Here lately, Dawgnation has been up in arms about the incompetence over at the AJC and the downright nastiness of the homerism at the Orlando Sentinel. The AJC is in Tech's backyard and the Sentinel was neutered recently by Darth Meyer, so they have to get back into the dark lord's good graces. 

Now, I can take the potshots from the homers at the AJC with a grain of salt since we all know we own the North Ave. Trade School and will deliver another fantastic beatdown this year. They know it too which is why they have to spew their bile now, because they won't be able to do it later. Their criticism comes off more like an inferiority complex than true bravado. However, it is hard to ignore the Sentinel simply because the Gators own us like we own Tech. To be honest, ranking us at #64 in their preseason poll and saying we have a football tradition closer to South Carolina than to Florida is meant to hurt us, incite us, and ultimately light up their page hit meter like Spurrier lit up the scoreboard against the Dawgs in Sanford Stadium. The problem is that they have earned the right to say that.

There is a simple yet effective way to end such tomfoolery. Beat Florida. Beat them consistently. Hang half a hundred on them. Beat them by 3. Beat them by 30. Just beat them! I was encouraged by the 2008 game. Yes, the endzone dance was just a stunt, but it sent a message. It said we are not afraid of you mullet wearing, blown out flip flop stepped on a poptop, rusted out Camaro driving, cousin diddlying hicks. We beat Superman up like a borrowed mule and beat down their defense like they were Tennessee Tech. I thought "Finally, we are going to turn this thing around!" Then, Darth Meyer writes a book saying how he'll never forget it or some such drivel, and we retreat back into our shells like turtles. The result? Another UF beatdown. 

I'm sick of feeling like they will always get the better of us. We recruit just as well. And despite what some will say, we coach just as well too. They are in our heads right now, and we must shake it off. We must realize, however we have to do it, that they are beatable. Their version of Herschel is in Denver now (and we beat him anyway!!!). The time has come for the Dawgs to rise again to the top of the East. You gotta believe it though. The coaches, the players, the fans too. I know that as Dawg fans we predisposed to perpetual skepticism and depression. Therein lies the problem.  It's time for some change we can truly believe in. If we really want to shut up the Gators (and the techies who revel in our losses to FL because they can't beat us themselves), then man up and beat Florida. I want Meyer to never forget it, for a different reason. I want him to never forget that 2010 was the year his fortunes against Georgia took a turn for the worst. Make it happen. Will it to happen. Git-r-done. GATA.