The Opening Kickoff: Gators vs. Eastern Michigan -- #UFvsEMU
Saturday, September 6, 2014 | Football, Scott Carter
The Opening Kickoff
Eastern Michigan (1-0) vs. Florida
#UFvsEMU
Saturday, 4 p.m.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Broadcast Info | Game Notes
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators did everything they normally do on game day.
They rode the bus together from the team hotel. They participated in Gator Walk. They warmed up as fans started to fill Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
And then: Kaboom! Wham! Splat!
As most fans headed for cover, lightning and rain pelted Florida Field.
A 2-hour, 48-minute weather delay dampened the season-opening festivities – and we mean dampened – before Idaho finally kicked off.
Valdez Showers took the kickoff and raced 64 yards to start the season with a bang for the Gators. However, more lightning and rain forced officials to suspend the game.
So, as the Gators prepare to host Eastern Michigan on Saturday afternoon, forget any of the above happened. The official record books already have.
The announcement Wednesday afternoon that the Florida-Idaho game has been declared a “no contest” and will not be rescheduled means history will show the 2014 Gators' season opener was at home against Eastern Michigan.
Oddly enough, the last time an entire Florida football game was wiped out by weather – in 2004 courtesy of Hurricane Frances – it was Eastern Michigan waiting next on the schedule. The Gators rescheduled their game against Middle Tennessee State later in the season and then went out and beat EMU 49-10 to start the season.
The Gators seek a similar result on Saturday.
“It's just a lot of stuff built up in you ready to get out," Gators defensive lineman Dante Fowler said. "So, you know, we're just going into this week hoping [bad weather] doesn't happen again and just be able to take everything out on Eastern Michigan.”
Gators coach Will Muschamp and his players praised fans for their support at the Idaho game.
FIVE STORYLINES
- While the Gators didn't get to play, the Eagles opened their season with a 31-28 victory over Morgan State in the debut of first-year head coach Chris Creighton. Florida head coach Will Muschamp and his staff took notice of Eastern Michigan's fast-paced offense. “They had 86 snaps,'' Muschamp said. “A lot of tempo on the ball. They're a run-and-play-action team.”
- Speaking of up-tempo offenses, the Gators almost got to unveil their revamped attack under first-year offensive coordinator Kurt Roper against Idaho. Following Showers' return to Idaho's 14-yard line, the offense lined up to run a play but officials huddled and suspended the game before the snap, delaying the return of quarterback Jeff Driskel and Roper's debut as UF's play-caller for another week.
- Muschamp announced that receiver Demarcus Robinson and defensive linemen Darious Cummings and Jay-nard Bostwick are eligible to play Saturday after serving Week 1 suspensions. Robinson had a strong camp and has shown more consistency in practice. Meanwhile, Cummings and Bostwick are atop the depth chart at nose tackle.
- The Gators didn't know what to expect when they ran out of the tunnel after the long delay last week. They were greeted by a loud and rambunctious crowd despite the stadium being less than half-full. The student section was especially energetic as many remained in the stands throughout the delay. Muschamp and players spoke about the crowd support several times this week. They hope they get the same reception Saturday.
- Ten seconds of game action doesn't tell you a lot about a team, but if nothing else, we saw Florida's kickoff return team do its job well. Jarrad Davis, Marcell Harris and Andre Debose all helped free Showers for his 64-yard scamper. We'll learn more on Saturday about the special-teams units. Muschamp said Monday that senior Kyle Christy won the starting punter's job over sophomore Johnny Townsend. The Gators ended fall camp with Austin Hardin and Frankie Velez in a tight battle for the starting kicker's job.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
- Coming out of camp Showers was listed as the second-team Y-receiver behind Latroy Pittman. Showers showed some big-play ability with his kickoff return, and Pittman has garnered positive reviews from coaches and teammates. In Roper's offense, both should get a chance to make plays.
- According to weather.com, the forecast for Saturday in Gainesville is a high of 89 with a 50 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms. Mother Nature made her presence known last week at The Swamp and at Eastern Michigan, where the Eagles' win over Morgan State was delayed late due to lightning. So, it would be nice if she decides to pass on Saturday's game.
- Eastern Michigan racked up 292 yards rushing against Morgan State. Three Eagles rushed for more than 50 yards: Bronson Hill (114), Darius Jackson (73) and Ryan Brumfield (57).
- Driskel's wait to return to game action was delayed but if all goes as expected Saturday, the redshirt junior from Oviedo will take his first snap since the first quarter of the third game a season ago. Driskel is 11-3 in his career as UF's starting quarterback.
