Stage One: Denial- sometimes known as the cupboard was bare or the players don't fit the system. This usually lasts the first season and masks the disappointment of the team's lack of improvement upon hiring a new head coach or even covering for the dreaded step backwards.

Stage Two: Bargaining- sometimes marked by the realization that the team is playing a lot of close games this year. This stage can be especially tough to recognize because for every thrilling win over a good ranked opponent there is a lack luster win over an inferior team or even a shocking loss. Tragic earth shattering once in a generation type losses in crazy back in forth games whose final outcome is usually blamed on the referees, some type of fluke play or a vast conspiracy.

Stage Three: Realization. The team isn't getting any better. The team makes the same mistakes. Some fans a slow to realization because... well the recruiting classes have been really good.

Twenty-eight games in (2 games into the third season); Muschamp 19-9, Zook 17-11 (yes I'm going there). Strip away the games against MAC teams or other gimmie type opponents and its Muschamp 12-9, Zook 12-11. Versus the SEC, however, Muschamp 10-6, Zook 12-5. Zook went 0-6 vs Miami, FSU and bowl game, Muschamp 2-3. In 28 games Muschamp's teams have played 10 games decided by 8 or fewer points, with a record of 6-4 (even one of the gimmie opponents kept a game within one score). For Zook it was even more of a roller coaster ride of 14 one score games, Zook went 8-6. Along the way Zook had two signature wins over 13-1 UGA and 13-1 LSU. And quite a few kick to the stomach losses. I'm not sure Muschamp was a signature win, in year one none of the teams he beat had a winning record, in year two maybe Tex A&M (but it didn't seem like it at the time), more likely FSU who went 12-2. More so FSU because that was how he said he would beat teams in the 4th quarter. The S Car was more about them turning over on their goal line. I think you could reasonably argue that Muschamp has faced better teams overall, certainly Bama, LSU, UGA, and South Car are better than their 2002-03 versions. On the flip side Tennessee and Miami are worse now than back then. After the first two games of 2004, Zook went 3-3 in the next six games to seal his fate (including a cluster of a loss to a 3-8 Miss State team). Muschamp has UT, UK, Arky, LSU, Mizzu, and UGA. Would 3-3 in these six games seal Muschamp's fate?==============================

Seriously?  What rational argument can be made that win/loss records from games a decade ago have any valid comparison in any way to wins and losses to today?  The bounces of the football then dictate how successful (or not) we are now?

With all due respect (uh oh....) you like numbers and I usually enjoy your analytical takes on this stuff....but your sample size and your frame of reference in this season are both way too small.

We all have the rights to our opinions, and I get that some people are much quicker to see the negative than are others...Lord knows we go through this EVERY SINGLE YEAR (including the ones that end in championships)... but two games into the season and following a surprisingly successful one is just outlandish IMO.