Let me rephrase that to something less hyperbolic. He didn't leave them in near as good of shape as he presided over for a while. His last UF team was not pretty. Wasn't even the record, which was 4-4 in conference....it's how they looked on the field. Then suddenly he had to spend more time with his family, for health reasons.
....after which he took the Ohio State job in a year.
It took a minute for Florida to have "Florida" guys on the field again.
I don't think we're too far apart, despite arguing opposing sides of the topic.
UM showed in 2007 that he can't just magically win every game with talent - that talent had to mature and gain experience.
Staring out at UF, he was an immediate upgrade in coaching with an already-talented roster. Zook could recruit! After that 2007 talent matured, 08-09 went 26-2, then Tebow & Co. leave. That 2011 season under UM wasn't surprising for Gators fans. UM is a great HC, but he's not magical. He'd have to reload the roster and if he had stayed, I'm certain those upper-echelon classes would have peaked with 12-13 win seasons.
But he left, and a lesser HC took his place. The players didn't become less talented, they just lacked the combination of great talent + great coaching.
This might be unpopular here, but OSU post-UM has succeeded for one of two reasons:
1 - UM improved his ability to keep the ship sailing with his absence, which would include numerous aspects, OR
2 - OSU doesn't face an LSU, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn circa 2010s that Florida did, post-UM
I'm certain the answer is 1 & 2. Ryan Day still hasn't lost a conference game yet. Says a lot for OSU....doesn't say a lot for the B1G.