The Opening Kickoff: LSU at Florida -- #UFvsLSU
Saturday, October 11, 2014 | Football, Scott Carter
The Opening Kickoff
LSU (4-2, 0-2 SEC) at Florida (3-1, 2-1)
#UFvsLSU
Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Broadcast Info | Game Notes
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In one of the most dramatic weeks in Florida football history, the Gators learned late Friday afternoon that freshman quarterback Treon Harris has been reinstated to the team.
First, there was an official statement from the University of Florida regarding a sexual-assault claim against Harris that came to light Monday, less than 48 hours after Harris led the Gators to an improbable 10-9 win at Tennessee.
Harris replaced starting quarterback Jeff Driskel and led the Gators on two fourth-quarter scoring drives.
“The student who accused Treon Harris of sexual battery has withdrawn her criminal complaint. This means she is not pursuing criminal charges against him at this time but maintains the right to do so in the future. The police report will be released when it is available. The UAA will have more information on his football status later in the day. The university always will take swift and decisive action when we have concerns about the safety of our students.”
Later in the day, Gators head coach Will Muschamp announced that Harris was cleared to rejoin the Gators after being unable to attend classes or participate in team activities during the week as the investigation unfolded.
“We have been notified that the University and legal process is complete,'' Muschamp said. “Treon has been reinstated to the team, but he will not play Saturday. This has been a learning experience for everyone involved. Treon has been honest with me throughout the process and is looking forward to rejoining his teammates.”
Next up: a football game on Saturday night against LSU.
With the outcome of the Harris investigation uncertain, Muschamp said Wednesday that Driskel was going to start against LSU and that backups Skyler Mornhinweg and Will Grier would compete in practice for the No. 2 spot.
Driskel started the last time LSU visited The Swamp and helped the Gators grind out a 14-6 victory in one of the most memorable Florida wins under Muschamp.
Can they put the past week behind them and do the same Saturday? We'll all find out together under the lights at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
For now, let's take a closer look at the Florida-LSU game with The Opening Kickoff:
FIVE STORYLINES
- Can Driskel, after being benched at Tennessee, perform better than he has the last two games? Driskel is 20 of 51 for 152 yards and one touchdown and five interceptions over that span. A good start for Driskel could be key for his confidence and getting into a rhythm early with his receivers.
- The Gators are in good position in the SEC East race. If the Gators can knock off LSU, they will host Missouri next week with first-place in the division on the line. Missouri (4-1, 1-0) hosts Georgia (4-1, 2-1) on Saturday as the only team in the East without a conference loss.
- LSU has questions at quarterback too. Tigers coach Les Miles said he may not decide whether freshman Brandon Harris or sophomore Anthony Jennings will start until Saturday morning. Harris made his first career start against Auburn and finished just 3 of 14.
- Florida's defense rebounded from giving up a school-record 672 yards at Alabama with a stellar performance in last week's win at Tennessee. The Gators finished with six sacks and surrendered only 233 yards. Florida seeks a similar performance against LSU.
- The Gators have lost three of their last four meetings against LSU, the only win coming in 2012 with a physical defensive effort, 14-6. With both teams searching for production at quarterback, Saturday night's game could be another defensive battle.
TOPICAL TWEET
Speaking of that 2012 victory at The Swamp, you probably remember this play…
#TBT to 2012 when @ElamVsElo forced a fumble on this play and the #Gators won a battle in the Swamp. #UFvsLSU pic.twitter.com/LrYPuGB3wV
— GatorZone Football (@GatorZoneFB) October 9, 2014
CAST OF CHARACTERS
- With Gators starting defensive tackle Leon Orr (knee) questionable, Florida could move end Jon Bullard inside and start Bryan Cox Jr. on the outside like last week at Tennessee. If so, they will certainly take the same results as Cox registered a career-high three sacks.
- LSU freshman running back Leonard Fournette entered the season as one of the nation's most highly-touted first-year players. Fournette leads the Tigers with 364 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
- Florida running back Matt Jones is seventh in the SEC in rushing, averaging 93 yards per game. Jones missed practice time this week due to inflammation on his left knee, the same knee he injured in last year's loss at LSU. He missed the rest of the season. Muschamp said this week he expects Jones to be able to play Saturday.
- The Gators want to get receivers Ahmad Fulwood and C.J. Worton more involved in the offense. Fulwood has played sparingly and Worton has been out with a wrist injury. The Gators also want freshman running back Brandon Powell, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, to get some snaps at receiver.
- LSU receiver Travin Dural leads the SEC in yards per catch (26.1). Dural has 22 receptions for 574 yards and five touchdowns. He will be an important matchup for cornerbacks Vernon Hargreaves III and Jalen Tabor, who made his first career start at Tennessee.
