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Let me see if I have this straight.

The Florida football team is 7-1, it is fourth in the BCS Standings, it controls its own destiny in the SEC race, and it has every goal in front of it that it might have set at the beginning of the season.

Would anyone quibble with those items?

If not, why are so many people complaining about this Gator football team?

Try this on for size; it is no longer about just winning, it's about how you win.

Before you think I've just gone off on another half baked idea, stop and think about it Gator fans. Shouldn't you be jumping through the roof about where your team is sitting right now? Instead, my "Sportscene" show is filled with callers complaining about the offense, about a lack of a place kicker, and about all the penalties Florida is committing.

Mind you, I see the things you see too, and there is certainly a lot of room for improvement in the areas I just mentioned but haven't we all lost sight of the fact that this football team is where it is because it has won almost every game it has played?

Few of you will ever admit this, but think about it; many of you were spoiled by HOW you beat teams when Spurrier was here, blowing teams out with the Fun N Gun offense. You rejoiced in the fact that your Gators were knocking off teams and dropping 50 on them about as regularly as Brittany Spears has babies. You loved it when you went into an opposing stadium and the home fans left by halftime, embarrassed and downtrodden after Florida Spurrier-erd their favorite team.

That's what all of you miss whether you want to admit it or not but my advice is to get over that very quickly. Those days are gone.

Remember, when Ron Zook took over the program, he played a field position, time of possession type of game and fans were horrified when games all of a sudden got close and they were absolutely frazzled when Florida frittered away leads late in games because a tired defense couldn't stop opponents from winning games late.

Out goes Zook, in comes Meyer with his offense that Gator fans watch as his last Utah team, with number one NFL draft choice Alex Smith at the helm, destroys opponents in the Mountain West and the Utes get to a BCS game.

Gator fans are excited about the spread attack, with visions of footballs flying through the air to great athletes spread out all over the field that will continue the legacy of Spurrier by scoring a ton of points on the opposition.

But wait, upon closer inspection, Meyer really is running an offense that looks like the 2000's but wants to operate old school. It relies on time of possession, moving the chains, field position and running the ball to be successful.

With the transition from Zook to Meyer came growing pains with the offense. It has struggled at times; it has sputtered, and it is driving fans crazy. And based on its body of work against the SEC's elite defenses, don't look for the offense to suddenly explode any time soon.

The point of all of this is that despite an offense that has sputtered at times, with special teams that have been sort of average and committing enough penalties to lead the nation in that category during the year, the Gators are winning. Florida's defense has been the rock of this team from the very beginning of the year and I truly believe that this year's team is mentally tougher than last year's group, enabling Florida to withstand adversity and somehow win games that maybe should not have been won.

The wins may not always look good but the "W" sure does. I've said it before and I'll say it again...get out the Tums and the Rolaids and just strap up for the ride. Very little will come easy for this group.

My advice...enjoy the winning more and complain a little less. A lot of teams would love to be in the position Florida is in right now, don't you think? The bottom line is winning and that's exactly what Florida is doing...no matter how frustrating it might be at times.