Carter's Corner: Opener has Gators' urgency level on high

Gators offensive lineman Martez Ivey on Tuesday at SEC Football Media Days. (Photo: Jimmy Mitchell/Southeastern Conference)

Carter's Corner: Opener has Gators' urgency level on high

Thursday, July 13, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter

Florida will open the season outside its home state for first time since 1979.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Opening the season on the road or at neutral-site venues used to be commonplace for the Gators.

The year before Steve Spurrier won the Heisman Trophy, the Gators defeated Northwestern 24-14 on the road in their season opener of 1965. They opened against Air Force in Tampa three years later, and in former head coach Doug Dickey's first three seasons, Florida opened against Duke in Jacksonville (1970), the Blue Devils again in 1971 (Tampa) and against Southern Methodist the following year in Tampa.

However, the days of Florida opening the season somewhere other than on campus have been long gone since Florida's annual rivalry with Miami ended in 1987. Since 1988, every Florida season opener has been at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

That 29-year streak ends on Sept. 2 when the Gators face Michigan in Arlington, Texas, in the Advocare Classic.

The unique opener was a popular topic at the Southeastern Conference Football Media Days this week in Hoover, Ala.

42018 — The Gators have extra motivation by opening the season against Michigan. (Photo: Jay Metz/UAA Communications)

"I'm a believer in it,'' Florida coach Jim McElwain said. "The University of Florida, our Florida fans, they deserve those kind of games every year."

The Florida-Michigan game was already on the schedule prior to McElwain taking over the program in 2015, but he clearly likes the idea of his team being tested early.

The players, too young to know of the days when the Gators left Alachua County to start the season, have a different view of the game. They remember losing 41-7 to the Wolverines in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl to cap McElwain's first season.

"It's personal,'' junior offensive lineman Martez Ivey said. "They came out and whooped us. I take that personally."

The Gators, coming off their first SEC East title in six years, mustered little threat against Michigan. The loss was the third consecutive for the Gators after a 10-1 start.

Two years later, the urgency level for the rematch is high since it's also the season opener.

"I do think they understand that there isn't a preseason game,'' McElwain said. "I think they understand it's going to happen right way. Time will tell just how ready we are. I think the biggest thing for us it to make sure we're still focusing on what we need to do to get better, and then when we get to game week, let's start preparing for it and realizing, you know what, this is a real opportunity."

The loss lingered longer than usual for Ivey and fifth-year senior Marcell Harris. Both grew up in the Orlando metro area and had family and friends at the game.

Harris expects nothing less than total focus when the Gators run onto the field that is the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

"Playing them will put a lot of fire in everyone,'' he said.

Ivey agrees, memories of Michigan players celebrating afterward still fresh.

"There is no warmup game,'' he said.