- Chaz Green is Florida's most-experienced offensive lineman with 19 career starts. However, Green hasn't played since the Sugar Bowl loss to Louisville. Green missed last season due to shoulder surgery and is fully recovered and expected to start at right tackle.
THE QUOTE FILE
- “We're looking forward to getting on the field and actually playing a game.” – Muschamp on mood of Gators
- “Out at practice [Tuesday] I got mad, because I'm like, 'dang, I can't take anyone to the ground.' You don't want to unleash on your teammates, so it's just like when I finally get out there, pray for them. That's how we all feel.” – Linebacker Michael Taylor on anticipation of playing
- “I don't know if he's as entertaining as his dad. His dad is a great guy and a lot of fun to be around. Bryan is a student of the game. A guy that really tries to enhance his skills every day but he's got a great work ethic certainly a lot of that comes from his father.'' – Muschamp on sophomore defensive lineman Bryan Cox Jr.
- “I feel real good about our running game, no doubt about it. We were efficient with our passing. We didn't throw the ball down the field very much. Our ground game definitely led us.” – Creighton on his team's offensive performance in first game
- “You basically have to act like the game happened. You're not as sore, you don't really have corrections to make, but they run a different defense than Idaho; that will be the main adjustment, just transitioning to the next defense on the schedule.” – Gators tight end Jake McGee on preparing for a second season opener
TALKING POINTS
GatorZone.com senior writers Scott Carter and Chris Harry preview Saturday's game:
HISTORY LESSON
Prior to Saturday night's game against Idaho, the last time a Gators game ended early was in former UF quarterback Tim Tebow's debut as a starter. In Florida's 49-3 win over Western Kentucky in 2007, the game was called due to lightning with 8:23 left in the fourth quarter.
However, you have to go way back to find the last time a Florida game was not played. The Gators were scheduled to open the 1957 season at UCLA, but 65 Gators came down with the flu and the game was cancelled.
The Gators finished 6-2-1 that season, playing only nine games during the era of a 10-game regular season.
10 QUICK HITTERS
- Gators redshirt sophomore linebacker Jeremi Powell (knee scope) is out according to Muschamp. Safety Marcus Maye (hamstring) is listed as doubtful.
- The Gators are seeking their 25th consecutive season-opening win. Florida's 24-game win streak in openers is second in the country to Nebraska. The Cornhuskers won their 29th consecutive season opener with a 55-7 win over Florida Atlantic last week.
- If the plan is the same as against Idaho, Muschamp said as many as 20 redshirt and true freshmen could play. Defensive backs Jalen Tabor, J.C. Jackson Nick Washington, Marcell Harris, running back Brandon Powell, offensive lineman David Sharpe and receiver C.J. Worton are among that group.
- Center Max Garcia, receiver Quinton Dunbar and Fowler are the only three Gators who started every game in 2013.
- Dunbar has caught at least one pass in a school-record 28 consecutive games. He broke Carlos Alvarez's record (25) last season.
- The Gators are 10-1 all-time against Mid-American Conference and in the wake of last week's washout, open against a MAC team for the fourth time in five seasons.
- McGee's 43 receptions at Virginia last season are the most of any UF receiver on the roster. Dunbar caught 40 passes a year ago.
- Creighton is in his first season after spending the last six seasons as head coach at Drake. His background includes a season as head coach/quarterback of the Limhamn Griffins in Malmo, Sweden. He led the franchise to its first national championship in 1993.
- Former Penn State and LSU quarterback Rob Bolden is a graduate transfer for Eastern Michigan. Bolden switched to receiver during camp and did not catch a pass last week.
- Three Eastern Michigan players – defensive back Darius Scott and receivers Quincy Jones and Jay Jones – are banned from team activities as officials investigate their recent misdemeanor assault charges.
THE WALL
If you haven't seen it, Eastern Michigan's entrance a week ago against Morgan State went viral on the blogosphere. Read more below...
WHAT THEY'RE WRITING
- In case you missed it, Gators game against Idaho declared a “no contest” writes David Jones of Florida Today.
- The Gators eager for second season opener to begin writes Jesse Simonton of The Miami Herald.
- Eastern Michigan will continue to knock down a brick wall with sledgehammers as they enter the field at home games writes Michael Niziolek of MLive.com.
- Florida's offensive line has worked on building chemistry writes Kevin Brockway of The Gainesville Sun.
- Gator fans redeem themselves in the rain writes Jeff Barlis of ESPN.com.
BOTTOM LINE
The Gators are itching to get on the field and play a game. If you saw the Gators' energy as they waited to run out of the tunnel last week, you know what I'm talking about. This is a team hungry for a fresh start and look for it to show on the scoreboard by the time Saturday's game is over.
