The Opening Kickoff: North Texas at Florida -- #UNTvsUF

The Opening Kickoff

North Texas at Florida
#UNTvsUF
Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Game Notes | Broadcast Info

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gators head coach Jim McElwain is not a fan of roller-coaster rides. At least not when he is on the sideline watching his team play.

Soon after McElwain arrived and began to research UF's recent history, he noticed Florida's up-and-down nature. An impressive win followed by a lackluster one. A momentum-building win followed by a deflating defeat.

And then in his first season, McElwain experienced that roller-coaster ride for himself, especially late in the season. The Gators knocked off Georgia in impressive fashion, then had to rely on an unlikely game-winning field goal by Austin Hardin to defeat Vanderbilt. Florida won at South Carolina, then nearly fell in overtime against Florida Atlantic.

32605 — Head coach Jim McElwain on the sideline during last week's victory over Kentucky. (Photo: Jay Metz/For UAA Communications)

So coming off a dominant 45-7 thumping of Kentucky, which was preceded by a ho-hum win over UMass, McElwain has challenged the Gators to play up to the standard they set a week ago in Saturday night's game against North Texas.

"This will be a huge week for us as far as our guys understanding that never, ever let an opportunity pass you by," McElwain said.

McElwain will be watching closely to see how the Gators respond.

For more on the Florida-North Texas game, here is The Opening Kickoff:

THREE QUESTIONS WITH … OFFENSIVE LINE COACH MIKE SUMMERS

Q: How has freshman Jawaan Taylor transitioned into the program?

A: He is a sponge for information and knowledge and has worked really hard at his technique, and has physical gifts and strengths that allow him to go out and execute and do a good job. I can't tell you how elated I was on how he played on Saturday. He got in there early, played most of the game, and really handled himself like a veteran.

Q: What did you do to get the offensive line to respond collectively with a much better performance in Week 2?

A: I think that's just part of the natural transition of what happens as you start a season. Those guys get out and play at full speed and find out what that tempo is all about. I did think they really came together well this past week. They understood the things that needed to improve from Week 1 to Week 2 and kind of looked that dead in the face and took on that challenge.

Q: What's your assessment of sophomore Martez Ivey the first two games?

A: He's had an interesting set of circumstances to deal with having not played all spring and really been limited in his ability from a lot of training in the offseason. There's some rustiness there. From Week 1 to Week 2, got a lot better. I was encouraged really with what he was able to do against Kentucky.

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THREE STORYLINES

How will the Gators respond after their 38-point win over Kentucky? Will they turn in an uninspired performance such as the season-opening win against UMass, or will they come out blazing?
The Gators are battling several injuries, most notably to receiver Antonio Callaway and offensive lineman Tyler Jordan. Jordan is out and Gators head coach Jim McElwain said redshirt freshman Richerd Desir-Jones will start in his place. Junior C.J. Worton could be a featured target if Callaway can't play.
Florida's running game produced 244 yards against Kentucky with Mark Thompson, Jordan Scarlett, Jordan Cronkrite and Lamical Perine all getting reps. North Texas is allowing 214.5 yards rushing per game, so look for the Gators to pound it.

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THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Freshman right tackle Jawaan Taylor had an impressive game against Kentucky and appears to have supplanted Fred Johnson for now in the starting lineup.
Running back Lamical Perine displayed his versatility with 105 yards rushing and a 28-yard touchdown reception last week. He's a true freshman but he might be too good to keep sidelined.
Linebacker Alex Anzalone showed off his potential the way Jarrad Davis did a season ago. Davis went on to have a breakout season. Can Anzalone do the same after an excellent performance against Kentucky?

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ON THE RUN

Lamical Perine became the 21st Gators freshman (true or redshirt) to rush for 100 yards in a game since 1955. Here is a look at those players:

Player	Year	100 YG
Lamical Perine	2016	1
Treon Harris	2014	1
Trey Burton	2010	1
Jeff Demps	2008	2
Chris Rainey*	2008	2
Percy Harvin	2006	1
DeShawn Wynn*	2003	1
Earnest Graham*	1999	2
Bo Carroll	1997	1
Eugene McCaslin*	1996	1
Terry Jackson*	1995	2
Fred Taylor	1994	2
Elijah Williams	1994	1
Errict Rhett	1990	4
Emmitt Smith	1987	8
Octavius Gould	1986	1
Neal Anderson	1982	3
John L. Williams	1982	1
Derald Williams	1979	1
Calvin Davis	1978	1
Tony Green	1974	2

*Redshirt freshman; Research: Zach Dirlam

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THE QUOTE FILE

"From Coach Saban? All the time, man, it was awesome. I don't know, maybe he just knew I was so whacked out anyway. I don't know [why], it really wouldn't matter." – Gators coach Jim McElwain on whether he was ever chewed out by Alabama coach Nick Saban during his stint as the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator
"We're a versatile unit. Any given day any given guy can get to the quarterback. That's good for us and it'll work for us down the road." – Gators defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. on UF leading SEC with nine sacks
"This quarterback that we're playing this week is quick, shifty, he'll get out of the way. I'm sure they're going to do a lot of things, seven-man protection, full slide, double guys off the edge, things like that to give him some time." – McElwain on Mean Green quarterback Mason Fine
"I'm used to looking up and seeing the sky [after a touchdown]. I look up here and I see a bunch of screaming fans, orange and blue everywhere. It's different. There's a picture going around of me smiling when I scored the touchdown. I was just happy." – Gators running back Mark Thompson on his first Gators score
"We are never going to fear anybody. We are going to go out and compete, play the game the way it should be played, and at the end of the day we will see how we stack up." – UNT coach Sean Littrell on matchup with Gators

