Injury-plagued Gators
adjust to underdog role for Saturday’s game vs. FSU.
GAINESVILLE — Coach Jim McElwain will be the first person to say the Florida Gators should not be a 10-win football team.
He also realizes No. 11 might not happen for awhile.
McElwain entered his first Florida-Florida State week with
a battered roster, a struggling offense and an unreliable placekicker.
McElwain also knows not to count out his No. 8 Gators (10-1),
even against the most-talented team Florida will face in at least a month.
“Part of the key is figuring out how you get wins, even through deficiencies,” he said. “I can’t say enough about this football team.”
What football team shows up Saturday night in the Swamp is the question.
McElwain has 11 injured players, including star defensive tackle Jon Bullard and sack leader Alex McCalister.
Bullard injured his right knee during last Saturday’s 20-14 overtime win against FAU and could spend his final game in the Swamp on the sideline. Injured on FAU’s fifth offensive snap, Bullard returned to make four tackles, but McElwain said he “probably is out” against No. 14 FSU (9-2).
“What this guy did coming out of the tunnel to help this football team, guys, that is awesome,” McElwain said. “I’ve been in this long enough to see some of these guys coming out and they start saving themselves for the next level, let’s call it the way it is.
“That was unbelievable.”
While Bullard still might play, McElwain has ruled out McCalister (foot) and back-up defensive end Jordan Sherit (hamstring). Back-up tackles Joey Ivie (leg) and Taven Bryan (ankle) are doubtful, but starting tackle Caleb Brantley is expected to return after sitting out against FAU with an injured groin.
Meanwhile, leading tackler Antonio Morrison (hamstring) is probable.
On offense, the Gators have three questionable linemen — left tackle David Sharpe (foot), left guard Martez Ivey (shoulder) and center Cam Dillard (leg). Receiver Brandon Powell (foot) also is questionable.
“We will have enough guys run out of the tunnel to form a team in this ballgame,” McElwain said. “I’m looking forward to the guys that are going to be given opportunities to perform and perform at a high level in a game that means so much to so many, and to some of us a little bit more.
“When it gets personal.”
Many players on each team were Florida high school stars and have long histories.
McElwain had two brushes with the Seminoles as an assistant coach at Louisville, losing 31-0 in 2000 in Doak Campbell Stadium and winning 26-20 in overtime at home.
He and FSU coach Jimbo Fisher have never faced each other — except on the recruiting trail.
On Monday, Fisher expressed little sympathy for the Gators’ slew of injuries.
“There’s not a team in America that isn’t banged up. That’s part of it,” he said. “It seems like whenever you take one of those guys out, there doesn’t seem like a big difference in them. “They’ve got depth.” Florida’s depth and a deep resolve have helped the Gators keep winning with their second choice at quarterback, Treon Harris, a once-benched kicker, Austin Hardin, and a first-year freshman, receiver Antonio Callaway, as the team’s top playmaker.
But Florida’s past three wins are by a combined 18 points against teams with a combined 9-24 record.
“We’ve got so far to go,” McElwain said. “Our guys have won a bunch of games … whether you say they deserve it or not.”