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Perhaps it was only fitting that the University of Florida football team got a huge win in the Sugar Bowl despite all the distractions thrown its way as the team prepared for the game. The win was dominant and the Bearcats were never in the game.

The winningest senior class in SEC history also helps Florida become the first school in FBS history to win 13 games in back to back seasons. Despite not making its stated goal of winning an SEC and national title, this football team overcame a flu epidemic, an eye gouging incident, fines levied against its coach for criticizing officials, suspensions, assistant coaches leaving and the uncertainty of head coach Urban Meyer's future to carve out a great season.

But in the blink of an eye, that season is history. It's over. The seniors and their success will leave. And what lies ahead is at best uncertain. Isn't it strange that despite winning a national title about a year ago and winning 13 games this season that there would be so many questions about this program going into next year.

And boy are there questions.

It starts of course with the future of Meyer. In the bizarre time when he retired and then unretired we learned just how much he has suffered with chest pains and who knows what else. After the Sugar Bowl, he said he planned to be the head coach at Florida and I believe that; but thinking it and actually having it happen are two different things.

Reading between the lines, I think Meyer will have to have some type of surgical procedure done and certainly he will have to change his all involved, all in type of coaching that has made him so successful. No one knows if he can do this, and no one knows how much time it will take.

The coaching staff has taken a major hit too. Gone are defensive coordinator Charlie Strong and assistant coaches Vance Beford and Billy Gonzales, all excellent recruiters by the way. My guess is that assistant coach Chuck Heater will become the new defensive coordinator but a new staff must be assembled and get to work quickly.

Steve Addazio, the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator, is also the interim head coach now. Does that mean Meyer is NOT the head coach anymore? What role will Meyer now have? How involved will he be in recruiting? Addazio is a great guy and an excellent coach but he will have a lot on his plate at least temporarily as he tries to keep the Gator ship steering in the right direction. And if Meyer can't coach anymore, will he be the guy long term? If so, he can't wear all those hats and adjustments will have to be made.

And can the Gators hold together what looks to be a top five at least recruiting class with all the stuff going on? Matt Elam, a highly prized recruit, recently left the Gator camp for FSU and said part of his decision was based on all that was going on with Meyer's health. Addazio and the staff will have to work hard to make sure the kids who are verbally committed stay that way and work to fend off the other coaching staffs who will try to have a field day with all the changes and distractions at work at Florida.

Finally, how many of the talented juniors will leave early for the NFL? Certainly from all you hear, defensive stars Carlos Dunlap and Joe Haden are projected first round picks, and players like the Pouncey twins, tight end Aaron Hernandez, and maybe a couple of others will have decisions to make based on the information they get back on their draft position from the NFL. And don't forget, some great and productive seniors like Tim Tebow, Brandon Spikes, Jermaine Cunningham, Riley Cooper and others will leave too.

I keep saying that when you are at the top, there is only one way you can go and it can happen quickly, and we're seeing first hand evidence of that right now with this Gator football program. However, don't write off Florida just yet; certainly there are questions, but the cupboard is certainly not bare and the "plan to win" that Meyer has put into place hasn't gone anywhere.

It is a new year, and it will be a year of big change for the Florida football program. How much change, and the effect those changes will have remain to be seen.

Happy New Year??? We'll see.