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Gators to face Tulane in Gasparilla Bowl on 12/20...

Oh goody, we get to play a team whose starting QB just entered the portal🤣🤣🤣🤣

Is there a local high school that could step in?
 
Better than any of us had any right to expect with Mertz as the season starter.....
 
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Proud the team stuck together and rallied down the stretch. Have to give Billy Napier some props. The defense improved during the season quite a lot. Just the opportunity to practice for a couple of more weeks and get the players a reward by playing in a bowl game - any bowl game this year. Just to go into the off season on a positive note. Then hit the portal, hit the weight room and film room and come to spring practice fired up. Gooo Gators!!
 
Great way to finish the year given the 1st half of it. Hope we get a bowl win and improve to 8 wins on the season and carry that into next year. I have to say that 2nd half of the season was fun...even though we lost to TN...we were right there and it was a great game to watch. Hoping for a few good transfers that can make an immediate impact. Had Lagway not of gotten hurt UGA would have been a different game. Either way I was looking forward to the games again, instead of watching expecting to lose.
 
Great way to finish the year given the 1st half of it. Hope we get a bowl win and improve to 8 wins on the season and carry that into next year. I have to say that 2nd half of the season was fun...even though we lost to TN...we were right there and it was a great game to watch. Hoping for a few good transfers that can make an immediate impact. Had Lagway not of gotten hurt UGA would have been a different game. Either way I was looking forward to the games again, instead of watching expecting to lose.
Considering where they were after A&M…the finish was not only impressive, but improbable.
 
I continue to wonder how the season would have gone IF.............

IF Lagway had been announced the starter upon his Early Arrival.
IF DJ had taken all of the 1st team reps beginning with the Spring Practice.
IF he'd had an OC with an offense designed to compliment his dual threat and deep throw skill set.
IF-IF-IF................... Oh IF-IT.......
 
I continue to wonder how the season would have gone IF.............

IF Lagway had been announced the starter upon his Early Arrival.
IF DJ had taken all of the 1st team reps beginning with the Spring Practice.
IF he'd had an OC with an offense designed to compliment his dual threat and deep throw skill set.
IF-IF-IF................... Oh IF-IT.......
Honestly, it was probably best the way it played out…

Mertz was the safe play and was certainly capable of having success…

As it was, there was no choice but to go to Lagway, which made the transition easier…
 
Honestly, it was probably best the way it played out…

Mertz was the safe play and was certainly capable of having success…

As it was, there was no choice but to go to Lagway, which made the transition easier…
Lagway has went on record saying that his situation with Mertz was best the way it turned out. Mertz never missed being at a game after he was injured and on road games they were still roommates. Graham got him up quick to the the playbook before and after he got injured. So all the ones that still continue to hate on Mertz you stop it today. 7-5 is a good record to have considered what we all thought. Let's all be happy and have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Oh and Let's Go kick Tulane's A$$.
 
I had hoped for 8 wins this year but the way we did it...ending the season and playing defense the way that we did....it was awesome. 10 years ago I would have passed out if you told me that I would be this excited about a 7-5 team, we've really played inspired football down the stretch. If we continue to play like this we can be dangerous and take this program to the next level.
 
Mertz was the safe play and was certainly capable of having success…

Graham Mertz W/L record as the Gator's starting QB:
2023 5-6, missed FSUcks game injured.
2024 2-3 before being injured out again.
Total 7-9 Loser as the starter in his 2 seasons, 16 games.
That's what he actually did in his 5th & 6th years as a starter.
Dispite what you claim he was capable of doing....


Mertz seemed like a good guy and he did what he could to be an aid and/or mentor to DJ, but the team would have been better off (IMOHO) if Graham had not returned in 2024. Water under the bridge now, and fan opinions will vary as always on what would have been best. I'm just fine with that.....
-----


In games that true freshman rookie QB DJ has started and finished the game in, he's 5-0.
Won vs Samford, UK, LSU, Ole Miss, FSU.
And they were ahead vs UGly before DJ was injured out.

Mertz was 2-3 before being injured out again.
Aidan was 0-1
 
Graham Mertz W/L record as the Gator's starting QB:
2023 5-6, missed FSUcks game injured.
2024 2-3 before being injured out again.
Total 7-9 Loser as the starter in his 2 seasons, 16 games.
That's what he actually did in his 5th & 6th years as a starter.
Dispite what you claim he was capable of doing....


Mertz seemed like a good guy and he did what he could to be an aid and/or mentor to DJ, but the team would have been better off (IMOHO) if Graham had not returned in 2024. Water under the bridge now, and fan opinions will vary as always on what would have been best. I'm just fine with that.....
-----


In games that true freshman rookie QB DJ has started and finished the game in, he's 5-0.
Won vs Samford, UK, LSU, Ole Miss, FSU.
And they were ahead vs UGly before DJ was injured out.

Mertz was 2-3 before being injured out again.
Aidan was 0-1
And it was ALL because of the change in QB. Yeah, right.
 
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Graham Mertz W/L record as the Gator's starting QB:
2023 5-6, missed FSUcks game injured.
2024 2-3 before being injured out again.
Total 7-9 Loser as the starter in his 2 seasons, 16 games.
That's what he actually did in his 5th & 6th years as a starter.
Dispite what you claim he was capable of doing....


Mertz seemed like a good guy and he did what he could to be an aid and/or mentor to DJ, but the team would have been better off (IMOHO) if Graham had not returned in 2024. Water under the bridge now, and fan opinions will vary as always on what would have been best. I'm just fine with that.....
-----


In games that true freshman rookie QB DJ has started and finished the game in, he's 5-0.
Won vs Samford, UK, LSU, Ole Miss, FSU.
And they were ahead vs UGly before DJ was injured out.

Mertz was 2-3 before being injured out again.
Aidan was 0-1
If Mertz doesn't get hurt, we beat UT. We were up 10-0 when he left the game. With Mertz we definitely beat Samford, KY and FSU (all 3 with losing records). We would have a great shot at UGA. LSU and Ole Miss toss up, but keep in mind that both those teams dominated us statistically. Lagway hurt us against AM with his 2 picks. Biggest thing Florida did was changing the starting Dline. That was a bigger deal for us vs the change at QB. Once our D started getting some stops, it put us in position to win. Need to get way better at Oline or Lagway is going to get hurt again too. Maybe the D rallied around Lagway? That is definitely possible.
 
If Mertz doesn't get hurt, we beat UT. We were up 10-0 when he left the game. With Mertz we definitely beat Samford, KY and FSU (all 3 with losing records). We would have a great shot at UGA. LSU and Ole Miss toss up, but keep in mind that both those teams dominated us statistically. Lagway hurt us against AM with his 2 picks. Biggest thing Florida did was changing the starting Dline. That was a bigger deal for us vs the change at QB. Once our D started getting some stops, it put us in position to win. Need to get way better at Oline or Lagway is going to get hurt again too. Maybe the D rallied around Lagway? That is definitely possible. <<<--- This!
In case you didn't notice, DJ wasn't injured because of the OL, his footing gave out on his cut up field causing his injury.
 
seeing as how Army just pounded it right at Tulane in their last game, Billy should be able to get away with doing what he wants to do running the ball for once.. There's zero excuse to lose this game, our team is as hyped about being in a bowl game as any team that didn't make the playoff besides maybe Vanderbilt.
 
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