re: 2024 SEC Softball Tournament Champions - Florida Gators

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This is a bit much. Let's just enjoy two really good rivals going at it maybe?

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It's not a bit much - it's the truth. Did you watch that 2017 series against OU where the first game went 17 innings? That team was devastated by that loss. It was tough to watch and as that game went on, you knew the loser was going to be crushed. Unfortunately it was UF. The program has never recovered. Elite pitching has not come back. Clutch hitting has gone. I'm not talking about when they play #18 or something. I'm talking about when they're playing the Top 10.

And Jenn Rocha is the best in the nation. Losing her was devastating. UF was stacking elite pitching when she was there and won back to back titles. UF has been good, but not a threat to win a title. Since the 2018 season, when UF has been stacked up against the nation's elite, they have not been on the same level. Good enough to get to the WCWS, but a notch below the teams that can actually contend. For about 9 years, on any given day UF would be able to beat anyone. It's just not the same program now. That's the truth. I'm hoping that changes, but the truth is the truth. For about 7 years now I've watched them lose a lot of games simply because they couldn't get a runner home in scoring position, when playing top competition. It's a clear trend if you watch the games. I think the coach is trying to fix that, but they are not at the same level where they were before.

I think they are 17-8 against ranked teams this year. Compare that to Texas, and I think they have 4 losses to ranked teams, but they've played about 8 games or so against teams that are in the Top 5. UF isn't doing that any more, like they used to. This is just how the program is. They are probably going to beat UGA, but UGA is about #15 right now. This is not the barometer for being ready for a title.

Ironically, they got a transfer from OU and another transfer, can't remember where she's from, and those are the clutch hitters for them now, with the OU transfer putting them back in the lead.