Florida Gators: Are We the New "U?"

As a long time Florida Gator fan, I don't like what I'm hearing (and seeing).

In an article from orlandosentinel.com entitled, "Florida Gators Fast on the Field and in Their Cars," writer Jeremy Fowler outlines the litany of traffic trangressions piled up by various Gator players in recent years.

Even as a die-hard Gator fan, I've had trouble warming up to Coach Meyer. I've had the sneaking suspicion he's never been long for Gainesville. His tenure as Florida coach is just a holding pattern for him on his way "upward," i.e., to the NFL's "greener pastures," perhaps?

And the whisperings that the Gator program is, shall I say, a tad unrestrained, have become louder and louder.

Even I'm having trouble allowing Florida's on-field success drown them out.

And now this?

Some years ago (1996), I watched Florida win its first national championship game by defeating rival Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. During that game I was disappointed to see so many Gator players talking trash.

Afterward, I wrote a letter to then-university president John Lombardi suggesting the Gators displayed poor sportsmanship in the victory.

I was flabbergasted upon receipt of his response.

He turned the tables on me, suggesting that I "couldn't have been watching the same game" he watched. He went on to discuss how proud he was of (then) Coach Steve Spurrier and the team's efforts.

I guess we were watching a different game.

And I'm concerned that the replay is airing now.