Senior quarterback Austin Appleby will lead a UF offense that ranks 114th in the nation against top-ranked Alabama and its top-rated defense. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Despite Odds, Gators Heading to Atlanta Anyway
Monday, November 28, 2016 | Football, Chris Harry
Florida is 22-point underdog in Saturday's SEC Championship, largest spread in game since 1995.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Austin Appleby, as he does, had just provided a very thoughtful and quotable answer to one of the nine questions put to him during a teleconference with national media Monday to preview Florida's date this weekend in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game.
The moderator's voice spoke next.
"Any more questions for Florida quarterback Austin Appleby?"
Yes, Austin, any last requests?
OK, so that didn't really happen. But given the David vs. Goliath circumstances of the league's silver anniversary title game — the No. 1 and defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0) are a whopping 22-point favorite over the 15th-ranked Gators (8-3) heading into Saturday's game at the Georgia Dome — you almost expected it.
And that's OK with Coach Jim McElwain and the Gators, who despite their glaring offensive flaws will head off to the conference's marquee event for a second straight year and refuse to feel badly about it. Nor, they say, will they be intimidated by an opponent that has not allowed a touchdown during the month of October (just six field goals over the previous four games) and comes in with the nation's No. 1 overall defense and an offense averaging 479.6 yards per game (second-best in the SEC), including 246.9 on the ground.
Florida will counter with a defense -- even with a litany of injuries to outstanding players -- ranked sixth nationally, but an offense coming off its worst performance of the season in Saturday night's 31-13 loss at rival Florida State. In that game, the Gators gained just 207 yards, went 0-for-12 on third-down conversion tries and failed to score an offensive touchdown.
There's a reason the 22-point spread is the second-largest in SEC Championship Game history, behind only the 24 the then-No. 2 Gators were favored over Arkansas in the 1995 game (UF won 34-3 en route to its first 12-0 start ever).
None of these numbers are lost on McElwain, who was asked his thoughts on the apparent "mismatch" between two opponents who will be playing in the SEC title game for a record ninth time. He just doesn't care about them.
"I don't look at it as a mismatch at all. I look at it as a great opportunity," said McElwain, who was then reminded that everyone else across the country viewed it exactly as a Christians-against-the-lions kind of scenario. "I look at it as a great opportunity. I know this: We're playing in this game and we're going to give ourselves every opportunity to be successful. Keep telling them [it's a mismatch]. I'm good with that. I know our guys will come in with the mindset to go make plays. I'm excited about that."
With a game of this magnitude against a potentially historic opponent, that's the approach the Gators better take with them to Atlanta. Even McElwain acknowledged this could be the best Bama team Coach Nick Saban has had, He would know. McElwain was offensive coordinator on two of those four Tide national championship squads the past seven seasons.
No matter.
Said Appleby: "Alabama's defense is No. 1 in the nation for a reason. It's going to be a great challenge for our offense."
Cornerback Jalen Tabor: "Just me being a competitor, I want to be the best. To be the best, they're going to measure you against who everyone else thinks is the best. It'll be fun."
Defensive lineman Joey Ivie: "On any given football day, anything can happen. … We've just got to go out there and play ball, and the best team is going to win at the end."
The Tide defeated the Gators in the 2015 game 29-15, with the circumstances heading into this one strikingly similar. In '15, UF also was coming off a lopsided loss to FSU, having failed to score a TD on offense. The Gators ended up gaining just 180 yards against the Bama defense and went 0-for-11 on third down. That Florida offense finished the season ranked 114th nationally.
The 2016 Gators will go to Atlanta ranked 114th (out of 128 FBS programs) in total offense (352.7 yards per), including 104th in rushing (141.6) and 86th passing (211.1). Again, these are numbers McElwain is aware of. Just as he's aware he was sought by then-UF athletic director Jeremy Foley two years ago because of the high-octane offenses he fielded at Colorado State. The charge to McElwain upon his hiring was to fix the Florida offense.
He was reminded of that Monday.
"I was also brought in here to get to Atlanta," he said. "How many years have I been here? OK."
Then he left the podium.
