The Opening Kickoff: Massachusetts at Florida -- #UMASSvsUF

The Gators host UMass on Saturday night (7:30) in the 2016 season opener. (Graphic: Scott MacCord

The Opening Kickoff: Massachusetts at Florida -- #UMASSvsUF

Friday, September 2, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter

The No. 25-ranked Gators open the 2016 season with eyes toward a second consecutive SEC East crown.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

The Opening Kickoff

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

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Swamp Is Back.

You may have noticed that slogan on the cover of the 2016 Florida football team's media guide, or printed on an advertisement or posted on FloridaGators.com. There are even a few billboards around the state with those words screaming in your direction.

What does it mean?

You're right, it's not exactly like Ben Hill Griffin Stadium went anywhere recently and finally returned home. Still, if you were in the stadium a year ago as head coach Jim McElwain took over the program and the Gators got off to that sizzling 6-0 start, The Swamp Was Definitely Back.

32206 — The Gators celebrate their win over Tennessee last season. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)

The back-to-back victories over Tennessee and Ole Miss felt like old times. As Florida prepares to start Year 2 under McElwain on Saturday against UMass, the Gators seek to make those types of performances the standard.

"We're a lot more comfortable as a team, a lot more confident in what we can do,'' senior linebacker Jarrad Davis said. "We go in every day and push ourselves to be the best we can be."

The Gators restored some of the luster around the program in 2015, winning their first SEC East title in six years. They won their first six games at home and were 10-1 before ending with three consecutive losses, including a 27-2 setback to Florida State at the Swamp.

Part of Saturday's new start is clearing away the remaining remnants of last year's 0-3 finish and reminding everyone that, yes, The Swamp Is Back.

"I like this team and the vibe it has,'' McElwain said. "I would challenge us to be dramatically better."

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

*****

THREE QUESTIONS WITH … GATORS QB LUKE DEL RIO

Q: What do you expect your emotions to be like for your first college start?

A: Having sat last year, I'm definitely excited. I'm really just excited about the opportunity. I'm not focused on how I'm going to feel, or what it's going to be like. I'm going to take that as it comes. I'm really looking forward to playing football with my teammates. That's kind of the biggest thing.

Q: Have you really not thought about what it's going to be like to run out of that tunnel as the starting quarterback for the University of Florida?

A: I've definitely thought about it but not recently if that makes sense. You kind of think that's all you're going to think about, but there's bigger things to worry about such as the game. I'm more focused on executing the game plan than anything.

Q: What led you to pin a tweet on your Twitter page? (The tweet, posted July 12 during SEC Media Days, shows an ESPN graphic that lists Tennessee's chances to win the SEC East at 57 percent, Georgia at 30 percent, and the defending SEC champion Gators at 10 percent).

A: That wasn't quite subtle, was it? We had a great year last year and we're looking forward to this year. It's just kind of a reminder – and it will stay up – just kind of a reminder so people don't forget what everybody was saying.

*****

THREE STORYLINES

First, let's start with the pregame festivities. The Gators are honoring favorite son Steve Spurrier prior to the game with the dedication of Steve Spurrier-Florida Field. That's pretty cool, but then we get to watch Spurrier honor another Florida legend, George Edmondson, by performing the Mr. Two Bits routine. There will be highlights.
Next, Del Rio takes center stage as Florida's third starting quarterback in 15 games under McElwain. The Gators desperately need stability at the position to return to the national championship picture after years of ups and downs.
Finally, Florida ended last season with three consecutive losses after a 10-1 start. That stung. The Gators want nothing more than to start fresh with a big win and give fans a good show to kick off 2016.

*****

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

After an uncertain summer, Gators receiver Antonio Callaway received clearance he was eligible to play in the season opener. Callaway has looked sharp in camp according to teammates and was UF's most dynamic weapon last season.
Junior defensive back Duke Dawson is projected to play a bigger role and with UF All-American cornerback Teez Tabor suspended for the opener, Dawson will be in the spotlight more than usual.
Former Penn State tight end Adam Breneman is trying to revive his injury-plagued career as a graduate transfer at UMass. Breneman provides much-needed experience and a proven target for quarterback Ross Comis.

*****

32208 — A Steve Spurrier-themed visor that became available on Friday.