TALKING POINTS
GatorZone.com senior writers Scott Carter and Chris Harry preview Saturday's SEC showdown between Florida and LSU:
QUOTE FILE
- “I have never seen him waver. He's a guy that has the right look in his eye. He is confident.” – Gators offensive coordinator Kurt Roper on Driskel
- “There's tape on both of them, so yeah, we've got to be prepared to see either one. They have similarities in terms of both guys can scramble well. Both guys have very strong arms.'' – Gators defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin on LSU quarterbacks Harris and Jennings
- “In other situations, I would think it would be very difficult. But at LSU, I think we would have great opportunities. I think that we have quality personnel, and I think that's the difference. It's just [a matter of] making that adjustment.'' Miles on maintaining success despite heavy losses to NFL over past couple of years
- “We're going to do what we need to to win the game.'' – Muschamp on possibly playing two quarterbacks Saturday
- “I think we did a good job of executing our assignments and I think that maybe had something to do with us looking faster on the field. Guys communicated much better in executing the plan.” – Muschamp on improvement defensively at Tennessee
HISTORY LESSON
On the way to the program's first national title in 1996, the Gators entered the LSU game 5-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country. LSU was ranked 12th.
Much of the pregame chatter focused on LSU defensive coordinator Carl Reese and his reputation as someone who seemed to have figured out a way to slow Steve Spurrier's Fun 'N Gun offense.
During Florida's record-breaking 1995 season, the Gators managed only 321 yards in a 28-10 victory in Baton Rouge. After the season, Reese hosted coaching clinics on how to stop the Gators.
Spurrier didn't like that. Florida won 56-13, rolling up 635 yards of total offense.
“Hopefully, LSU's defensive coordinator won't be giving clinics on how to stop the Gators next year,'' Spurrier quipped afterward. “We get the Louisiana papers around here. We know what's going on and what's been said.”
A memorable #Gators win over #LSU if you are of a certain age. Former Tigers DC Carl Reese remembers. pic.twitter.com/5EXj28TEMk
— Scott Carter (@GatorZoneScott) October 10, 2014
11 QUICK HITTERS
- Gators linebacker Michael Taylor (knee, flu) is expected to be available after missing the Tennessee game. Receiver Valdez Showers (ankle) is out after suffering an injury in the Tennessee game.
- LSU's 41-7 loss to Auburn last week dropped the Tigers from the national polls for the first time since November 2008, snapping LSU's string of 87 consecutive weeks ranked.
- The Tigers allowed an average of 568 yards per game in their two losses to Mississippi State and Auburn.
- LSU held a “players only” meeting Monday to air out any issues following a rare 0-2 start in SEC play.
- Florida receiver Quinton Dunbar has caught a pass in 32 consecutive games, three shy of the school record set by Ike Hilliard.
- Gators linebacker Antonio Morrison led the team with 10 tackles at Tennessee and is now seventh in the SEC in tackles per game (8.0).
- Both LSU and Florida have had their struggles converting third downs. The Tigers (26 of 75) are 12th in the SEC and the Gators (24 of 70) are 13th.
- The Gators have forced 15 turnovers in four games and lead the conference with a plus-8 turnover margin, good for fifth in the country.
- Miles is going after his 100th win at LSU. He is trying to become only the second coach in program history to win 100 games (Charley McClendon won 137 in his 18 seasons).
- LSU is 24-1 under Miles coming off a loss, losing back-to-back games in his tenure only once (2008 to Ole Miss and Arkansas).
- Gators freshman defensive lineman Gerald Willis, the only player on UF's roster from Louisiana, chose Florida over LSU.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Love him or hate him, Miles is one of college football's most entertaining coaches. Here is look at LSU under Miles in the 2014 season trailer video from LesMiles.net:
WHAT THEY'RE WRITING
- Bleacher Report national college football writer Mark Blaudschun writes beware of the sleeping Tigers of LSU in his latest column.
- The spotlight returned to Gators freshman quarterback Will Grier this week in wake of Harris news. Grier is a fiery competitor writes Kevin Brockway of The Gainesville Sun.
- For more on the Harris situation, here is a story by David Jones of Florida Today.
- Here is an LSU notebook from Ross Dellenger and Scott Rabalais of The Baton Rouge Advocate topped by the Tigers' third-down woes.
- Alligator Army writer FlaGators (byline he/she uses) offers an in-depth look at LSU's running game.
BOTTOM LINE
A week of roller-coaster emotions for the Gators concluded Friday with the reinstatement of Harris. While he won't play Saturday, it will be interesting to see how the Gators respond on the field.
With it being a night game and LSU in the house, expect a raucous crowd and pumped up Florida team. If the offense can be productive and sustain drives, I like the Gators' chances in this one. Regardless, look for tight game and perhaps a turnover or special teams making the difference.
