Gators Respond Only Way They Could To Quiet Critics
Saturday, November 12, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
Florida follows moribund loss at Arkansas with fast start in 20-7 win over South Carolina on Saturday.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The stage was set for something memorable to happen Saturday regardless of the outcome.
Either Florida's season was perhaps going to be defined by a loss to South Carolina and former UF head coach Will Muschamp, or the Gators would prove that despite mounting criticism, they haven't given up on themselves when others have.
The Gators won twice, first by defeating the Gamecocks 20-7 in a game they controlled throughout, and second, by responding with a victory after last week's deflating and lifeless loss at Arkansas.
"I'm proud of the way that we played,'' quarterback Austin Appleby said. "We left a lot out there, and still with that, it was a great team win."
Appleby played a leading role.
In his first career start at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – and last he noted afterward – the fifth-year senior transfer from Purdue completed 11 of his first 12 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns to put the Gators up 14-0 early in the second quarter.
On an overcast Senior Day, Florida's much-maligned offense was finally producing some sunshine.
Florida head coach Jim McElwain advanced through the coaching ranks as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Muschamp, 28-21 in his four seasons at Florida, climbed the coaching ladder as a defensive coordinator.
Their worlds clashed on Saturday following a week when the loudest critics suggested McElwain's Gators in his two seasons are not that much different than Muschamp's Gators were.
"Here's the one thing I do know, you come to the University of Florida, there is going to be noise in the system no matter what,'' McElwain said after Saturday's win improved his record at UF to 17-6. "That's the beauty of a place like this. You've got bunch of people who care, and a bunch, that you know, who know football."
Based on the past week, the Armchair Quarterback Club has a healthy membership.
Most of the critics, much like they did in Urban Meyer's final season and Muschamp's four prior to McElwain's arrival, blamed the offense for whatever ails the Gators. And after 231 yards in a win over Georgia two weeks ago and 241 at Arkansas, they had a point.
Florida's performance Saturday won't remind anyone of the Fun 'N Gun days under Steve Spurrier – he did that himself by honoring the 1990 and '91 Gators during an on-field ceremony between the first and second quarters.
Still, Florida's offense looked rejuvenated early by rolling up 251 yards of offense on its first four drives of the game. If not for a Mark Thompson fumble and an Appleby fumble at the 5-yard line, the Gators could have easily blown the game open before halftime.
Instead, Florida settled for a pair of Eddy Pineiro field goals after halftime and a stout defense that once again shut down an up-and-coming quarterback in the Southeastern Conference. South Carolina entered riding a three-game win streak since freshman Jake Bentley took over behind center.
Bentley was just 8 of 18 for 83 yards after three quarters. He finished 18 of 33 for 213 yards and an interception. Bentley was also sacked five times and hurried seven, reminiscent of the way the Gators shut down Missouri's Drew Lock and Georgia's Jacob Eason.
"They came out and played very well defensively,'' Muschamp said. "They certainly responded off of last week's game as I knew those guys in that locker room would."
Injuries, penalties and an Appleby interception stalled Florida's momentum in the second half. Still, the defense hung tough despite the absence of starting linebackers Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone, and the loss of two key seniors – safety Marcus Maye and defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. – to injuries.
The Gators lost starting center Tyler Jordan (ankle) to an injury on their first play of the game. Jordan was playing in place of Cameron Dillard, who was lost for the season at Arkansas to a knee injury. Starting left tackle David Sharpe also left with an injury and did not return.
Redshirt freshmen T.J. McCoy (center) and Kavaris Harkless (left guard) took over and helped running back Jordan Scarlett rush for a career-high 134 yards and kept the pressure off Appleby.
"Those are my guys,'' Appleby said.
Meanwhile, the No. 22-ranked Gators (7-2, 5-2) maintained their place atop the SEC East with the victory. Tennessee's 49-36 win over Kentucky prevented the Gators from clinching Saturday.
Nothing can stop them if they win at LSU next week in the Hurricane Bowl.
The Florida-LSU game, originally scheduled Oct. 8 at The Swamp, was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew's pending arrival on the Florida coast and rescheduled in Baton Rouge after a contentious week of negotiations between the schools and SEC.
By the end of the game Saturday, the Twitter critics still wanted more from the offense.
McElwain appeared unfazed.
"I've been doing this a long time. I just know what we're doing with this football team is the right thing,'' he said. "I got criticized my whole life. I grew up in Montana, if you don't have thick skin, you're in trouble. Am I happy with [the offense]? I've answered that before. Absolutely not. But do I also know the parts and what's there and the direction we're headed? I'm excited about it.
"We'll see who we load the bus with [for LSU]. We'll go put a plan together and play. I know our guys will play their tails off. I really like these guys. I like our team. I like the way they care about each other."
As for the Muschamp comes back to Gainesville storyline, it played out rather quietly Saturday.
Until the end.
Soon after McElwain and Muschamp embraced at midfield after the game, a stream of Gators lined up to hug their former coach. About 30 in all.
They wanted to say hello when it was time to say goodbye.
"There were a lot of emotions,'' senior defensive tackle Joey Ivie said. "A lot of guys came with big hearts and ready to play. I really wanted to get this win."
Then it was off the locker room to celebrate the victory. A win the loudest critics had their doubts about more than three hours earlier.
"The one thing you realize, it is outside noise,'' McElwain quipped. "We're inside most all the day. When you're in that locker room, you don't feel that at all."
