No Sunshine Left To Pump: These Gators Are Just Not Very Good

Considering how hard they fought to overcome the 14-0 deficit that Arkansas pasted on them in the first three minutes and then scratch their way back to a 36-33 lead only to lose 39-36, it’s a pity to have to say “Epic Fail.”

Last weekend it was a case of getting beat by a vastly superior team. This weekend it was a case of getting beat by a vastly inferior team. You can’t sell that as progress. And it’s tough to expect patience from rank and file Gators. They see pieces of the puzzle on the table, but can’t envision the picture on the box cover.

At home, with a raucous crowd behind them, not only did these Gators not win or cover the spread, but with three ranked teams left on the schedule, it appears unlikely that they will even qualify for a bowl this season. Shame on these Gators.

It would be easier and perhaps more gentlemanly to turn the other cheek and say how hard these Gators played in storming back from an instantaneous 14-0 black hole in the first 184 seconds of the game and then taking the visiting Razorbacks to the mat before succumbing to misfortune, a couple of bad no-calls and a rare miss by their kicker. But that’s not Alabama or Georgia in the white – that’s lowly Arkansas, losers of six straight in the SEC.

That’s not going to fly around here, so you are now officially on the clock, Billy Napier, one step removed from the hot seat.
 This is called swimming for the isle of desperation.


Never mind the injuries, bad breaks, bad calls or oopsies by young players. In the ninth game of the year, when you can’t even get the right unit on the field in a critical moment — despite a coaching staff that’s way bigger than your SEC traveling squad — then it could be time for heads to roll.

Maybe time to hire a player personnel director — somebody to count noses and keep count of substitutions.
This is when it gets hard to justify anything but victory. And good luck, explaining why this team has not met expectations in the final half of the season. So far. If ever.

For certain, time to reset expectations. With three ranked teams left on the schedule, don’t get your hopes up; at best, it’s eye candy.

Lower those expectations and quit comparing yourself to Georgia.

I don’t want to disparage the Hope of loyal and dedicated Gator fans who are still out there scratching, clawing, hoping and praying, but Hope is not a game plan, just an emotion. So strap it on for the long haul, because it’s just clearly going to be a few minutes — or, pick one (hours, days, weeks,
months, years) — until this storm passes and the program under Napier can compete consistently at an SEC level.


Perhaps you should learn to enjoy Florida Football for what it is now — 
a rebuilding program, a work in progress, not ready for prime time. Think Vandy or Kentucky or Auburn or Texas A&M.

 Mediocrity. Can you handle that?


I’m not saying Napier is a bad coach, or that he should be fired because we have seen how that Rent-A-Coach system works around here. But clearly the system he brought to Gainesville – somebody called it a Nick Saban Starter Kit – is not the way to go.

Adjustments must be made. Staff turnover is necessary and if that means hiring a special teams coach, or play caller, then so be it, because we are now officially fresh out of excuses.


I was wrong about this team and this season because I thought Florida had a chance to win eight games this year, well above the 5 1/2 wins projected by Vegas.
That was a pipe dream. So status quo is no longer acceptable.

Allowing a feeble team without an SEC victory to come in The Swamp and land a knockout punch like that is downright disgraceful and has now opened up the Sniper’s Gallery for any and all grousers to take their cheap shots. So get ready for the diatribe because now all those caustic comments have been validated.

The true identity of the 2023 Florida Gator football team has emerged and whatever’s behind Door No. 3 isn’t going to save the day, or the season.

Considering how hard they fought to overcome the 14-0 deficit that Arkansas pasted on them in the first three minutes and then fight their way back to a 36-33 lead only to lose 39-36, it’s a pity to have to say this, but barring a colossal upset over LSU, Missouri or FSU, Billy Napier’s 2023 season must be branded “Epic Fail.” Really there is no other way to say it.

I hope you’re the kind of Gator who can live up to the credo to survive in all kinds of weather, because the skies are darkening and the storms are coming. As much as I’d like to pump you some Sunshine.