The Opening Kickoff: Florida at Kentucky -- #UFvsUK
Saturday, September 19, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
The Opening Kickoff
Florida at Kentucky
#UFvsUK
Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Commonwealth Stadium
Broadcast Info | Game Notes
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Jim McElwain era at Florida is just two games old, but that doesn't mean it's been uneventful or boring.
All one needs to do is look at McElwain's opening statement after each game.
Following a 61-13 victory over New Mexico State in the opener, McElwain said: “I am proud of how our guys played.”
And after the Gators' 31-24 win over East Carolina, McElwain changed his tone: “That was embarrassing.”
What will he say late Saturday night after the Gators open SEC play at Kentucky? Undoubtedly he prefers a performance reminiscent of his Gators debut.
The Gators have had several dominant performances over Kentucky the past 28 years, winning by scores such as 73-7 (1994), 65-0 (1996), 63-5 (2008) and 38-0 (2012).
Florida hasn't lost to the Wildcats since 1986 when McElwain was in his second season as a graduate assistant at his alma mater of Eastern Washington, teaching a golf class as part of his graduate work.
He has come a long way since then, and so have the Gators. The same can't be said for Kentucky, one of only two SEC East programs yet to play in the league's championship game that debuted 23 years ago. (Vanderbilt is the other).
But don't tell McElwain that.
“This team we're playing is not your same old Kentucky,'' he said. “These guys are really good.”
He has a point. Kentucky is 2-0 and coming off one of its biggest wins under third-year head coach Mark Stoops, a 26-22 victory at South Carolina that snapped a 22-game road losing streak.
For the past two decades, as Florida's winning streak in the series continued to grow, questions about 'the streak' are asked each time the Wildcats and Gators hook up.
No different this year.
“We erased a big one last week and I think it'd be great if we could do that again when we chalk it up on Saturday,'' Wildcats quarterback Patrick Towles told reporters this week. “But that's not our prime focus.”
Here is a look at Saturday's game to get you ready:
THREE STORYLINES
- This is a game on Florida's schedule that many considered a good early season barometer for the Gators when the 2015 schedule was released. Nothing has changed. Kentucky looks to be much-improved in head coach Mark Stoops' third season and Wildcats fans are wondering if this is the year they finally get to experience a win over Florida.
- The Gators played one of their most crisp games in recent memory in a season-opening win over New Mexico State. In last week's 31-24 victory over East Carolina, the Gators committed 12 penalties and had trouble developing a rhythm on offense. Which Florida team shows up on Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium?
- Quarterback Will Grier will make his second consecutive start for the Gators. Both Grier and Treon Harris have played evenly in the first two games. Florida enters with a plan to play both. However, if one gets the hot hand, he could go the distance and perhaps stake a claim to the starter's job. On the other sideline, Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles is one of the league's top passers and gave Florida fits last season. Look for the quarterback play to have a large say in the outcome of this one.
| Category | Grier | Harris |
|---|---|---|
| Starts | 1 | 1 |
| Attempts | 35 | 27 |
| Completions | 26 | 19 |
| Comp. % | 74.3 | 70.4 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 0 |
| Touchdowns | 4 | 2 |
| Yards | 317 | 269 |
| Rushing yards | 53 | 55 |
| Drives | 14 | 12 |
| Scoring drives | 8 | 6 |
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Gators running back Kelvin Taylor was thrust into the national spotlight for a throat-slash gesture that irked McElwain. Taylor then found himself third on the depth chart. McElwain said Taylor will play Saturday and factor heavily into Florida's running game. It will be interesting to see how Taylor responds to the challenge.
- Junior linebacker Jarrad Davis played the best game of his UF career against East Carolina with 12 tackles and 2 ½ tackles-for-loss. With a shortage at linebacker in the wake of a shoulder injury to Alex Anzalone, Davis should have ample opportunities to make plays against the Wildcats' up-tempo offense.
- Kentucky sophomore receiver Garrett Johnson leads the Wildcats with nine catches for 124 yards. The Gators certainly remember Johnson. He hauled in six receptions for 154 yards a season ago at The Swamp and must be accounted for at all times.
THE QUOTE FILE
- “Here's the good thing: both guys are really studying the game plan. I think that's a really good thing. You don't have a starter doing all the work and the other guy coming and get half of it and all of a sudden it's my turn. You've got to prepare yourself like the starter.” – Gators coach Jim McElwain on quarterback situation
- “It would be big, as far as depth. He looked really good in preseason camp. If that's the case, I think it would be a big help up front. I know he's still a young guy, but he knows a lot of football already.'' – Florida senior offensive lineman Trip Thurman on freshman Martez Ivey playing Saturday
- “You just have to know what you're doing at that time. Everybody's out there playing with passion and energy. But you also have to know anything that you do – excessive celebration, taunting, all that kind of stuff – it's not acceptable and it's a 15-yard penalty.'' – Gators senior safety Marcus Maye on playing disciplined
- “The plane ride was kind of quiet once we got in there and situated and got home.'' – Kentucky coach Mark Stoops on flight home after win at South Carolina to snap 22-game road losing streak
- “I think that Grier is more of a pocket passer guy, and Harris is athletic and can make plays with his feet. But they're both good at both of those things, though. Can't count Grier out from running and can't count Harris out from passing.” – Kentucky defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot on UF quarterbacks
INJURY REPORT
The Florida secondary could be at full strength for the first time this season if All-American cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III is able to play Saturday. Hargreaves missed the East Carolina game with a leg injury but returned to practice this week and was upgraded from questionable to probable on Wednesday.
