GAINESVILLE — Four years ago when Dan Mullen accepted the head-coaching job at the University of Florida, he talked about re-establishing the “Gator Standard” — a standard of winning SEC and national championships like the UF program did when Mullen was offensive coordinator under Urban Meyer.
This question must be asked after this Gator-chomping, Swamp-stomping 31-29 loss to Nick Saban’s No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in front of a deafening delirious sellout crowd at Florida Field:
Are close losses to Saban’s Cyborgs just a part of rebuilding that Gator standard Mullen talks so much about?
Let’s not forget, it was the Gators who played Alabama closer than any team last season before succumbing 52-46 in the SEC Championship Game.