Big win covers up problem at QB
TAMPA — The Outback Bowl should have been a laugher.
Florida’s defense dominated Iowa, the Gators running backs made momentous plays and the special teams outperformed the Hawkeyes in a 30-3 victory. And yet, there was a deficiency at the most important position on the field.
Playing in the final game of his career, Gators quarterback Austin Appleby had a nightmare start.
He tossed interceptions — both were deflected before being picked — on consecutive possessions to open the game, which forced the defense to pull double duty to bail him out.
When it did, Appleby failed to return the favor. He stalled momentum on a promising second-quarter drive with an overthrow of Antonio Callaway in Iowa territory.
Then, after Mark Thompson completed a sensational 85-yard catch and run for Florida’s first touchdown, Appleby killed the Gators’ final drive of the half by taking a sack at midfield.
The offensive line was shaky at times, but Appleby was shakier.
Were it not for an elite defensive performance — a nd s ome horr i bl e dec ision-making by injured Iowa passer C.J. Beathard — Florida would’ve found itself in a much closer game. Or worse, down by two touchdowns within the first five minutes.
Here’s where you might say, “Austin Appleby did enough to win.” And that’s true. Florida won the Outback Bowl handily with an iffy performance by its starting quarterback (14 of 25 for 222 yards, t wo touchdowns and t wo interceptions; Thompson’s 85-yard dash worked some magic on that stat line). Jim McElwain capped a second consecutive season in Gainesville with at least nine wins and a big victory in a January bowl game.
And all of that would be dandy for most programs in the country. But we all know that’s not the case with this one.
F l o r i d a i s a d e c a d e removed from the first of two national titles in a threeyear span. Steve Spurrier — the man who earned UF’s original ring in 1996 — is back in the athletic offices. No one is content with another season of failing to stack up against Alabama.
T h e n ext s t e p d o e s n’ t b e g i n o n d e f e n s e . UF i s already there, and the team has strong athletes in every position group across the board.
Everyone knows what’s holding back the Gators.
I t ’s p a i n f u l t o w a t c h , bec ause fans know what greatness looks like behind center. The trio of bronzed statues outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium are a constant reminder that some of the best quarterbacks in college football history have aired out the football in Gainesville.
For McElwain, this is a nagging problem that began with the suspension of standout freshman Will Grier in October 2015. Three quarterbacks — Treon Harris, Luke Del Rio and Appleby — have tried to run this offense since, and all three have been subpar. Monday’s Outback Bowl was an opportunit y to try out freshman Feleipe Franks, but Florida “passed” (right to the other team, it turns out).
As we wrote in December, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”
In the current Gators era, that’s a disappointing passing offense that once again will be a huge question mark entering the next season. No sneak peek of Franks on Monday was especially disappointing given that UF probably could’ve defeated Iowa with the centuries-old corpse of Edmund P. Gaines at quarterback.
Congrats to Florida on the win. But don’t let the applause get too loud.