Florida’s Burden: Heavy hangs the head that wears the crown.

Taking inventory of Florida’s season amongst friends following the Vandy win brought about an interesting observation.  Namely, that 2009 hasn’t been “fun” in any traditional sense.  Before expounding on this seemingly incongruent statement SNL would like to apologize to fans in Athens, Tallahassee, Baton Rouge, South Bend or Ann Arbor, who have or are suffering through forgettable seasons.  Put another way, we are mindful of the fact that this post is a lot like the rich kid complaining that he only got a Corvette for his 16th birthday.

Irrespective, this season has been arduous for Florida fans for a host of reasons, most of which have been espoused by mainstream pundits ad nauseum in weeks past.  Yes, the schedule has been awful-honestly, what game other than LSU did any Florida fans reasonably anticipate?  (No, Arkansas doesn’t count because it didn’t become interesting until Arkansas threatened to win and, Arkansas got destroyed the following week by the Rebs.)  And, the offense has been painful to watch.  This fact is best illustrated by SNL’s wife, a casual fan at best (she’s from Maine), who stated innocently following the Vandy game, “this is just bad TV.”  She’s right, of course. 

Even St. Tim, the lamb of god, has shown signs that he is no longer enjoying the grind that is the 2009 season, succumbing to expectations by chucking picks and refusing to talk to the media on at least one occasion.  In sum, there is plenty of empirical evidence to support the fact that 2009 has been a tough season for the Gators, despite the fact that Florida is ranked #1, undefeated, and on a collision course with its equal but opposite reciprocal in the ATL for the SECCG. 

What isn’t so obvious, however, is that Florida’s grind is par for the course for programs that establish a level of excellence that can only be described as dominant.  Winning handily with solid defense is no longer enough for the Florida allegiant, who expect their quixotic leader and his cadre of speedsters to win big, as if Percy-like highlights are now an entitlement for the Orange and Blue.  Strangely, boasting the #1 defense and commensurate BCS ranking also do little to salve the inexplicably waning euphoria of the Gator Nation. 

Lost amidst the negativity and dozens of calls to local radio programs questioning everything from Tebow’s throwing motion to Addazio’s game planning to Florida’s ability to beat Alabama is that this, Flock, is the promised land.  This is what it is like to sit atop the CFB world, returning most players from the 2008 Championship team and the most recognizable CFB football player in the history of the game (more in this later). 

We asked for this.  Right?  This is what we wanted, the most coveted Coach?  A sea filled with the corpses of vanquished challengers?  Few rivals worthy of our respect?   This, Flock, is the crown.  It is by its very nature, a blessing that inevitably brings about expectations, complacence, and if not careful, precipitous falls.  The crown is to be worn solemnly, if at all, and you, dispirited Gator fan, would be wise to recognize that the dismay you feel following a 27-3 win over a hapless SEC team, is the inevitable by-product of a reign of supremacy greater than any ever experienced in Gainesville. 

So stop crying and start laughing.  These are happy times, though it might not always feel that way. 

-So Sayeth the Shepherd