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Florida Football: 5 keys for a successful 2019 season

By Briley Hughes

GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 06: Quincy Lenton #27 of the Florida Gators asks the crowd for noise during the game against the LSU Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 06: Quincy Lenton #27 of the Florida Gators asks the crowd for noise during the game against the LSU Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

5. Learn to thrive under heavy expectations

It comes as no great revelation that the current expectations in Gainesville far exceed those of last year. With the program in shambles when he emerged from a plane grinning and gator-chomping, Dan Mullen quickly and emphatically reversed the negative narrative haunting Florida. Overhauling the standards, producing a ten-win season and securing a top-ten recruiting class all contributed to the success.

After laying a solid foundation in season one, Mullen and the Gators will now deal with increased scrutiny and pressure from Gator Nation to compete for a national championship now, not later.

Overachieving in the midst of low expectations is great, but learning to win in the pressure cooker that is one of the SEC’s premier programs is a task many staffs have withered under. The memory of those coaches – Jim McElwain, Will Muschamp and dare we mention Ron Zook – should remain fresh on Gator fans’ minds

Already, things have proven rockier in 2019 as players and even a coach have found their way into controversy. Learning to overcome and win despite the speed bumps, increased scrutiny and additional pressure is the often-elusive step an overachieving program must take to become a contender.

Last year, Florida was given a pass when they lost to Kentucky, Missouri and Georgia; it was a rebuilding year, after all. Fans and media won’t be as kind this year, though, if the Gators disappoint in the same way. A team expected to compete for an SEC East title and a spot in the College Football Playoff can’t have let-downs.

Learning to tune out the excessive noise from fans and media and relishing in the chance to compete for a championship will be a key for success in 2019.

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