Gators and Furman Square Off in the Swamp
Friday, November 18, 2011 | Football
FLORIDA (5-5, 3-5 SEC) vs. FURMAN (6-4, 5-3 SoCon)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 – 1:00 PM
BEN HILL GRIFFIN STADIUM
Roster / Schedule / Statistics / Pre-Game Notes (.pdf)
The Storyline…
The University of Florida welcomes the Furman University Paladins to Gainesville for the first meeting between the two schools since 1990. Florida (5-5, 3-5 SEC) is coming off a 17-12 loss at No. 15 South Carolina last week, while Furman (6-4, 5-3 SoCon) had a three-game win streak snapped with a 41-34 loss to Elon.
This week's matchup is the ninth overall between the two schools, with the Gators holding a 6-2 edge in the series. UF has won the last six meetings, but the Paladins claimed the first two wins in the series back in 1922 and 1930.
This weekend, UF will participate in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2011 Game Day Challenge. Seventy-eight colleges across the country will compete to see who can reduce, reuse, and recycle the most waste at home football games during October and November. Winners will be announced in December.
This week also marks the University of Florida's “Saluting Those Who Serve” Military Appreciation Week, sponsored by Kangaroo Express. Silver Star recipient Sgt. Jason Mike, a loyal Gator fan and former Jacksonville University fullback, will be honored at Saturday's game.
Sgt. Mike was a fullback for Jacksonville University when America was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001. As he lined up for the National Anthem before the game that first weekend after Sept. 11 and a color guard presented the American flag, Sgt. Mike was overcome with a sense of purpose. Shortly after, he joined the Army as a combat medic and served in Kuwait and Iraq as part of the 617th Military Police Company. In Iraq, his routine convoy escort was ambushed by a group of more than 30 insurgents. For his bravery in the face of enemy fire during that attack, Sergeant Mike received the Silver Star Medal in June 2005.
Setting The Stage…
As GatorZone.com Senior Writer Scott Carter writes, the Gators remain united amidst a turbulent stretch.
Despite some bumps in the road, the freshman class has played a major role for the Gators in Will Muschamp's first season.
Scott Carter chronicles the story of Army Sergeant Jason Mike, who will be honored at Saturday's game.
Around The Swamp…
• Redshirt senior Chris Rainey notched his fourth 100-yard rushing effort of the season last week at South Carolina, and the sixth of his career with 132 yards on 17 carries (7.8 yard avg.); He had previously exceeded the century mark against UAB (119), Tennessee (108) and Kentucky (105) in three consecutive outings
• Rainey now has 658 rushing yards on the season, the highest single season rushing total of his career, surpassing the 652 rushing yards he totaled in 2008
• Freshman De'Ante Saunders had the first interception of his career in the first quarter to end South Carolina's second drive; It was the Gators' sixth pick of the season
• Caleb Sturgis has made a field goal in all nine games he has played this season and is 19-for-21 (.905) on the year
• Sturgis has connected on 43 successful field goals in his career, tying him for second on the school's all-time list behind Jeff Chandler (67)
• Redshirt sophomore Jordan Reed tied his career high with five catches (for a game-high 62 yards), a figure he had versus Alabama on Oct. 1
• Jacoby Brissett's has been effective near the goal line (under center) each of the past two weeks, with short touchdown rushes against both Vanderbilt (1-yard) and South Carolina (2 yards)
For complete coverage leading up, during, and after the game, visit GatorZone.com. Follow us on Twitter: @GatorZoneScott and @GatorZoneNews for pre-game, in-game and post-game updates, and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FloridaGators.
