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What I don't get about Kiffin to UF
Posted on 10/24/25 at 11:59 am
Posted on 10/24/25 at 11:59 am
One thing I have picked up on during A&M's time in the SEC is that UF's AD is traditionally very cheap.
And I don't mean Scott Stricklin exactly, because it predated him. Seems like UF's facilities are often behind the competition, they didn't jump on NiL like many programs did, and when they got Napier he was a cheaper option than alternatives.
But now all of a sudden UF is willing to make Kiffin the highest paid coach in the sport and give him a Jimbo contract? Because that is what it would take to pry him away from Ole Miss.
What has changed regarding the culture of that program that suddenly has those boosters willing to open their wallets in a way they never were willing to before? Is it a recognition that their previous cheapness wasn't working out? Or is it just wishful thinking on the part of fans?
And I don't mean Scott Stricklin exactly, because it predated him. Seems like UF's facilities are often behind the competition, they didn't jump on NiL like many programs did, and when they got Napier he was a cheaper option than alternatives.
But now all of a sudden UF is willing to make Kiffin the highest paid coach in the sport and give him a Jimbo contract? Because that is what it would take to pry him away from Ole Miss.
What has changed regarding the culture of that program that suddenly has those boosters willing to open their wallets in a way they never were willing to before? Is it a recognition that their previous cheapness wasn't working out? Or is it just wishful thinking on the part of fans?
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Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:00 pm to cardboardboxer
Tim Tebow ran out of eligibility.
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:10 pm to cardboardboxer
quote:
Or is it just wishful thinking on the part of fans?
This. Aside from the Steve Spurrier/Urban Meyer years, have they even been a little bit relevant in the past half century?
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:16 pm to MemphisGuy
You haven’t been relevant since The Cuban Missile Crisis
lol
Chill bro
lol
Chill bro
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:18 pm to cardboardboxer
quote:A little bit of both.
Is it a recognition that their previous cheapness wasn't working out? Or is it just wishful thinking on the part of fans?
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:27 pm to Partha
Well since UF has been irrelevant, the Gators have been to 3 SEC championship games 2015,2016 and 2020(they've been to a total of 13)
A&M and UM during their entire SEC existence have been to exactly zero SEC championship games combined, but they weren't cheap.
A&M and UM during their entire SEC existence have been to exactly zero SEC championship games combined, but they weren't cheap.
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:28 pm to dbuchanon
Maybe, but we aren't cheap
After Jimbo I feel like this is a topic Aggies have expertise in
After Jimbo I feel like this is a topic Aggies have expertise in
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:39 pm to cardboardboxer
quote:
UF's AD is traditionally very cheap.
You are aware that Florida is a poor state right?
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:40 pm to cardboardboxer
The fans are trying to force the administration hand, so they will make a half assed attempt and settle for an up and comer. As if they tried.
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:42 pm to bigDgator
Yes that is why Saban moved to Florida, to be around all the poor people. #facepalm
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:42 pm to superstroke33
I mean Mizzou got to the championship game twice. Before Kirby the SEC East was a joke.
If A&M would have come to the SEC in the east division Johnny would have had two by himself.
If A&M would have come to the SEC in the east division Johnny would have had two by himself.
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:42 pm to cardboardboxer
quote:
when they got Napier he was a cheaper option than alternatives.
Marginally, and they made up for that by giving him possibly the biggest off field staff in the conference because they were seemingly convinced that was the answer.
They were just ultra conservative financially under Foley. They spent a lot on useless sports chasing the directors cup. They returned money to the university for education. They were able to be both conservative and spend on those two things by neglecting the football program.
Stricklin, say what you will about him, hasn’t been shy about spending money. New facilities have happened everywhere across many sports. For some reason he was tight with spending money on Mullen, but he gave Napier anything he wanted except a new contract. I think(hope) he realizes killing off the goose laying the golden eggs was a bad idea and this is a critical time. Not just for the football program, but also for himself. It is his third and final football coaching hire barring a championship.
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:42 pm to cardboardboxer
Jeremy Foley, our old AD, had the attitude of it's Florida and we were entitled to win. That is why we didn't spend on facilities or coaches. Foley also had some great hires, especially in the non-revenue generating sports and most notably, Billy Donovan.
Saban helped kicked off a new era in the SEC, and we were extremely slow to adapt to the times. When Stricklin came in, he was much more focused on facilities and kept most of Foley's staff on who continued to have the same attitude with hiring in thinking the program would would succeed no matter who they hired.
Even though we went cheap with hires, we still had a decent amount of success in football. For example, Muschamp won 11 games and got to a Sugar Bowl, Mac went to 2 SEC championships, and Mullen had 3 NY6 bowls and an SEC championship. So to their credit, they weren't totally wrong even though we fell further behind.
