They Played, They Won, They Celebrated
Sunday, September 7, 2014 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – If this is the way it's going to be, they will be cheering a lot.
In the days leading up to Saturday's Florida-Eastern Michigan game, a topic discussed time and again was the enthusiastic Gator fans who waited out more than three hours of weather delays at UF's suspended opener against Idaho.
Florida head coach Will Muschamp thanked the fans multiple times for their support during the week. Valdez Showers, the star of the game's only play, called the fan support the highlight of the night.
As Saturday approached and Muschamp turned his focus toward Eastern Michigan, those fans were not left behind.
“We need to give them something to cheer about,'' he said.
The Gators sent them home Saturday night with sore throats.
At one point, they started to chant “We want 70! We want 70!”
The only lightning and thunder at The Swamp was provided by Florida's offense. The sun even made an appearance as Florida rolled to a 65-0 victory over the overmatched Eagles.
Florida's 65 points and 655 yards of total offense were the most in each category since that Tebow guy wore No. 15. How dominant of a performance was it? The last time the Gators won a game by 65 points or more was 17 years ago, an 82-6 win over Central Michigan.
Memo to Western Michigan: You might want to stay home if Florida calls to schedule a game.
“The team was just kind of ready to explode and put on a great show for the fans,'' said tight end Clay Burton. “I'm glad we were able to do that. We really needed it.”
Everyone in orange and blue needed it after last season. Finally, there is a new storyline around the program. The seven-game losing streak is history. Last year's disappointment has faded into this year's hope.
The Gators not only beat Eastern Michigan, they dominated the Eagles the way an SEC team is supposed to grind up a MAC team.
The Gators never backed off as first-year offensive coordinator Kurt Roper pulled the curtain back on Florida's new up-tempo offense in his debut.
The Gators passed for 396 yards, rushed for 259 yards, and scored seven offensive touchdowns – or nearly a third of their touchdown total (25) on offense a season ago.
Quarterback Jeff Driskel (31 of 45, 248 yards) was slinging it, running backs Kelvin Taylor, Matt Jones, Mack Brown and Brandon Powell did their thing, and 11 different players caught at least one pass, led by Burton's career-high seven receptions.
Backup quarterback Treon Harris joined the party late, but once he replaced Driskel, all Harris did was throw touchdown passes on the first two throws of his college career – a 70-yarder to Demarcus Robinson and 78-yarder to running back Mark Herndon.
OK, time for a reality check.
Before anyone starts making plans for the Gators to be in the national championship game, Muschamp reminded reporters afterward that Florida will face much stiffer tests than Eastern Michigan.
You know, teams like Alabama, LSU, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida State come to mind.
Still, this was Florida football like we haven't seen in a while.
And not at all under Muschamp, who in his fourth season, changed directions on offense by hiring Roper.
“We just needed to win. We're much improved. I've told you guys that all along,'' Muschamp said. “It's not false bravado. It's real. We are a better football team.
“I thought Jeff threw the ball extremely well. You saw what I kind of referenced as far as his command and comfort of where we are.”
The Gators looked good from start to finish. They were fun to watch, too.
Andre Debose's 55-yard punt return brought the crowd to its feet. Neiron Ball's sack and forced fumble led to Taylor's 31-yard touchdown run. Jones scored from 40 yards out. Frankie Velez made three field goals. The defense limited Eastern Michigan to 125 yards and pitched the Gators' first shutout since 2012.
The mood in the locker room was one of relief, joy and satisfaction.
“I just feel really positive of where we're going,'' center Max Garcia said. “I feel like we do really have a bright future. We played as a team. Super excited to get last year out and really focus on 2014 and what we can do when we play as a team.”
On Saturday it all started on offense for a change. The defense did its job, but the offense set the tone and stole the show.
Senior receiver Quinton Dunbar, after catching five passes for 81 yards, said no one should be surprised by the offense's performance.
“We just knew the offense was capable of making plays, because we did it all spring, we did it all camp,'' Dunbar said. “So we just came out here and showed what we can do.”
A day that started with more rain over Ben Hill Griffin Stadium ended with the Gators celebrating a win. Their first in 336 days.
Muschamp didn't forget the fans. As he left the field, he walked along the edge of the East stands giving out high-fives.
It had been a while.
“I'm glad we were able to put out a pretty decent product for them today,'' he said.
