Gators Brace For No. 2/3 Alabama at the Swamp
Saturday, October 1, 2011 | Football
FLORIDA VS. ALABAMA
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 – 8:00PM ET
BEN HILL GRIFFIN STADIUM
Roster | Schedule | Statistics | Pre-Game Notes (.pdf)
The Storyline:
With four solid outings in the books, the Gators turn their attention to the first game of a challenging four-game stretch (vs. Alabama, at LSU, at Auburn and vs. Georgia). Florida and Alabama are both 4-0 heading into Saturday night's matchup at 8 p.m. on CBS. The Gators are scheduled to face top three opponents in back-to-back weeks during the regular season for the first time in school history, with a trip to No. 1/2 LSU coming next week.
In both 2008 and 2009, the two schools played for the SEC title – each was a match-up of No. 1 vs. No. 2 – and the winner ended up claiming the BCS title in each case. In each of the past three meetings, one of the two teams has been ranked No. 1 in the country (UF in 2009, UA in 2008 and 2010).
Alabama leads the overall series against Florida, with a 22-14 record. The Crimson Tide also leads the series when playing in Gainesville, holding a 7-2 mark. The teams are 5-5 in the last 10 meetings. Five of the last 10 matchups were for the SEC title in Atlanta (UF won 3).
For UF head coach Will Muschamp, it will also be his first meeting with his mentor, UA head coach Nick Saban. Muschamp was on Saban's staff from 2001-04 at LSU and in 2005 with the Miami Dolphins.
The Gators average 461.8 yards per game, while the Tide average 456.0 per game. Both teams rank in the top-five nationally in total defense (UF #5, UA #2), rushing defense (UF #5, UA #3) and scoring defense (UF # 4, UA #2).
Each team is led by a pair of dynamic running backs. Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps have totaled 731 rushing yards and six TD while averaging 7.5 yards per carry for Florida. Alabama's Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy have been just as effective, scoring 12 TD and averaging 7.5 yards per carry for 806 total yards.
Setting The Stage:
As GatorZone.com Senior Writer Scott Carter chronicles, the Gators vs. Tide offers mirror images defensively.
With a pair of dynamic running backs on both sides, the ground game will go a long way in determining Saturday's night's victor.
The Gators have been rock solid offensively through four games and figure to face their stiffest test on Saturday night against Alabama. Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis intends to open the playbook up against the Tide's sturdy defense.
He'll be Enemy No. 1 on Saturday, but Alabama's Trent Richardson has ties to the Gators.
While trash talk is routinely fodder for sportswriters, Twitter and message boards, the Gators have turned trash talk into a “nameless and faceless opponent'.
Last Time Out:
• The 405 yards rushing by Florida was the sixth-best single-game performance in school history and the most yardage on the ground since 466 against New Mexico in 1989.
• 25 of the 70 players that made the trip to Kentucky had never played in an SEC road trip before. 20 players saw their first action in an SEC road game Saturday night.
• Head Coach Will Muschamp is the sixth UF head coach in school history to start his career 4-0. Urban Meyer (2005, started 4-0),
Steve Spurrier (1990, started 5-0), Galen Hall (1984-85, started 9-0), Charles Bachman (1928, started 8-0), William Kline (1920, started 4-0).
• The Gators have scored 33 or more points in all four games this season.
• Florida has scored points in 15 of 16 quarters this season, including a TD in 13 of 16 quarters.
• The Gators have scored points on 16-straight red zone trips this season (9 TD, 7 FG).
• With a 2-for-2 effort, kicker Caleb Sturgis has made 13-straight field goal attempts dating back to the 2010 season. His last miss came against USF on Sept. 11, 2010.
• Florida as a team has made 16-straight field goals dating back to last season, the third-longest streak in school history and longest since 2001-02 (17 straight). The longest streak is 28-straight field goals from 1984-85.
• With both Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey going over 100 yards rushing, the Gators have had a 100-yard rusher in each of their first four games (Demps 105 yds vs. FAU, Rainey 119 yds vs. UAB, Rainey 108 yards vs. Tennessee, Demps 157 yds vs. Kentucky, Rainey 105 yds vs. Kentucky), the longest team streak since 1999 (5 games) and the longest season-opening streak since 1997 (5 games).
• Florida converted two first-quarter turnovers by Kentucky into a pair of touchdowns – the Gators have outscored opponents, 54-3, in the opening quarter this season.
• Jaye Howard's fumble recovery for a touchdown in the second quarter was Florida's first defensive touchdown of the season. On special teams, the Gators had a punt block for a score against FAU.
• Florida had a season-high 99-yard scoring drive on its first possession of the second half.
• The Gators converted all four Kentucky turnovers into points tonight (three touchdowns, field goal).
• In the last two games in Lexington, Florida has gained 767 yards rushing (362 in 2009, 405 in 2011).
For updates leading up to the game, during and after, visit GatorZone.com, follow us on Twitter at @GatorZoneScott and @GatorZoneNews as well as on Facebook.com/FloridaGators.
