Welcome to VS posting 101... "Posting as an opposing fan". I'm your instructor, ReVOLver.

Today's lecture... "Addressing a soon to be legend/flame out/NFL coach."

When posting on the VS regarding Urban Meyer, you cannot admit any of the following, even if you believe it:

1. That Meyer is going to succeed.

2. That his offense can succeed in the SEC.

3. That he will be able to recruit at a high level consistently.

What should I post, you ask? Well, you have 2 viable choices.

The first approach is to deny Meyer's obvious strengths, throw facts to the wind, dig in, and vehemently maintain that Meyer is a mid-major coach who wins with other coaches' players. A few well placed comments like "His offense is gimmicky" or "This is the SEC... flashy offenses don't work" are sure to generate some comical, if not downright nasty, responses. This choice is attractive because it generates the dialogue that is the most worth reading. Where this approach really becomes appropriate is when you go to other boards that VS regulars read and post in entirely the opposite manner. It keeps 'em thinking.

The second approach is compliment Meyer while slipping in vague criticisms. Comments like "Boy, he's a great disciplinarian and seems to have  bright football mind. I just don't know about Leak running the option," or "He signed an outstanding class this year... I sure hope he can reel in those kind of prospects once he finds out what the SEC is all about," fit well with this approach. The key is dropping in disclaimers like "JMHO" or "ICBW". The really attractive thing about this approach is that it will allow you to claim an "I told you so" in 2 years. If Meyer succeeds, you may take full credit for singing his praises in certain areas while dismissing your vague criticisms as erroneous judgment. If he fails, you will have ammunition to point to that shows your prediction of his downfall. If he is merely mediocre, you may repeat your original statements verbatim, demonstrating your uncanny football prescience. When you are challenged with this approach, you have wiggle room to either side to express that you simply believe that "We'll have to see what happens," or "Time will tell whether he will be successful." "I'm not taking shots at Meyer... I just wonder about new coaches in this league," is also very useful at times.

Naturally, such discussions usually lead into a debate about the impending UF - UT game. The key in such debates is to never get pinned down. State the obvious. Talk a lot about running the football and field position. Bob and weave back to the other side and remind your opponent that x team cannot possibly win because they have won the last x games in the series. Reverse field and claim that the visiting team actually has a homefield advantage. Vaguely refer to how it is better for your team that "... the game is early this year...". Talk about how good the Gator players are but subtly imply that the player that is matching up with them is a 5 year starter who will be a first round NFL draft pick.

If the rope-a-dope is impossible and you are pinned down to a prediction, immediately issue a resounding prediction in favor of the Gators. Follow up with a post saying exacly the opposite on a Vol board of your choice within 12 hours.

When all else fails, post one of the following flames and immediately retreat...

"Coach Tony sucks."

"Mud is a pretty boy."

"Hey, Jimmy... I read that Dot said that Jon Demps is transferring to FSU."

"The NAACP will be on UF's campus protesting the players in chains next week."

Thanks for your attention. In our next class, the lecture will be titled "Billy Donovan: Soon to be Bruce Pearl's bitch?"