via email from Joel Barker

1) There was a clique of players that were not serious about
preparation, and it was a core group that we are not used to thinking of
in this way. They are players we are accustomed to being serious-minded
and to handling their affairs in a mature way. This did not happen.
There was a large scale emotional/mental breakdown of discipline on the
part of several players that caused a rising lack of focus beginning
with preparation for FSU, and continuing through SECCG prep.

2) From a source close to the team: word spreads among teams and
coaches in the SEC faster than it does in public via the media, and
Bama’s staff and players knew that many key UF players were not taking
preparation seriously, but were on the other hand focused on their own
and not the team’s wellbeing. While it can’t be proven, someone whom I
trust stated that several key players “lost their hunger to be
champions” when they began to get within sight of the NFL, and were
listening to some very bad advice. TT (the ultimate competitor) was, in
fact, livid at these kids with divided loyalties, and his anger erupted
(as much as it ever could with him) in the locker room confronting the
commitment of these players to winning (pre-SECCG). During the game he
was pressing to make up for their lack of intensity, effort. That group
of players is likely gone (to a man). We may see the return of one D
star who lost his focus simply because his draft value is now
questioned. The team came out of the tunnel looking flat because a lot
of this stuff erupted on the trip to the game site and in the hotel. The
team looked flat because it WAS flat. Division and mutual suspicion
doomed them before kickoff. I was told by one source that he’d “never
seen Tim so angry at other players.”

3) I was told that there was a players meeting among some of
these core contributors prior to the FSU game discussing NFL prospects
and determining the list of who would be coming out and who wouldn’t. A
“core group” of players determined that they would all come out
together. It was determined in this meeting that some kids would be
minimizing their risks in the coming games. Some were offensive and some
were defensive players. The impact of the looming rookie salary cap had
a huge effect on the mentality of some players. The coaches were aware
of some of this, but not the full extent, and there is only so much you
can do even if you know, short of benching starters. Some of these were
absolutely critical players we were counting on to come through, and
simply quit on the team.

4) Urban is glad for the coming cap and hopes it has some teeth,
because he is bitter about UF’s player attrition and feels that the NFL
is harming his program inordinately. UF is on national TV every day
(playing or not), and the NFL buzz starts very early here (yes, earlier
than elsewhere where the media glare is less intense). He is a realist
and understands that the NFL is a draw/dream for a lot of these kids who
grew up with making it to the league as their goal, but feels that the
inordinately high 1st round money is damaging college football, and
particularly damaging the teams that are more in the media glare. He
feels that with the cap, kids will likely be making more conservative
decisions on coming out early, as there will be less lure in an attempt
to make that one, big life-changing score -missing out on the full
college experience and damaging the team with divided commitment.

5) Urban has had a difficult time this year keeping the
mentality of the team managed. There have been some divisive parents
(which always happens when you have as much talent as we do). Complaint
about playing time, and locker room jockeying/division. Sometimes when
you have players for as long as some have been here, and they are of a
certain background/mentality, you lose them at the end. We had a star
player we “lost” at the end of the year last year. Sometimes it happens
with kids who are a handful of weeks from being millionaires, who have
been working their rears off for years, and who see light at the end of
the school tunnel.

6) In some ways you could say we were a victim of our own
success. Yet unlike some other schools, UF is a fishbowl, and a star
mentality can (and did) develop with some key players. There were 3 whom
I will not mention specifically who were literally “saving themselves”
for the NFL, and had decided not to take any chances on injury. Spikes
was not among them. He is a warrior. If you looked at him carefully, you
saw a frustration in his eyes during the championship game, in that he
knew there were players who were not going full out. He’s been in their
faces this year, but there is only so much you can do when they have an
“entourage” of hangers on whispering in their ears about how rich they
soon will be -people positioning themselves to be “advisors.” You get a
whole bunch of new friends when you are about to become a millionaire.

7) So yes, some of the team “quit” after the SEC schedule. The
partying was a symptom of that. Certain star players got a kind of
entitlement mentality as they got closer to the draft and it spilled
over into our final games. Urban thinks that it is touch and go whether
we can get them re-focused for the bowl game. A loss would not surprise
me with as widespread as the “relaxation” got. Urban may end up benching
some starters if he can’t get them focused on trying to win the bowl
game. You may see some OL and O skill stalwarts sitting for the bowl
game. Don’t be surprised.