The Gators will leave for Atlanta (for the second time in as many McElwain seasons) on Friday. And they won't apologize for it.
The moderator's voice spoke next.
"Any more questions for Florida quarterback Austin Appleby?"
Yes, Austin, any last requests?
OK, so that didn't really happen. But given the David vs. Goliath circumstances of the league's silver anniversary title game — the No. 1 and defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0) are a whopping 22-point favorite over the 15th-ranked Gators (8-3) heading into Saturday's game at the Georgia Dome — you almost expected it.
And that's OK with Coach Jim McElwain and the Gators, who despite their glaring offensive flaws will head off to the conference's marquee event for a second straight year and refuse to feel badly about it. Nor, they say, will they be intimidated by an opponent that has not allowed a touchdown during the month of October (just six field goals over the previous four games) and comes in with the nation's No. 1 overall defense and an offense averaging 479.6 yards per game (second-best in the SEC), including 246.9 on the ground.
Florida will counter with a defense -- even with a litany of injuries to outstanding players -- ranked sixth nationally, but an offense coming off its worst performance of the season in Saturday night's 31-13 loss at rival Florida State. In that game, the Gators gained just 207 yards, went 0-for-12 on third-down conversion tries and failed to score an offensive touchdown.
There's a reason the 22-point spread is the second-largest in SEC Championship Game history, behind only the 24 the then-No. 2 Gators were favored over Arkansas in the 1995 game (UF won 34-3 en route to its first 12-0 start ever).
None of these numbers are lost on McElwain, who was asked his thoughts on the apparent "mismatch" between two opponents who will be playing in the SEC title game for a record ninth time. He just doesn't care about them.
"I don't look at it as a mismatch at all. I look at it as a great opportunity," said McElwain, who was then reminded that everyone else across the country viewed it exactly as a Christians-against-the-lions kind of scenario. "I look at it as a great opportunity. I know this: We're playing in this game and we're going to give ourselves every opportunity to be successful. Keep telling them [it's a mismatch]. I'm good with that. I know our guys will come in with the mindset to go make plays. I'm excited about that."
With a game of this magnitude against a potentially historic opponent, that's the approach the Gators better take with them to Atlanta. Even McElwain acknowledged this could be the best Bama team Coach Nick Saban has had, He would know. McElwain was offensive coordinator on two of those four Tide national championship squads the past seven seasons.
No matter.
Said Appleby: "Alabama's defense is No. 1 in the nation for a reason. It's going to be a great challenge for our offense."
Cornerback Jalen Tabor: "Just me being a competitor, I want to be the best. To be the best, they're going to measure you against who everyone else thinks is the best. It'll be fun."
Defensive lineman Joey Ivie: "On any given football day, anything can happen. … We've just got to go out there and play ball, and the best team is going to win at the end."
The Tide defeated the Gators in the 2015 game 29-15, with the circumstances heading into this one strikingly similar. In '15, UF also was coming off a lopsided loss to FSU, having failed to score a TD on offense. The Gators ended up gaining just 180 yards against the Bama defense and went 0-for-11 on third down. That Florida offense finished the season ranked 114th nationally.
The 2016 Gators will go to Atlanta ranked 114th (out of 128 FBS programs) in total offense (352.7 yards per), including 104th in rushing (141.6) and 86th passing (211.1). Again, these are numbers McElwain is aware of. Just as he's aware he was sought by then-UF athletic director Jeremy Foley two years ago because of the high-octane offenses he fielded at Colorado State. The charge to McElwain upon his hiring was to fix the Florida offense.
He was reminded of that Monday.
"I was also brought in here to get to Atlanta," he said. "How many years have I been here? OK."
Then he left the podium.
The Gators will leave for Atlanta (for the second time in as many McElwain seasons) on Friday. And they won't apologize for it.
Players Mentioned
Road to Gameday: Florida Football
Thursday, April 30
Ava Brown: Carwash Convos
Wednesday, April 29
Kaitlyn Davies: Carwash Convos
Monday, April 27
Florida Men's Basketball | Thomas Haugh Is Back
Monday, April 27
