Gators offensive lineman David Sharpe waves a Florida flag after victory at LSU on Saturday. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Gap between Gators, Seminoles closing? Signs Point That Way
Tuesday, November 22, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
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Both programs are 18-6 in their last 24 games heading into Saturday's showdown.
By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida-Florida State rivalry took a U-turn six years ago when the Seminoles, in head coach Jimbo Fisher's first season, ended Florida's dominance in the rivalry with a 31-7 victory.
Afterward, Gators head coach Urban Meyer famously vowed to "rebuild this thing." In between Meyer's only loss to FSU and Florida's Outback Bowl win over Penn State, he decided he needed to rebuild himself and announced his resignation after the bowl game.
In the six years since that game in Tallahassee, Florida is 47-27 and FSU is 66-13 entering their matchup Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium. However, a closer look reveals that since second-year Gators head coach Jim McElwain arrived, the Gators and Seminoles have identical 18-6 records.
While it appears the gap is closing, the No. 13 ranked Gators (8-2) can loudly state their case by beating the No. 15-ranked Seminoles (8-3) and avoid a fourth consecutive loss in the rivalry for the first time since losing four straight from 1987 to 1990.
Florida is coming off an emotional 16-10 victory at LSU that clinched the program's second consecutive SEC East title. The Gators sealed the victory with a goal-line stand.
The Gators celebrate with fans who made the trip to Baton Rouge for last week's SEC East-clinching win. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath/For UAA Communications)
If the Gators are going to have a special season, McElwain wants more of the same.
"I'm not sure we've had a decent win like this was and actually followed it up,'' he said Monday. "You know what I mean? That's part of the growth of an organization and a program is understanding that."
Florida avoided a fourth consecutive loss to LSU on Saturday despite being without eight regular starters, including linebackers Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone.
However, true freshmen David Reese and Vosean Joseph and redshirt freshman Kylan Johnson delivered at linebacker, freshman safety Chauncey Gardner made a difference on special teams, and redshirt freshman center T.J. McCoy helped the offensive line establish the tone against the Tigers' front seven.
Meanwhile, freshman running back Lamical Perine had one of Florida's best runs of the season by dragging several LSU defenders for a 22-yard gain late in the fourth quarter on a drive that ended with a field goal.
"We've come very far,'' junior offensive lineman David Sharpe said. "We got a lot of confidence out of this win."
Much like the matchup with Florida State, LSU owns a decisive recruiting advantage over the Gators in recent years according to the national rankings. Florida currently has the No. 20 class while LSU is fourth according to Rivals.com.
"Yeah, they aren't 37-star guys," McElwain said. "But you know what? They're guys you can be proud of and I'm proud of."
FSU had the nation's No. 2 recruiting class in 2016 and is currently at No. 16 according to Rivals. Florida's 2016 signing class finished 14th in the Rivals rankings.
As the Gators continue to attempt to close the gap between the programs – Florida's only win since Fisher took over was 37-26 in 2012 – winning head-to-head battles top the list. Those on the field and recruiting. The Seminoles have outscored the Gators 88-28 in the past three meetings.
Coincidentally, there is a similar backdrop entering Saturday's game as in 2010.
The Gators, after two national titles the previous four seasons, were beginning to show cracks in Meyer's final season and the first of the post-Tim Tebow era, ultimately ending in his resignation. FSU, after going 27-1 over the 2013-14 seasons, has dropped back to the pack since the departure of quarterback Jameis Winston.
In addition, Fisher's future with the program is under heavy scrutiny as LSU searches for a permanent head coach and Fisher is reportedly one of the potential candidates. Fisher said he is "fully invested in Florida State" on the ACC coaches' media teleconference Tuesday morning.
The outside chatter is fun for media and fans, but for now, McElwain has a game on his mind. And a program that is trying to turn a corner. LSU down, FSU up.
"We both recruited a bunch of the same guys, so there isn't a lot of secrets there,'' McElwain said. "We came in here to build a program and build an organization people can be proud of and doing it the right way. That's the way we're doing it.
"I'm excited about the future. And you know what? It's a great time to be a Gator."