8) One thing I can assure you is this: UF is going back to a
blue collar mentality, and the stardom thing will be nipped in the bud.
He is not going to tolerate a prima donna atmosphere to develop here,
because it is what poisoned the last coaching outfit: all talent and not
much heart. And there are some tolerant coaches on our staff who will be
replaced with drill instructor mentalities to purge the program of
entitlement. Offseason conditioning is going to be the most brutal ever,
and there are NO (as in zero) “starters” at this point. Even more so in
the past, everyone except John Brantley III will earn it. John is the
future, and except for one more game, this is his team now. Competition
for playing time will be fierce.

9) There have been some slackers this year, members of the
clique, who have not taken to doing the things well that are not quite
as glamorous, but that contribute to a fundamentally sound team. At
least one of those kids is gone.

10) There were what I will call “negotiation and transition”
distractions for members of our coaching staff during SECCG prep week
that we had tried to fend off during the season, but at last came to a
head, the interested party being eager to get their replacement named to
save a recruiting class. We were bombarded with calls the 2nd half of
the season with inquiries about our DC, and this had a definite effect
on the focus and concentration of some of his kids. Urban was passive on
the sidelines because he a) knew the outcome already and b) was already
ill and growing more so as the game went on. As you’ve come to find out,
he takes his job very seriously and he’s very good at it. But he needs
to take a step back get some rejuvenation. It was a long haul this
season with the expectations and the attitudes. The locker room has not
been a fun place lately. One of the things that Brantley brings to the
table is a cool confidence that is infectious. he know’s he’s just one
flick of the arm away from a score at any moment. UF has very serious
talent in the WR corps that is simply immature, and will bring in
another haul this year. No worries in that area. WR’s want to play with
Brantley (which is not damning TT with faint praise). But there is an
enthusiasm you see in recruits when we flip on the Brantley film.

11) The good news is that we have been managing the probable
transition with recruits for some time now, and the names of potential
candidates have been shown to defensive recruits. So this was managed
and massaged from way back, and it was handled in a very conscientious
manner. There will be some minor fallout from the loss of Strong, but
nothing considered critical I’m told.

12) I’m currently being told that despite what I was told in the
past, UF is looking to perhaps go outside of the fold for a DC. Someone
to fully implement Urban’s defensive philosophy is being sought. Mac and
Heater are thought to have the minds/mentalities necessary, but are
perhaps too close to/immersed in Strong’s philosophy to bring fresh
insight. It is also possible that we lose one or two on that side of the
ball to L’ville, so a contingency plan is in place. Strong will be the
de facto DC at L’ville, but he will need a DC for organizational
purposes. So we might lose some coaches there. I would worry most about
Bedford, who is considered a wizard as a position coach. Brady has
mentioned some of the candidates, but I’m told that the list is slightly
longer than what related. Internal candidates will be considered, but it
is thought that UF needs fresh blood on the D side of the ball, and more
of a “general” than a Sergeant Major (which is not a comment on Strong).

13) While there are those with program contacts who assure me it
is not the case, I’m told by a couple of people I trust to look for
changes on the offensive side as well. Strong is thought to want to go
in a different direction offensively and will not poach our staff to any
great degree, but in a pinch he may turn to men he’s comfortable working
with and whose character he knows.

14) There is a candidate list being floated on the offensive
side of the ball. You will be told that it isn’t true. It will be denied
to high heaven, but there is a very strong chance we have a different OC
next year. I’m told Urban wants to get back to his roots offensively,
and that he feels we’ve made too much of a departure from the principles
that got us to this pinnacle. Look for a bit more razzle dazzle next
year, and an OC comfortable with flinging the ball around the yard is
being considered. They are not departing from spread principles -far
from it. But they will examine how they got away from what made them
successful, and may bring in a spread “Jedi Master.” If you don’t think
Urban “works that way” then you a) Are forgetting what happened to
Hevesy and b) You are underestimating the commitment Urban has to
winning. Personal loyalties will not be permitted to retard the program.

15) The “program” is thought to have taken a minor hit with the
loss/dissension and selfishness that showed itself at the end, but Urban
is actually excited to shake things up a bit a get back to roots. All
our recruits are thus far still on board. There is still a TON of talent
on this team, yet it is talent that needs to mature and needs to have
greater accountability than some of our stars showed late in the season.
I’m told that there is a sense of urgency/purpose in the staff that is
dedicated to staying.

16) I will come out with a full DC prospect list, but I’m told
that John Pease is still on that list (but is considered perhaps too
long in the tooth), and several “star” names along with several dark
horse candidates. The likelihood is that we bring in both a LB coach and
a DC unless we can get a two-fer. The position is too important not to
have a specialist there. Nix is at the top of the list. Trigger could be
pulled very, very soon on that.