My Gator World

In what looks to be somewhat of a rebuilding year for the Gators, and a down year for the SEC East in general, Florida will need major contributions from a bevy of first year starters and newcomers to the team if they are going to pose a legitimate threat to climb the conference ranks once again this year. On the heels of a Sugar Bowl victory (soured only by a loss to Alabama that would’ve sent the Gators to the BCS Championship), having become the first team in Division I history to notch consecutive 13-win seasons, Florida now faces a time of uncertainty that it has successfully eluded the program over the course of the Urban Meyer era. Shockingly announcing his retirement after the Sugar Bowl win, Urban Meyer sent Gator Nation into panic though thankfully the panic was short lived. Within 48 hours, Meyer softened his position on his proposed absence, instead opting for the more soft spoken “leave of absence,” taking time off to focus more on his family and health issues. Fortunately, Coach Meyer’s health issues, later disclosed to be a non-life threatening heart muscle defect, have apparently subsided as he will once again find himself holding the clipboard and headset on the sidelines in Gainesville come September. Meyer resumed full coaching duties in March, just 2 months after his big announcement, with plenty of time to conduct spring practice and welcome first-time Gators to The Swamp. (more…)