Gators Notebook: Revamped D never gave FAU a chance; Florida earns Schnellenberger's respect
Sunday, September 4, 2011 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida head coach Will Muschamp is a defensive coach. He played defense and has coached defense throughout his career.
So perhaps it's fitting that in his Gators debut on Saturday night, the defense dominated an FAU team that never had a chance offensively. The Owls managed only 137 yards of total offense (107 passing, 30 rushing).
The Gators didn't force any turnovers, but they didn't have to by smothering FAU quarterback Wilbert Graham and running back Alfred Morris constantly. Morris, who rushed for 80 yards against Muschamp's Texas defense a year ago, finished with only 16 yards on 14 carries Saturday.
Meanwhile, Wilbert (14 of 26) was under pressure regularly and was unable to get much going in the passing game despite a Florida secondary starting two true freshmen – cornerback Marcus Roberson and safety Pop Saunders – for the first time in school history in a season opener.
“Very pleased that we were able to get some edge pressure,” Muschamp said. “It's hard to get pressure against people like this as far as their pocket movement is concerned. For the most part, I thought we did a decent job.”
Florida did so without defensive end Sharrif Floyd, who was ruled ineligible prior to the game as UF attempts to work out some concerns about his eligibility with the NCAA. The Gators finished with 11 tackles for loss, including sacks by Ronald Powell and Jaye Howard.
“We wanted to come out and start fast and get off to a good start and take some pressure off our young DBs,'' said defensive tackle Omar Hunter. “I really liked the way the guys up front came out with some juice and fired up, ready to get after it.''
STATE OF STARTERS
There weren't any major surprises in the Gators' starting lineup based on the depth chart Muschamp released a few days prior to the game.
The most notable one was redshirt freshman Chaz Green starting at right tackle instead of fourth-year junior Matt Patchan. Green and Patchan battled for the position much of fall camp.
Meanwhile, with Floyd unavailable, senior William Green started at defensive end. In the secondary, sophomore Cody Riggs started opposite Roberson at corner, and Matt Elam started at safety along with Saunders.
SCHNELLENBERGER A BELIEVER
FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger, making his final appearance at The Swamp, watched the game from the press box due to a sore hip that flared up Friday as the Owls traveled to Gainesville.
The 77-year-old Schnellenberger is retiring after the season, a career that includes winning the 1983 national championship at Miami.
With a bird's-eye view of the Gators on Saturday, Schnellenberger left town impressed at the way Florida manhandled his team.
“We knew we were going to play one of the best football teams in America and we did,'' Schnellenberger said. “This team will be in the hunt for the national championship and have a chance to win it.
“My hat's off to the new regime and the overall program. It's inspirational.''
BIG RETURN
Former Florida soccer players and U.S. World Cup teammates Abby Wambach and Heather Mitts were honored during Saturday's game.
Wambach and Mitts returned to campus over the weekend for Friday's soccer match and Saturday's football game.
As Wambach and Mitts were introduced on the field in the first half, chants of U-S-A erupted inside the Swamp.
INJURY REPORT
Hunter wore a protective brace on his right hand due to a broken bone suffered in practice … Receiver Trey Burton did not play in the second half after suffering an apparent lower-body injury … Receiver Deonte Thompson left the game early in the fourth quarter after getting hit on a pass across the middle. Thompson's helmet popped off on the play but he was able to walk to the sideline on his own … Cornerback Jeremy Brown (knee) and wide receivers Omarius Hines (hamstring) and Robert Clark (hamstring) did not play due to injuries.
SWAMP NUGGETS
The announced crowd of 88,708 snapped the Gators' sellout streak at 137 games … Gators RB Jeff Demps rushed for a team-high 105 yards, surpassing the 2,000-yard mark for his career. Demps now has 2,006 career rushing yards … The Gators wore orange jerseys and white pants for the first time since last season's 33-29 loss to LSU. Prior to that game, the last time the Gators had worn orange tops was in 1989, Emmitt Smith's final season … Caleb Sturgis' 51-yard field goal on Florida's first drive of the game marked the third time he has kicked a field goal of 50 or more yards. Sturgis became the fifth kicker in UF history with at least three 50-yard field goals in his career, joining Berj Yepremian, Jeff Chandler, David Posey and Matt Leach … Hubert Owens, an official scheduled to referee Saturday's game, fell ill on his way to Gainesville and was replaced by SEC Coordinator of Officials Steve Shaw due to a shortage of available replacement … Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden was in town Saturday to promote a the “Battle of Florida” all-star game. Bowden will coach one of the teams and FAU's Schnellenberger the other on Jan. 21 in Boca Raton. Bowden, who shook hands with Muschamp on the field prior to the game, is scheduled to speak to the Gainesville Quarterback Club on Nov. 22.
