2:52 to go in Week 2

Our Gator homer falls prey to the promise of a new season...again. And he's spitting mad!

BULLS ON PARADE: Nico Gramatica celebrates the winning field goal against Florida. It was the Bulls second-straight win against a ranked opponent.

So, this week’s recap will be different.

I didn’t watch football as I travelled with family to Gainesville for the Florida-Sout Florida game.

We partook in tons of the rights of passage on a Saturday in Gainesville.

My daughter loaded up on new UF gear.

We met her friend, who is a Dazzler for UF, before heading to the Swamp Restaurant for lunch with a terrific friend who works at UF, along with his son.

We went back and chilled and wandered the student union.

We traversed the fan fest area.

We made over to our friends’ friends’ tailgate before heading into Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

I guessed right with our tickets, which had us in the shade for a 4:15 p.m. kickoff in a place, in case you’ve never been there, truly earns the nickname “The Swamp.”

Then the game started.

I watched Florida push USF around on the defensive line during their first possession, but had to settle for a field goal.

Then I watched the defense stand up to a team that throttled Boise State the week before.

At the end of the first quarter, I watched the refs’ first and second of many terrible calls, with a phantom block in the back while the defender was facing the tight end they called it on.

Then I watched them not throw a flag on a defender who tackled our receiver in the endzone, which forced us to settle for another field goal and a 6-3 lead.

I think it was right at that moment I knew Florida was truly in trouble

A three point lead by the Bulls at the half wasn’t what I needed to see.

As Florida received the ball to start the second half I said they needed to score a touchdown and end the threat.

They went three and out.

I watched the game see-saw and Florida gain no ground on the offensive side of the ball. Then I saw the defense finally crack as they gave up a 66-yard touchdown pass from Byrum Brown to Keshaun Singleton because they weren’t ready for the play because they couldn’t get lined-up.

Florida’s saving grace was a terrific punt return that set up a Eugene Willson III touchdown catch to take back the lead, 16-15.

Then I watched and heard the crowd of 89,909 will the defense to stand up.

And they did, finally forcing a super-long Nico Gramatica field goal attempt which fell short of its needed 58 yards.

And that should have been it.

There was only 2:52 left to play.

USF had two timeouts and the two-minute commercial break to go.

All we needed was a first down to run out the clock and get out of town with what was probably an unearned win.

Then the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen happened.

LAGGING: DJ Lagway’s development has fans questioning his ability and those of head coach Billy Napier.

Quarterback DJ Lagway threw a pass that fell incomplete. Just 2 seconds off the clock. Clock stopped.

And I knew right then — Florida lost.

A two-yard run and another incomplete pass later, Florida punted. With 2:32 to play. And two time outs and the two minute stoppage to go for the Bulls.

The defense gets called for a phantom pass interference call and then does the stupidest thing I’d seen since Thursday night, when Brendan Bett spit in the face of a USF player, getting himself ejected and costing the Gators a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.

I truly think that sums up this game. A USF march into the red zone and Billy Napier deciding he has two time outs so why not hold on to them until it’s too late.

So instead of calling a time out with 53 seconds to go, we just watched 30 seconds bleed off the clock to set USF up for a game-winning field goal that was practically an extra point, and the rest is history.

So what does this all mean? First and foremost, all the kudos in the world to USF for staying the course and continuing to fight to the end, because that works most of the time!

Where is Florida at?

Lagway was all over the place with his throws again. Is it rust or is he trying to do too much?

I don’t know but it’s not good.

There were receivers open every play and he didn’t see them. When you’re at the game, you can see the field better than just what a camera is showing you on television at home. He had time and guys would come open, but he never saw them.

Jayden Baugh was used sparingly and I don’t understand that. He is absolutely a monster when he has the ball. Not one time did I see him get tackled by a single tackler.

But he wasn’t in the game when they needed him most.

I’m all for splitting carries, but when the game is on the line, I want the best guys in the game, and he wasn’t.

And why was that?

Guessing it may have been coaching. Unfortunately, as usual.

BYE BYE BILLY: Gator fans are tired of Napiers leadership and are openly discussing the coaches buy-out.

Billy Napier’s offensive game plan was non-existent and mind-boggling.

The entirety of the second quarter felt like they were scrimmaging to be prepared for LSU the next week.

They were running reverses. Double reverses. Double reverse with a QB throw.

Why?

They were only winning by three points. That’s the stuff you run in the fourth quarter when you’re up by 35.

I feel like Napier outthought himself. Run when you should throw. Throw when you should run.

They had no rhythm whatsoever.

He mismanaged the clock.

He didn’t have the best players in when they were needed.

He didn’t lean on his team’s biggest strength, the O-Line, to just wear out an overmatched and smaller D-Line. Why?

The questions are back as to whether he is the guy.

Based on the chants of “Fire Billy” heard walking out of the Swamp, the fans don’t think so.

At this point, he’d have to win a title this year to save his job, and I don’t think that is remotely possible.

I think it’s a matter of which loss is the final nail.

I’m guessing Mississippi State from what I saw yesterday.

This year, 6-6 may be a pipe dream.

I don’t know. I know I am angry. Angry at myself, for again letting myself believe this year could be different.

A bigger question coming out of all of this is how good is South Florida?

They’re now ranked No. 18 going to No. 5 Miami this weekend.

But are they really that good, with two wins over two ranked teams?

Or are they a good team who beat two extremely overrated teams?

Honestly, I don’t know.

If they keep the Hurricanes in check, I would say they’re that good!

If Miami wipes the floor with them, maybe not.

They need to keep Byrum Brown healthy and win-out their remaining AAC schedule, and they’ll be in the playoffs.

I’m more interested to follow their season than Florida’s at this point.

Because I’d bet just shy of $20 million dollars I know what that outcome will be.