On Monday during SEC Media Days news broke that the Gators would open eight fall practices to the fans and media. Praise the Pigskin. Can we get a witness? Looks like Jeremy Foley and Will Muschamp have, finally, heard the fans loud and clear regarding the wanting of more access.

As a former coach I see validity on both sides of the argument here. On one hand Muschamp doesn’t want his offense scheme and defensive strategies out on social media. Gotta keep some secrets, right?

On the other hand Muschamp and Co. are going to play Idaho during Week One and everyone will get that game tape. So much for secrecy. If Florida feels the need to hide the secret sauce from Idaho then, perhaps, they are scared of defeat. If so, then Gators fans are in for another bad season because no good comes from operating out of fear’s base camp.

That’s my opinion so I decided to ask defensive lineman Dante Fowler his opinion on the matter and he’s in favor of open practices.

“Whenever you guys and the fans can come out and watch is great,” Fowler said. “We want you guys to be able to come out there. It’s always fun to have the fans out there cheering for us at practice.”

While Fowler likes having a crowd out media days he says it not only helps him but it also helps the fans.

“Fans being able to watch us practice kind of prepares them for our season is going to be,” Fowler said. “It lets them make there own opinion about us and feel apart of the team.”

When the fans feel apart of the team they are going to make noise and that’s something that helps the players according to Fowler.

“Having media and fans out there absolutely gets us prepared for the season of loud stadiums,” Fowler said. “Plus I want to put on a show for everyone out there so that gets me ready too.”

ANDREW’S OPINION: I support Fowler’s take on the matter. Plus, if the team is ready to put on a show for the fans (who, based on ticket sales, have been steadily dwindling in numbers) then it’s up to the fans to show up and support our team.

Here are the dates of open practice:

August 7th

August 8th

August 9th

August 11th

August 12th

August 13th

August 14th

August 16th