The reality is that the BEST thing Florida could do right now is rally behind this team - come what may - and support their coach. If they unload Coach Mac this winter - OR if he leaves for "greener" (less unrealistic) pastures, they will be making their THIRD Coach Hire in Seven? years?CJM is a pretty good coach. Truth is you can't win em all.
(Even if your Alabama)
Idiot Gators will make it attractive for CJM to take another job.
Gators will wind up with somebody like Gus... (They deserve it)
At what point do top candidates start to look at a job and wonder if its a good as its made out to be?
Remember - When Spurrier arrived, FRU and Miami were riding high. But when they hired Meyer, NOT SO MUCH. Diddy Bowden was in the Twilight of his career, and it was right around that time that Miami unloaded Coker and began the Randy Shannon tenure - which was no great shakes. The State of Florida was ripe for the taking, and Meyer Cleaned Up on in state talent right from the start.
That's 180 degrees opposite of the situation now. Today, Florida is competing with a Saban protege in Tally - and even though Jim-Blo is having a rough year, he's still recruiting lights out. And now you have "Saint Mark" Richt bringing Miami back to life. PLUS you have Saban (and Saban-lite at UGA) raiding Florida talent.
UF is not the ripe "Cherry" of a job that it was in 2004/05 when Urban was hired, or even the job it was 3 years ago when Coach Mac started.
They MIGHT just be surprised at the LACK of interest their top targets might show, IF the job were to come open.
IMO - without the freak injuries and suspensions they've had the past few years they'd have had very competitive teams.
I just don't think its a ALL Certain that they could upgrade the HC position over what they have right now.