Gators offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier and head coach Jim McElwain share a moment after Florida's 26-20 win over Tennessee on Saturday. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Gators Notebook: McElwain Relishes Road Games, More Tidbits
Thursday, September 21, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter
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Florida plays at Kentucky on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network.
By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The first road game of Jim McElwain's tenure at Florida was at Kentucky two years ago. The Gators spoiled the Wildcats' inaugural Southeastern Conference game in their newly renovated stadium with a 14-9 victory.
Those are the type of games (and results) McElwain savors.
"I don't know, I'm kind of wired different. I love it. As a player I relished playing on the road,'' McElwain said. "I truly enjoyed playing on the road more than I did at home. Why? I don't know. I think it's just using the energy of the opposition that hates you, for those three hours with that uniform on."
There should be ample energy at Kroger Field on Saturday night when the No. 20-ranked Gators (1-1, 1-0) visit. Kentucky (3-0, 1-0) is coming off a road win at South Carolina and Florida is hoping to build off its fantastic finish against Tennessee.
The Gators have won 30 consecutive in the annual series. Still, McElwain said this week that the Kentucky program under Mark Stoops is not the same Wildcats program as in years past.
The roster is better. The facilities are better. The coaching is better. So is the environment.
There is already talk in Lexington about concerns that if the Wildcats win, how much would it cost if fans raced onto the field and tore down the goalposts. Florida's goal is to make that a moot point.
Coincidentally, McElwain is 12-1 at home during his time at Florida, 3-4 in neutral-site games and 5-4 on the road. Still, there's just something about the road that inspires McElwain.
"The hostility, I don't know how you can't love it and I don't know how you don't play better on the road. I mean honestly. And yet, it affects people differently,'' McElwain said. "You asked personally, it didn't matter what the sport was, my best games were always on the road. I think it was because I just enjoyed people getting after you. I think that's the way it should be."
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ZAIRE OFFERS GOOD LOOK
Fifth-year senior quarterback Malik Zaire didn't transfer from Notre Dame for his final season of eligibility to play behind redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks. But that's his current role and McElwain said Zaire's time at practice was well spent this week. Malik Zaire
He gave the UF defense a look similar to the dual-threat talents of Wildcats starter Stephen Johnson.
"Those things really help our defense," McElwain said. "We were able to do some of that stuff this week. As you know, we practice a lot, too, you know, with goods on goods. So that was an opportunity to run our stuff but give them a look at that type of player."
Johnson has led the Wildcats to their first 3-0 start since 2010. He has completed 42 of 67 passes (62.7 percent) for 569 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He's also rushed for 132 yards, including a crucial 54-yard dash in the win over South Carolina.
McElwain said Johnson "is really playing at a high level."
As for Zaire, who is third on the depth chart behind Franks and Luke Del Rio, McElwain said he is doing what he needs to do to help the team.
"He's dealing with it like a pro,'' McElwain said. "He's doing a good job."
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NUSS TO REMAIN UPSTAIRS
Florida offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has coached from the sideline and the press box with the Gators.
He was on the sideline in the season opener against Michigan as the Gators mustered only 192 yards of total offense in a 33-16 loss. In Florida's win over Tennessee on Saturday, Nussmeier coached upstairs in a booth as the Gators rolled up 380 yards in offense. Nussmeier
Nussmeier plans to remain in the press box at Kentucky.
"I thought there were some really good adjustments, especially going into the fourth quarter on some things,'' McElwain said of the win over the Vols. "We'll continue to work that way. We've got, plain and simple, to not turn the football over. Anytime you do that you're stealing plays from yourself."
The Gators managed only six points in the first three quarters but outscored the Vols 20-17 in the final quarter. However, the Gators did have two costly turnovers in the fourth quarter, a fumble out of the back of the end zone by freshman running back Malik Davis and Franks' interception that set up Tennessee's game-tying field goal.
