Gators cancel spring football game due to COVID-19 pandemic

GAINESVILLE — The Florida Gators will not host a spring football game due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Gators expect to have fans back in the Swamp during the 2021 season, but holding the spring game “seems unwise,” UF athletics director Scott Stricklin posted on his Twitter account Tuesday.

The pandemic led the school to cancel the 2020 spring game and limit attendance to just 20% during the 2020 season.

The Gators will begin the first of 15 spring workouts Thursday and wrap up March 20.

“Hosting fans for an intrasquad spring scrimmage seems unwise given all circumstances, including the fact that Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is being used as a large scale COVID testing and vaccination site,” Stricklin said.

UF football coach Mullen said he’ll miss having the spring game for the players and fans.

“I think it’s like a celebration for the players to see all the fans that come out and see new faces and get excited about next year’s team,” Mullen said. “Spring game’s a great day in Gainesville to have the fans get really excited about the next season.”

Mullen said the pressure of playing in front of fans also is a benefit for young players.

“It will be the first time some of these guys take snaps in front of a big crowd,” Mullen said. “I mean, usually the spring game crowd is bigger than any crowd we would have played against last season. To go play on that stage, I think, is a big plus.”

From a coaching standpoint, though, Mullen said the Gators team still might be better off holding a 15th practice rather than an exhibition game. The 2019 game was heavily tilted to the offense and ended with a score of 63-35 and 762 passing yards.

“There’s going to be a big plus to that of getting some more things accomplished in that scrimmage than you normally would in ... more of an exhibition showcase,” Mullen said.