the SEC still divided East and West. But can the Rebels with their defensive flaws go deep in the play-offs? Did you see how Ole Miss ran out of steam both offensively and defensively at Georgisctwo games ago? Kiffin knows that he’s in a place with a low ceiling. I continue believing he’ll walk through our door and the incoherencies and sloppiness we’ve stomached far too long will move to our rearview mirror. As Shane Matthews recently declare…
Step 1 was to get rid of Sun Belt Billy. The team already shows promise with him gone. The next coach will be in a great position to inherit a very talented team and take them where Bumpkin Billy never could. In the meantime, let's stomp KY into the dirt next Saturday.
It was a catch