Playing the villain Gators coach Mullen says it would be great to end rival FSU’s bowl streak
GAINESVILLE —– It’s been a forgettable football season for Florida State.
UF coach Dan Mullen wants the No. 13 Gators (8-3) to give the Seminoles (5-6) one final indignity and end a five-game losing streak in the heated rivalry.
A UF win also would snap FSU’s string of 36 straight bowl appearances.
“That’d be great,” Mullen said with a smile. “I’d love to do it. But that’s what rivalry games are all about, right?”
When it comes to Florida State, the role of villain suits Mullen well.
The Gators were 4-0 and winning by an average score of 36-12 when Mullen was the team’s offensive coordinator from 2005-08.
Since a 37-26 win in 2012 at Tallahassee, the Gators have lost five times by an average score of 31-13.
“That’s not good,” Mullen said. “Obviously in rivalry games those are things that you don’t like. I’ll tell you, if you’re on the winning side of it it’s great to be on a long winning streak in rivalry games. If you’re on the losing side it doesn’t feel good for you or your fans.
“So, we have go try to start a new streak.”
The Gators are four-point favorites and coming off their second consecutive game with at least 35 points and more than 500 yards of total offense. UF failed to score an offensive touchdown during losses to FSU in 2015 and 2016.
Granted, Florida faced a pair of porous defenses the past two weeks in South Carolina and Idaho. But Mullen’s offense ranks 56th nationally. UF was 110th, 116th, 112th the past three seasons under Jim McElwain.
“That’s good,” Mullen said of his offense’s recent output. “I like that. … I think guys are getting comfortable with what we’re doing.”
UF gained 600 yards during a 63-10 win this past Saturday against overmatched Idaho. Mullen did not focus on the inflated yardage total, rather his team’s ability to carry out the game plan efficiently rather than merely capitalize on the disparity in talent.