Gators Seek Positive Ending to Difficult Stretch
Saturday, December 27, 2014 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- They know what people are saying.
They have seen it from fans on social media. They have been asked about it by the media. They have heard family and friends debate whether to go or sit this one out.
When the Gators reported to camp nearly five months ago, not one coach or player stood up and proclaimed, “Birmingham Bowl here we come.”
The Gators desperately sought a bowl trip, especially after their 22-year streak of playing in a bowl ended in 2013. Florida players watched bowl games instead of playing in one for the first time since Steve Spurrier returned to his alma mater in 1990.
That team was worthy of a bowl invitation but was ineligible. Last year's 4-8 Florida team was a different story. Too many losses and too many injuries derailed any hope of a bowl game.
A year later, Florida remains a program in transition as it prepares to face East Carolina on Jan. 3 at Legion Field.
After four seasons at UF, former head coach Will Muschamp is Auburn's new defensive coordinator. Florida's defensive coordinator, D.J. Durkin, is serving as interim head coach. New Gators head coach Jim McElwain is preparing to take over the program after the Birmingham Bowl, and in the meantime, has hired an offensive coordinator (Doug Nussmeier) and defensive coordinator (Geoff Collins).
Interim coach D.J. Durkin (black jacket) wants Gators to finish on a positive. (Photo: Tim Casey)
Meanwhile, as McElwain evaluates the program from top to bottom, the current coaching staff has a game to prepare for while mulling future options.
Amidst all that, the players are trying to do what they know best: focus on a game.
“There's a lot of outside distractions right now, but we just got to come together and focus on the task at hand, which is winning this ballgame,” fifth-year senior offensive lineman Chaz Green said. “That's the mindset, and I feel we're ready to do that.”
Green has played in a bowl game, so he understands how it's different than preparing for another regular-season game. There's a longer wait, finals to take, Christmas parties to attend, and all sorts of other things to do.
Many of his teammates have not, such as sophomore running back Kelvin Taylor.
When Taylor's father Fred was at UF helping the Gators win their first national title, the thought of missing a bowl game was unthinkable.
Taylor's freshman experience was much different than his dad's, so the Birmingham Bowl is a step in the right direction even if others are not overflowing with excitement.
“I've never been to a bowl game,'' Taylor said. “A lot of the old guys say it's a lot of fun, it's exciting. So I'm going to go out there and enjoy it and try to have a good time, have fun with my brothers for the last time, the seniors, some of the guys that are going to the NFL.
“There's going to be ups and downs. We're not going to be down for long, I can tell you that. So we're just going to have fun and beat up on these guys and just enjoy our time out there.”
Durkin has perhaps the most difficult job.
He must keep the players focused and try to win a game that could help him on his résumé.
“I want to make sure they get my very best as a head coach to go win this game and finish things off the right way,” Durkin said. “That's where my focus is.”
The Pirates are no pushovers.
East Carolina (8-4) defeated Virginia Tech and North Carolina and features one of the most dangerous passing games in college football, led by quarterback Shane Carden and receiver Justin Hardy. Carden finished second in the country in passing yards (4,309) and Hardy fifth in receiving yards (1,334).
Florida defensive lineman Alex McCalister leads the Gators with six sacks and any pressure he can apply to Harden could boost Florida's chances. McCalister was a freshman when Florida lost to Louisville in the Sugar Bowl two years ago.
He did not play and like Taylor, is excited about the bowl trip.
“I've never been to Birmingham,” McCalister said. “I just can't wait to be in a different city, be on the airplane, just all of it. It's a bowl game. We didn't go to a bowl game last year. And then my freshman year we went to the Sugar Bowl and it was like, 'Oh, I can't wait to go back to a bowl game.'
“So it's exciting to be in a bowl. Especially playing East Carolina because I'm from North Carolina so I know a bunch of them boys.”
McCalister has the kind of attitude the Gators will need to come home with a victory. One that does not surprise Durkin.
“I know things didn't go right all the time, but no one can say we didn't compete and play hard,'' Durkin said. “Our guys responded, they're resilient. It's nothing different with this game. There's a million different motivations. That's fine. Just be motivated.”
