Tag Archives: Steve Spurrier

Florida Gators Vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks; 10th Win Is On The Horizon

  By The Bull Gator | November 17, 2012 - 7:45 am | Florida Gators Football
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There are milestones each team sets for the season. Steve Spurrier made sure the Florida Gators’ goal was to get to Atlanta and the SEC Championship Game. That was goal number one. Following that came the goal of playing for a National Championship. Spurrier’s Gators teams made good on that first goal numerous times, so did Urban Meyer’s squads. In year two, Will Muschamp’s Gators won’t make it to Atlanta, but at 9-1 (7-1 SEC) this season has been a step in the right direction and Florida now sits one victory away from another goal.

Jacoby Brissett - Florida Gators

I don’t run the Florida Gators’ football program (I think I’ve mentioned that before), but I have a goal of my own. It’s not a lone goal independent of the other two because it lends to their accomplishment. That goal is to get to 10 wins. A conveniently neat number, 10 wins makes a season stand out. It gives you a measure of success. If you can win 10 out of 12, 13 or 14 games, you’re doing something right. If you can get to those 10 without the help of a conference championship or a bowl game, even better. At 9-1, the Gators have a chance to reach that milestone in only game number 11.

That wasn’t expected at the beginning of the season. 10 wins was a possibility, but not necessarily by game 11. Many–myself included–thought a 9-3 regular season was in the cards with a chance of one win worse at 8-4. 10 wins could have come, but the Gators would have needed the added advantage of a second-tier bowl against a middle-of-the-road Big Ten opponent. Then the season began to unfold and that goal came to light quicker than we could have imagined. The Gators were 7-0 before we knew it and were in the SEC Championship Game hunt right up until last week. At 9-1, this team has had a phenomenal season, even if at times you really had to wonder how that record could possibly be what it was.

On Saturday, the Gators face their first non-FBS opponent of the season–the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Florida has already accomplished a lot this season in terms of their record, and looks to accomplish more on Saturday. The Gators have a chance to go 7-0 at home for only the third time in school history. They are only the 14th Florida squad to go 9-1 in their first 10 games and can become only the 7th to go 10-1 in their first 11. There’s some prestigious company among those other six seasons: four of those Gators’ teams played for a national title (three won) and another finished the season 13-1. And the Gators have done that this season while facing the nation’s toughest schedule.

Jacksonville State is not the Gators’ toughest opponent of the season, but Louisiana-Lafayette wasn’t supposed to be either. We all saw what happened last week and I’m fairly certain not a single one of us could handle something like that again. At this point in the season, we want Brent Pease’s 50 points more than he might. In order to do so though, the Gators’ offense will be in the hands of the backup quarterback. Jeff Driskel is out; Jacoby Brissett is in. The (necessary-due-to-injury) change is intriguing and there isn’t a single fan that isn’t somewhat curious about Brissett’s ability. Do the Gators open up the offense and go for broke? Or do they play it safe and give us another win typical of all the rest we’ve seen in 2012?

Saturday marks another test. I’d like to say that test doesn’t involve getting the win because that’s guaranteed, but…well…that doesn’t seem like the right thing to say this season. The real test is how the offense performs. Perhaps most important is how the offensive line performs. The line looked much better early in the season, but has regressed the last few weeks. There are times (too many times) where linemen are turning around to watch Driskel get sacked or running backs get tackled behind the line of scrimmage. A very good defensive team takes on the Gators in only one week’s time and all of that has to stop. The key to the offense starts with the line. As green as you may want to believe Driskel (or Brissett) is, no quarterback can work miracles without time. The challenge is on the line. Get that 10th win and get the offense going.

I’ll enjoy my Saturday; I always do. I want to enjoy it more though. I want last week’s maniacal laugh to turn into a joyous one. First though, I want win number 10. Go Gators. Just win.

Florida Gators 44 – South Carolina Gamecocks 11; Gators Take Control Of SEC East In Big Victory

  By The Bull Gator | October 20, 2012 - 7:28 pm | Uncategorized
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With a 44-11 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks, the Florida Gators took control of the SEC East. At 7-0 (6-0 SEC), the Gators have two more conference games to get through before a possible trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. It seemed a year away before the 2012 season began, but after seven games, it’s now a very real possibility.

