Gators Remain United Amidst Turbulent Stretch
Monday, November 14, 2011 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – When the sun started to rise above Ben Hill Griffin Stadium early Monday morning, the Gators had already been inside the football complex for nearly an hour.
Gators coach Will Muschamp called a 6 a.m. meeting to sharpen the focus for the season's final two games and to remind the players that, yes, they have a 5-5 record heading into Saturday's game against Furman, but that they could easily be in a much better mood and different position with more consistent play.
“Every football game you play in, and coach in, there are eight, 10 or 12 plays that really determine the outcome,'' Muschamp told the players. “It isn't one play. You never know when those plays are going to happen. We have to make plays in those situations.
“We are hurting ourselves in those situations. We have to eliminate that from our game if we expect to win.''
In Saturday's 17-12 loss at South Carolina, there were some of those types of plays:
--A fumble by Jeff Demps late in the second quarter was recovered by South Carolina and led to a touchdown.
--On third-and-2 from South Carolina's 5-yard line early in the third quarter, offensive lineman Xavier Nixon was called for a false start. The Gators had to settle for a field goal.
--South Carolina faced a third-and-2 from its 28 late in the fourth quarter. A stop would have forced a punt and given the Gators time to make a game-winning drive. Instead, defensive tackle Dominique Easley jumped off-sides to give the Gamecocks a first down. Florida didn't get the ball back until there were only 42 seconds left in the game.
Monday's meeting was a reminder of what could have been if not for the costly miscues that contributed to losses at Auburn, against Georgia, and at South Carolina. The Gators were in all three games in the fourth quarter and had a chance to win, unlike their other two losses to No. 1-ranked LSU and then-No. 2 Alabama.
Sophomore defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd said he thought the meeting went well. He doesn't see any quit in the players amidst the recent turbulence.
“Everybody was there 15 minutes early,'' Floyd said. “It shows that everybody wants it. It's not like they are just going out there on Saturdays and trying to get through it and going though the motions. That's not the case.
“We've just got to tighten up in a few areas. Focus is what we need because we're playing hard and we're playing fast and we're playing tough.''
Despite five losses in their last six games and their first losing record (3-5) in SEC play since 1986, Muschamp doesn't see a defeated or splintered team.
He said Monday that it has actually been the opposite.
“The morale hasn't changed or wavered – it has been that way all season,'' Muschamp said. “We have good guys on this football team. I've seen a lot of positive things with our guys, with how they've handled themselves through a tough time.
“I'm encouraged by what I see on the inside of the building.''
The scoreboard hasn't been kind to the Gators of late, but they continue to strive for improvement and find a way to finish out games with a thump instead of a thud.
They have made some improvements like cutting down on penalties the last two games, committing eight in two games after being flagged 14 times in a 24-20 loss to Georgia on Oct. 29. Muschamp pointed out several positives Monday, including better tackling and the play of the linebackers.
Still, the biggest improvement the Gators want to see is on the scoreboard.
“It's been a different experience,'' defensive tackle Omar Hunter said following Saturday's loss. “You are not used to this. We're not used to losing. It's something that this team – it's a young team – and we've got to learn how to deal with it and get better from it.''
The Gators turned their attention to Furman on Monday. A win over the Paladins will make the Gators bowl eligible heading into their regular-season finale at home against Florida State on Nov. 26.
Regardless of the outside perceptions, fifth-year senior quarterback John Brantley is confident the Gators will remain determined to earn the program's 21st consecutive bowl bid and finish on a positive note.
Florida has not had a losing season since the infamous 0-10-1 season of 1979 in Charley Pell's first season. The Gators' last non-winning season was 1986 when they finished 6-6 following a loss to UCLA in the Aloha Bowl.
“This team is a real close bunch,'' Brantley said. “It's unfortunate our season has gone the way it has, but we want to keep coming out here each week and keep playing for each other and keep getting better.''
Besides dealing with a barrage of injuries in his final season, the losses have taken a toll on Brantley as well. Once the team returned to Gainesville on Saturday on what he called a “very long and quiet” flight, Brantley replayed the game in his mind trying to determine what went wrong.
“There were a bunch of what-ifs,'' he said. “It's definitely tough. You never want to lose, but I think those games where they are closer at the end are pretty tough on you because you know you've done enough to get to the point to put you in position to win, but there are always that one or two plays that cost you the game. That's hard to swallow.''
That's in part why Muschamp called Monday's meeting. A little reminder of how close they are never hurts.
“There is a really fine line in winning and losing – there is really a fine line from being 5-5, and possibly 8-2,'' Muschamp said. “Again, it goes back to what I said earlier. It's those eight, 10 plays in a game and you have to make them. You have to put your guys in situations to be successful – that's my job.”
