Earlier this week I tabbed Florida as my No. 1 team in the nation as part of CFT’s efforts to contribute to the abomination that is preseason polls. I also picked the Gators to easily cover the 38 points they were giving up.
Based on the first 15 minutes of the first quarter of the Gators’ first game of the season, UF is doing their damndest to make me look like even more of an idiot than I already am.
Unbelievably, the Gators are trailing Miami of Not Florida 3-0 with just under five minutes to go in the opening period. And that score’s not even remotely indicative as to how disjointed the SEC school’s looked against their MAC foe.
Thus far, we’ve seen...
An atrocious shotgun snap that should’ve been returned for a touchdown by the RedHawks but led to a field goal instead. A failure to convert a fourth-and-short, only to be saved by a Miami penalty. A beautifully-thrown bomb by John Brantley to Deonte Thompson that should’ve been caught for a touchdown and wasn’t. Another fumble on the same drive recovered by the RedHawks. Yet another abject failure on a fourth-and-short.
Again, it’s early. Very early and way too soon to draw any type of long-term conclusions. Still, this start is not what anyone associated with the football program had in mind, especially one where the entire team seems to be uninterested and/or going through the motions.
Then again, it will be a very stern test for the new, improved, laid-back Urban Meyer, so they have that going for them. Which is good.
UPDATED 12:49 p.m. ET: Of course, almost as soon as I hit publish on the above, Janoris Jenkins returns an interception 70 yards to put the Gators up 7-3.