The Gators run onto the field for Saturday's Homecoming game against Missouri. (Photo: Kelly Chase/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Taking a Turn at Gators Crowdsourcing
Monday, November 5, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – If I had been in Dan Mullen's shoes on Saturday, ready to lead the Gators from the tunnel and onto the field for Homecoming, I would have been a tad startled by all the empty seats only minutes prior to kickoff.
Especially in contrast to the magical atmosphere the last time the Gators played at home, a thrilling victory over LSU when the Swamp roared like the Swamp we all know and cherish. Of course, there was no doubt some of the excitement over that victory and Florida's emergence in the national spotlight was tapered by the loss to Georgia in Jacksonville seven days earlier.
That's human nature. Some momentum was lost.
Still, now that I think about it more, I was surprised as I scanned the stadium on a postcard-perfect Saturday afternoon from my usual seat in the press box and sensed little more than a quiet hum.
OK, let's get this out of the way. I know what some of you (or maybe most) are thinking: Why Scott? Or, for those who are still a little testy from what happened Saturday: Why you idiot?
First, the Gators took the field against Missouri in a much better place than expected, ranked 11th in the initial College Football Playoff poll of the season and with an opportunity at an 11-win season, something they haven't done in six years.
As mentioned previously, it was Homecoming, a beautiful day to be outdoors and based on social media sentiment in the days leading up to the game, fans were disappointed but not throw-in-the-towel upset after the loss.
Oh, and those orange end zones seemed to be a universal hit, which is a rarity for any team's fan base.
Having said all that, many fans were irked by one of Mullen's comments after the game. In fact, it was his final comment, which came when a reporter asked him to respond to a fan base that has seemingly taken to him well but remains frustrated by Florida's lack of a great quarterback since Tim Tebow.
Mullen briefly touched on the quarterback part of the question before diving into a bigger picture reflection:
"We want the program back, we need a sold-out stadium next week, an unbelievable home-field advantage. That's how it works, alright. I'm going to be honest with you. When we sellout the stadium, we'll win a championship. It doesn't go the other way. It's not we win, you sellout,'' Mullen said.
He continued: "You sell out, you win. Go watch teams that have built programs. That's how it works. I promise you, we'll give relentless effort. [To] all the fans, we'll continue to grind, we'll continue to work. We'll give unbelievable effort and coach our guys. We are going to work hard to make sure they come out and play as hard as they can next Saturday. We need to the same from Gator Nation."
Later on Saturday night, as fans stewed over the most disappointing loss in Mullen's first season, the Southeastern Conference announced that this week's home game against South Carolina has a noon kickoff.
You can imagine some of the clever responses to that news on Twitter.
Mullen was asked once more about the fan base on Monday during his regularly scheduled press conference.
More specifically, was he disappointed in the turnout against Missouri – announced paid attendance was 80,017, the smallest at the Swamp since a 2004 home game against Middle Tennessee State (80,018) – or concerned about a small crowd for Saturday's game against South Carolina?
"I'm not disappointed in any of the fan base and what they've done. I think they've really tried to buy-in since we got here," Mullen said. "I've said since Day 1, since the day I got here, that we've all in this together. And to get the program to championship level, it's not just gonna be my play-calling or a blitz we run on defense or who's playing quarterback. It's a program as a whole, and our fans are such a critical part of that program.
"And so I've been pleased with how they've bought in. And to me, I want to make sure they continue to understand how important they are. So I've been pleased with what they've done. I don't mind noon kickoffs personally. But I know everybody in the Gator Nation would prefer that late afternoon/evening kickoff because it makes for even a probably a more fun day for everybody with the tailgating before."
Look, I get where Mullen is coming from. The guy has worked tirelessly to get the fan base excited in his first season, one that I personally didn't expect to go as well as it has. I tip my hat to him for what him and his staff have been able to squeeze from a team that has some obvious roster holes.
But I also get where fans are coming from. Florida is different than any other state in the SEC. The ways to spend a Saturday are countless in the Sunshine State, which also features nine professional sports franchises in the four major North American leagues vying for disposable income.
With that said, I'm curious.
Like many of you of a certain age, it does feel strange to see so many empty seats at the Swamp on a game day. And of course, this isn't just an issue at Florida. There have been plenty of stories detailing attendance concerns across college football and other sports the past couple of years.