Florida Gators Fans

Watching the first half, you felt that the Gators had control of the game despite a (beyond) subpar offensive performance. It was an odd feeling, but when the Gators entered the locker room leading 21-6, there was a definite aura of victory. While Florida wasn’t moving the ball particularly well, they were winning by two scores and the defense was playing up to its high expectations. If you told me a team with 29 total yards of offense could lead a football game by 15 after 30 minutes of play, I would have told you that you were out of your mind. But you would have been right and that’s all that matters.

The second half was more kind to the Gators offense. Although, after 60 minutes, Florida was still outgained. The Gators scored an unfathomable 44 points on 181 total yards. Turnovers and special teams will do that for you though. And it doesn’t hurt to have a ridiculously unbelievable statline like this one…

Jeff Driskel – 11/16, 93 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions

Amazed? Well, here were the numbers at the half…

Jeff Driskel – 5/7, 15 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions

The Gators have passed for less than 100 yards in three-straight games for the first time since before Steve Spurrier roamed the home team’s sidelines. They have also won all three of those games and two against top-10 teams. I’ll say that again to be sure you’ve heard me. The Gators have won three-straight games–two against top-10 teams–while passing for less than 100 yards in each.

In this one, they didn’t run it particular well either. That’s saying something for South Carolina’s defense and not necessarily a lack of production from Florida. The Gators had trouble blocking the Gamecocks front four to no surprise to anyone. It’s a talented South Carolina defense, but Florida managed to do enough to win. I would say just enough by looking at the stats, but then I glance at the final score. A 33-point win classifies as much more than “just enough.”

There you have it Gators fans. Another win–the seventh off the season. During Will Muschamp’s first season as head coach, the Gators won a total of seven games and needed the bowl game to hit that mark. This time around, it took seven games to get to seven. If you’re out tonight celebrating the victory, go ahead and order yourself a seven and seven. You deserve it. We all do. But the biggest congrats goes to the Florida Gators; our Florida Gators. 7-0 is so sweet and it’s always great to be a Florida Gator.

Preview: Florida Gators Vs. South Carolina Gamecocks; SEC East Control Up For Grabs

  By The Bull Gator | October 20, 2012 - 8:00 am | Florida Gators Football
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The Florida Gators host the South Carolina Gamecocks today in what could amount to a battle for control of the SEC East. I’ll keep this short because the die-hards among you have already joined the tailgate of champions. The weather is pretty close to perfect and Fall is here. That makes for a great day of football, not only in Gainesville, but across the SEC.

Jarvis Moss - Florida Gators

As you await kickoff and another matchup between two great programs, build your anticipation for this one accordingly. Yes, I used the word great for the Gamecocks as well. Our once head coach has led them to heights never before experienced in Columbia and good for them. Rivalries are a great part of the sport and this one may never have reached this level without an injection of Steve Spurrier.

There are those among us that still love Spurrier–I’m one of them. There are also those that don’t feel anything positive toward the man. My guess is that second group has calmed its stance slightly after the Urban Meyer situation. Hopefully they realize what Spurrier did for the mighty Florida Gators. Without him, mighty may not be the right descriptor. But today, he’s the enemy. We can praise his accomplishments as a player and a coach at the University of Florida and we can thank him for what he did. One day, I’ll tell my son about the man that propelled the orange and blue to greatness. Not today.

Today, Spurrier is just that man leading the other team. He is Derek Dooley, Les Miles, Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher. There is no connection today. Today he must be beat. The winner controls the SEC East. Both teams control their own destiny; all they have to do is keep winning to punch their ticket to Atlanta. It’s about who wants it more. We know which side we’re on and we’re ready to see those mighty Florida Gators take care of business once more.

Enjoy the weather. Enjoy the fall. Enjoy another college football Saturday. And, as always, Go Gators!

Bruised Hip May Limit Marcus Lattimore; Florida Gators Game Plan Shouldn’t Change

  By The Bull Gator | October 17, 2012 - 10:54 pm | Florida Gators Football
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When news broke on Wednesday that South Carolina star running back Marcus Lattimore had missed practice with a bruised hip, the outlook of Saturday’s game changed. With their offensive star far from 100%, the Gamecocks’ chances against the Florida Gators took a hit. That is, if he is truly limited.

