Stolen from SPS (Tampa article on us and Mullen)

[msstate7]

https://www.tampabay.com/sports/flor...-a-good-thing/

Pretty nice article

[Goldendawg]

Article "No longer available". Got a "Readers' Digest Condensed Version"?

[msstate7]

The difference between where the Gators are and where they could be showed up in back-to-back days behind a podium at the College Football Hall of Fame.
On Tuesday, first-year Florida coach Dan Mullen said the program he inherited has been inconsistent and unstable.
On Wednesday, first-year Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead praised the groundwork and individual pieces Mullen left behind.
"Part of our task as a staff is to elevate the program ? which has a very solid foundation ? from good to great," Moorhead said during SEC media days.
The Gators were a long way from great, or even good, during last year's 4-7 flop, and it's been years since their foundation was solid. That's why Urban Meyer called the program "broken" on his way out the door. And why Jim McElwain bemoaned the "really insufficient" roster and lackluster facilities after his arrival. And why Mullen said shell-shocked players have been searching for the bedrock principles that breed sustained success.
Maybe Mullen can fix those problems this year, but a multi-year rebuilding project seems more likely. That means UF fans in search of optimism shouldn't only be looking in Gainesville this fall.
They should look toward Starkville, too, where Mullen's old team will be better than his new one.
RELATED: SEC media days: Mississippi State not looking ahead to Dan Mullen's return
While the Gators continue to sort through their options at quarterback, Mississippi State knows its starter: Senior Nick Fitzgerald, who leads all returning quarterbacks nationally in career rushing touchdowns (33), 100-yard games (14) and yards per carry (6.5).
Fitzgerald still doesn't know what Mullen saw in him as a two-star recruit. But Fitzgerald does know that if the Bulldogs hadn't offered him at a summer camp, he likely would have ended up at the next school that gave him an offer: Middle Tennessee State.
"I'd probably be in Murfreesboro," Fitzgerald said.
Instead, thanks to the opportunity and coaching Mullen provided, he'll be the star player on a top-25 team.
Mullen's Bulldogs didn't land the type of star-studded recruiting classes UF should be able to attract, but he amassed and developed enough talent to leave Moorhead with an SEC West contender.
Running back Aeris Williams' 1,107 yards last season are second among SEC returners. Few teams outside of Clemson have a pair of defensive lineman as talented or touted as tackle Jeffery Simmons and all-SEC end Montez Sweat.
"That defensive line is scary," Fitzgerald said.
College football prognosticator Phil Steele counts only four teams in the country with more experience than the Bulldogs. Among Power Five teams, only Michigan State, Kansas and Baylor return more production, according to advanced metrics guru Bill Connelly.
The solid foundation Mullen left in Starkville should be ready to peak.
"Because we have a lot of starters returning and a lot of production coming back," Moorhead said, "it's probably elevated the level of expectation for us."
Whether the Bulldogs can live up to that level of expectation is up to Moorhead. But the fact that those expectations even exist at a one-time doormat is thanks to Mullen.
The years of good Mullen produced at Mississippi State won't be enough at Florida, where the Gators standard is great. But consistently good be a nice place to start.
Mullen did it in Starkville, where he left a stable program better than he found it.
Now he'll have to do it again.

[Goldendawg]

Says page you are looking for is no longer available. Guess Hev took it down.

[BulldogDX55]

It is impossible to put up a functioning link because the URL includes Mullen with an 's' at the end, which automatically gets censored to ******.

[msstate7]

It is impossible to put up a functioning link because the URL includes Mullen with an 's' at the end, which automatically gets censored to ******.

Ahhh...

[Jack Lambert]

I don't know if Florida fans will be as kind and patient to a coach as Miss State is. They just forced Stricklin to fire a coach who won the SEC east two years in the previous two years.

[hacker]

Ahhh...

Here's one that you can put in the OP

https://*******/2n0wf48

[msstate7]

Here's one that you can put in the OP

https://*******/2n0wf48

Thanks

[TrapGame]

I don't know if Florida fans will be as kind and patient to a coach as Miss State is. They just forced Stricklin to fire a coach who won the SEC east two years in the previous two years.

The fans and admin put up with a lot from Dan b/c he played upon our fears and insecurities. They ain't gonna fly at Flur'da. They want a national championship like yesterday.

[BrunswickDawg]

This will be very interesting to watch.
Outside of Spurrier and Meyer the UF football program has not been a winning machine. They have cycled up and down, and few coaches have lasted more than 4 seasons.
Mullen is also the most experienced HC they have hired since they lured Doug Dickey from Tennessee in 1970 - but not the most successful (Dickey, Pell, and Meyer had all won conference titles).

Will UF let him build a new culture or will the "win now" approach take hold as normal?