UF coaches focus on fixing dodgy defense

Florida coaches Dan Mullen and Todd Grantham are fine despite their sideline spat last week.

Grantham never doubted things were copacetic even as Florida’s head coach tore into his defensive coordinator on the sideline during last Saturday’s win against Kentucky.

“We’re good,” Grantham said this week. “The respect we have for each other, the ability to have our opinions, it has allowed us to grow as coaches and our program to grow.

We’ve won a lot of games together and look forward to winning many more.”

That national TV cameras caught their confrontation and spotlighted it while providing red meat to a rabid fan base frustrated with the defense.

In reality, two coaches disagreeing vehemently in the heat of a game is hardly unique. In the case of Grantham and Mullen, it is par for the course.

“They’ve got their little battles,” linebacker James Houston said. “They have little arguments and what not, but it’s all for the team, it’s all about getting better. ”

Grantham and Mullen are in their fourth season together, beginning with a nine-win 2017 season at Mississippi State. Mullen bought the veteran coach with him to Gainesville, where the Gators are 28-6 and on track for the SEC East title this season.

No. 6 Florida (7-1) enters Saturday’s visit to Tennessee (2-5) relying heavily on an offense averaging more than 43 points and at times in spite of a wildly inconsistent defense.

●● former member of the Gators’ football support staff has sued the University Athletic Association, alleging he was discriminated against because he is Black. In a suit filed this week in the U.S. District Court’s Northern District of Florida, Otis Yelverton alleges four main, broad examples of racial discrimination during his year and a half as the Gators’ assistant AD of player personnel.

ELSEWHERE

Rose Bowl: No specta

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tors will be allowed at the Rose Bowl for the College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 1 because of COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the state, county and city of Pasadena. The Tournament of Roses said that it requested special permission to allow for a limited number of spectatorsat the 90,888-seat stadium but was denied.

UCF: Quarterback

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McKenzie Milton has decided to enter the transfer portal and attempt a comeback elsewhere from a serious right leg injury two years ago.

Ohio State: The No. 3 Buckeyes will be “a little shorthanded” because of a COVID-19 outbreak but remain on track for their game at Michigan State, coach said.