1.  I was proud to be among the legions of loyal Gators who showed up to support the team.  I actually expected a less than enthusiastic turnout from Gator fans, given the general consensus that Georgia, with the return of Gurley and Bennett, was likely to win handily.  But the orange-and-blue was very well represented, and those sitting around us in the middle of our Gator section (408) were vocal and ready to do their part.

2.  The first 6 minutes of the game were stunning.  We expected this team -- after a bye week, and much talk from the coaches of the need to make changes that would improve the team's performance, and the realization that a win over a still-vulnerable Georgia would keep hopes of a very satisfying season alive -- to come out full of piss and vinegar, ready to fight.  Instead, what we saw was a defense that appeared to be unprepared and unmotivated, and an offense that, with the exception of one exciting big play, looked no different -- and certainly no better -- than what we saw against LSU and Mizzou.

3.  Given the disappointing performance during the first 30 minutes, it would have been easy for Gator fans to give up at the half, especially after surrendering that last-second field goal that ultimately proved to be the difference in the final score.  But in our section, nobody left.  Oh, there was a lot of grumbling.  But the fans were steadfast.  And then suddenly Georgia made a boneheaded turnover that we were able to exploit for a touchdown, followed quickly by a safety, and suddenly you could feel the momentum shift, and the Gator side of the stadium roared, and you could see and sense that our players were genuinely fired up.  

4.  For me, the critical sequence in the game came when Georgia had a fourth-and-1 and decided to go for it in their own territory, while leading.  During the timeout before that play, I told some the younger Gators sitting around us about when I was at the game in 1976 and the Gators had a lead, and Doug Dickey elected to go for it on fourth down in our own territory, and failed, and Georgia went on to win the game -- "Fourth and Dumb," as it has long been remembered.  When the defense stopped Gurley on that play, we briefly celebrated Richt's own Fourth and Dumb, and at that moment I was confident the Gators would ride the momentum to win the game.  That confidence grew when another Georgia mistake gave us a first down with a penalty just when we were about go for it on fourth down ourselves.  But history was not to repeat itself this day.  A series of poorly executed plays ended that possession.  And when the next opportunity was squandered, you could just as palpably feel the optimism of the players ebb.  And from that point forward, we saw about the same level of play as we had seen in the first half, and our defense was unable to stop Georgia from running out the clock.

5.  What we saw today and this evening was about 20 minutes of the kind of emotion-fueled effort I believe we have a right to expect of Florida football players, and 40 minutes of doing little more than going through the motions. I keep seeing the same missed assignments that turn potentially successful plays into no-gains or losses -- not only whiffs by offensive linemen, but missed blocks by wide receivers.  And those lapses reflect the same lack of discipline that produces far too frequent mental errors, which result either in costly penalties or opponents bands playing post-score fight songs.  At least we avoided any turnovers, and generated enough excitement to make the Dawgs nervous for a little while -- and I certainly appreciated that.  But what that also tells me is that if this group had been better prepared and better disciplined and more motivated to play with genuine passion and desire from the outset, the Gators would probably have won this game. 

I know that some here will deplore this criticism, and characterize it as irrational and disloyal.  But I defy anyone to find more loyal Gators than those of us who not only  contribute our money and show up and cheer for the team at every home game, but who make the drive to Jacksonville and turn out proudly sporting our orange-and-blue, and stay to the bitter end, even in years like this when we know it's likely we'll have to suffer the indignity of the post-game taunting from Georgia fans. 

I have nothing personal against these coaches. They may all be great guys.  But in their line of work, like most, job performance is measured by results.  Florida football has been a successful program.  The players who come to Florida expect to be part of a successful program and to compete for championships.  The fans who provide support to ensure that the program has the resources it needs expect, at a minimum, that the team will show improvement towards the restoration of a championship level program.  If it becomes apparent that the present coaches are not producing successful results, or even any signs of improvement, don't the fans have a right to be disappointed and ask whether the program deserves better?