Gators head coach Jim McElwain wants to see his team play with a sense of urgency on Saturday. (Photo: Jay Metz/For UAA Communications)
Notebook: Spurrier to Speak to Gators about Homecoming, Brantley update, more tidbits
Wednesday, October 12, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
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Florida hosts Missouri on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m.).
By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jim McElwain's memory of homecoming two years ago is a good one. His Colorado State team defeated Utah State for its fifth win in a row during a nine-game win streak.
McElwain had no reason to pay attention to what was happening in Florida as Missouri rolled to a 42-13 victory over the Gators, spoiling homecoming at the Swamp. He was still seven weeks from being named UF's head coach.
With homecoming on Saturday and Missouri back in town for the first time since that dismal 2014 October night for Gators fans, McElwain was asked whether Florida's veteran players can use what happened two years ago as motivation.
"I knew nothing about that. I watched the tape,'' he said. "If that's what it takes for them to get excited, I hope it is. Motivation should be driven from within, go do the best you can. I'll tell our guys that's what they're chirping about. Maybe that will help."
Gators defensive line coach Chris Rumph and tackle Caleb Brantley converse on the sideline. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
McElwain's tongue was planted firmly in cheek for the last part of his answer.
Instead, he has other plans to get the No. 18-ranked Gators (4-1, 2-1) ready to face the Tigers (2-3, 0-2) on homecoming with the 2006 national champion UF team being honored on the 10-year anniversary of the program's second national title.
UF ambassador Steve Spurrier, who led the Gators to their first national title 20 years ago, is going to speak to the team on Thursday.
"Have an opportunity to kind of get his perspective on the importance as well as some former players we'll have on Friday,'' McElwain said. "I want our guys to make sure that they understand the importance. I think that's great for our fans, great for the town, obviously great for the university.
"And yet, there's something about that you shouldn't need that to go out and compete."
Homecoming games have been lukewarm for Florida in recent years. The Gators are 3-3 over the past six seasons, snapping a two-game losing streak in McElwain's first season with a 9-7 win over Vanderbilt.
He wants to go 2-0 on Saturday, and if that helps sooth what happened two years ago against the Tigers, so be it.
"What it really boils down to is grabbing your jersey, grabbing your helmet and going out into the park and playing and having a good time doing it,'' McElwain said. "That's what we're looking to do on Saturday against a team that lives off explosive plays. We'll find out how good our secondary is because they will get challenged a lot."
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BRANTLEY AILING
Gators defensive tackle Caleb Brantley practiced Wednesday but was limited.
"Didn't go a full day,'' McElwain said.
Brantley suffered a hand injury at Vanderbilt that forced him to leave the game momentarily. Florida will be without defensive linemen Joey Ivie (thumb), Jordan Sherit (knee) and Justus Reed (undisclosed) on Saturday, so Brantley's presence is important.
"He's a great player. He can dominate a game,'' McElwain said. "Sometimes he's his own worst enemy. He's so hard on himself rather than clap it off and go play the next play."
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MAKING STRIDES
Freshman receiver Tyrie Cleveland was Florida's most highly touted newcomer to arrive over the summer. He was ranked among the top receiving prospects in the nation a year ago and started slow at UF due to a pair of hamstring injuries. Cleveland
Cleveland has three catches for 45 yards the past two games and continues to improve, which could be an important development for UF's offense the second half of the season.
"I think he's back healthy. He's put some pretty good back-to-back weeks together," McElwain said. "He's a guy that we thought would be a big part, and I think as we move forward, the more he plays with consistency the more he will get opportunities."
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LESS FLAGS PLEASE
The Gators are somewhere McElwain would rather they not be: leading the SEC in penalties.
Florida has been penalized 38 times for 372 yards through five games, an average of 74.4 yards per game. That is 13.2 yards more per game than Mississippi State, the league's second most-penalized team.
"What's that tell me? I'll tell you what it tells me. It means we've got some selfish guys,'' he said. "Let's put it this way, it's not something we practice. But it's also a choice. I'm OK with effort penalties. It's the unforced errors that need to be cut down."
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QUOTE OF NOTE I
"If you're so selfish that all you can do is worry about numbers, then go be an accountant." – McElwain when asked if defensive players could be frustrated by lack of opportunity to pressure Missouri quarterback Drew Lock due to his quick release
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QUOTE OF NOTE II
"Saturday is the ultimate test. We're the only group on campus that actually televises on a national stage the test they're about to take. There aren't any other students that go into English class and have a nationally-televised test. This is their opportunity to get critiqued." – McElwain on how team will respond on Saturday
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GATOR NUGGETS
McElwain officially said QB Luke Del Rio will start Saturday, which was a foregone conclusion based on earlier comments this week … Lock was a player that drew McElwain's interest at Colorado State … McElwain reiterated his disbelief at the thought the Gators wanted to avoid playing LSU. "I'll go play them anywhere. I don't get where all this is coming from. We don't back down."
