Gators adjust kickoff
No Southeastern Conference football team needs to iron things out this weekend more than Florida, which rushed for a measly 11 yards and didn’t score an offensive touchdown in last Saturday’s humbling 33-17 loss to Michigan.
Yet no league locale this weekend is in more peril than Gainesville, which could be in Hurricane Irma’s direct path. Irma is expected to begin hammering the Miami area early Sunday morning, so Florida’s Saturday game against Northern Colorado that had been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. has been moved to noon.
“We’re really looking forward to playing a game in the Swamp, and yet obviously there are some things surrounding it,” Gators coach Jim McElwain said Wednesday. “Our thoughts go out to the many people who have the possibility of being affected by this storm that’s coming through. We’re concerned about people in the state of Florida and this region.”
McElwain said the hotel that usually houses Gators players before home games instead will be used for people who may be fleeing the southern part of the state seeking shelter.
The Gators had to postpone a home game with LSU last October due to the potential effects from Hurricane Matthew and had it relocated to Baton Rouge in November. That resulted in Florida having to scratch a scheduled home game against Presbyterian and instead play an 11-game regular season.
Florida also played an 11-game regular season in 2014, when its opener with Idaho was canceled due to lightning.
“How important is a game when you’re talking about the lives of people?” McElwain said. “Our guys are looking forward to this, because playing in the Swamp is a special, special thing, but we’re always going to do what’s best for our team, the university and the residents of the state of Florida.
“I tell our guys all that we can control is what we’re doing right this second. Let’s prepare and be ready and adjust when needed.”
Pasquali’s Pix
› South Carolina at Missouri: It appears every team facing Barry Odom’s Tigers should be prepared to score and should be prepared to be scored upon. Tigers 38, Gamecocks 33.
› Alabama A&M at Vanderbilt: Coach Derek Mason’s Commodores could be on the verge of their fourth consecutive regular-season win by double digits. Commodores 40, Bulldogs 7.
› Fresno State at Alabama: In what has to be the greatest disparity of opposition in college football history, Jeff Tedford’s Bulldogs are going from playing Incarnate Word to Nick Saban’s unrelenting powerhouse. Crimson Tide 48, Bulldogs 7.
› Indiana State at Tennessee: Coach Butch Jones could say, “We just want to be 2-0 this week,” and he technically would be correct. Volunteers 41, Sycamores 10.
› Georgia at Notre Dame: If freshman Jake
Fromm throws for 8 yards Saturday night, he will set a Georgia passing record in games against Notre Dame.
Bulldogs 26, Fighting Irish 24.
› UTC at LSU: Simply advancing past their own 47-yard line against the Tigers would allow the Mocs to accomplish something BYU didn’t last weekend. Tigers 44, Mocs 3.
› Auburn at Clemson:
These two sets of Tigers have combined to play in four of the past seven national championship games. Clemson 17, Auburn 16.
› Oklahoma at Ohio State: The fact that Georgia-Notre Dame, Auburn-Clemson and Oklahoma-Ohio State will be on at the same time is going to lead to some sore channel-flipping fingers. Buckeyes 27, Sooners 24.
Last week: Winners …………… ..23 Sumlins ……………… .2
Pasquali is 23-2 overall (92 percent) this season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.