Speaking on FOX Sports’ Big Noon Kickoff - Aug 26, 2020, Meyer outlined why he’s picking Florida to win the SEC in a 10 game season, outlining his “survival of the fittest” theory.
"...I think with the programs atop the SEC, you have a very strong culture. Dan Mullen is a winner. He won at Mississippi State, which is a very hard place to play. He’s got an elite culture."
“The two other criteria I had: A returning quarterback and returning system. LSU, Alabama and Georgia all lose their 2019 quarterback. LSU & UGA lose their offensive systems. With the limited spring practice and all the other issues from the lockdown, that’s why I picked Florida. I think they’ll have another top 10 defense under Todd Grantham. It’ll be very close … I think there will be top teams that lose two games each. They aren’t used to playing 10 game schedules."
If you really studied the other schedules, Alabama really never left Alabama to play. They had their road games, but they almost always had that FCS opponent before their big game. Now those are all gone. Now you look at the schedules and it will be really hard. It will be survival of the fittest. I just think Florida with the culture, returning quarterback and returning offensive system, I’m picking them in a very tight race.”
Above, quotes are from Urban Meyer - 3 National Championships- 2 @ UF, 1 @ tOSU, 5 conference championships - 2 @ UF, 3 @ tOSU.
Following comments, I assume, come from Nick Kosko - writer of the article.
"...Florida’s main competition in the SEC East is Georgia, who reloaded ( ? ) at the quarterback position with transfer Jamie Newman, setting up a tight race as the Gators trot out returning starter Kyle Trask.
Newman had one good year at Wake Forest - 2019- good stats, but record only 7-5.
Passing - 220 comp in 361 attempts - 2868 yds - 26 TD - 11 Int; Rushing 180 for 574 yds - 6 TD
In 2018, Newman only played 6 games - record of 3-3.
Passing - 84 comp in 141 attempts - 1083 yds - 9 TD - 4 Int; Rushing - 64 for 247 yds - 4 TD
Looking back I was unreasonable in basing my opinion of Newman solely on his 1 game against Clemson - a 52- 3 loss.
For the last 5 years, Clemson is the only school in the ACC capable of contending in the SEC.
All of Wake's other opponents, even those with winning records, would still be, AT BEST, 2nd tier SEC teams.
In 2019, Newman was 1-4 against Wake's opponents with winning records.
North Carolina - 7-6 record - Wake Wins - 24 - 18
Louisville - 8-5 record - Wake Loses - 59 - 62
Va Tech - 8-5 record - Wake Loses - 17 -36
Clemson - 14-1 record - Wake Loses - 3 - 52 - Game was much closer than the score indicates; it was actually tied 0-0 at the opening kick off
Michigan State - 7 - 6 record - Wake Loses - 21 - 27
Obviously, QB can not be the only player held accountable for Team's total Won - Loss record & Wake did not support Newman as well as UGA will.
BUT, I do not think it reasonable to say UGA has reloaded at QB & to assume that they will get the same level of play from Newman as we will get from Trask.
BUT, football is a team sport & it is the Gators against the Dawgs, not Trask vs Newman. In the past, the UGA QB did not have to win the game; they used strong running game & defense & only needed their QB to not lose the game.
IMO, by the time we play them, UGA will be our toughest opponent (LSU lost - OC Joe Brady & 14 players to NFL draft; only 7 returning starters !) & while I am pulling for the Gators, I see this neutral site game with a small, evenly divided crowd as a toss-up !
"...I think with the programs atop the SEC, you have a very strong culture. Dan Mullen is a winner. He won at Mississippi State, which is a very hard place to play. He’s got an elite culture."
“The two other criteria I had: A returning quarterback and returning system. LSU, Alabama and Georgia all lose their 2019 quarterback. LSU & UGA lose their offensive systems. With the limited spring practice and all the other issues from the lockdown, that’s why I picked Florida. I think they’ll have another top 10 defense under Todd Grantham. It’ll be very close … I think there will be top teams that lose two games each. They aren’t used to playing 10 game schedules."
If you really studied the other schedules, Alabama really never left Alabama to play. They had their road games, but they almost always had that FCS opponent before their big game. Now those are all gone. Now you look at the schedules and it will be really hard. It will be survival of the fittest. I just think Florida with the culture, returning quarterback and returning offensive system, I’m picking them in a very tight race.”
Following comments, I assume, come from Nick Kosko - writer of the article.
"...Florida’s main competition in the SEC East is Georgia, who reloaded ( ? ) at the quarterback position with transfer Jamie Newman, setting up a tight race as the Gators trot out returning starter Kyle Trask.
Newman had one good year at Wake Forest - 2019- good stats, but record only 7-5.
Passing - 220 comp in 361 attempts - 2868 yds - 26 TD - 11 Int; Rushing 180 for 574 yds - 6 TD
In 2018, Newman only played 6 games - record of 3-3.
Passing - 84 comp in 141 attempts - 1083 yds - 9 TD - 4 Int; Rushing - 64 for 247 yds - 4 TD
Looking back I was unreasonable in basing my opinion of Newman solely on his 1 game against Clemson - a 52- 3 loss.
For the last 5 years, Clemson is the only school in the ACC capable of contending in the SEC.
All of Wake's other opponents, even those with winning records, would still be, AT BEST, 2nd tier SEC teams.
In 2019, Newman was 1-4 against Wake's opponents with winning records.
North Carolina - 7-6 record - Wake Wins - 24 - 18
Louisville - 8-5 record - Wake Loses - 59 - 62
Va Tech - 8-5 record - Wake Loses - 17 -36
Clemson - 14-1 record - Wake Loses - 3 - 52 - Game was much closer than the score indicates; it was actually tied 0-0 at the opening kick off
Michigan State - 7 - 6 record - Wake Loses - 21 - 27
Obviously, QB can not be the only player held accountable for Team's total Won - Loss record & Wake did not support Newman as well as UGA will.
BUT, I do not think it reasonable to say UGA has reloaded at QB & to assume that they will get the same level of play from Newman as we will get from Trask.
BUT, football is a team sport & it is the Gators against the Dawgs, not Trask vs Newman. In the past, the UGA QB did not have to win the game; they used strong running game & defense & only needed their QB to not lose the game.
IMO, by the time we play them, UGA will be our toughest opponent (LSU lost - OC Joe Brady & 14 players to NFL draft; only 7 returning starters !) & while I am pulling for the Gators, I see this neutral site game with a small, evenly divided crowd as a toss-up !
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