Gators wary in facing desperate Tigers
GAINESVILLE — A tempest is brewing in Baton Rouge, with LSU coach Ed Orgeron at the center of a rising storm of scrutiny and second-guessing.
Last November, the fallout from Hurricane Matthew would inspire the Florida Gators to stun Orgeron’s Tigers at home.
Today in the Swamp, a struggling LSU squad now looks to respond to a stunning loss last week to Troy and silence the criticism surrounding its coach.
Given the climate at LSU, UF coach Jim McElwain said the fiery Orgeron and his wounded Tigers are sure to bring more fuel than usual to a heated rivalry.
“These guys will be coming in here crazed, nuts, ready to go to prove all the naysayers [wrong]. … Our guys will be excited to play. Their guys will be excited to play,” McElwain said.
“This is a good SEC rivalry.”
This annual East-West SEC crossover game took an ugly turn last October.
Matthew’s path along Florida’s East Coast forced UF to postpone last season’s Oct. 8 home game despite LSU’s objections.
The acrimonious negotiations led to a public spat between athletics directors, intervention by the SEC and a Nov. 19 game in Tiger Stadium instead of Gainesville. The Gators had the last word with a 16-10 upset win.
The bad blood has continued to percolate, with UF seemingly taking a jab scheduling LSU as its homecoming foe.
This week UF announced former star pitcher Alex Faedo as the honorary Mr. Two Bits, less than three months after he led the Gators past the Tigers in College World Series final.
“Guys know,” LSU sophomore defensive end Rashard Lawrence said. “It means a little bit more this week.”
Today’s game could also dictate whether LSU can salvage its season.
The Tigers have made that much clear during a week featuring meetings upon meetings to sort out the mess.
There were two playersonly meetings and private gatherings featuring Orgeron and team leaders, and also Orgeron, his coordinators and LSU athletics director Joe Alleva, who has faced criticism for naming Oregeron the team’s head coach last season.
“Laid out everything on the table, which direction we wanted to go, what’s going on, how to fix it,” Orgeron said. “It’s been a very positive week, looking forward to a very competitive football game.”
To compete with the No. 21 Gators (3-1, 3-0 SEC), LSU (3-2, 0-1) must improve its play up front.
The Tigers allowed more than 200 rushing yards in losses to Mississippi State and Troy. With the emergence of freshman tailback
NO. 25 UCF AT CINCINNATI Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio ESPNU 76 degrees, 70 percent rain chance orlandosentinel.com/knights; mattmurschel on Twitter. UCF is working to build on its strong 3-0 start despite being forced to adapt after Hurricane Irma significantly altered the Knights’ schedule. Cincinnati is struggling to avoid early deficits and adapting to first-year coach Luke Fickell. The Knights are favored by 17 points. The Knights’ offense has improved significantly during coach Scott Frost’s second season, with quarterback McKenzie Milton making stronger decisions under pressure. The Knights’ defense, meanwhile, continues to thrive. @os
The Bearcats have fielded a strong offense during the past decade but consistent big plays have been elusive this season. Fickell is sticking with quarterback Hayden Moore, who has only completed 52.5 percent of his passes.
1. Young corners. Cincinnati still has pieces of a dangerous offense that put up 21 points in the second half of a loss to Marshall last Saturday. The Bearcats will test the Knights’ young defensive backs often.
2. Milton’s poise. Every game Milton has put up a few passes in dangerous spots that easily could be interceptions. He has to avoid costly turnovers.
3. Special plays. UCF has been sharp on special teams and needs to keep it up against a Cincinnati team eager to get back on track. Malik Davis and the team’s offensive line, UF will look to capitalize.
“We had some time to watch them [on film],” LSU senior end Christian LaCouture said. “It’s run, run, run, run.”
With rainy conditions expected in the Swamp, LSU would like to put the game in the hands of Gators’ redshirt freshman quarterback Feleipe Franks — a former Tiger commit in just his fourth college start.