Marcus Lattimore - South Carolina Gamecocks

At this point, we’re hearing that Lattimore “might not start.” That’s very different than “will be out.” If Lattimore doesn’t start, but is available, it means he can play if needed. If South Carolina takes care of business without him, Steve Spurrier and the rest of the Gamecocks’ staff would be comfortable with him watching from the sidelines. That, though, isn’t desired. South Carolina wants Lattimore to play and may even need him to play.

The Gamecocks are much more than Lattimore and what he brings to the team, but there’s no denying his star status and what he brings to their offense. He has three 100-yards games and has scored each time South Carolina has taken the field this season. If you need proof of what he can do, you can simply go to his stat line from the 2010 game against the Gators: 40 carries, 212 yards, three touchdowns. He was a true freshman at the time and the Gamecocks won by 22.

But, as I said, he isn’t the entire team. South Carolina took care of business in 2011 against Florida without him. Sure, it was a very different Gators’ team just one season ago, but a win is a win is a win and the Gamecocks are 6-1 in games he hasn’t appeared in. Think about that for just a moment. They are 20-7 with Lattimore, but their win percentage is actually better without him. Is he an important part of their offense? Definitely. Can they win without him? They sure can.

For now, his status is uncertain. It shouldn’t matter to the Gators though. In the first half of the regular season, Florida has proven to have one of the better defenses in the nation. The Gators are playing fast (which is nothing new), but are also playing a physical style of football that was missing at times the past two seasons. Marcus Lattimore or not, the Gators’ game plan doesn’t change.

If Lattimore can go, they have to contain him. If he can’t, they shift their attention to Kenny Miles and Mike Davis (yes, that Mike Davis). Miles, a senior, has gone over 10 carries 11 times in his career. Six of those times came way back in 2009. Davis, a freshman, has 13 career carries to his credit. He’s averaging 9 yards per carry, but that number is lifted by a 50-yard gain against UAB. There isn’t a lot to the Gamecocks’ run game from the running backs not named Marcus Lattimore, but the Gators should still stick to their plan. And they will.

This game means too much to Florida to deviate from what works and what they hope to do. Injury reports, whether real or not (as some speculate Spurrier is playing mind games with the Gators), don’t matter much. The Gators are preparing for another hard-fought SEC battle. The Gamecocks without Lattimore are still a very good, talented team. They still have playmakers on offense and a frightening defense. And that describes Florida as well. Lattimore or no Lattimore, the Gators can win this game, if they prepare for it and play it their way.

As If You Need More Reasons To Dislike Former Florida Gators Head Coach Urban Meyer

  By The Bull Gator | April 10, 2012 - 12:30 pm | Florida Gators Football
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Yesterday brought us this – an article by Matt Hayes of the Sporting News exposing the real Florida Gators under former head coach Urban Meyer. For some, it was shocking. For most, it was on par with many of the rumors we’ve heard over the last few years. For all, it put another item (or two, or three) under “Cons” on the list of our thoughts about Meyer.

I’m not a Meyer supporter – although some would paint me as such – I just choose to remember certain things. That selective memory is because of a desire to be happy for certain things that occurred while not wasting the time to be upset about other things that can’t be changed. If the article by Hayes is true and former Florida defensive back Bryan Thomas is telling us what really happened under Meyer, so be it. It doesn’t make me proud as a fan by any means, but I’m also much more interested in discussing Will Muschamp and season two under the man we currently refer to as the head coach.

What I do choose to remember and bask in when it comes to Meyer are the two national championships and the athletes we had a chance to witness – Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin and Brandon Spikes to name a few. I don’t know if there was preferential treatment for those three and the other Gators stars during Meyer’s tenure, but it wouldn’t surprise me if there was. That’s not an admission that I believe it’s right, it’s just a statement that, again, those rumors have been present well before Monday when the article was posted.

What the article does provide is justification – justification to those Florida fans that no longer consider Meyer a friend. Gators fans are a passionate bunch and among that passion will be certain feelings for not only Meyer, but also Steve Spurrier and any other coach or player that ever spent a day in The Swamp. What they choose to celebrate or condemn is their choice and they should be proud of whatever stance they take. My stance just happens to be one of the now and not the past.