But since this relates only to the Gators, I'm curious to find out what fans think. I've attached a Twitter poll to get your input on why the crowd for the Gators-Missouri game was less than some expected.
Especially in contrast to the magical atmosphere the last time the Gators played at home, a thrilling victory over LSU when the Swamp roared like the Swamp we all know and cherish. Of course, there was no doubt some of the excitement over that victory and Florida's emergence in the national spotlight was tapered by the loss to Georgia in Jacksonville seven days earlier.
That's human nature. Some momentum was lost.
Still, now that I think about it more, I was surprised as I scanned the stadium on a postcard-perfect Saturday afternoon from my usual seat in the press box and sensed little more than a quiet hum.
OK, let's get this out of the way. I know what some of you (or maybe most) are thinking: Why Scott? Or, for those who are still a little testy from what happened Saturday: Why you idiot?
First, the Gators took the field against Missouri in a much better place than expected, ranked 11th in the initial College Football Playoff poll of the season and with an opportunity at an 11-win season, something they haven't done in six years.
With Saturday's crowd against Missouri a talking point this week, I'm curious. Why is that #Gators?
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) November 5, 2018
As mentioned previously, it was Homecoming, a beautiful day to be outdoors and based on social media sentiment in the days leading up to the game, fans were disappointed but not throw-in-the-towel upset after the loss.
Oh, and those orange end zones seemed to be a universal hit, which is a rarity for any team's fan base.
Having said all that, many fans were irked by one of Mullen's comments after the game. In fact, it was his final comment, which came when a reporter asked him to respond to a fan base that has seemingly taken to him well but remains frustrated by Florida's lack of a great quarterback since Tim Tebow.
Mullen briefly touched on the quarterback part of the question before diving into a bigger picture reflection:
"We want the program back, we need a sold-out stadium next week, an unbelievable home-field advantage. That's how it works, alright. I'm going to be honest with you. When we sellout the stadium, we'll win a championship. It doesn't go the other way. It's not we win, you sellout,'' Mullen said.
He continued: "You sell out, you win. Go watch teams that have built programs. That's how it works. I promise you, we'll give relentless effort. [To] all the fans, we'll continue to grind, we'll continue to work. We'll give unbelievable effort and coach our guys. We are going to work hard to make sure they come out and play as hard as they can next Saturday. We need to the same from Gator Nation."
Later on Saturday night, as fans stewed over the most disappointing loss in Mullen's first season, the Southeastern Conference announced that this week's home game against South Carolina has a noon kickoff.
You can imagine some of the clever responses to that news on Twitter.
Mullen was asked once more about the fan base on Monday during his regularly scheduled press conference.
More specifically, was he disappointed in the turnout against Missouri – announced paid attendance was 80,017, the smallest at the Swamp since a 2004 home game against Middle Tennessee State (80,018) – or concerned about a small crowd for Saturday's game against South Carolina?
"I'm not disappointed in any of the fan base and what they've done. I think they've really tried to buy-in since we got here," Mullen said. "I've said since Day 1, since the day I got here, that we've all in this together. And to get the program to championship level, it's not just gonna be my play-calling or a blitz we run on defense or who's playing quarterback. It's a program as a whole, and our fans are such a critical part of that program.
"And so I've been pleased with how they've bought in. And to me, I want to make sure they continue to understand how important they are. So I've been pleased with what they've done. I don't mind noon kickoffs personally. But I know everybody in the Gator Nation would prefer that late afternoon/evening kickoff because it makes for even a probably a more fun day for everybody with the tailgating before."
Look, I get where Mullen is coming from. The guy has worked tirelessly to get the fan base excited in his first season, one that I personally didn't expect to go as well as it has. I tip my hat to him for what him and his staff have been able to squeeze from a team that has some obvious roster holes.
But I also get where fans are coming from. Florida is different than any other state in the SEC. The ways to spend a Saturday are countless in the Sunshine State, which also features nine professional sports franchises in the four major North American leagues vying for disposable income.
With that said, I'm curious.
Like many of you of a certain age, it does feel strange to see so many empty seats at the Swamp on a game day. And of course, this isn't just an issue at Florida. There have been plenty of stories detailing attendance concerns across college football and other sports the past couple of years.
But since this relates only to the Gators, I'm curious to find out what fans think. I've attached a Twitter poll to get your input on why the crowd for the Gators-Missouri game was less than some expected.
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