The Opening Kickoff: Florida at South Carolina -- #UFvsSC
Friday, November 13, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
The Opening Kickoff
Florida at South Carolina
#UFvsSC
Saturday, 12 p.m.
Williams-Brice Stadium
Broadcast Info | Game Notes
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On the day in late July when Jim McElwain and Steve Spurrier finally got to spend some time together on a trip to ESPN headquarters in Connecticut, the two ball coaches hit it off pretty well.
As the only first-year coach in the Southeastern Conference in 2015, McElwain was quickly introduced to Spurrier's sharp memory and competitive nature.
McElwain was Alabama's offensive coordinator in 2010 when No. 1-ranked Alabama visited Williams-Brice Stadium and suffered a 35-21 loss to the Gamecocks. Spurrier had a keepsake of the victory stored on his cell phone and showed it to McElwain: a photo of the game ball from that day.
"Coach Spurrier put it to me pretty good on that one, and he was right,” McElwain recalled with a chuckle this week. "That quarterback [Stephen Garcia], kid out of Tampa, that given game he might have been the No. 1 draft pick in the country coming out of that. He and Alshon Jeffery played really well.
"They beat our tails, and he was pretty quick to remind me of that."
In what was viewed as one of the Gators' most intriguing games in McElwain's first season has a different tone four months after his trip with Spurrier. The No. 11-ranked Gators (8-1, 6-1) are SEC East champs and the Gamecocks (3-6, 1-6) are Spurrier-less for the first time in a decade.
The dean of SEC head coaches resigned last month amidst a disappointing season, preventing a head-to-head matchup with McElwain from the opposite sideline. However, reminiscent of when Spurrier took over the Gators in 1990 and turned Florida into a perennial power, McElwain has recharged the program and fan base.
The Gators clinched their first SEC East title in six years with a victory over Vanderbilt a week ago, and much like Spurrier, McElwain has quickly become a fan favorite with his folksy persona and knack for a good one-liner.
As for the Gators' offense, the former longtime offensive coordinator calls that "a work in progress." Still, as long as the wins continue to add up, McElwain can live with fewer points than he would like as the Gators try to create some late-season magic.
"First and foremost, really excited about where our football team is at and how they've gotten here and what they've accomplished so far,'' McElwain said. "This is really when it gets fun and we should all be excited."
Here is a closer look at Saturday's Florida-South Carolina game:
THREE STORYLINES
- As the Gators prepared for South Carolina, they talked a lot about bouncing back from last week's lackluster performance against Vanderbilt. Florida won the game to clinch the SEC East title, but it was far from a classic. In particular, the offensive line was out of sync and often appeared overmatched at times. If Florida's offense is going to be more productive Saturday, the offensive line must lead the way.
- Florida's defensive line will be tested by South Carolina running back Brandon Wilds, a fifth-year senior who averages 5.3 yards per carry. Junior defensive tackle Joey Ivie (knee) is out and senior Jon Bullard, who leads the Gators with 13 tackles-for-loss, is a game-time decision according to head coach Jim McElwain. Bullard suffered an arm injury against Vanderbilt and is having his best season.
- The Gamecocks have had a disappointing season and have just one SEC win. This is only South Carolina's second home game since Sept. 26 due to the flooding that forced the Gamecocks to play LSU on the road instead of at home. The Gamecocks should be fired up for interim coach Shawn Elliott with an opportunity to close out the conference schedule by upsetting the Gators.
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
- If Bullard doesn't play, Gators defensive tackle Caleb Brantley will be Florida's most experienced interior defensive lineman. Brantley has 21 tackles and two sacks. Brantley can be a disruptive force when playing at a high level.
- The South Carolina defense is ranked 13th in the SEC in stopping the run, surrendering 208.3 yards per game. That could mean a big day for Florida running back Kelvin Taylor (team-high 631 yards) if the offensive line is getting a push up front.
- Pharoh Cooper is one of the most versatile players in college football. Jim McElwain joked this week that Cooper has played everywhere but left tackle. A receiver, Cooper often takes direct snaps and is effective both as a runner and passer. The Gators know they have to keep an eye at all times on South Carolina's No. 11.
