I know part of his charm is that it tells it like it is and does what he wants, when he wants, but IMO, this exit, especially if it is truly his final exit from coaching, somewhat tarnishes his legacy. I don't understand why you don't coach the last few games and then retire or resign (which is it??).  Unless there is some under the radar issue we don't know about (health issue, family issue, etc), I disagree with how he did this, and I bet his players and staff do, too.  He'll tell you "aww, shux, I just didn't want the last games to be about me - I don't need that ego stroke like some do when they decide to retire", but there's an easy solution for that - just don't say anything until the last game is played.  I think this kind of unpredictable personality is precisely why Machen and Foley pressed him before deciding if they would entertain bringing him back to be HBC of The Gators - I think history shows that they made the right decision.

BBG

I'm afraid to imagine how bad it could've gotten by the Clemson game. He was visibly pissed that Brandon Wilds chose not to go in the game against LSU despite being cleared by the medical staff. Shameik Blackshear, a freshman with a checkered past in high school, tweets after the game "Should've listened to my parents and looked around". One of the offensive linemen tweets at Shameik, "Where were you Friday for workouts?". Things were spiraling down pretty steep. I was in the camp of he's earned the right to do what he wants. I would've supported him returning for another year, but I would've hoped and expected the entire defensive staff to go (keep Hoke and let him hire his own guys) and Spurrier, Jr. being removed from recruiting coordinator...but I don't know if he could've brought himself to do all that.

I've got friends that are pissed he did this. Hell I got into a heated argument with my sister via text Monday night. I see where people are coming from but I think he's earned the right and it's not out of his character. I agree with what Heath Cline said (paraphrasing), "Why are people shocked that a man, who constantly sent the next guy in when things weren't working, did it to himself?"

I'm forever grateful to the man for coming here. I'm not one of the rival fans that despised him when he was at Florida. I adored his style. My grandfather & I would watch Florida games when I was younger while Holtz was here and yearn for a coach that wasn't satisfied to grab a 3 point lead & run out the clock. I still have the '97 Sugar Bowl on VHS collecting dust somewhere. His heart was and is always with Florida but I was thrilled we got to rent him at the end of his career. Something better carry his name here as far as I'm concerned, whether it be the indoor facility they just built or the football operations building on the horizon. You're already starting to hear the talk of Kirby Smart's interest in the job revving up, which is intriguing, but I'm not looking forward to long-winded sound bytes about "the process". After 10 years of needling Dabo and berating Lane Kiffin for misquoting him while walking into an elevator, I'm not ready for generic coach-speak. He's only been gone officially almost 24 hours and I miss the hell out of him.