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Preseason Reading: UF’s Culture War
Posted on 8/25/23 at 11:49 am
Posted on 8/25/23 at 11:49 am
Linked below is a great 2-part article taking a first-hand inside look at the disaster that was Mullen’s coaching staff, and the challenge that Napier accepted and is correcting, so far inspiring confidence and buy-in.
I say this for my Gator brethren, it actually gives me encouragement of a possible surprise to the upside this season. Relatively of course (Vegas sits at 5.5 o/u).
With no apologies to Drink and Mullen, we all appreciate having a Darth Vader program in the conference, and Florida is so good in that role.
Articles from iakow.com blog, 8/23/23. Note: long reads
Part I
Part II
Part I highlights:
“I’ll put this as bluntly as I possibly can,” a defensive player told me. “Mullen brought me to Florida, and I’ll always be grateful for him for that. But to answer your question, I have absolutely no idea what the f**k he was doing there.
At various points during their careers at Florida, former players say, Mullen went over to Todd Grantham to inquire about Houston, Miller, and Andrew Chatfield not seeing time with the starting defense. Each time, Grantham brushed him off, and Mullen- apparently not wanting to ruffle feathers- obediently slunk away and didn’t broach the subject with that player again.
Multiple players theorized that Hevesy would gather information about players while recruiting them, hold onto it, and then use it against them years later. Players would excitedly tell Hevesy on recruiting visits that they were their families’ tickets out of their less-than-fortunate situations, only to hear those sentiments sarcastically thrown back in their face when they’d miss a block at practice. And to hear his former players from 2018-21 tell it, Hevesy seemed to carry a genuine delight in assuring them that they’d never achieve their dreams.
Part II highlights:
But it’s even more than that. Billy Napier isn’t merely Dan Mullen’s polar opposite temperamentally; he’s Mullen’s polar opposite as a recruiter, as a coach, and most importantly, as a CEO of a program.
“Napier is all about relationships, man,” Pearsall told me with a laugh after the Florida spring game. “He’s all about developing relationships with the guys you go to work with every single day. Napier preaches that when you know the guy to your left and your right, when you really know him know him, it makes it different. You don’t want to let those guys down.”
This aforementioned former player sadly shook his head when we met virtually to discuss the differences between the two coaches. “Too many people are going to read this piece and say, ‘oh, wow, Hevesy used demeaning language,” the player commented. “Too many people are going to go, ‘Wow, Hevesy said the word p***y!’ It’s not about that. It’s not an issue of us being soft or part of a soft generation or anything like that. Coaches curse, that’s football, and that’s not the problem. This current staff of coaches values their players as human beings first, football players second. John Hevesy and Todd Grantham did not value us as either. They didn’t care for us as human beings OR as football players.”
I say this for my Gator brethren, it actually gives me encouragement of a possible surprise to the upside this season. Relatively of course (Vegas sits at 5.5 o/u).
With no apologies to Drink and Mullen, we all appreciate having a Darth Vader program in the conference, and Florida is so good in that role.
Articles from iakow.com blog, 8/23/23. Note: long reads
Part I
Part II
Part I highlights:
“I’ll put this as bluntly as I possibly can,” a defensive player told me. “Mullen brought me to Florida, and I’ll always be grateful for him for that. But to answer your question, I have absolutely no idea what the f**k he was doing there.
At various points during their careers at Florida, former players say, Mullen went over to Todd Grantham to inquire about Houston, Miller, and Andrew Chatfield not seeing time with the starting defense. Each time, Grantham brushed him off, and Mullen- apparently not wanting to ruffle feathers- obediently slunk away and didn’t broach the subject with that player again.
Multiple players theorized that Hevesy would gather information about players while recruiting them, hold onto it, and then use it against them years later. Players would excitedly tell Hevesy on recruiting visits that they were their families’ tickets out of their less-than-fortunate situations, only to hear those sentiments sarcastically thrown back in their face when they’d miss a block at practice. And to hear his former players from 2018-21 tell it, Hevesy seemed to carry a genuine delight in assuring them that they’d never achieve their dreams.