THE QUOTE FILE
- “I'm disappointed that we got to where we were probably … becoming result-oriented rather than what you need to do to create the results you want.'' – Gators coach Jim McElwain on last week's struggles against Vanderbilt
- “Being known as the man who blocked the punt against Florida is pretty good for me. I told him after the game, 'I want you to know something, I will never forget you. I will remember you for the rest of my life for that.' ” – Gamecocks receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr. on receiver Carlton Heard
- “Those teams who say, 'Hey, let's go play spoiler,' that's kind of a joke to me. Our goal is to win football games. It doesn't matter what their rank or how successful they are, we are to go out and compete.” – South Carolina interim coach Shawn Elliott on facing No. 11 Florida
- “The season is not over, man. Everybody has to do their part and have to focus on themselves and our team. We're going to keep building from this point on.” – Florida junior running back Kelvin Taylor
- “I hate sitting around the hotel the whole time. Coach Mac tries to do things to get us out, so you're not just locked up in the hotel. It feels good to wake up and go play.'' Florida linebacker Antonio Morrison on second consecutive noon game
INJURY REPORT
Out: DT Joey Ivie (knee), DT Thomas Holley (hip); Questionable: DT Jonathan Bullard (arm); Probable: S Keanu Neal (foot) and OL Davie Sharpe (foot).
A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
Florida and South Carolina have played annually since the Gamecocks joined the SEC in 1992. The Gators dominated the series until former UF coach Steve Spurrier returned to college football in 2005 to take over the Gamecocks. Spurrier went 5-5 against his alma mater while head coach at South Carolina. In fact, Saturday marks just the fourth time in 24 meetings since '92 that Spurrier won't be on one of the sidelines for this game. Here is a look at his final game as Florida's coach against the Gamecocks, which featured a pair of teams ranked in the top 15 in front of a raucous crowd at Williams-Brice Stadium:
WATCH: 2001 Florida-South Carolina game
10 QUICK HITTERS
- Gators coach Jim McElwain can surpass former UF coaches Steve Spurrier and Ron Zook for most conference wins in school history for a first-year coach. Spurrier and Zook both won six SEC games in their first season, matched by McElwain.
- Florida has 27 sacks through nine games, three short of its 2014 total in 12 games.
- South Carolina has won four of the last five meetings against Florida after winning just four of the first 30 meetings between the schools.
- Gators running back Kelvin Taylor has nine rushing touchdowns in conference play, which ties his father, Fred Taylor, for the most by a Florida player since 1997.
- Florida freshman receiver Antonio Callaway averages 17.5 yards per touch. Callaway has 20 receptions for 429 yards, two rushes for 17 yards, and 20 punt returns for 288 yards.
- South Carolina redshirt junior quarterback Perry Orth set career highs for attempts (39), completions (20) and touchdown passes (3) in last week's 27-24 loss at Tennessee.
- Gamecocks receiver Pharoh Cooper has four 100-yard games this season and often runs (64 rushes, 507 yards in his career) and passes (8 of 14, 101 yards, 3 TDs) out of the Wildcat formation.
- McElwain can match Ray Graves (1960), Galen Hall (1985), Steve Spurrier (1990) and Urban Meyer (2005) for the most wins by a Florida coach in his first full season.
- Florida kicker Austin Hardin's game-winning field goal with 2:22 left against Vanderbilt was the 10th game-winner in school history inside 2:30 left. Prior to Hardin's kick, the last was by Chas Henry in 2010, an overtime victory against Georgia.
- South Carolina co-defensive coordinator Jon Hoke, in his first season with the Gamecocks, was Spurrier's final defensive coordinator at Florida in 2001.
THE OTHER SIDE
South Carolina appointed offensive line coach Shawn Elliott interim head coach on Oct. 13 when Steve Spurrier announced his resignation. Elliott, a former offensive lineman at Appalachian State, is intense. If you want to see for yourself, check out this video:
WHAT THEY'RE WRITING
- Florida AD Jeremy Foley tells Buddy Martin of GridironNow.com that Jim McElwain totally changed the vibe of the football program.
- Embattled Austin Hardin is Florida's most unlikely playoff savior writes Edward Aschoff of ESPN.com.
- Gators safety Marcus Maye showing unselfish mentality writes Luis Torres of the Independent Florida Alligator.
- Coach Shawn Elliott has placed his stamp on Gamecocks since Steve Spurrier resigned writes Edgar Thompson of The Orlando Sentinel.
- Alex McCalister leading UF's sack party writes Robbie Andreu of The Gainesville Sun.
- Steve Spurrier's gone, yet South Carolina has Florida wary of razzle-dazzle writes Graham Hack of The Florida Times-Union.
- South Carolina offensive coordinator G.A. Mangus has plenty of respect for Florida's back seven on defense via FoxSports.com.
BOTTOM LINE
Florida has won two in a row since its bye week behind a defense that has allowed just one touchdown in eight quarters. Meanwhile, the offense and quarterback Treon Harris have been inconsistent in wins over Georgia and Vanderbilt. Still, the Gators won both games to clinch their first division title in six years. They are going to Atlanta next month. Before they get there, the Gators want to sharpen the passing game and offensive efficiency. South Carolina's defense is near the bottom of every major statistical category in the conference, so look for the Gators' offense to wake up and close out the conference portion of the schedule with their first win over the Gamecocks in three years.
