[gatortalk] Texas and Oklahoma to SEC?

What do you think about this idea? Texas A&M (and probably Arkansas) wouldn't be happy about losing some recruiting advantage, but would it be good or bad for the Gators?
Would Alabama and/or Auburn move east while maybe Missouri moved west? Would you like to see the occasional UF-TX and UF-OK game in Gainesville? What about the $$$$? I know some of you must have opinions on this!
Helen

Sent from my iPad

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GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY!
1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
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[gatortalk] Fwd: [gatornews] [SUN]: Ranking SEC football coaches: Nick Saban is No. 1, but who comes next is a lively debate

This article is in today's Tennessean. I hope Dan Mullin turns out to be ahead of Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban decides to spend more time in his Mercedes dealerships. 

Oliver Barry CRS, GRI

Real Estate Broker 

Crye-Leike, Realtors 

964 Main St

Nashville, TN 37206

Office: 615-650-7447

Mobile: 615-972-4239

barryo@realtracs.com

Begin forwarded message:

From: Shane Ford <goufgators01@gmail.com>
Date: July 17, 2021 at 2:36:35 PM CDT
To: GatorNews <gatornews@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]:  Ranking SEC football coaches: Nick Saban is No. 1, but who comes next is a lively debate
Reply-To: gatornews+owners@googlegroups.com



Ranking SEC football coaches: Nick Saban is No. 1, but who comes next is a lively debate | Toppmeyer

Blake Toppmeyer

USA TODAY NETWORK

The SEC's cast of 14 coaches is the most collectively intriguing bunch in several years.

The conference took on a heavier offensive tilt after three of the four coaches fired last season were defensive-minded, while three of the four newcomers hail from the offensive side. None of the new coaches is a Nick Saban protege, bringing a welcome dose of variety.

The Egg Bowl rivalry features two coaches with exciting offenses and a quip-per-day approach to interviews.

The greatest of all time shows no sign of relenting at Alabama.

Not only has Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher promised to whip Saban's ass this year, but it's also (sort of) conceivable that it could happen.

Dan Mullen and Kirby Smart elevated the Florida-Georgia rivalry to where it belongs.

Missouri coach Eliah (or Eli) Drinkwitz answers to two different first names, depending on whether he considers you a friend.

There's a South Dakota native and an Idaho native coaching in the South.

TOPPMEYER:New SEC coaches aren't Nick Saban clones. That's a welcome change.

HARSIN BALL:Why Bryan Harsin's Auburn football offense might differ from what you'd expect

NEWCOMER PROFILE:To understand Josh Heupel the Tennessee football coach, start in Aberdeen, South Dakota

Here's my ranking of SEC coaches.

1. Nick Saban

Alabama

Saban is the best to ever do it. His program remains a perennial favorite thanks to Saban's evolution to embrace an offense that features tempo and positions the quarterback to be the star. With Alabama now producing first-round NFL Draft talent at quarterback, there's no nit left to pick. Alabama will be the 2021 favorite to win the national championship – despite losing 10 players to the NFL Draft, which speaks to Saban's continued stranglehold on the sport.

2. Jimbo Fisher

Texas A&M

The Aggies were smart to spend big on Fisher, one of three active SEC coaches who has won a national title. He's proving he's worth the $75 million, 10-year contract he received to leave Florida State. He's recruiting well, too, an indicator that last year's 9-1 record need not be a flash in the pan. Texas A&M underachieved for much of this millennium. With Fisher, the Aggies should regularly challenge for the College Football Playoff.

3. Dan Mullen

Florida

The Gators' two New Year's Six bowl victories and an SEC East title through three seasons under Mullen came after he led Mississippi State to its greatest period of success. A good debate can be had about whether Mullen belongs above the next man on this list. Mullen gets the nod because I think his track record for quarterback development gives Florida the better chance to win a national championship.

4. Kirby Smart

Georgia

Smart is recruiting at a level topped only by Alabama and quickly built the program into a perennial playoff contender, highlighted by a national runner-up finish during the 2017 season. Georgia hasn't quite played to its 2017 caliber since then, and questions linger about whether Smart can develop a quarterback capable of leading Georgia to a national championship. But as long as Smart is in Athens, pencil Georgia in for top-10 national rankings.

5. Ed Orgeron

LSU

Orgeron joins Saban and Fisher as the conference's only coaches with a national championship on their coaching résumés. Last year's backslide made me question whether Orgeron has staying power after the loss of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow and wunderkind offensive assistant Joe Brady. But the way he's recruiting, it's more likely last year was a hiccup after losing 14 players in the 2020 draft rather than the beginning of a freefall.

6. Lane Kiffin

Ole Miss

Putting Kiffin this high is a bet on his future rather than a reflection on his roller-coaster past. Fans and recruits alike are attracted to Kiffin's social media presence, deadpan humor and high-scoring offense, and he should elevate recruiting to a level Ole Miss hasn't seen since Hugh Freeze. Kiffin's up-tempo scheme and skill for developing quarterbacks should position Ole Miss to punch above its weight.

