Here Comes University of Florida Football, 2012 Edition

The opening of the 2012 college football season is coming fast, and who knows what is in store of the University of Florida team, with its second-year coach Wil Muschamp.  They didn't do very well last year, but at least finished with a winning record and a bowl victory at the end.

It is hard to blame Coach Muschamp too much for the disappointing season in 2011, as he was dealing with players recruited during the Urban Meyer era.  That in itself might make you think that, having won two national championship under his predecessor's short tenure at UF, the current coach would have had an enormous well of talent to draw from.  But apparently, during Meyer's last two years, he had suffered through some health issues that may have impaired recruiting to an extent.  Also, the former coach abruptly retired and then decided to try coaching the team for another year, giving a sense of instability about the football program at Florida to potential recruits.  Giving just a little edge to other schools in this area can be enough to turn a good season into a mediocre one.  Also, the starting senior quarterback, John Brantley, suffered a season-ending injury in the Alabama game (the Gators had been undefeated up to that point) and his replacements simply did not have the poise that experience brings.  Besides, the offensive line had some major issues in 2011...

...As did the defensive secondary.  Muschamp feels, though, that the secondary is one of the team's strongest areas this season.  But I also know that, with a great offensive line you don't need a great quarterback to go far.  So do the Gators have what it takes?

The first game will be a pushover against a minor college.  Then Florida will be tested against Texas A&M, who will be playing their first season in the hyper-competitive Southeastern Conference.

I am not one of those fans who are only happy if the Gators win the conference title and compete for the national championship.  But I do want to see a team that is at least a couple of notches better than what has been out there for the past two years. I don't want schools like LSU and Alabama to begin looking at us the way we've grown accustomed to looking at Kentucky, whom we've beaten every year since the late 1980's, often by massively lopsided scores. And I certainly don't want to see Kentucky starting to beat US...