I'm All Out Of Bubblegum
Joel pointed out earlier that Urban Meyer's rhetoric has turned a little nasty - and that toward his own fan base. First, he very directly explains that fans and former players have absolutely no business criticising him, his program, or his players. (He also takes shots at the NFL, asking how dare they hold character questions against Harvin, or how dare they suggest that Tebow might be better suited to be something besides a quarterback.) Then, he tells his fans that, in order for them to be a part of the club, they have to be good enough, elite enough. After all, being a Gator is a clique, like in junior high and high school. Only the really cool kids with two iPhones and a Lexus are allowed, I guess.
Now, that may sound a little harsh, but you have to consider that this didn't come out of a vacuum. No, Urban is smart. This is simply an advanced phase in the 4-year conditioning program that began when Tebow hit the scene. By the time Tebow leaves, Meyer will have complete control over the Gator fanbase. They'll follow his every word and stand by at his beck and call. He's been working them over for years now and it's been right before our very eyes.
...what?
Don't believe me?
Am I sounding a little conspiratorial and crazy? Well, you'll understand once you see what I now see. Here, take these sunglasses to Ben Hill Griffin and take a look for yourself...

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It's about two things
1. He didn’t like how Shane Matthews hammered him on local radio constantly for the first half of last season for not being more aggressive on offense.
2. He’s trying to preemptively silence the inevitable complaining that will come after the team comes down from its current peak. Spurrier cited it as a reason he left (he thought 10-2 wasn’t good enough for Gator fans anymore), Zook called it “the noise in the system,” and Meyer calls it the “Florida nonsense.”
You’re right; Meyer is a smart guy and on top of that, he’s got a degree in psychology hanging on his wall. He knows that UF fans complained constantly about the offense the past two years despite having statistically the best one in the conference. I guess he figures its time to put that degree to work if he ever hopes to stop hearing it at some point in his career.
Note: it will not work.
by Year2 on May 1, 2009 12:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It'll be a fun struggle to watch.
For a very nonfun struggle, that is.
Across the board in major programs, fans are unrealistic. There are probably almost 20 programs whose fans feel they should be in the BCS title game at least once every four years or so. In the SEC alone, there are at least 6 programs who feel they should win the SEC on a regular basis. The arms race isn’t helping matters, either.
I do sympathize with Meyer on that point. And on the flipside, it sets off alarm bells in my head whenever somebody tries to enforce expression of opinions. But that’s a political argument, not a sports argument.
And yes, it won’t work.
by Hooper on May 1, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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