Football Notebook: Gators Make Biggest Leap in Top 25 in School History, More Tidbits
Monday, October 5, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 11-ranked Gators turn their attention to Missouri this week as the season nears the midway point.
Wait? What? The Gators are ranked 11th? Is that in the latest GatorZone.com national poll?
No, folks, Florida moved up 14 spots in the Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday after a stunning 38-10 dismantling of No. 3-ranked Ole Miss. The Rebels dropped to 14th.
The Gators (5-0, 3-0) climbed back into the poll for the first time in two years a week ago at No. 25. Their jump 14 spots on Sunday made headlines.
According to the AP, Florida's move ties for the third-largest in the history of the poll:
17 spots — No. 19 Michigan State to No. 2, Oct. 2, 1950
16 — NR Arizona to No. 10, Oct. 5, 2014 (Top 25)
16 — No. 25 TCU to No. 9, Oct. 5, 2014
14 — No. 19 Purdue to No. 5, Oct. 4, 1954
14 — No. 24 Kansas to No. 10, Oct. 8, 1995
The Gators, heavy underdogs at home to Ole Miss, dominated the Rebels from start to finish on Saturday in front of a rabid crowd announced at 90,585 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. It was their first win over a team ranked in the top three since a victory over Cincinnati in the 2010 Sugar Bowl.
Quarterback Will Grier completed 24 of 29 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns, and the defense forced four Ole Miss turnovers and turned them into 19 points. The Gators led 25-0 at halftime and held the Rebels scoreless until a field goal late in the third quarter.
“A great team win,'' said Grier, who made his fourth consecutive start after battling the flu during the week. “Clicking on all cylinders: offense, defense, special teams. I think we are learning how to prepare better and that's showing up in games.”
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GRADING GRIER
First-year Florida head coach Jim McElwain made his mark as an offensive coordinator, so his scrutiny of the offense is always on high alert.
Grier continues to improve each week and played perhaps his finest all-around game Saturday, going 17 of 20 for 229 yards and four touchdowns in the first half. Sophomore Treon Harris was limited to a failed run on a two-point attempt in the second quarter.
McElwain, as he has done since preseason camp, offered restrained praise for his redshirt freshman quarterback.
“I think he played pretty decent,'' McElwain said. “We'll check the film and go from there. Treon was ready and he will be ready. He'll continually prepare.”
Grier is completing 67.2 percent of his passes (86 of 128) with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Grier's 10 touchdown passes are the most for a UF quarterback since Jeff Driskel threw 12 in 2012.
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QUOTE OF NOTE I
“People doubted us before this game. I don't know if they're going to doubt us ever again after this game, but it doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is those guys [in the locker room], and that we come out to practice every week and work our ass off to make sure that we come out on Saturdays ready to set the tone and make a point to anybody.” – Gators linebacker Jarrad Davis
QUOTE OF NOTE II
“It makes our job less stressful. We know if we do our job and get the ball back to our offense, they can continue to put points on the board and put that much pressure on the other team.'' – Florida senior safety Marcus Maye on increased offensive production
QUOTE OF NOTE III
“I think we'll be able to handle it. We haven't had much, so it's going to be different, but we're just going to prepare the same way we have.'' – Gators offensive lineman Trip Thurman on handling recent success
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EXTRA POINTS
Florida head coach Jim McElwain is the first UF coach to start 5-0 in his inaugural season since Steve Spurrier in 1990 … The Gators' passing game is showing more big-play ability this season. Grier threw a 36-yard scoring strike to Demarcus Robinson and Brandon Powell turned a short pass into a 77-yard touchdown on Saturday. Florida now has six passing touchdowns of 30-plus yards this season after only five in 2014 … The Gators sacked Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly four times, the fourth consecutive game UF has recorded three or more sacks. The Gators had not done that since a five-game stretch in 2009 … Robinson, Jake McGee, Powell and Antonio Callaway caught touchdown passes Saturday, marking the first time since 2009 against Florida International that four or more players had a touchdown reception … The Gators have passed for 1,270 yards, their highest total through five games since throwing for 1,322 yards in 2007 during former quarterback Tim Tebow's Heisman Trophy-winning season.
Check back with GatorZone.com later for more from today's media availability.