Stricklin did a great job facilities (which are now as good as anyone's), but hired two extremely flawed coaches in Mullen and Napier. Mullen pretty much quit after a really good run and Napier was extremely rigid in his thinking about running the team. Napier was, looking back, the worst possible hire at the worst possible time. He was very rigid in his thinking during a time where college football underwent extreme changes with NIL and the portal.
The UAA (athletic department) has undergone some substantial changes in personnel in the last couple of years. Boosters are motivated and aligned. Everyone is finally pulling in the same direction. And all those groups know that UF needs to do something big. Hence, why we are going big game hunting for our next coach.
Saban helped kicked off a new era in the SEC, and we were extremely slow to adapt to the times. When Stricklin came in, he was much more focused on facilities and kept most of Foley's staff on who continued to have the same attitude with hiring in thinking the program would would succeed no matter who they hired.
Even though we went cheap with hires, we still had a decent amount of success in football. For example, Muschamp won 11 games and got to a Sugar Bowl, Mac went to 2 SEC championships, and Mullen had 3 NY6 bowls and an SEC championship. So to their credit, they weren't totally wrong even though we fell further behind.
Stricklin did a great job facilities (which are now as good as anyone's), but hired two extremely flawed coaches in Mullen and Napier. Mullen pretty much quit after a really good run and Napier was extremely rigid in his thinking about running the team. Napier was, looking back, the worst possible hire at the worst possible time. He was very rigid in his thinking during a time where college football underwent extreme changes with NIL and the portal.
The UAA (athletic department) has undergone some substantial changes in personnel in the last couple of years. Boosters are motivated and aligned. Everyone is finally pulling in the same direction. And all those groups know that UF needs to do something big. Hence, why we are going big game hunting for our next coach.
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:43 pm to bigDgator
This is what I am most worried about. I remember the same groups of people saying we weren't going to get outbid in the portal last year, and we all saw what happened there.
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:46 pm to cardboardboxer
Florida has always been stingy with athletics.
The first coach to really pressure the school was Charley Pell when he saw the state of the athletics funding and resources.
Florida has always been behind on spending and I foresee they will continue to be somewhat stingy because fans always show up and spend money on the program no matter how bad it is (even Sunbelt Billy couldn't make fans refuse to show up).
Now with the Florida Victorious collective and the glaring threat that they could finally start losing money if they don't invest I am hopeful this trend will change.
The first coach to really pressure the school was Charley Pell when he saw the state of the athletics funding and resources.
Florida has always been behind on spending and I foresee they will continue to be somewhat stingy because fans always show up and spend money on the program no matter how bad it is (even Sunbelt Billy couldn't make fans refuse to show up).
Now with the Florida Victorious collective and the glaring threat that they could finally start losing money if they don't invest I am hopeful this trend will change.
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:47 pm to MemphisGuy
quote:
This. Aside from the Steve Spurrier/Urban Meyer years, have they even been a little bit relevant in the past half century?
Is it the Urban Meyer years or was it the Tim Tebow years?
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:48 pm to bigDgator
quote:
The fans are trying to force the administration hand, so they will make a half assed attempt and settle for an up and comer. As if they tried.
I get that, fans everywhere try to spend the AD's money without writing the checks.
But it seems like this time there is such an obvious answer that really only the money could get in the way
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:49 pm to cardboardboxer
quote:
I mean Mizzou got to the championship game twice. Before Kirby the SEC East was a joke.
If A&M would have come to the SEC in the east division Johnny would have had two by himself.
Correct. Ole Miss and MSU would both have numerous appearances if they were in the East prior to Kirby.
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:49 pm to dbuchanon
quote:
You haven’t been relevant since The Cuban Missile Crisis
And yet you’re begging for Ole Miss’ coach to come to Florida. Great logic!
Posted on 10/24/25 at 12:50 pm to brambo
That is what I am taking about, I remember under Foley the facilities got really behind.
To be fair, it also seems like Miami and FSU were cheap back then too. Part of how A&M poached Jimbo was the big contract, but also part of it was they didn't want to spend to keep up. So maybe it was something bigger tied to Florida as a state (all the NFL teams there maybe?).
But Miami seemed to break that cycle when they paid up to steal and Oregon coach. Now its UF's moment.
To be fair, it also seems like Miami and FSU were cheap back then too. Part of how A&M poached Jimbo was the big contract, but also part of it was they didn't want to spend to keep up. So maybe it was something bigger tied to Florida as a state (all the NFL teams there maybe?).
But Miami seemed to break that cycle when they paid up to steal and Oregon coach. Now its UF's moment.
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