I don't understand this season. My Florida teams are the Gators and the Bucs, but it seems like I might have love for the wrong teams this year, because Miami (5-0) and FSU (5-0) are still both undefeated, the Marlins won their series and will be hosting the Cubs, a team that hasn't won a series in nearly a century. Even the 'Phins (3-1) are taking care of business so far.
Why are my teams sucking it up in terms of securing the W?
The Gators have a high-caliber team this year that is capable of upsetting even the mighty 'Canes, but that lead was let go in the second half, and the Gators lost by 5. Then Tennessee makes its way to the Swamp, gets a huge (lucky) hail Mary right before the end of the half and sets the Vols up for their 14 point win. This Saturday, Ole Miss comes to town, and we started off beating them too, but no... three interceptions later we've earned another L by three points.
Now that I've put some thought into this Gator football problem, I'd have to say that interceptions are an overlooked flaw of our team. Many people are upset with our new coach, Ron Zook, for poor coaching, but I think throwing a minimum of one INT every game since the opener could be enough to lose by the amounts we're losing by. Here's the rundown of INTs so far this season. Leak has seven and Martin has 2.
San Jose St. 65-3 W INTs -- 0
Miami 35-38 L INTs -- 1 (Leak)
FL A&M 63-3 W INTs -- 1 (Martin)
Tennessee 10-24 L INTs -- 2 (Leak & Martin)
Kentucky 24-21 W INTs -- 2 (Leak)
Mississippi 17-20 L INTs -- 3 (Leak)
It's not punny how aptly named Leak seems right now.
On to the Bucs...
The Bucs also have a high-caliber team. They've got an awesome coach in John Gruded. They are 2-2 right now. What's the deal with that? Moreover, what is this emotion jerking that is going on with both of these teams!?! The Gators have had three crazy fourth quarters so far. I think I know (within reason) the outcome of the game and then the magical fourth quarter comes along and -poof- everything is different. (Note: I didn't mind this so much in the Kentucky game two weeks ago.) Now, this seems to have infected the Bucs who have managed to lose their two home-games in OT, which probably has something to do with the away team getting to call the coin flip, but that is a whole seperate entry. Anyway, I went to bed tonight pretty satisfied with what I thought was going to be a Bucs victory. We were up 21-0 at the end of the half. We had seven or more points on the Colts for just about the entire game, and then we let the strut happily out of Ray Jay with our W.
All I'm saying is that I am hating this season. I don't think my teams are indominable, and I never have, but when we put up huge scores against the teams that I think will beat us, and then end up with a loss in the final few minutes I feel jerked around. These two teams are not .500 teams, yet they are, and it looks like it can only get worse for UF who is facing some more really great teams these next few weeks.
It's hard to blame the freshman quarterback for throwing picks. It's going to happen, especially with the pressure he's been under in a lot of those games thanks to a pretty subpar offensive line.
Thankfully, as you said, the Dolphins are doing well, so all the rest really doesn't matter to me :)
Posted by: John at October 7, 2003 07:43 AM