release

Last year at this time I stated:

We could go 2-7 next year, and if the two were Miami and Florida I’d call it a successful season.

Unfortunately, I was eerily prophetic on how bad this season would be. But as this game kicks off, there is hope.

The reader should be aware that I am watching this on TiVo time-delay and I’m about an hour behind live. Don’t ruin my surprise.

I’ve rarely been so happy to hear a pass ruled incomplete. But if De’Cody Fagg had played through the whistle like he was supposed to, that wouldn’t even have been a replay.

Hey, the defense came today. How quaint. Almost like the good old days.

Chris Hetland is 0 and 7 for FG kicks more than 30 yards. Oh, wait, make that 0 and 8. (Was that Wide Right?) As one of the sportscaster drones noted, “You’d think at Florida you’d be able to find a kicker.”

Hey, Chris Davis showed up today, and he brought the offense with him. Sweet.

You’d think at Florida State we’d be able to find a kicker, too. Missing five of your last six means we need to start looking.

Ugly. No excuse to let a screen pass reception turn into a TD. Apparently our defense only showed up for a cameo.

At the end of the first quarter, the Gators lead 7 - 0, but it’s all tied up at ugly - ugly.

The reason Graham Gano is such a good punter? Practice makes perfect.

Even my three year old son is questioning the execution of the Seminole defense.

Another missed field goal by the Gators - this game is stuck on ugly.

Perhaps we should break this string of three-and-outs. I’m thankful that this is Jeff Bowden’s last game in Tallahassee.

The break-in scores just let me know that the Univeristy of South Florida Bulls are beating West Virginia 14 - 6. So next year, I’ll be able to go watch a successful football team if I choose.

End of the half, still ugly, Gators still leading 14 - 0.

I can’t keep track of who has the ball - as soon as I figure it out, BAM! Another turnover.

FSU touchdown - another home-field shutout averted.

Opening the fourth quarter, both teams still ranking high on the ugly scale.

But wait! Weatherford connets to the receiver in the end zone for a touchdown, and now it’s tied. We could still win this.

Note to the Gators offense: the option is not an option.

Ack. Dallas Baker caught one in the paint for put the Gators back up by a TD, and Hetland shows that his incompetence is limited to field goals, not PAT’s.

Even though the ‘Noles’ 98-yard return turned out to be a mere 45-yard return due to the out-of-bounds foot at the 47, Florida’s special teams have got to be demoralized knowing they just got owned. The ‘Noles are definitely perked up.

Ok, going for fourht-and-3 is a coaching call, and one I agree with under the circumstances. But come on, Jeff, don’t you have a plan to pull it out when they blitz?

Another fourth-and-short, another missed chance. Stll down 21-14 with under 3:00 left on the clock. But does anyone still believe these Gators could play in the same stadium as Ohio State?

1:32 on the clock, passing from our own endzone. I’d rather be them than us right now,except then I’d have nausea-inducing colors and the third-best football tradition in the state.

4th and 4, from our own endzone. This is the whole game. Taking the snap at your QB’s ankles kinda puts the damper on that. Gators’ ball, no time-outs, reptiles take a knee. Crap. What bowl gives invites to teams that finish out 6 and 6?