Part II highlights:
But it’s even more than that. Billy Napier isn’t merely Dan Mullen’s polar opposite temperamentally; he’s Mullen’s polar opposite as a recruiter, as a coach, and most importantly, as a CEO of a program.
“Napier is all about relationships, man,” Pearsall told me with a laugh after the Florida spring game. “He’s all about developing relationships with the guys you go to work with every single day. Napier preaches that when you know the guy to your left and your right, when you really know him know him, it makes it different. You don’t want to let those guys down.”
This aforementioned former player sadly shook his head when we met virtually to discuss the differences between the two coaches. “Too many people are going to read this piece and say, ‘oh, wow, Hevesy used demeaning language,” the player commented. “Too many people are going to go, ‘Wow, Hevesy said the word p***y!’ It’s not about that. It’s not an issue of us being soft or part of a soft generation or anything like that. Coaches curse, that’s football, and that’s not the problem. This current staff of coaches values their players as human beings first, football players second. John Hevesy and Todd Grantham did not value us as either. They didn’t care for us as human beings OR as football players.”
Posted on 8/25/23 at 11:52 am to Demosthenian
Scientologists ... they cray cray.
He'll end-up back in Starkville
He'll end-up back in Starkville
Posted on 8/25/23 at 11:56 am to Demosthenian
It’s why Mullen should be an OC or a head coach at a smaller school.
Mullen is absolutely convinced his play calling acumen and ability to develop a QB Is so profound that he doesn’t need to do anything else. He’s a weirdo frick who has no personal relationship skills and 0 leadership ability that the best head coaches possess.
Mullen is absolutely convinced his play calling acumen and ability to develop a QB Is so profound that he doesn’t need to do anything else. He’s a weirdo frick who has no personal relationship skills and 0 leadership ability that the best head coaches possess.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 11:59 am to Demosthenian
quote:
But it’s even more than that. Billy Napier isn’t merely Dan Mullen’s polar opposite temperamentally; he’s Mullen’s polar opposite as a recruiter, as a coach, and most importantly, as a CEO of a program.
In 24 months Sun Belt Billy will either be on Saban’s shadow staff or be the HC at Troy or something.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 12:00 pm to Demosthenian
Much like managers in the business world, college football coaches will soon learn that they're going to have to become more relationship based vs leverage based.
The world has changed.
The world has changed.
This post was edited on 8/25/23 at 12:04 pm
Posted on 8/25/23 at 12:00 pm to Demosthenian
quote:
At various points during their careers at Florida, former players say, Mullen went over to Todd Grantham to inquire about Houston, Miller, and Andrew Chatfield not seeing time with the starting defense. Each time, Grantham brushed him off, and Mullen- apparently not wanting to ruffle feathers- obediently slunk away and didn’t broach the subject with that player again.
No wonder players were banging Mrs. Mullen.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 12:38 pm to dhuck20
I really can’t believe what a coward Mullen turns out to be.
It’s one thing to be lazy, or dislike doing some responsibility, but to allow yourself to be intimidated by your subordinate shows a level of self-worthlessness that’s nearly reprehensible.
And on top of that to be so self-conscious about public perception to think firing your cancerous staff would make you look bad by indicting your original decision-making!
For the kids’ sake I hope none of them ever coach again.
It’s one thing to be lazy, or dislike doing some responsibility, but to allow yourself to be intimidated by your subordinate shows a level of self-worthlessness that’s nearly reprehensible.
And on top of that to be so self-conscious about public perception to think firing your cancerous staff would make you look bad by indicting your original decision-making!
For the kids’ sake I hope none of them ever coach again.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 12:55 pm to Demosthenian
So many words to say "old coach bad, new coach good".
A new take on the same stories written every time a coach is fired and a replacement hired.
