Quick Look: Florida Gators vs. Vanderbilt Commodores

Quick Look isn’t intended to make sense, but it is intended to make you think. However, after the month we’ve just experienced, thinking may induce vomiting. Proceed at your own risk and come up with your own conclusions. Basically, this is just here to remind you that, yes, there is a game on Saturday.

I’ve been given a hard time by those that read the words I type over my use of the term must-win. (Side Note: TBG is meant to be read aloud. Not to yourself inside your head, but aloud. Go ahead; try it out. Coworkers be damned; you came here for a reason and that reason is to read. Show off your skills by pronouncing each and every word so all can hear.) A must-win game is exactly that – one which must be won for a variety of reasons, but overall to establish the course for the remainder of the season.

The first thing you’re asking out loud is “trusted blogger, in the college football world, isn’t every game a must-win?” Yes and no. If you are truly a contender for the national title the yes, every game is a must-win. Unless of course you play in the SEC. In that case, you can afford to lose one or even two games and still get a chance to prove your dominance over the temporary no. 1 from one of those other, lesser conferences. Let’s stay away from that for now though. There’s your yes example; here are your no situations:

• A bowl game that isn’t preceded by the letters B, C and S. Being there in person, it was nice seeing Florida win the Outback Bowl at the conclusion of the 2010 season. For the players, I’m sure it brought a sense of pride. For the seniors, a chance to go out with a victory. For Urban Meyer, and end to an up and down six seasons. For the larger picture, not a whole lot. That’s the harsh reality of most of the bowls. They are a reward for the players, but at that point what does the difference between 8-5 and 7-6 really mean?

• If you’re Directional Small State College and you’ve been invited to start your season at Perennial Powerhouse University a victory would be the win of your program’s lifetime. It also isn’t remotely expected. You come, play, give your best effort, collect your check and go home. Unless of course you’re Appalachian State (This reference was brought to you by Things That Happened Four Years Ago and Are No Longer Remotely Relevant*).

• And the situation you were waiting for because it relates to the Gators right now: certain games during seasons such as this when a new head coach is breaking in his staff and trying to implement a new regime. “BUT FLORIDA SHOULD NEVER ACCEPT DEFEAT!!!” you are screaming as you add your name to the Fire Will Muschamp petition. You, crazed fan we’ve come to love, but are secretly a little scared of, are correct. We, they, them and all of us should never accept defeat for defeat is [INSERT POETIC ENDING I DIDN’T EXHAUST THE ENERGY TO COME UP WITH]! But we aren’t talking about accepting defeat; we’re talking about defining must-win games. There were two of them this season that definitely fall into that category of not being so (I’ll let you debate if there were more on your own, or with whoever you are reading this article to as you were previously told to do): Alabama and LSU. It would have been great and monumental and monumentally great to have defeated either of those teams, but neither is classified as a must-win. Florida wasn’t a national title contender this season. We knew that going in. 2011 was about seeing what a new coach and his cohorts could bring to the table while balancing the inevitable transfer exodus and a roster of players that might not be perfect for their schemes. Parts would surprise and parts would disappoint, but the whole was a practice of sorts for the future. 2011 was to be taken with a grain of salt, or a bottle of Tums. Wins over the Crimson Tide and Tigers of Purple would have been more than pleasant surprises, but they weren’t must-wins. And that’s the near-perfect setup to what are the must-wins…

Through eight games, six fall into that category. That seems like a lot and is part of the reason why I’m made fun of when I put the term out there, but it’s true. We’ll start with the least if we were to put weights to them, which we won’t be doing. Tennessee was a must-win because of the talent differential and little else. You could add in the fact that it was the coaching staff’s first SEC game and to keep the current streak alive, but for the most part it had to do with talent levels (at least that was our reasoning at the time). Even so, it’s a game that could possibly be removed from this discussion if debated thoroughly. FAU, UAB and Kentucky were all must-wins because you can’t lose to teams you’re absolutely, undeniably supposed to beat. You beat them and move on. Four must-wins so far, four actual wins. Very nice. Good job boys. And then the last two games. Auburn and Georgia were must-wins and mostly because of what had occurred before then. You already know the reasoning, but it boils down to SEC Championship Game hopes, not allowing an avalanche to develop and a losing streak to get out of hand, confidence, improvement, etc., etc., etc.

Now – ignoring the fact that I called this a quick look in the title – we finally get to Vanderbilt and the game on the horizon. The contest of is a must-win for Florida for practically every reason listed above. The Gators should beat the Commodores, have more talent (we think), can’t possibly lose five games in a row (we hope), and need to stop doing this to us (no, seriously).

Vandy is one of those unique teams that we’re being told is playing better than they have in many recent seasons. That much appears to be true as evidenced by recent games against Georgia and Arkansas. However, the Dores are still only beating the teams they are entirely expected to beat. The same could be said for the Gators though and that’s where it gets oh so hairy. Hairy enough that we may watch this one with one eye closed if only for fear we may try to stab ourselves in it with a fork. It’s a must-win in every sense of the term and in the end could mean the difference between 6-6 and 5-7, which, yes, is astronomically more important than the difference between 8-4 and 7-5.

So go forth reptiled warriors and beat Vanderbilt. Beat them because it’s all you know. Beat them because people tell you you’re supposed to. Beat them because you have more talent. Beat them for pride. Beat them for confidence. Beat them for bragging rights (?). Most of all, beat them because you have to.

*I’m sure someone will remind me of this statement the next time I reminisce of great Gator moments of the past.