Texas and Florida Leading the Pack for 2011's Most Disappointing Team

For 25 to 30 teams, every season begins with realistic dreams of contending for a championship.  The perfect mix of returning starters, good coaching and a favorable schedule leads everyone to think this might be a memorable year. 

Fast forward a few weeks.

The optimism has faded and disappointment has permeated the entire program.  The ships are sinking for these three teams that started 2011 with promise.

Florida

Someone needs to put out an APB for the school that won two national championships in the last five years.  After three straight losses, the Gators are plummeting faster than Rick Perry’s poll numbers. 

For most teams, there would be little shame in losing to Alabama, LSU and Auburn, who along with the Gators, coincidentally, have won the last five national championships.

This is Florida, though.  Getting outscored 96-21 is an embarrassment, and sadly represents where the program is right now.

The truth is the Gators have not recovered from the Tebow era.  Florida wagered everything on him, and he delivered beyond expectations.  Unfortunately, Tebow meant everything, too.  The void of leadership is painfully revealing its ugly head once again.  Will Muschamp and Charlie Weis are desperate to move the program forward, but this year might be a lost cause. 

Texas

The Longhorns’ sky rocket has brutally come crashing back to earth.  Humiliating back-to-back losses to the Sooners and Cowboys proved that Texas’ early season schedule was rubbish and that its ranking was unjustified. 

The team is a mess.  Turnovers and flip-flopping quarterbacks are killing the Longhorns.  Unless they can get the issues fixed quickly, their season will unravel for the second year in a row, because the back half of the schedule is extremely challenging. 

Like Florida, the Longhorns are suffering the consequences of putting all their eggs in one basket.  Texas is in year two of the Colt McCoy hangover.

Mack Brown skillfully orchestrated the baton hand-off from Vince Young to McCoy, but he has been unable to duplicate that success.  Until he finds a capable replacement, the Texas faithful will have to suffer through mediocre seasons.

Mississippi State

Fresh off a 9-4 season and a 52-14 blowout win over Michigan in the Gator Bowl, expectations were exceedingly high for the Bulldogs this year.

After seven games, the shine on second-year head coach Dan Mullen’s resume has quickly turned to rust.  It will take a miracle for Mississippi State to become bowl eligible again.

The Bulldogs’ fall should not be a surprise.  Reality has hit them like a Mike Tyson upper cut.

They will never be able to compete in the SEC West as long as Saban, Miles, Chizik and Petrino walk the sidelines.  These coaches get the talent and they win.  Mullen might be able to collect a few spare parts to make the Bulldogs competitive every now and then, but the harsh truth is that Mississippi State will always be in the lower tier of the SEC.

Championships are out for these teams, but the season is not lost yet.  2011 won’t be anything special, but it can still have purpose.  There are bowl games to play for and game experience to earn for younger players. 

For Florida and Texas, it is time to see if a player can step up and lead the team back to glory.  The talent and pride are too strong for both teams to remain second class.