7. Mark Stoops

Kentucky

Stoops' 49-50 record doesn't seem impressive until you consider he's done it at Kentucky. The Wildcats have won bowl games three straight years for just the second time. Stoops is a defensive authority. His 10-win season in 2018 remains a coaching masterpiece. I'd like to see what Stoops could achieve at a school that would yield a more talented roster, but perhaps he's wise to not mess with a good thing.

8. Mike Leach

Mississippi State

Mississippi State is one of the most challenging jobs in the SEC. Leach has proven he can thrive in those environments. He posted a winning record 14 times in 18 seasons at Texas Tech and Washington State – places that aren't exactly easy jobs. Most of conversation about Leach pertains to his Air Raid offense or his wacky interviews, but he's also shown an eye for hiring quality young defensive coordinators – first Alex Grinch at Washington State and then Zach Arnett at Mississippi State.

9. Bryan Harsin

Auburn

Can an Idaho native who's never coached east of the Mississippi River fit in at Auburn? Harsin arrives in the SEC with an impressive winning percentage. He maintained Boise State as a Group of 5 stalwart throughout his seven seasons after replacing Chris Petersen. Petersen's shift from Boise State to Washington seemed natural. Going from Boise to Auburn is more challenging, but I'm intrigued by a coach who had eight straight winning seasons between stints at Arkansas State and Boise State.

10. Eliah Drinkwitz

Missouri

In his first season at Missouri, Drinkwitz infused swagger into a program poised to re-emerge as the SEC East's dark horse. Quarterbacks tend to fare well under Drinkwitz, who is also showing his recruiting chops. At 38, his résumé is still light, and he hasn't had to cook with his ingredients at Missouri or previously during his one-year stop at Appalachian State. But the early results are promising.

11. Josh Heupel

Tennessee

Heupel knows quarterbacks. He helped develop Sam Bradford as his position coach at Oklahoma and Drew Lock as his offensive coordinator at Missouri. His up-tempo offense can mask talent deficiencies. The Vols hiring someone with head coaching experience – Heupel went 28-8 in three seasons at UCF – was wise after his predecessor, first-time coach Jeremy Pruitt, flopped spectacularly. The questions: Will Heupel's teams play good enough defense, and can he recruit at a high enough level?

12. Sam Pittman

Arkansas

Had I conducted this ranking last year, I would have positioned Pittman 14th, so he's already caught my attention by winning three conference games in his first season at Arkansas. Pittman is an effective motivator and a good recruiter. But I'm reserving further praise until I see a bigger sample size, in light of Pittman having never been an Division I head coach or coordinator before Arkansas hired him.

13. Shane Beamer

South Carolina

Speaking of a lack of head coaching or coordinator experience, we come to Beamer, South Carolina's outside-the-box hire. He has a household surname within college football and plenty of experience within the SEC as an assistant. His three-year apprenticeship under Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma adds appeal. But South Carolina is a tough job for a first-time head coach.

14. Clark Lea

Vanderbilt

Lea, a Vanderbilt alumnus who spent the past three seasons as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator, was the obvious hire for the Commodores. The Irish's defense notably improved under Lea, and his experience at Notre Dame means he should be versed in recruiting to high academic standards. But it's tough to see Lea's tenure faring better than that of his predecessor, Derek Mason, another successful defensive coordinator who had no head coaching experience.

Blake Toppmeyer is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer. If you enjoy Blake's coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

Sent from Shane's iPhone

Go Gators! 

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1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions |
Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
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Re: [gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] [SUN]: Trey Smack, the nation's No. 3 kicker, commits to Florida

I'm glad we got him. Now, let's hope we never need to use him because we score so many touchdowns. :   -   )

Oliver Barry CRS, GRI

Real Estate Broker

PARKS Real Estate Services

305 B Indian Lake Blvd

Suite 220

Hendersonville TN 37075

Office: 615-826-4040

Mobile: 615-972-4239

barryo@realtracs.com

On Jun 24, 2021, at 9:07 AM, zebulon@gate.net wrote:



On Jun 23, 2021, at 4:26 PM, Shane Ford <goufgators01@gmail.com> wrote:

Trey Smack, the nation's No. 3 kicker, commits to Florida

Let's talk some Smack!

Anyone?

-Zeb

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GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY!
1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
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[gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] [SUN]: Trey Smack, the nation's No. 3 kicker, commits to Florida

On Jun 23, 2021, at 4:26 PM, Shane Ford <goufgators01@gmail.com> wrote:

Trey Smack, the nation's No. 3 kicker, commits to Florida

Let's talk some Smack!

Anyone?

-Zeb

Re: [gatortalk] What TH is going on…

It was a pathetic ending to the baseball and softball seasons. They had decent records though the baseball team never lived up to expectations. Both coach Walton and O'Sullivan need to take a deep look in the mirror.

