Gator Fans:

Enough is enough.  I'm begging you - put down the razor blades, put the sleeping pills back in the medicine cabinet, and return the rope to the hardware store.  It's time for a reality check, and The SportDork is here to deliver it.

Never in my life have I witnessed a fan base so miserable when their team is undefeated and ranked #1 in the country.  If I didn't know any better, from what I've been reading on-line I'd have thought The Gators were struggling to stay above .500 and that Urban Meyer was about to be run out of town.  We're undefeated, people!  And not only are we undefeated, but we've got a long list of impressive accomplishments that we should be celebrating, such as:

September 19, 2009:  Gators defeat Tennessee for the 5th straight time.
September 26, 2009:  Gators defeat Kentucky for the 23rd straight time.
October 10, 2009:  Gators end LSU's 32 game Saturday night winning streak in Baton Rouge.
October 24, 2009:  Gators beat Mississippi State in Starkville for the first time since 1985, marking the first time since 1998 that The Gators have won all of their SEC West games.

The result of these victories?  The Gators have now won nine straight conference road games, dating back to 2007, and are 7-0 for the first time since 1996.

But instead of enjoying the ride, here we are - miserable.  Miserable because we didn't beat Tennessee by thirty.  Miserable because we needed a late field goal to beat Arkansas.  Miserable because it took us four quarters to shake a pesky Mississippi State team.  It's incredible, but instead of relishing each victory, we're busy talking about how awful we've been in the red zone, how we keep turning the ball over, and how terrible our play calling has been.  With each victory, our discontent has actually grown stronger, and our anxiety greater. And why? 

Because of expectations.  Expectations are the one thing that can transform the same outcome (winning) from one that thrills you into one that disappoints you.  We all expected this offense to be running up and down the field, scoring piles of points and laying waste to the opposition, and so far, it just hasn't happened that way.  Sure, we're winning, but we're not winning the way we thought we would be winning.  We're having a tough time dealing with that, but it's time to get over it.  This is the team we have, and we're winning football games. 

Expectations can be devastating.  Strangely, this week has brought back memories of Spurrier's departure almost eight years ago.  Remember what he said at his press conference?  By the time he left, a nine win season was considered a failure, and the expectations and the pressure of maintaining that kind of success played a part in his decision to move on.  When Spurrier arrived, an SEC Championship was about the most thrilling thing that could ever happen in Gainesville.  By the time he left, an SEC Championship was expected, and anything less than an appearance in the National Championship was a disappointment.  It's sad but true - expectations can ruin our ability to enjoy something that once would have left us giddy.

So let's stop sucking all the joy out of this season by getting caught up in our expectations and dwelling on our weaknesses.  Anybody who's watched this team for the last few weeks knows that the players are shouldering all that pressure to be perfect, and they don't look like they're having too much fun, even though they're winning.  Remember the '06-'07 Gator basketball team and their attempt to repeat as National Champs?  They too were saddled with monstrous expectations, had nagging injuries and a difficult stretch in the middle of the season that sent the entire Gator Nation into a panic.  But they eventually remembered that first and foremost, the game is supposed to be fun, and they rallied to a second national title.

The SportDork believes it's time to get some perspective and enjoy the ride, and I know just the way to give it to you. 

You think The Gators have problems because we've turned the ball over a few times in the red zone?  Check out what's going on in Washington, D.C., where the Redskins are so bad that ownership has now banned signs from the stadium: 

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2009/10/signs_banned_at_fedex_field.html

If that doesn't make you feel better, I don't know what will.  Actually, I take that back.  I know exactly what'll pull you out of your funk.  You need a drunken Florida/Georgia video in preparation for this weekend's game (stick around until the 1:10 mark.  It's worth it).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPIVNqKQsXM

I just hope that's not what happens to us this weekend.