Meyer: Improving is first on Gators' to-do list
Monday, October 11, 2010 | Football, Scott Carter
Shortly after Florida's 33-29 loss to LSU on Saturday night, Gators coach Urban Meyer was asked about his message in the locker room following one of the Gators' toughest losses in his six seasons.
Meyer was blunt and to the point in his response.
“We say we're not very good and we've got to get better,'' he said.
As Florida tries to rebound this week from back-to-back losses for only the second time in six seasons under Meyer, improving as a team tops the to-do list.
Other than for their 48-14 win over Kentucky on Sept. 25, the Gators have not dominated an opponent the way Florida fans have come to expect in recent seasons.
Of course, this year's Florida team is not the same one that lost two games the previous two seasons. Many of those players have moved on, including 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow and defensive leader Brandon Spikes.
Young players such as Trey Burton, Jelani Jenkins and Jordan Reed are now playing key roles. Starting quarterback John Brantley is a work in progress. The offensive line, expected to be one of the team's strength, has been banged up and inconsistent at times.
What it all adds up to is a team that at midseason remains in search of the consistency and confidence that the program and its rabid fan base are used to.
The Gators returned to practice on Sunday committed to making sure the second half of the season is better than the first.
“It's complicated but it's not that complicated,'' Meyer said late Saturday. “We've got to find a way not to come up short.''
On his weekly TV show Sunday, Meyer reiterated that for the results to get better, the performance must improve. If that happens, then the Gators could still accomplish some pretty special things by the end of the season.
“The Gator football family wins championships together. The Gator football family also fights through adversity together,'' Meyer said. “The key is that we've got to get better. To start worrying about things far off the in the future, we're still right in the middle of the season halfway home, we've just got to take care of business this week.
“We're right in the middle of this thing. History shows that in the SEC, the team is last standing healthy and playing well, is going to take care of it. One way to do that is get your guys healthy and play well.''
