The Gator Nation has swamped social media with their sheer lobbying to get Lane Kiffin to Gainesville. The efforts have been there for the past year, but the recent firing of Billy Napier sent them into an almost unimaginable frenzy.
But it is just the tip of the iceberg when looking at the real reason behind their desperation.
Florida football has been in shambles ever since the legendary Steve Spurrier stepped down as their head coach in 2001. Since then, they have been searching for their next Steve Spurrier.
And after almost two and a half decades, they finally see a modern-day aggressive offense and savvy trash-talking "Fun 'n' Gun" Spurrier in Lane Kiffin.
"All Florida Gators fans want is the second coming of Steve Spurrier. Is that too much to ask?" USA Today's Blake Toppmeyer wrote, stating the very fact behind the insane uproar for Kiffin.
"Spurrier is one of one. He goaded the competition, and he backed it up. He changed the game. He inspired a generation of coaches. An offensive mastermind, he developed quarterbacks as well as anyone, but the Head Ball Coach knew more than ball. He understood this is an entertainment business. Sportswriters gravitated to him. He shrewdly helped nickname Florida’s stadium The Swamp," the USA Today writer further explains.
"In an industry full of stiffs, Spurrier’s anything but that. Which explains Florida’s fascination with Lane Kiffin. Consider the traits I laid out about Spurrier. Now, consider Kiffin. Understand why Kiffin is the coveted prize? He’s the closest coach to Spurrier Florida could ever hope to find."
The resemblance is there, sure. However, Kiffin is more than just yelling on his visor and throwing around quips. He is the whole package, one that Florida might not be entirely prepared for.
The Florida fanbase seems bedazzled by Kiffin's Spurrier successor image, rather than finding a sustainable coach who can lead the program to consistent wins, which is their need of the hour.