Saturdays In Athens: 06.11.21

Dan Mullen has not cut a happy figure in recent weeks. And with good reason. October has not been kind to the Gators. 

Florida exited September 3-1, their only defeat coming by 2 points at the hands of a then #1 Alabama team – a game most thought Florida should have won.

Hopes were high in Gainesville.

But then came Black October, with defeats from Kentucky, LSU and latterly a 34-7 routing by the undisputed #1 team in the land – and the Gators fiercest rivals – Georgia. Only a victory over what is a very young and winless Vanderbilt team spared Mullen’s blushes from an 0-4 record in October.

From 3-1 to 4-4, Dan Mullen finds himself quickly and surprisingly under pressure. And it is a familiar and recurring issue which is raised when the Gators struggle: “Dan Mullen is not a good recruiter”. 

So, this week in the fallout from the Georgia game, this topic raised its head. Again. 

Early in the week, Dan Mullen was not in the mood. During his Monday press conference, Mullen was asked if a different approach was needed to recruitment. The Florida Head Coach wasn’t tolerating this line of questioning, cutting the question off before it was finished. Mullen said,

“we’re in the season right now. We’ll do recruiting after the season. When it get’s to recruiting time, we can talk about recruiting. Ok, next question…”

And that was that – until UF cancelled all other media appearances this week for Mullen and players, except for the SEC Coaches mid week press conference. In addition, the UF Sports Information Team also made it clear Mullen will not be answering any more questions on recruitment until the end of the season.

So that was that. Until Kirby Smart was asked a question on the importance of recruiting.

Now bear in mind, Kirby Smart is the Head Coach of Dan Mullen’s greatest rivals. A team that just beat the Gators 34-7. So probably not helpful that this is how important Kirby Smart thinks recruiting is.

“Guys, if you don’t recruit, there’s no coach out there that can out coach recruiting. I don’t care who you are. The best coach to ever play the game better be a good recruiter”

Smart went on,

“because no coaching is going to out coach players. Anyone will tell you our defense is good but we’ve got good players. So spending time on the phone, spending time with people at your house, spending time with people that come to your campus. I’m not with my family when I am doing that. My family sacrifices so that I can go and spend other time with people’s families so that we can have good players.

 

So it’s 25% evaluation, it’s 50% recruiting and another 25% is going to be coaching. But if you don’t recruit guys, you’ve got no chance. Look at the best teams out there – they got good football players. That’s the reason I believe in recruiting and why I believe you should always be recruiting. Always. Be. Recruiting. 

And then the telling statement which should send shudders around the rest of the SEC,

“Because if you’re not, someone else is”.

Footnote:

Mullen did attend the SEC Head Coaches mid-week teleconference and opened his segment with a statement in which he said said,

“First I would like to touch on something for all the Gator Nation and all our great fans that was taken out of context on Monday’s press conference.

 

As pertains to recruiting – our staff recruits non stop, we grind at recruiting every day and we are always recruiting. We work to get the best players who fit the Gator standard and bring them here to our program. And as I said on Monday. we’re just not going to get into the specifics of everything we do in recruiting and how we do all of that until after this season”. 

 

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