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INJURY REPORT

OUT: WR Tyrie Cleveland (hamstring), OL Tyler Jordan (eye), LB Jeremiah Moon (thumb), WR Dre Massey (knee, out for season), OL Antonio Riles (knee, out for season), DB C.J. McWilliams (knee, out for season); WR Kalif Jackson (knee), DB Quincy Lenton (foot); QUESTIONABLE: WR Antonio Callaway (quad). PROBABLE: C Cam Dillard (elbow), DB Joseph Putu (ankle), RB Mark Herndon (unspecified).

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MILESTONE WIN

Florida's dominance over Kentucky continued last week when the Gators beat the Wildcats for the 30th consecutive time, the longest active streak among FBS opponents.

For symmetry, add a zero onto that 30 and you've got how many Southeastern Conference games the Gators have now won in school history. Florida improved to 300-216-13 all-time in SEC play with the victory.

Of course, Florida didn't become an SEC power until 1990 when Steve Spurrier took over the program. Since the start of the 1990 season, the Gators are 159-48 in conference play.

History in The Swamp!

Saturday's 45-7 win over Kentucky was @GatorsFB's 300th all-time SEC win. #GoGators pic.twitter.com/8AFJ8FtyO9
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 15, 2016

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10 QUICK HITTERS

Freshman Lamical Perine became first Gators true freshman running back since Jeff Demps in 2008 (LSU) to rush for 100 yards in a game against a conference opponent.
North Texas has lost 37 consecutive games against AP Top 25 opponents, its last (and only) breakthrough a 14-9 victory against No. 20 San Diego State in 1974. Hayden Fry was UNT's coach at the time.
The 78-yard touchdown pass from Luke Del Rio to Antonio Callaway against Kentucky was Florida's longest scoring throw since Jim McElwain took over the program.
The UF defense is first in the SEC in total defense, surrendering just 168 yards per game through two games. The Gators have allowed 14 points, the fewest through two games since 2011.
Eddy Pineiro kicked a 54-yard field goal in the win over Kentucky, the longest by a UF kicker since Caleb Sturgis made a 55-yarder against Furman in 2011.
The Gators scored 28 points off turnovers in the win over Kentucky, their most since scoring 28 in a victory over USF in the second game of the 2010 season.
Redshirt junior defensive end Jordan Sherit had two sacks against Kentucky, more than doubling his career total (1.5) entering the game.
Florida's 45-point outburst against Kentucky snapped a string of 10 consecutive games under 30 points for UF. The Gators last scored 30 or more points in back-to-back games a season ago in their first two games under McElwain.
Former Alabama backup quarterback Alec Morris, who threw for 237 yards in a season-opening loss at SMU, did not start in the Mean Green's win over Bethune-Cookman a week ago in favor of Mason Fine. A graduate transfer, Morris was a teammate of Del Rio's at Alabama in 2013.
This is only the second meeting between the schools and first since 1947 when North Texas came to Gainesville and dealt the Gators their 12th consecutive loss in a 20-12 victory.

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HEY KID, CATCH

The most famous player in North Texas history is also one of the most famous players in NFL history. Mean Joe Green was a dominant force on the Pittsburgh teams that won four Super Bowls in the 1970s led by the "Steel Curtain" defense.

Green earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors twice and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he retired. If you were a Steelers fan or not, you knew of Green because of his role in an iconic Coca-Cola commercial that aired during the 1980 Super Bowl.

Watch it again, or if you've never seen it, here you go:

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WHAT THEY'RE WRITING

Freshman Jawaan Taylor becoming a force on Gators offensive line writes Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
Gators freshman running back Lamical Perine a powerful threat writes Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel.
SI.com attached GoPro cameras to several Gators and check out what the action looks like from their view via Andy Staples.
Gators know better than to look past cupcake foes writes Matt Baker of The Tampa Bay Times.
Marty Cohen of 247Sports.com breaks down the Florida-North Texas matchup.
ESPN.com takes a look at which player it considers the best freshman on each top 25 team.
Gators quarterback Luke Del Rio is learning from mistakes writes Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald.
Nonconference games such as at Florida is part of the plan as UNT tries to build program via Brett Vito of the Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle.

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BOTTOM LINE

The Gators are feeling good about themselves after crushing Kentucky. North Texas is a heavy underdog and overmatched physically. Florida coach Jim McElwain described this game as a character test for his team. Does Florida rely on its superior talent to cruise by the Mean Green, or does it race from the tunnel with destruction in mind? With a road trip to Tennessee next week, the Gators have an opportunity to make a statement that, yes, they are focused on the task at hand and will be ready for the much-hyped SEC East showdown in Knoxville.

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