Will Muschamp’s coaching career can be defined by two simple words.

If only.

“If only Florida doesn’t get the field goal blocked.”

“If only the Gators could protect on a punt.”

“If only Quinton Dunbar doesn’t hold on Treon’s TD run.”

Earlier this year against LSU, Florida fans moaned “if only Tevin Westbrook caught the pass in the back of the end zone.” Last season, the cries sounded like “if only Jeff Driskel and all those other players didn’t get hurt.”

Unfortunately for the Florida Gators, Muschamp’s team blew a crucial victory with just more than one minute remaining in the game. At some point, all of those “if onlys” and excuses catch up with you.

It’s plagued Muschamp’s entire career at Florida and it finally won as the fourth-year head coach likely won’t survive this latest catastrophe.

Enough is enough

The Gators set up for a 32-yard field goal to extend their lead to 10 points with a few minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Blocked.

On the ensuing South Carolina possession, Florida stopped the Gamecocks on fourth down at the Gators 41-yard line.

Three straight runs later, Florida punted.

Blocked.

This circus that is Florida Gators football outdid itself this afternoon. Following two botched special teams plays, the Gamecocks made the Gators and Muschamp pay for their incompetence. A game-tying touchdown with just seconds left and then a Dylan Thompson touchdown run in the first overtime led to a stunning loss to knock them out of the SEC East race.

Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley must decide enough is enough in regard to Muschamp.

Muschamp’s current records

  • 27-20 overall
  • 17-15 in the SEC
  • 13-5 against unranked SEC opponents
  • 4-10 against UGA, Missouri, South Carolina and FSU

Despite a BCS bowl appearance in 2012 and periods of optimism throughout his time at Florida, the record is cut and dry against keeping Muschamp. A miraculous upset of Florida State in the season finale is the only thing that can give Muschamp hope of keeping his job.

The Florida fan base won’t accept this kind of mediocrity and Foley shouldn’t either.

Perception isn’t always reality

Two weeks ago, the Gators seemed to turn a corner. After switching quarterbacks, Muschamp and his team stunned a No. 11 ranked Georgia Bulldogs at The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party behind a bevy of rushing attempts and a shutdown defense.

The following week, Florida dominated a much-inferior Vanderbilt team. True freshman quarterback Treon Harris reeled off long throws and a couple of electrifying touchdown runs. The defense forced five turnovers and allowed just 10 points.

Florida held on to slim hopes of a possible SEC championship berth and all Muschamp had to do was survive South Carolina and not suffer an embarrassing loss to Florida State.

A team’s true state seems to emerge eventually and today’s game was that for the Gators. Muschamp’s brand of football won’t win enough games at the University of Florida.

The energy of a new quarterback hid a lack of discipline and an underwhelming offense.

If there’s one bright spot for Muschamp following today’s loss, he has the sympathy of Steve Spurrier.

“I feel bad for Muschamp because they’ve got a good team [at Florida],” Spurrier said on SEC Network after the game. “I went through the same thing last week [against Tennessee].”

So that’s where Muschamp and the Gators are now — evoking sympathy and compassion from an opposing head coach.

The Florida head coach had everything he needed in front of him to keep his job. But in a matter of minutes, everything came crashing down and the reality of the valleys in which Muschamp has driven this once proud program to was brought back to the forefront.

One step forward, two steps back.