That doesn’t mean I believe the arrests are justified in any way and it doesn’t mean I will go home today and dust off my Urban Meyer shrine. It simply means I don’t treat Monday as a groundbreaking day in the history of the Florida Gators football program. It keeps my feelings right about where they were when Meyer was named the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, which is somewhere between “meh” and “sigh.”

Meyer’s tenure will be discussed at length for years to come. It will probably even be summed up by many just as Thomas did when asked to comment for the article:

“As far as coaching, there’s no one else like (Meyer); he’s a great coach. He gets players to do things you never thought you could do. But he’s a bad person.” – Bryan Thomas, Former Florida Gators Defensive Back

That may be accurate and, if you believe the article and the rumors you’ve surely heard, you probably don’t doubt it. I don’t either, but I am continuing to look forward more than I’m looking back. For your own sanity, I recommend you try to do the same.

For more Florida Gators coverage, like the TBG Facebook page and follow TBG on Twitter.

Former Florida Gators Kicker Judd Davis Plays…Jai Alai?!?

  By The Bull Gator | February 15, 2012 - 2:15 pm | Florida Gators Football
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It’s not always easy to find out what former Florida Gators’ greats are up to, but when you do it can be very surprising. That’s the case with former Gators’ kicker and Groza Award winner Judd Davis who is currently playing Jai Alai in Ocala, FL.

I’ll be honest by saying I don’t really understand a lot in that article. That’s not meant to disparage the sport in any way, but I hadn’t heard of a “fronton” until today. The issue it seems is that Ocala Poker and Jai Alai only has two players participating in the current season. Davis is one of them.

Those of you that remember Davis, recall one of the greatest kickers in Florida history. Davis went from walk-on to best-in-the-nation and was a key player on some of Steve Spurrier’s earlier squads. Davis is truly a Gators’ great.

Saturday Blitz Podcast: Florida Gators, Recruiting, Tim Tebow, And More

  By The Bull Gator | February 10, 2012 - 12:15 pm | Florida Gators Football
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Kyle Kensing of Saturday Blitz was kind enough to have me on his podcast last night and we talked Florida Gators in detail.

Check out the entire 30 minutes. We discussed National Signing Day and the impact made by D.J. Durkin the Gators’ linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. We looked at recruiting on the national level and discussed the importance of schools looking beyond their state’s boarder.

Kyle asked me if there was ever Florida athlete as polarizing as Tim Tebow. My answer may surprise some, but hopefully not too many. We also talked about Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer and debated who was the better Gators’ head coach.

We covered Florida basketball and looked ahead to the 2012 football season. I took a guess at which quarterback will take control of the starting job, but didn’t really because no one knows.

All-in-all, it was fun to be a part of and I hope you all enjoy the listen.

For more college football coverage, check out Saturday Blitz and follow Kyle on Twitter.

Illinois Fires Ron Zook: Big Ten Keeps Former Florida Head Coaches In The News

  By The Bull Gator | November 29, 2011 - 9:00 pm | Florida Gators
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Lost in the recent news that Urban Meyer has been named the next head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, is the tale of another former Florida Gators’ head coach.

Ron Zook was fired by the Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday for conduct deemed detrimental to the program (i.e. he loses more games than he wins). In seven seasons at Illinois – or about two too many – Zook compiled a 34-50 record while going an unacceptable 18-37 in the Big Ten. It initially looked like Zook wouldn’t make it past season three, but after going 4-19 in his first two seasons, he used his wish-granting genie to produce a 9-4 record and a Rose Bowl appearance in 2007. Keep in mind, Zook only gets three wishes. Being named the head coach of Florida was wish number one. 2007 was number two. He only has one left. We assume he’ll be named the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars with a fully guaranteed multi-year contract any day now.

Zook will always hold a place in the minds (notice how I didn’t say hearts) of Gators’ fans as the man that followed Steve Spurrier and gave way to Meyer. He was a great recruiter, but so are so many others these days. In the end, he wasn’t a head coach. Or at least not a highly effective one.