With the return of safety Keanu Neal, who has missed the first two games due to a leg injury, the Gators get an important piece of the secondary back. In addition to getting Neal back, freshman offensive lineman Martez Ivey (knee) is ready to make his debut according to McElwain.
The Gators will be without junior linebacker Alex Anzalone (shoulder) and running back Case Harrison (thumb). Meanwhile, McElwain said tight end C'yontai Lewis (hand) and defensive lineman Jordan Sherit (foot) are uncertain.
HISTORY LESSON
The Gators have owned the series with Kentucky for the past three decades. Florida fans 35-and-under might have a difficult time to digest this one, but once upon a time a trip to Lexington meant a certain loss for the Gators.
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The first seven times the Gators played at Kentucky, they lost, starting with a 52-0 defeat in 1917. The schools didn't play every year like they do now, but over the years, whenever they met in Lexington, the Gators returned home with a loss.
That changed in 1957 when a worn-down Florida team – the Gators were forced to cancel their season opener against UCLA when most of the team was in the infirmary due to a flu epidemic – pulled off a 14-7 upset.
“I've never seen a Florida team block, tackle or open holes better,'' Gators head coach Bob Woodruff said.
To read more, you can check out the Oct. 8, 1957, edition of the Daytona Beach Morning Journal.
10 QUICK HITTERS
- Florida's 28-game win streak over Kentucky is the longest active streak in an uninterrupted series. The all-time record is Notre Dame's 43-game win streak over Navy from 1964-2006.
- Gators quarterback Will Grier, with two touchdown passes in each of the first two games, is the first UF quarterback to throw multiple touchdowns in consecutive games since John Brantley in 2010.
- Kentucky coach Mark Stoops worked under Gators associate head coach Randy Shannon at Miami from 2001-03. Shannon was Miami's defensive coordinator and Stoops the defensive backs coach.
- Gators receiver Demarcus Robinson, who leads the team with 11 catches through two games, tied Carlos Alvarez's school record with 15 receptions in last season's 36-30 victory over Kentucky.
- Gators tight ends DeAndre Goolsby (132 yards), C'yontai Lewis (50) and Jake McGee (18) have combined for 200 receiving yards, currently second in the SEC behind Arkansas (234). Florida's tight ends had 237 yards receiving total in 2014.
- Junior defensive tackle Joey Ivie leads the Gators with three sacks through two games. Ivie entered the season with one sack in 15 career games.
- Commonwealth Stadium now features synthetic turf instead of natural grass as part of a $120 million makeover. Kentucky joins Arkansas, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Missouri with a turf surface.
- Kentucky running back Boom Williams has three consecutive 100-yard games, first Wildcat to do that since Derrick Locke in 2010.
- Kentucky seeks its first 2-0 start in SEC play since 1977, when the Wildcats finished 10-1 and opened with wins over Mississippi State and LSU.
- Wildcats freshman cornerback Chris Westry (Orange Park, Fla.) recorded an interception, sack, quarterback hurry and pass break-up in victory at South Carolina.
THE OTHER SIDE
Kentucky is coming off a huge road win at South Carolina and riding the momentum of a 2-0 start. The Wildcats have Big Blue Nation excited about something other than basketball for a change. The school has a #PackTheCatwalk campaign this week as the Gators come to town. Here is a glimpse of the buzz around Lexington:
WHAT THEY'RE WRITING
- The Florida tight ends are short on experience but have produced early writes Robbie Andreu of The Gainesville Sun.
- Oral history: Florida-Kentucky 2014 via Edward Aschoff of ESPN.com.
- Matt Baker of The Tampa Bay Times writes about the fine line of coaches being fiery but not losing control.
- Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis takes field with renewed purpose after brutal injury writes Garry Smits of The Florida Times-Union.
- Freshman defensive lineman CeCe Jefferson starting to turn heads for Gators writes Cody Jones of Scout.com.
- Gators hope to prove secondary's early struggles an aberration writes Jesse Simonton of MiamiHerald.com.
- UF coach Jim McElwain could go with hot hand at quarterback writes Edgar Thompson of OrlandoSentinel.com.
BOTTOM LINE
The Gators want to maintain the momentum they built with a pair of home wins to kick off the McElwain Era by winning their first road test on his watch. Traditionally, a victory at Kentucky is nothing that gets Gator Nation too excited unless it's on the basketball court. This year is different. This isn't your big brother's Kentucky, or your dad's Kentucky. The Wildcats are climbing toward respect and took a big step with the victory at South Carolina. The game is sold out and you can bet the Gators will be public enemy No. 1 for four hours on Saturday night in Lexington. The Gators will likely have to play much better than they did against East Carolina to come away with a victory. But if they do, they will return home to face Tennessee in what should be an electric atmosphere at The Swamp with excitement about the season on the rise.