Franks’ inconsistency led McElwain to bench him during two games. Franks’ talent also is undeniable.
But against LSU he will be without leading receiver Tyrie Cleveland, who suffered a high-ankle sprain during last Saturday’s win against Vanderbilt.
Franks also will be without a backup who has shown he can run McElwain’s offense. Graduate transfer Malik Zaire, a dualthreat quarterback, has not played since a season-opening loss to Michigan.
“He’s got an arm. He can sling that thing down the field,” Lawrence said of Franks.
“We’ve got to get pressure on him up front. That’s going to be crucial and not letting him be comfortable back there.”
Entering Saturday, no one is feeling the heat like Orgeron.
Unless things turn around, the Tigers — with four SEC road games remaining — face the possibility of a losing record for the first time since 1999.
“At the end of the day you don’t want to be the laughingstock of the SEC,” LSU sophomore linebacker Devin White said.
FLORIDA STATE VS. NO. 13 MIAMI, 3:30 Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee ABC in most Florida markets, ESPN nationally 75 degrees, 0 percent chance of rain orlandosentinel.com/seminoles and sunsen tinel.com/hurricanes; @osfsu and @ChristyChirinos on Twitter
After Hurricane Irma postponed their Sept. 16 matchup, the Seminoles and the Hurricanes will renew their storied rivalry today with the longest win streak in the series on the line. FSU, which has struggled through a 1-2 start this season, hopes to win its eighth straight game against Miami, which enters 3-0 and improved under second-year head coach Mark Richt.
True freshman quarterback James Blackman will get his first taste of a rivalry game in his third career start for the Seminoles. Blackman steered FSU to its first win of the season at Wake Forest last week, leading the march for a game-tying field goal before finding receiver Auden Tate for a 40-yard game-winning touchdown in the final minute. FSU’s offense hopes to find some rhythm and continuity behind its offensive line after scoring the first rushing touchdown and fourth-quarter touchdown of the season last week.
The undefeated Hurricanes hope to end the Seminoles’ second seven-game win streak in the series by relying on stellar running back Mark Walton, receiver Ahmmon Richards, new quarterback Malik Rosier and an improved defense.
Miami has looked impressive since its Irma layoff. Miami opened ACC play last week with a 31-6 win at Duke, putting together the Hurricanes’ strongest defensive performance of the season. The Hurricanes kept the Blue Devils out of the end zone while sacking quarterback Daniel Jones five times. Offensively, Miami jumped to a quick two-score led and never trailed. Rosier was 15-for-26 passing with two touchdowns and an interception. Richards finished with three catches for 106 yards.
1. FSU’s offensive line. With left tackle Derrick Kelly (leg), left guard Landon Dickerson (right ankle) and right guard Cole Minshew (undisclosed) dealing with injuries, the Seminoles may continue to have trouble blocking for Blackman and FSU’s running backs.
2. Receiver depth is an issue. Junior Tate, who scored all three of FSU's touchdowns this season, will be limited with his left shoulder injury suffered two weeks ago. Redshirt sophomore George Campbell is also questionable with a hip injury, putting pressure on sophomore Keith Gavin and junior Nyqwan Murray.
3. Which FSU team will show up? The Seminoles played up to their competition in their season-opening loss to Alabama but struggled mightily against NC State and Wake Forest before beating the Demon Deacons.
1. The ground game. In the Miami-Florida State series, a strong rushing attack has usually determined the winner. The Hurricanes will need a strong performance from Walton, who has been dealing with a nagging ankle injury since the Toledo game. His effectiveness will be key.
2. Miami’s defense. The Hurricanes were supposed to field one of the top defenses in the ACC. After some struggles during the Hurricanes’ first two wins, the unit shined against Duke. Can it build on that success?
3. Clutch kicks. The kicking game — and special teams as a whole — have been significant in the Miami-Florida State series. With conditions expected to be ugly, can Michael Badgley and the rest of Miami’s special-teamers get the job done?