Maybe Billy is great, but let's see it on the field.
A new take on the same stories written every time a coach is fired and a replacement hired.
Maybe Billy is great, but let's see it on the field.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 1:12 pm to Hogfan13
Seems like Billy is soft.
Also why are they quoting Pearsall dude played 0 games for Mullen.
Pretty hilarious that they were one shoe toss away from a playoff place but Mullen "didn't know what he was doing" while Billy got pistol whipped all year and is the king.
Also why are they quoting Pearsall dude played 0 games for Mullen.
Pretty hilarious that they were one shoe toss away from a playoff place but Mullen "didn't know what he was doing" while Billy got pistol whipped all year and is the king.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 2:13 pm to Enzos Tiny Pito
quote:I am always curious why how people form their opinions. Why do you think this?
Seems like Billy is soft.
I might be wrong, but I think if given time Napier could get them turned around and be a really good coach. It might take some time, though.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 2:17 pm to DawgsLife
Billy had a rough year 1 but is doing everything right to turn the program around. Our recruiting has improved, we’ve got more depth, our NIL program finally changed and is affective. He’s not an a-hole like Mullen or Mac yet everyone (LSU) seems to shite on him like he’s scum everyday.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 8:54 pm to Audioman213
quote:
yet everyone (LSU) seems to shite on him like he’s scum everyday.
He came from ULL and a lot of people thought LSU would take them as their coach. They have to hope Napier fails so it makes their choice of Kelly look better.
Right now I think both programs made the right decision for their particular situation.
Time will tell, though.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 9:07 pm to Demosthenian
The shite he took over from Meyer isnt all roses like the netflix series portrayed. But frick
Dan Mullen anyways.
Dan Mullen anyways.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 9:27 pm to Demosthenian
Napier is very much like Kirby. Vols also tried to copy Kirby with Pruitt and it failed. Hope it happens again.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 9:29 pm to Demosthenian
This whole Dan Mullen part of the story had me infuriated. Gator fans knew he was keeping the best players off the field and now we know it was for no rational reasons. Enraging.
Posted on 8/26/23 at 8:13 am to Enzos Tiny Pito
quote:
Pretty hilarious that they were one shoe toss away from a playoff place but Mullen "didn't know what he was doing"
Mullen coached one of his worst games that day and benching Pitts was absolutely inexcusable.
The shoe throw was bad but Mullen called an absolutely horrible game that night.
This post was edited on 8/26/23 at 8:14 am
Posted on 8/26/23 at 8:18 am to DawgsLife
quote:
quote:
Seems like Billy is soft.
I am always curious why how people form their opinions. Why do you think this?
I might be wrong, but I think if given time Napier could get them turned around and be a really good coach. It might take some time, though.
I absolutely agree with this. But Florida fans are not known for their patience. Florida fans are known for their pettiness. They are more likely to flip the switch and turn on Billy than give him the time to do the job they hired him to do.
Posted on 8/26/23 at 8:25 am to meansonny
quote:
I absolutely agree with this. But Florida fans are not known for their patience. Florida fans are known for their pettiness. They are more likely to flip the switch and turn on Billy than give him the time to do the job they hired him to do.
Unfortunately true. There is a fine line to being impatient vs giving time for a coach. Personally, my goal is improvement from last year's record and perhaps a shot at 8 wins. BN has a lot to clean up but the recruiting is encouraging.
Posted on 8/26/23 at 8:33 am to SpartyGator
Billy has common sense about him. And he's likable.
Florida fans will be looking for reasons to turn on him (not just Florida fans... college football fans can be like that. The backup QB syndrome).
Billy just might be the type of coach who doesn't give the haters any content to latch onto other than the wins and losses for the first couple of seasons.
Florida fans will be looking for reasons to turn on him (not just Florida fans... college football fans can be like that. The backup QB syndrome).
Billy just might be the type of coach who doesn't give the haters any content to latch onto other than the wins and losses for the first couple of seasons.
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