If you have a television or a radio or a car that drives past billboards, then you know the law firm of Morgan and Morgan. Founded by John Morgan, a graduate of Florida University, the firm has grown into a national practice but has maintained its headquarters in Orlando.
With controversy surrounding the University of Florida due to alleged spending by the former school president Ben SasseMorgan expressed a series of thoughts at X that turned into support for the former Gator coach Daniel Mullen.
At the beginning of the week, the student newspaper The Independent Florida Alligator published an article detailing how expenses exploded under Sasse, and citing numerous examples of Sasse hiring new people and doubling their pay compared to the old employee in that position.
Following the report’s publication, prominent politicians from both camps have expressed concerns and called for a more thorough investigation.
Morgan joined the chat and expressed various thoughts to X on the matter. Among other things, he called on Sasse to refute the story.
Warning: NSFW language coming.
Total nonsense!
With all the talent in America, all you had at your disposal were your political cronies.
Come on, buddy, we’re on to you. Follow the money.
And you’re not done milking that cow yet, are you? How much are you taking with you when you leave the heist?
What a shame.
Go home and please never… https://t.co/av470dw66X
— John Morgan (@JohnMorganESQ) 16 August 2024
Now you may be wondering, “How did we get from Ben Sasse to Dan Mullen?”
Good question. Someone commented on Morgan’s thread that they wanted the same energy from him for the Florida football program, to which Morgan expressed his opinion that Florida should not have gotten rid of Mullen in 2021.
I was against the firing of Mullen
UF is now Vandy
It’s over. https://t.co/Nyl66UrtZU
— John Morgan (@JohnMorganESQ) 17 August 2024
He also reaffirmed his faith on Sunday.
This is worse than Mullen.
Far. And had to pay him off.
Mullen could be coach. https://t.co/4NBH0l4YBG
— John Morgan (@JohnMorganESQ) 18 August 2024
So there’s a lot to unpack here, but that’s what we do here at Hail Florida Hail.
It is not unfair to say that Billy Napier has yet to accomplish anything Mullen accomplished during his time in Gainesville. Mullen had a top-ten team three years in a row and would have made the playoffs if there were expanded playoffs.
But we’ve repeatedly argued that Florida’s goal of eventually winning a national title was never going to happen under Mullen. His recruiting wasn’t good enough, and while Mullen was a great player, the lack of talent compared to top teams was always evident.
If Mullen had stayed, Florida would have been stuck in the gatekeeper category Penn State is located under James Franklin.
Would we have preferred the year Penn State had last year over the one Florida had? Sure. But even if Mullen turns out to be better than Napier, sometimes you have to take a step back to achieve your ultimate goal in order to move forward. Plus, it’s telling that Mullen will spend his third straight year in a television studio rather than on the sidelines.
This idea that Florida is the equivalent of Vanderbilt is a little silly. Vanderbilt was 2-10 last season and nine of those losses were by double digits.
But Morgan’s comments reveal a truth for Napier. We can write as many positive things as we want as we head into the 2024 season and cherry-pick our reasons for why we think things will get better, but the truth is: until someone has done it, he hasn’t.
And looking ahead to 2024, Napier is 11-14 while Mullen was 34-15.
