Full-contact preseason practices delayed
Florida head coach Dan Mullen and the Gators are adapting to a revised schedule during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Florida Gators’ fullcontact preseason camp has been delayed and won’t kick off until Aug. 17, according to an updated schedule released Tuesday by the SEC.
Beginning Friday and running through Aug. 16, SEC programs will be allowed to conduct 14 hours per week of strength and conditioning training, meetings and walk throughs.
When practices begin Aug. 17, a five-day acclimatization period will be required, with two days in helmets only and two days in shells before practicing in full pads on the fifth day. Schools also will be required to give players at least two days off during each of the four weeks leading up game week practices starting on Sept. 21.
This is a change from SEC schools’ normal schedules, which called for teams to start the acclimatization period this weekend and begin full-contact workouts late next week.
The adjustments were made after the SEC announced last week it would push back the start of the football season and limit the 2020 schedule to 10 games against only conference opponents due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Gators hope to soon find out which two SEC West teams will be added to their schedule.
UF plays the six other teams in the East Division, a crossover game with LSU and one rotating crossover game. The rotating opponent in 2020 is Ole Miss.
Coming off an 11-2 season and expected to contend for a College Football Playoff berth, the Gators are looking to take the next step during the program’s turnaround. Mullen is 21-5 during two seasons in Gainesville. UF returns six starters on offense, led by quarterback Kyle Trask, an All-SEC candidate, and five starters from a defense that allowed fewer touchdowns (23) than all but two Power 5 schools (Georgia, Ohio State).