Question: Will ANY team in the SEC East challenge Florida in the next five years?

[UAME]

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To put it bluntly, post-Tebow Florida will be moving back to the rest of the pack (it's already started, and he's not even gone.) I think the East is a free-for-all for the next 3 years or so. Tennessee probably can't make the move up as quickly as Bama did, so I'd guess it's Spurrier's best chance to go out on a high note, with a revamped UGA coaching staff being my second choice.

[92tide]

	Quote:	Tradition4ever
	As far as Richt and UGA goes, well who knows what to expect. They have what is supposed to be the next big thing at QB (Andy or Aaron Murray) waiting in the wings. They alledgedly have been recruiting tons of talent, but I agree with what Jess had to say in his article above, and that is the Bulldogs are gravitating towards being soft. Soft teams won't ever cut it in the SEC, and if this is the case for UGA, then they'll be spending their seasons fending off Kentucky and Vandy for 4th in the East!

ever since Herschel left, UGA has had the next "big thing" waiting in the wings. ill believe it when i see it.

i don't think they are gravitating towards being soft, they are soft and alot of it started two years ago when richt started relying on gimmicks to try and win games.

[twofbyc]

	Quote:	GulfCoastTider
	Georgia has been suffering from two problems--having to replace two of the SEC's most talented offensive weapons and dealing with a leaderless defense that isn't terribly well coached. IF Richt can get some production out of his offensive skill players, and IF they can get someone (anyone, including the DC) to show some leadership mojo on defense, they could knock UF off next year. Keep in mind that all SEC teams must face two squads from the other division--one is a "traditional" rival; the other rotates in for a home-and-home series. UF's "traditional" SEC West rival is LSU, a program that's a threat to beat anyone in the league. It is entirely possible for a one- or even a two-loss UGA team to get past Florida and into the 2010 SECCG. When this season started, I thought just such a thing might happen, but UGA went schizo and LSU's offense proved to be a much bigger mess than I thought it would be. UT, the only other serious threat in the East, is at least two years away from challenging.

I may be wrong here, but...we played Tenn, SC and KY this year...is the third one "optional"?

[twofbyc]

	Quote:	VolFan1
	Any chance on Brian Kelly going there?

He is a candidate for any top-notch program; all of the East should be nervous if he goes to Georgia.

[bonehouse81]

	Quote:	UAME
	To put it bluntly, post-Tebow Florida will be moving back to the rest of the pack (it's already started, and he's not even gone.)

I'm just not understanding all the cries of "Wait till Tebow leaves." Does everyone keep forgetting that Florida won the national championship in '06 with Chris Leak at QB?

That's not to say there won't be some bumps with the transition (the switch to Tebow full-time in '07 yielded an 8-5 record), but saying Florida is going to crash down to earth because Tebow's gone just makes no sense in light of that.

Florida recruits lights-out, Meyer's a great coach -- the Gators aren't making any drop to the second tier as long as Meyer's there.

[VolFan1]

	Quote:	twofbyc
	I may be wrong here, but...we played Tenn, SC and KY this year...is the third one "optional"?

No, you have to play 3 from the east. TN is a permanent opponent or "traditional opponent" and the other two rotate with the other 5 schools in the east.

	Quote:	twofbyc
	He is a candidate for any top-notch program; all of the East should be nervous if he goes to Georgia.

Agreed. He was my choice this past year at UT. If you look at his career, he has been successful everywhere he has been.

[BamaHollywood]

	Quote:	BamaFlum
	The biggest question for UGA is will Richt do what must be done on the defensive side of the ball. The need a better DC to compete in the SEC.

Agreed. Barring a dramatic upset of Florida this weekend, there will be a ton of pressure on Richt to can DC Willie Martinez during the offseason and find a replacement. If he pulls a Shula and refuses, he might just be the one being replaced.

[GulfCoastTider]

	Quote:	twofbyc
	I may be wrong here, but...we played Tenn, SC and KY this year...is the third one "optional"?

I pleade technical difficulties and I stand corrected. It's one permanent and two rotating.

[twofbyc]

	Quote:	GulfCoastTider
	I pleade technical difficulties and I stand corrected. It's one permanent and two rotating.

Anyone from anywhere near the Portable City gets at least one free pass...

[MegaVars]

	Quote:	Tradition4ever
	If UT, USC, or UGA want to challenge the Gators, next year will be a prime year to do so. The Gators not only lose the modern day Messiah at QB, they also will probably lose key OL personnel, WR personnel, the Hernandez TE, and a slew of defensive personnel. It truly will be a rebuilding effort for the Gators. They've recruited well, but you can only replace so much at one time and expect to be at the top of the division. I think that next year might be Spurrier's last best chance to get through to the SECCG with the Gamecocks. He'll have a senior at QB surrounded by some decent weapons, a defense that should be good again, and a UF team is rebuilding. Kiffin will once again be working with a new QB, and he'll have to replace key OL and defensive personnel. Plus, Kiffin will be replacing those guys with young recruits, which is not exactly a recipe for success in the SEC, at least early. As far as Richt and UGA goes, well who knows what to expect. They have what is supposed to be the next big thing at QB (Andy or Aaron Murray) waiting in the wings. They alledgedly have been recruiting tons of talent, but I agree with what Jess had to say in his article above, and that is the Bulldogs are gravitating towards being soft. Soft teams won't ever cut it in the SEC, and if this is the case for UGA, then they'll be spending their seasons fending off Kentucky and Vandy for 4th in the East!

Actually Florida only loses 6 starters this year. 3 on offense, (Tebow, Riley Cooper, & David Nelson) & 3 on defense, ( Cunningham, Brandon Spikes, & Ryan Stamper). Hernandez is a Jr. although he may go pro. Their offensive line will be a senior heavy class next year if they all decide to come back. Their special teams will be hurting, their punter Chas Henry is the only returning starter. Next year they will have 10 starters that will be seniors if they all come back for their final year.

[twofbyc]

	Quote:	VolFan1
	No, you have to play 3 from the east. TN is a permanent opponent or "traditional opponent" and the other two rotate with the other 5 schools in the east. Agreed. He was my choice this past year at UT. If you look at his career, he has been successful everywhere he has been.

He has indeed...and you never hear anything about him in the media...

[bamachile]

Short answer - yes, of course.
Long answer - I have no earthly idea who might do it, or what the circumstances might be. Here's my present guess - Vandy makes a big push to land a top-3 recruiting class this year and next. By 2012, they're stocked to the gills with All-American talent. They blow through the East and win every championship that 'Bama doesn't for the next decade.

p.s. - all of the above hinges on Rich Brooks retiring before he can turn UK into a powerhouse...

[mlh]

I don't see anyone challenging UF in the near future. The Gators will have a different look and feel next year without Tebow, but Meyer has been stockpiling talent and they will still be better than anyone else in their division.

The only thing that might tip the scales would be if Meyer left. But UF could probably bring Mullins back or hire another top-flight coach and the Gators wouldn't slip much.