Gators are ready for top-10 tussle
A win over Georgia today would continue a major turnaround.
GAINESVILLE — It was just Tuesday of Georgia week, but receiver Tyrie Cleveland barely could wait until Saturday.
Not only would the Gators face their bitter rival in an SEC showdown of top 10 teams, CBS would be on hand to call the game and ESPN’s College GameDay was headed to Jacksonville to preview the matchup for the first time since 2005, back when Tim Tebow was in high school down the road in St. Augustine and Mullen was in his first season as UF’s offensive coordinator.
With the stakes so high and spotlight so bright once again at the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” it would be critical for Cleveland and the N0. 9 Gators to keep their heads.
“It’s kinda hard, you know, because we’re really excited to get to Saturday,” Cleveland said. “So, we just got to calm it down and take it one day at a time.”
After a week of work, coach Dan Mullen’s Gators are looking to announce their arrival.
To have such an opportunity a season removed from a 4-7 finish, Mullen’s squad shook off a stunning Week 2 home loss against Kentucky to win a nail-biter at Mississippi State, rode a sold-out Swamp to an emotional comeback against LSU and erased an 18-point deficit two weeks ago at Vanderbilt.
But coach Kirby Smart’s No. 7 Bulldogs are an entirely different animal, even if a bit wounded and exposed following a 36-16 loss at LSU.
“You kind of need things like sometimes to kind of humble you and put things in perspective,” Georgia defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter said. “You might have thought you were playing pretty well, doing everything the right way, but there’s always room for improvement.”
The Gators will look to pile on
the Bulldogs and make the biggest step yet during UF’s surprising turnaround under Mullen. When the College Football Playoff rankings debut Tuesday, Saturday’s Florida-Georgia winner will be squarely in the hunt for a spot in the four-team semifinal field.
Riding a five-game win streak, the Gators (6-1, 4-1 SEC) hit the practice field Monday knowing what lay ahead.
“Coach Mullen was like, ‘If I have to get you pumped up for this type of game right here then you’re just messed up in the head,’” tailback Lamical Perine said. “You just have to come out here, really, and know what you’re getting yourself into.”
Georgia’s collapse Oct. 13 at LSU uncovered some weaknesses in a Bulldogs squad that had trailed just 15 seconds all season and seemingly had not skipped a beat since a crushing overtime loss to Alabama in the national title game. The Bulldogs gave up 275 yards rushing and committed four turnovers at Tiger Stadium.
But like UF, reigning SEC champion Georgia (6-1, 4-1) comes off a bye week rested, refocused and ready to deliver its best shot.
“We’re gonna hit them in the mouth. They gonna hit us in the mouth,” UF linebacker David Reese said. “We’ll just see who flinches first.”
Whoever ends up on their heels might not recover Saturday and will be eliminated from the SEC title race.
The past four FloridaGeorgia games have been decided by at least two touchdowns. Just three of the past 10 meetings have been decided by one possession.
Last year’s 42-7 win by the Bulldogs was a classic example of a team riding a wave of momentum and emotion to a one-sided win.
“Guys are feeling that pain from last year,” Perine said. “There’s a lot of fuel from that.”
That loss marked the end for coach Jim McElwain, who was fired the next day. The defeat also set the stage for a new beginning under Mullen, who was hired away from Mississippi State four weeks later.
Mullen and his staff since have changed the culture, instilled confidence in their players and come up a winning plan on Saturdays.
UF’s 46-year-old coach said there is no telling what exactly it will take to keep the good times rolling.
“It could be decided anywhere, you know what I mean? Big games,” Mullen said. “It could be whoever makes more plays down the field. It could be decided on the perimeter breaking tackles. It could be a turnover, a red-zone game.
“You’re going to have to come out and play well.”
Like LSU, Florida will hope to rattle Georgia sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm, who gave up two interceptions and suffered three sacks against the Tigers. The key will be to contain a Bulldogs run game that is No. 2 in the SEC with an average of 5.78 yards per carry and unleash pass rushers Jachai Polite and Jabari Zuniga, who have combined for 11.5 sacks.
Coming off a season-high 576 yards at Vanderbilt, the Gators’ offense similarly will seek to establish the run game and limit quarterback Feleipe Franks’ mistakes. Franks had a nightmarish day a season ago against the Bulldogs, finishing with just 30 passing yards and an interceptions on 19 attempts while suffering five sacks and two fumbles.
“Not so fun last year,” Franks recalled.
But Franks has been a different quarterback and the Gators are a different team with a different vibe this season under Mullen.
Since the Kentucky loss Sept. 8, Mullen has been able to bring along his new team step by step, day by day, game by game.
With the big stage awaiting them, the Gators have reached a place that feels likes their destiny.
“That’s what we live for, that’s why we come here to the University of Florida, just for those big games,” Cleveland said. “I’m glad that we’re a part of that again.”