What keeps Zook’s Florida story alive is the fate of current head coach Will Muschamp. Zook finished his first year with Florida at 8-5. Muschamp is staring down the barrel of a possible losing season. While circumstances are different, parts are somewhat the same. It took Florida approximately two and a half seasons to realize Ron Zook was, well, Ron Zook. It took Illinois seven seasons to figure out the same. How long will it take the Gators to learn who Muschamp will be?

Heroes Of The Series: Mike Nattiel – Florida Gators vs. Auburn Tigers

  By The Bull Gator | October 14, 2011 - 1:00 pm | College Football, Florida Gators
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Heroes of the Series explores stars of past. These players or coaches either excelled for Florida or the Gators’ opponent of the week – in this case Auburn. They may have been the star of the game or provided a spark that shifted momentum. In the past, there has been a hero for both the Gators and their opponent. This week you only get the Florida hero and rightfully so. Auburn’s Wes Byrum has already been mentioned and he will NOT be associated with the word “hero.”


In 1996, when Florida won the national championship, the Gators scored 611 points. Over the following three seasons, Florida would score 430, 370 and 403 while only making it to the SEC Championship Game once – a 34-7 loss to Alabama in 1999. When the 2000 season came along, Steve Spurrier had found a quarterback again and brought back some of the scoring. The Gators’ output of 468 points wasn’t a complete turnaround, but Florida did score 34 or more in all but one of their first 10 games, including 35 in a loss to Mississippi State. The defense was a different story though; the Gators allowed 276 total points – the most they had given up in a season since 1992.

There were a few shining moments for the Gators though. In back-to-back weeks against LSU and Auburn, Florida allowed a total of only 16 points to the dual Tigers. The defense would take a step back in the four games after that, allowing at least 20 points in every contest. Heading into the SEC Championship Game against Auburn, the Gators were confident because of what they had done to the Tigers earlier that season, but Florida would need the ball to bounce their way to gain an advantage. And bounce it did.

Rex Grossman passed for four touchdowns during the game, Reche Caldwell caught two of those scores, and Earnest Graham had a career-high 169 rushing yards. Any of those three could have been picked as this week’s hero and they would all be deserving, but, in a twist of sorts, the honor goes to a defender.

Florida would jump out to an early 21-0 lead thanks to three turnovers and two of those three would come courtesy of linebacker Mike Nattiel. On Auburn’s first play of the game, the Tigers fumbled and Nattiel was there to pick up the ball. Not long after, Grossman would hit Caldwell to give the Gators a 7-0 lead.

After a Lito Sheppard interception led to another Grossman-to-Caldwell score, Florida was up 14-0. Auburn would begin to move the ball after that and got all the way down to the Gators’ three yard line before yet another turnover. Nattiel recovered his second fumble at the three and the Florida offense followed it up with a 97-yard touchdown drive.

Nattiel would end the game with eight tackles and those two fumble recoveries that led to Florida scores. It just goes to show you how important turnovers are. If Auburn had been able to score from the three, they could have made it 14-7. Instead, Nattiel recovered the fumble and a few minutes later it was 21-0 Gators. You can play a great game without causing a single turnover, but they sure help. This season’s Florida squad needs that help.

Steve Spurrier, Stephen Garcia, And The End Of A Career

  By The Bull Gator | October 12, 2011 - 1:00 pm | College Football, Florida Gators
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Steve Spurrier has yet to find what he’s looking for at South Carolina. The former Florida star and head coach is searching for a quarterback to replicate what he had when he was with the Gators. From Shane Matthews to Danny Wuerffel to Rex Grossman, quarterbacks made Spurrier’s offenses some of the most explosive in the nation. While the Ol’ Ball Coach has made strides with the Gamecocks, he’s still in search of that golden arm.

Before South Carolina’s Saturday game against Kentucky, Spurrier decided that arm would not be Stephen Garcia’s. Garcia was benched in favor of Connor Shaw and Shaw took every advantage, playing well in the victory over the Wildcats. But we all know Spurrier. His leash is particularly short for his QBs and we figured it was only a matter of time before we’d see Garcia on the field again. We were wrong.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Garcia has been dismissed from the football team, effectively ending his college career. As opposing fans, Garcia gave us laughs. For Gamecock fans, he gave frustration. Garcia definitely had his moments, but the bad ones greatly outweighed the good. It all came to an end abruptly, but not surprisingly.