Charlie

On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 11:36 AM Woody Bass <gatorrrrrr@gmail.com> wrote:

with this baseball team. 😒😔😫


Woody

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1996 National Football Champions   |  2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions   |   2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions   |   Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
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GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY!
1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
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[gatortalk] What TH is going on…

with this baseball team. 😒😔😫


Woody

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GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY!
1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
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[gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] [SUN]: Spurrier's Gridiron Grille delays opening as Gators great's restaurant struggles to find employees

The article says they need 375 workers to run the restaurant. I'm certainly no expert on restaurant staffing but that seems like a LOT.

Charlie

On Thu, Jun 3, 2021 at 9:41 AM Shane Ford <goufgators01@gmail.com> wrote:

Spurrier's Gridiron Grille delays opening as Gators great's restaurant struggles to find employees

John Henderson

The Gainesville Sun

As the old sports adage goes, it's not about the X's and O's, it's about the Jimmys and Joes.

For former University of Florida football coach and player Steve Spurrierand his new Gridiron Grille in Gainesville's Celebration Pointe, that old saw couldn't be more apt: the Head Ball Coach, who built successful teams through the 1990s on the field that now carries his name, is finding it hard to recruit enough employees to open his restaurant to the public.

The restaurant's opening has been delayed by several months as it, like others across the country, struggles to find enough staff. 

The restaurant is having a particularly hard time hiring enough people because of its sheer size. The building is 18,600 square feet, and 375 employees are needed to open at full capacity, said managing partner Freddie Wehbe.

"We are trying to be very selective and build a solid team," he said. "Coach wants a five-star team on board. And it's been very, very difficult. But we won't open until we have a full staff and we are working hard on it."

Tour Spurrier's house:Gators legend is selling his Florida home for $5.8 million

Restaurant news:New options for Butler, Celebration Pointe in 2021

The restaurant, with a capacity for 525 customers that will make it the ninth largest in the state, was supposed to open in May. The opening has been delayed most likely until late July, Wehbe said.

Spurrier's Gridiron Grille includes three bars serving both indoor and outdoor patrons, including the rooftop "Visors Tailgate Bar."

It also has three private dining rooms. The largest, which seats up to 50, adjoins a collection of UF sports memorabilia to include Steve Spurrier's own Heisman Trophy and collection of iconic visors.

Wehbe said so far they've only been able to hire between a third to a half of the staff that is needed.

"We need at least 120 more to open just the first floor of the restaurant," Wehbe said "We are working on it."

More applications have come in since the state recently announced that it will end the $300-a-week federal unemployment boost on June 26.

Also hurting the hiring numbers is the fact that this is the slower summer semester, so there are fewer students in the hiring pool, Wehbe said.

"We're starting to see a little bit of movement this week," he said. "We're hoping with changes in unemployment rules that more people will apply and we can open the whole restaurant. We were supposed to be open right now."

Wehbe said they are hiring those with and without restaurant experience. He said they offer better pay than most local restaurants for all positions.

To train those who have been hired, employees have been serving people at private events in the building, he said.

Spurrier's draws on links to UF

The business has strong support from the University of Florida and other local businesses that have pledged to hold events there, Wehbe said.

He said their market research shows that a restaurant this size will make it in that location in Gainesville.

"Part of our strategic plan is to make sure we don't fail," he said. "Coach doesn't want us to fail. University athletics doesn't want us to fail, The UF Foundation doesn't want us to fail."

He said the grille is so much more than a restaurant.

"It's going to be a hub for the Gator Nation," he said.

Local companies were contacted about what features they would like incorporated into the restaurant for their corporate events, and those events should boost business, Wehbe said.

The restaurant also features a video room where corporate meetings, birthday parties and private dinners can be held.

The business is also considered a museum, Wehbe said and will be advertised as such on billboards on Interstate 75.

It is chock full of Spurrier's trophies, pictures, documents and memorabilia. Among them are his 1966 Heisman Trophy, the football he kicked for the winning field goal in 1966 when UF defeated Auburn at homecoming, his first UF coaching contract, and a display of Spurrier's famous visors.

The restaurant also includes a glass-enclosed broadcast room for podcast and radio shows, and Spurrier is expected to occasionally man the booth.

"Coach (Dan) Mullen will be podcasting from here," Wehbe said. "All the sports talk you listen to in Gainesville will be broadcasting from here."

National network sports personalities have agreed to broadcast shows from the room, he said.

Farm-to-table fare

The menu, according to the company's website, is American casual, and will incorporate some of Spurrier's favorite foods, including avocado-topped burgers, grilled chicken, seafood, pasta, salads and desserts inspired by his wife's recipes.

Many of the ingredients will come from local farms, Wehbe said.

Meals will be cooked shortly after the produce and meats and seafood are brought in from local farms, Wehbe said.

The restaurant also should be a draw for tourists, and people from all over the state have already taken tours.

"I've given about 480 tours," Wehbe said. "I tell coach this all the time. Sometimes he joins us. I've had people come from Dallas, Naples, Key West, Melbourne, Columbia (South Carolina) and Georgia."

Sent from Shane's iPhone

Go Gators! 

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GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY!
1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions |
Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
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1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
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