THE QUOTE FILE

"When I started wearing a visor as Gator coach, I had no idea it would start a trend. I just decided, 'I'm going to the Sunshine State, the Florida Gators, so I need to start wearing a visor on the sideline.' I liked the fact that it was different, but I also liked it because in Florida it was much cooler than a cap." – Steve Spurrier, in his autobiography "Head Ball Coach," on his famous visor
"I've got total confidence in him.'' – Jim McElwain on rookie kicker Eddy Pineiro
"That would be a good race. He's blazing. You all will probably see this weekend, that kid is fast. But I don't know. Maybe we'll have to set that up one day." – Gators receiver Brandon Powell on a foot race with teammate Dre Massey
"Luke Del Rio's been around the game long enough and he looked great in the spring game. He'll probably just continue to get better as the game progresses. And he's got weapons to throw to. Like with any new quarterback, it's about the guys around him." – UMass coach Mark Whipple
"Many outside of the bubble of Western Massachusetts see UMass being one of worst, if not the worst college football team in America this season." – MassLive.com writer Daniel Malone in a column about national view of UMass program

*****

INJURY REPORT

OUT: WR C.J. Worton (ankle); WR Kalif Jackson (knee), DB Quincy Lenton (foot), OL Antonio Riles (knee, out for season); DB C.J. McWilliams (knee, out for season); QUESTIONABLE: DT Khairi Clark (ankle); PROBABLE: TE DeAndre Goolsby (unspecified); DL Bryan Cox Jr. (unspecified).

*****

A BATESY SPECIAL

Former Gators linebacker James Bates is a multi-talented guy. He is a broadcaster, a chicken-wing contest judge, and more and more of late, he is becoming known as a painter. Bates played at UF during the Spurrier era and with the HBC getting honored on Saturday, he revealed his latest painting on Twitter:

Gonna be a fun weekend in The Swamp! #HBC https://t.co/aRNh9elX0m pic.twitter.com/Rj9JaScyK9
— James Bates (@jb8sy) August 31, 2016

*****

10 QUICK HITTERS

Florida has won 26 consecutive season openers, the longest active streak in the country. This is the first meeting between the Gators and Minutemen.
The Gators will be without five suspended players: Cornerback Teez Tabor, tight end C'yontai Lewis, receivers Rick Wells and Tyrie Cleveland, and an unspecified senior presumed by the media to be receiver Chris Thompson, who is not on the depth chart.
The Gators enter the season opener without a new offensive coordinator for the first time since 2013 as Doug Nussmeier returns.
Florida is 82-27 all-time in season openers, which includes a 67-7 mark when playing in Gainesville.
Florida returns 42 starts on the offensive line after returning only 10 a season ago, all by departed senior Trip Thurman.
The Gators claimed their 11th SEC East title in 24 years (since 1992 when the league split into divisions) in Jim McElwain's first season. Florida's preseason ranking in AP Top 25 the following season: No. 8 (1993), No. 1 ('94), No. 5 ('95), No. 4 ('96), No. 2 ('97), No. 9 (2000), No. 1 ('01), No. 6 ('07), No. 1 ('09), No. 4 ('10), No. 25 ('16).
UMass quarterback Ross Comis, making his first career start, went 8-for-8 for 69 yards and a touchdown in late duty during a 62-27 loss at Notre Dame last season.
Florida is favored by 36 ½ points for good reason. UMass is 8-40 in four seasons as an FBS program.
The Gators have scored 60 or more points in back-to-back season openers. If they score 50 points Saturday, it will mark the first time in school history they have scored 50 or more points in three consecutive season openers.
The Gators averaged 207.1 yards per game passing last season, their highest average since Tim Tebow's final season in 2009.

*****

THE OTHER SIDE

College football in Massachusetts has a different vibe than say in Baton Rouge or Gainesville or Athens. Still, I'm a big fan of videos with drones flying around and music in the background, so let's take a look this hype video for the Minutemen from their spring game:

*****

WHAT THEY'RE WRITING

Gators hope to make mythical three-headed monster a reality at tailback writes Edgar Thompson of The Orlando Sentinel.
Gators defensive back Duke Dawson up for whatever role coaches pass his way writes Ryan Young of SECCountry.com.
David Sharpe's work ethic provides extra edge as Gators' opener looms writes Gary Smits of The Florida Times-Union.
What to expect from the Florida Gators in 2016 writes Matt Baker of The Tampa Bay Times.
Steve Spurrier comes home to Florida with a passionate 'to-do' list writes Orlando Sentinel sports columnist George Diaz.
UF has had issues at quarterback since Tim Tebow left writes Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.
The Championship Redemption of Florida's 1996 national-title team, a project from Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun is worth checking out.
UMass football embarks on daunting journey as an independent writes Stephen Hewitt of The Boston Herald.

*****

BOTTOM LINE

The Gators should take care of the Minutemen like George Washington took care of business at Yorktown. Florida is bigger, faster, stronger and viewed as a five-touchdown favorite over a UMass team that finished 3-9 last season. The most relevant aspect of Saturday's game is whether the Gators come out sharp and focused, or careless and bored. I'm going with the former with so many young players have so much to prove. Plus, the Swamp should be electric with all the pregame festivities planned.