Rarely post but have been a member for years. I just wanted to express my opinion on Dan and his departure. I understand there are numerous other threads but I didn’t want them to clog them up with my own comments.
First – I am not angry. Dan did a great job and I don’t doubt that he loved his time in Starkville. But I can see the reasoning that he can never win it at all at State. Maybe I am a bad fan – I am satisfied with 7/8/9 wins and a decent bowl game. I know a lot of fellow fans hate that view. I would love nothing more than for us to catch lightening in a bottle and make it to the playoffs or even win it all. But that’s what it would take – the exact right combination of right team, schedule, injury avoidance and luck. 2014 plus some extra depth and more luck.
Dan is a professional coach. He sees Florida as an opportunity to greatly improve his chances at winning at all. To some people being at the absolute top professionally is the most important thing. I am sure he knows what he is giving up and the risk he is taking. He is not throwing away his family to take this chance. He’s not leaving for a situation similar (despite the snark he aimed at Collins a few years ago). He’s leaving for a better one (at least for what he wants). I am wired differently than Dan. I have turned down much better professional opportunities because I was comfortable where I am.
Mostly, I’m disappointed and/or worried. Disappointed because he was clearly the best coach of my lifetime (class of 89) – yes better than Sherrill – and we couldn’t keep him. We did all we could, and it wasn’t enough. I’m worried because I see the names floated for the replacement and see nothing but another Croom type era or even worse – going through 3 or 4 coaches over the next 20 years to get back to this point. Cohen will do his best but predicting how a new coach will react in a new situation is a bit of a crapshoot. People I've hired I thought were slam dunks ended up failing and folks I hired because they were literally just available ended up indispensable.
I am sure I will feel better and that I will talk myself into believing in the new guy. Venting over. Will try to enjoy the rest of the season and hope for the best.
First – I am not angry. Dan did a great job and I don’t doubt that he loved his time in Starkville. But I can see the reasoning that he can never win it at all at State. Maybe I am a bad fan – I am satisfied with 7/8/9 wins and a decent bowl game. I know a lot of fellow fans hate that view. I would love nothing more than for us to catch lightening in a bottle and make it to the playoffs or even win it all. But that’s what it would take – the exact right combination of right team, schedule, injury avoidance and luck. 2014 plus some extra depth and more luck.
Dan is a professional coach. He sees Florida as an opportunity to greatly improve his chances at winning at all. To some people being at the absolute top professionally is the most important thing. I am sure he knows what he is giving up and the risk he is taking. He is not throwing away his family to take this chance. He’s not leaving for a situation similar (despite the snark he aimed at Collins a few years ago). He’s leaving for a better one (at least for what he wants). I am wired differently than Dan. I have turned down much better professional opportunities because I was comfortable where I am.
Mostly, I’m disappointed and/or worried. Disappointed because he was clearly the best coach of my lifetime (class of 89) – yes better than Sherrill – and we couldn’t keep him. We did all we could, and it wasn’t enough. I’m worried because I see the names floated for the replacement and see nothing but another Croom type era or even worse – going through 3 or 4 coaches over the next 20 years to get back to this point. Cohen will do his best but predicting how a new coach will react in a new situation is a bit of a crapshoot. People I've hired I thought were slam dunks ended up failing and folks I hired because they were literally just available ended up indispensable.
I am sure I will feel better and that I will talk myself into believing in the new guy. Venting over. Will try to enjoy the rest of the season and hope for the best.
