Gainesville Sun sports columnist Pat Dooley, left, gets some answers from UF offensive lineman Tyler Jordan during University of Florida's football media day in the Touchdown Terrace on Aug. 2. [Lauren Bacho/Gainesville Sun]
Twitter can be evil. It comes without a conscience or a breathalyzer. It can be anonymous, wicked and without compassion.
But I still am a big Twitter guy.
It's entertaining and it's where a lot of stories are broken and there are way fewer people telling you about their child's first day of school or potty-training (I'm not a big Facebook guy).
Twitter is funny, biting and the key is to follow the right people. For me, that tends to be journalists, entertainers, athletes and some Gator fans. I recently purged a lot of people I followed simply because they were talking politics all the time. I go to Twitter to get away from it.
I also use it for this annual exercise, where I poll fans to get their opinions on a dozen questions. I do this with a caveat — I know this isn't scientific.
We're just having some fun on the last weekend of talking season (yes, no matter what ESPN tells you, there are college football games next Saturday).
So here are the dozen. View them like donuts. Some are tasty, others not so much.
I listed them in the order of the number of votes each received:
1. If Florida could win one game this year, which would make you happiest?
FSU 54%.
Georgia 42%.
LSU 3%.
Someone else 1%.
(3,301 votes)
So let's forget the notion LSU has become a rivalry game. Oh, I think it is for the players, but clearly fans are tired of losing to the Seminoles. FSU has won five in a row in this streaky series.
2. If the guys from Men In Black could use that flashy thingy and erase your memory of one Florida coaching era, which would it be?
Jim McElwain Era 71%.
Will Muschamp Era 17%.
Ron Zook Era 10%.
Charley Pell Era 2%.
(2,046 votes)
Maybe it's because it's the freshest. Maybe it's because of shark pictures and death threats. But the only coach who went to Atlanta blew the field away. I think some of it is because fans actually liked Muschamp and Zook and Pell was so instrumental in making Florida what it is today. Plus, Twitter fans have either gotten over the probation era or don't remember how embarrassing it was. But the McElwain wound is still open.
3. Which team would you like to see Florida play in a bowl game?
Ohio State 44%.
Someone else 30%.
Michigan 18%.
Oklahoma 8%.
(1,712 votes)
Want to exact a little revenge on Urban Meyer, eh? I get it.
4. Who will be the starting quarterback for Florida in Week 2?
Feleipe Franks 72%.
Kyle Trask 21%.
Emory Jones 7%.
(1,706 votes)
I asked about the Kentucky game because the opening game doesn't really matter. Who starts in the SEC opener is much more important. Franks was the easy winner and I'm guessing it's because of experience and the impression we're getting that he has taken a slight lead.
5. The one thing that would keep you from attending a UF home game is:
Options at home 31%.
Weak opponent 28%.
Weather 23%.
Game time 18%.
(1,505 votes)
I also received write-in votes for traffic and the fact that so many people live so far away. This was the closest vote and illustrates the biggest problem college football is dealing with, that so many games are on TV where it's air conditioned and there is easy bathroom access at home.
6. Which Florida opponent do you expect to be the most difficult?
Georgia 79%.
At Miss. State 13%.
At FSU 7%.
LSU 1%.
(1,383 votes)
I was a little surprised at the overwhelming concerns about the Georgia game since Mississippi State fans are already circling the game against Florida. But the Dogs are defending SEC champs. Where's the respect for LSU? Never mind.
7. Florida's leading receiver in terms of yards at the end of the season will be:
Van Jefferson 64%.
Tyrie Cleveland 22%.
Trevon Grimes 10%.
Someone else 4%.
(1,231 votes)
I can't disagree. Jefferson looks like the best receiver Florida has. But don't sleep on Grimes.
8. How many special teams touchdowns will Florida score this season?
1 or 2 40%.
2-3 35%.
More than 3 19%.
Zero, again 6%.
(1,160 votes)
Obviously, there is a little more optimism that special teams will be better this year.
9. Where will Florida's offense rank in total offense nationally at the end of the year?
Top 50 51%.
Top 75 31%.
Top 30 12%.
Below 75 6%.
(1,144 votes)
Ranking in the top 50 would be a huge improvement. But optimism only goes so far.
10. Which of these is most likely to happen?
Will Grier wins Heisman Trophy 55%.
FSU wins ACC 22%.
UF is in CFB Playoff 13%.
South Carolina wins East 10%.
(1,013 votes)
Would Florida be the first program to have two players transfer away and win a Heisman at another school? Asking for a friend.
11. What is your favorite part of a UF home game?
Overall atmosphere 77%.
Tailgating 18%.
Fan camaraderie 4%.
The music 1%.
(914 votes)
This was a lame question because the last three are part of the first one. My bad.
12. Which road game will you most likely attend?
Nashville 35%.
Tallahassee 30%.
Knoxville 20%.
Starkville 15%.
(724 votes)
Starkville is hardly a bucket-list place to visit. Gator fans never get tired of Nashville, especially because they know it usually will end well.
Contact Pat Dooley at 352-374-5053 or at pat.dooley@gvillesun.com. And follow at Twitter.com/Pat_Dooley.
