Gators have a revenge shot against Aggies
UF can return a nice favor to A&M’s coach
GAINESVILLE — Coach Jimbo Fisher has a history of kicking the Florida Gators when theywere down.
Fisher now looks to sidetrack a Gators program on the rise.
In the process, Fisher aims to lower the temperature at Texas A&M, where he has yet to deliver on the school’s $75 million investment in the former Florida State coach.
Fisher insists the No. 21 Aggies (1-1) are on track entering a noon visit Saturday from No. 4 Florida (2-0).
“We’re on pace,” Fisher said this week. “We’re recruiting verywell. The older guys are doing a good job. Are we where we want to be? You’re never there. There’s an urgency to get there.
“But I think we’re definitely heading in the right direction.”
Fisher, who turned 55 Friday, and Gators coach Dan Mullen are in the third seasons of their second stops as head coaches. Yet Mullen’s program — 23-5 since he arrived in Gainesville — is on the kind of trajectory A&M had envisioned when luring Fisher away from Tallahassee with an unprecedented megadeal.
Fisher instead is 18-10 at A&M, with his sole signature win perhaps a seven overtime affair in 2018 with LSU, a season before the Tigers truly found their stride and raced to the2019 national title.
Fisher did not lose for the 11th time at Florida State until his final game of his fifth season, to Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Odds are loss No. 11 with the Aggies is coming soon, if not Saturday.
Fisher will struggle to find the success he enjoyed at FSU in the SEC West, a sizable jump from ACC competition. But a victory against one-time rival Florida could serve as a springboard to better times for Fisher in College Station.
A win also would rekindle memories of a time he owned the Gators, to the tune of a 7-1mark.
“Florida’s always had really good players and some really good years when I was there,” said Fisher, who faced three different Gator head coaches during eight seasons. “But we had a really good team and had built our program up and established it.”
Few signs indicate the Aggies, a 6.5-point underdog, are poised to upset Mullen’s squad.
Texas A& M struggled to beat Vanderbilt 17-12 at home to open the season, and then went to Alabama and were run off the field by a 52-24 margin. The high-octane Crimson Tide’s attack needed fewer than 23 minutes off the clock to rack up 554 yards, highlighted by touchdown passes of 87, 78 and 63 yards.
The Gators enter Saturday with one of the nation’s most potent passing offenses, led by quarterback Kyle Trask, the SEC leader with 10 touchdown passes, and tight end Kyle Pitts, whose six touchdown catches are tops in the nation.
The Kyle-to-Kyle connection arrives at Kyle Field with plenty of teammates ready to join in the fun. Kadarius Toney already has 11 catches and has scored in each game while redshirt freshman Trent Whittemore of Gainesville scored his first touchdown last Saturday, showcasing the depth of playmakers at Trask’s disposal.
“He has an exceptional radius, great hands, great concentration,” UF offensive coordinator Brian Johnson said of Whittemore. “He can separate and get open. He’s everything you look for in terms of a wide receiver.”
The Gators’ attack does not plan to let up against the Aggies, either. A second-stall-out during last Saturday’s 38-24 home win against South Carolina did not go over well among coaches or players.
Ahead 38-14, Florida managed just 11yards on its final three possessions.
“To see the production just flatline is really frustrating for the offense,” Trask said.
Frustration has been the prevailing emotion for Fisher, his Aggies and their fans since he arrived after the 2017 season. Year 3was supposed to be different, and still could be beginning Saturday.
Asked what about the Aggies jumped out on game film, Mullen replied, “I mean, everything.”
Texas A&M returns 16 starters, including quarterback Kellen Mond, four senior offensive linemen and six members of the front seven on defense.
At Alabama, Mond threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns but did suffer a soul-crushing pick-six with his team trailing 21-14. Mond’s dualthreat ability has the Gators’ attention.
“When he gets out of the pocket he really makes things happen,” linebacker Amari Burney said.
Another rare bright spot last Saturday was backup tailback Aini as Smith, a converted receiver who accounted for 152 yards on 11 touches and caught two touchdowns. Tight end Jalen Wydermyer finished with eight catches for 82 yards.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound sophomore could pose problems for a Florida defense with a history of struggling to cover tight ends and off to a slow start overall in 2020.
The Gators’ last visit to College Station ended in a 20-17 victory in 2012 during quarterback Johnny Manziel’s first college start. The “12th Man” at a soldout Kyle Field left disappointed, but some of the best days in the program history were soon ahead.
This time around, a 25% capacity crowd of just around 27,500 will be scattered throughout the 110,000-seat stadium — a sign of the times. The path ahead for Fisher’s program is uncertain, too.
The Gators look to cloud A&M’s future even further.
“Things are in really good shape [at UF],” Fisher said. “They’re in the top-5 for a reason.”