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Gator Bowl: Early Look
David ThurmanDec 22, 2011
Dave Thurman (2:45 pm)
On paper it looks great. Ohio State versus Florida. Two of the premier programs in the nation. One is Urban Meyer's previous team and the other one his next gig. Sounds like a made for television matchup. But like most of Buckeye Nation, I am anything but enthused by this contest, and it's not just because both schools are 6-6. Truth is the NCAA sanctions that were handed down this week, adding a bowl ban for the 2012 season, have taken any excitement away from this game. At this point there seems to be little good that OSU can glean from the Gator Bowl, other than managing a winning season.
I have already gone on record as saying that I don't think 6-6 teams belong in bowl games, so I have never embraced this contest. I also felt it would be advantageous to turn it down and tell the NCAA it was a self-imposed bowl ban. That way the team would have been free and clear in 2012. But Gene Smith didn't see it that way and now has egg on his face...again!
However there are a few compelling questions to consider as we move toward this January 2nd contest:
1. Will the senior class play with pride and try and end their careers on a positive note? Obviously the "Block O" class of 2008 has enjoyed some success during their stay in Columbus, although they never achieved all that was anticipated. So how will Brewster, Adams, Posey, Shugarts, Sweat and the boys end their playing days in scarlet and gray? Add in the 5th year seniors like Boom Herron and Tyler Moeller and there are quite a few guys who have something to prove. Hopefully they won't merely go through the motions but will play with pride and purpose.
On paper it looks great. Ohio State versus Florida. Two of the premier programs in the nation. One is Urban Meyer's previous team and the other one his next gig. Sounds like a made for television matchup. But like most of Buckeye Nation, I am anything but enthused by this contest, and it's not just because both schools are 6-6. Truth is the NCAA sanctions that were handed down this week, adding a bowl ban for the 2012 season, have taken any excitement away from this game. At this point there seems to be little good that OSU can glean from the Gator Bowl, other than managing a winning season.
I have already gone on record as saying that I don't think 6-6 teams belong in bowl games, so I have never embraced this contest. I also felt it would be advantageous to turn it down and tell the NCAA it was a self-imposed bowl ban. That way the team would have been free and clear in 2012. But Gene Smith didn't see it that way and now has egg on his face...again!
However there are a few compelling questions to consider as we move toward this January 2nd contest:
1. Will the senior class play with pride and try and end their careers on a positive note? Obviously the "Block O" class of 2008 has enjoyed some success during their stay in Columbus, although they never achieved all that was anticipated. So how will Brewster, Adams, Posey, Shugarts, Sweat and the boys end their playing days in scarlet and gray? Add in the 5th year seniors like Boom Herron and Tyler Moeller and there are quite a few guys who have something to prove. Hopefully they won't merely go through the motions but will play with pride and purpose.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
2. What about the coaches who won't be returning next year? Talk about a weird scenario. A number of the members of this year's coaching staff will be clearing out their offices as soon as this game is history. Yes, that includes Jim Bollman, which is reason enough to embrace 2012 with a smile and a shout of exultation! However, the question remains, how intense will these guys be knowing that this is their last rodeo at OSU? You have to figure that Will Muschamp and his staff are trying hard to prove themselves to Florida fans and to their players. They have a lot at stake in this game and want to build for the future. But the Buckeye staff may well lack the same motivation. Surely something to watch...which does not bode well for Ohio State's chances in my opinion.
3. Will more young guys enter the fray? Usually bowl practices are times when the younger players get a chance to show what they are made of, and position themselves for playing time the following season. Although Urban Meyer isn't officially doing any of the coaching you have to think that he is at least watching. And you wonder if he has lobbied Fickell (who now works for him) to play a few younger guys. I imagine Meyer already has some ideas concerning which veterans will not make the cut next year when it comes to playing time, and may even know of some guys who plan to transfer. So, it might be interesting to see if a few young guys see the field and if the depth chart has any noticeable changes.
With those questions on the table, let me make a couple of brief, initial observations about the Florida Gators:
1) They aren't very good. I guess that makes two of us, right? But seriously who did they beat? Florida Atlantic, UAB, Tennessee, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Furman. Not one decent foe in that list and all but one of those games was played at home. Although they failed to defeat one solid team all year, their losses were to an impressive group (LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida State). On the other hand, the Buckeyes did beat one quality opponent in Wisconsin, although there was also a loss that should not have happened under any circumstances (Purdue). My point is that Florida didn't defeat one good team all year, and just wasn't very impressive no matter how you look at it.
2) They mirror Ohio State in a number of ways. Not only were both teams 6-6, though they were expected to be much better, but consider that Florida averaged 25.6 points per game, while surrendering 20.6 per contest. As for Ohio State? They scored 25.1 and gave up 20.8 per game. Eerily similar to be sure. On defense both teams struggled to get to the quarterback and had trouble tackling. And, while the Gators did throw the ball better than Ohio State, the reason both teams failed to score as expected was due to weaker than anticipated passing games. So these are two squads who look a lot alike, even though they employ different schemes.
As always The Silver Bullet will have a much more extensive scouting report prior to the game, but suffice it to say that neither squad was very good in 2011, and hopes to turn over a new leaf when the calendar changes to 2012.
3. Will more young guys enter the fray? Usually bowl practices are times when the younger players get a chance to show what they are made of, and position themselves for playing time the following season. Although Urban Meyer isn't officially doing any of the coaching you have to think that he is at least watching. And you wonder if he has lobbied Fickell (who now works for him) to play a few younger guys. I imagine Meyer already has some ideas concerning which veterans will not make the cut next year when it comes to playing time, and may even know of some guys who plan to transfer. So, it might be interesting to see if a few young guys see the field and if the depth chart has any noticeable changes.
With those questions on the table, let me make a couple of brief, initial observations about the Florida Gators:
1) They aren't very good. I guess that makes two of us, right? But seriously who did they beat? Florida Atlantic, UAB, Tennessee, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Furman. Not one decent foe in that list and all but one of those games was played at home. Although they failed to defeat one solid team all year, their losses were to an impressive group (LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida State). On the other hand, the Buckeyes did beat one quality opponent in Wisconsin, although there was also a loss that should not have happened under any circumstances (Purdue). My point is that Florida didn't defeat one good team all year, and just wasn't very impressive no matter how you look at it.
2) They mirror Ohio State in a number of ways. Not only were both teams 6-6, though they were expected to be much better, but consider that Florida averaged 25.6 points per game, while surrendering 20.6 per contest. As for Ohio State? They scored 25.1 and gave up 20.8 per game. Eerily similar to be sure. On defense both teams struggled to get to the quarterback and had trouble tackling. And, while the Gators did throw the ball better than Ohio State, the reason both teams failed to score as expected was due to weaker than anticipated passing games. So these are two squads who look a lot alike, even though they employ different schemes.
As always The Silver Bullet will have a much more extensive scouting report prior to the game, but suffice it to say that neither squad was very good in 2011, and hopes to turn over a new leaf when the calendar changes to 2012.
Ant Daps Up Spurs Mid-Game 💀
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
