The Opening Kickoff: Gators at Missouri -- #UFvsMIZ
Friday, November 3, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter
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Florida seeks to snap a three-game losing streak in its first game under interim head coach Randy Shannon.
By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
COLUMBIA, Mo. – One of the oddest Octobers in Florida football history is in the books.
The Gators played three games and lost three games. They had more key players go down for the season because of injuries. Their head coach at the start of the month was gone by the end of it.
Florida (3-4, 3-3) attempts to regain its footing on Saturday at Missouri (3-5, 0-5).
"The approach is just going out there and represent the University of Florida, go out there and play at a high level, compete at a high level and have the mindset that the only thing that matters is playing Missouri,'' said Shannon, named interim head coach on Sunday after Gators Athletic Director Scott Stricklin announced a separation agreement with McElwain.
In his first week as the head of the program, Shannon made a significant move.
He announced Thursday that graduate transfer quarterback Malik Zaire will start against the Tigers, replacing Feleipe Franks. A much-hyped offseason addition from Notre Dame, Zaire has been a nonfactor.
He had not played since the season opener until entering last week's 42-7 loss to Georgia in the fourth quarter and directing a nine-play, 71-yard drive for Florida's only score.
"He's prepared," Shannon said. "You always have to be on top of what you're doing and on top of your game every time you play football. This is his chance to step up and represent the Florida Gators."
Shannon is now in charge. Zaire is now the quarterback. A lot has changed in the span of a week. The Gators hope a win is next.
Here is a closer look at the Florida-Missouri game in this week's edition of The Opening Kickoff:
THREE QUESTIONS WITH … ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SCOTT STRICKLIN
Q: When did you know it was time to make a coaching change? Scott Stricklin A: You're constantly evaluating your program. I don't know that there was one seminal moment, but it just seemed like this was the time to do it.
Q: How do you evaluate if a guy can handle the kind of pressure and demands here?
A: That's a hard piece of this. I think fans sometimes look at hiring coaches kind of like you or I might look at going down to Best Buy and buying a 50-inch TV. You look at the side of the box and read all the specs and you open up the box and that's what's going to be in there. Personnel hirings are not quite like that.
Q: Are fan expectations at Florida too high?
A: I don't think so. I mean, if your expectation is can we compete with the best teams in the country, stand on the same field and have a legitimate chance to beat the best teams in the country. We do that at every other sport at the University of Florida.
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THREE STORYLINES
How will the Gators respond in their first game since Jim McElwain departed and interim head coach Randy Shannon took over the program? Florida went 0-3 in October and has not lost four consecutive games since a seven-game losing streak in 2013.
Shannon made a change at quarterback by announcing Thursday that graduate transfer Malik Zaire will make his first start for the Gators in place of redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks, who has started six of seven games this season. Zaire has not started a game since the first two regular-season games in 2015 when he was at Notre Dame.
These two programs own the last four SEC East titles – Missouri in 2013-14, Florida in 2015-16 – but that streak is going to end in 2017. Missouri is winless in the SEC and is coming off a road win at Connecticut, the first road win for starting quarterback Drew Lock after 10 consecutive losses away from Memorial Stadium. Will the Tigers extend the Gators' misery or stay winless in the conference?
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THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
UF senior running back Mark Thompsonwas challenged by interim head coach Randy Shannon to step up this week with injured Malik Davis done for the season. Thompson rushed six times for a season-high 38 yards and scored the Gators' only touchdown in last week's loss to Georgia.
Missouri receiver J'Mon Moore has two 100-yard games this season and eight in his career. Moore ranks second in the SEC in receiving yards (676) and his seven touchdown receptions lead the league.
The Gators need to make Missouri quarterback Drew Lock uncomfortable in the pocket as they have the past two meetings. If that's to happen, look for junior defensive lineman CeCe Jefferson to be a disruptive force.
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THREE DIGITS
34– Games Jim McElwain served as head coach at Florida, the shortest stint for a UF head coach since D.K. Stanley had a 29-game stretch from 1933-35. 526 – Rushing yards for Gators freshman Malik Davis, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the loss to Georgia. The total ranks fourth since 1996 for a UF true freshman. 28 – Touchdown passes for Missouri quarterback Drew Lock, which ties him with former UF quarterback Will Grier (now at West Virginia) atop the FBS.
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THE QUOTE FILE
"It is what is. This is life, so we have to continue to play. The season is still going on, so we have to keep continuing to play. I'm not an emotional guy. It's football." – Florida senior defensive back Duke Dawson on dealing with Florida's tumultuous week
"They've been upbeat, very positive, a lot of enthusiasm. We're going up to Missouri to have a positive attitude and have a great day and have a lot of fun at it." – Florida interim head coach Randy Shannon on team's mood
"It's a great job, but it's going to take a man with conviction, with heart, with passion, and that's not going to waver because that's a hot seat. And, they expect not just to win, but compete for championships every year. That's why I think, this go around, they find the right person." – Former Gators quarterback Tim Tebow on what Florida needs in its next coach
"He's a lot better player than I was. He's got some physical tools that are special." – Missouri offensive coordinator Josh Heupel, the Heisman runner-up in 2000 as Oklahoma's quarterback, on Tigers quarterback Drew Lock
"They're going to want to win without a head coach, technically, so we're going to have to come out and bring our 'A' game.'' – Lock on facing the Gators in their first game since Jim McElwain's exit
You know the story by now. Since the departure of Tim Tebow after the 2009 season, the Gators have rotated quarterbacks in and out, in and out.
The players who have started at quarterback for the Gators since Tebow continues to grow as Malik Zaire becomes starting quarterback No. 12 for Florida post-Tebow.
The others: John Brantley, Trey Burton, Jacoby Brissett, Jeff Driskel, Tyler Murphy, Skyler Mornhinweg, Treon Harris, Will Grier, Luke Del Rio, Austin Appleby and Feleipe Franks.
With Zaire set to start at Missouri, it marks the seventh consecutive season that UF has started a backup quarterback in at least two games.
A look at how many quarterbacks the rest of the schools in the SEC have started over that same span:
o Vanderbilt – 10
o Ole Miss - 9
o Auburn – 9
o Kentucky – 9
o Texas A&M – 8 (since 2012)
o South Carolina – 8
o Tennessee – 7
o Georgia – 6
o LSU – 6
o Arkansas – 6
o Alabama – 5
o Missouri – 4 (since 2012)
o Mississippi State – 4
Junior quarterback Drew Lock has 20 touchdown passes over his last five games. You could say he is locked in (please pardon the pun).
Lock's 28 touchdown throws on the season rank third in school history. Only Chase Daniels (39 in 2008 and 33 in 2007) has thrown more in a single season. Lock has at least four games left to catch Daniels.
However, the Gators have had Lock's number the past two seasons. He is just 20 of 57 for 190 yards, four interceptions and no touchdowns in two career starts against the Gators. Three of his four interceptions have been returned for touchdowns.
The Gators are a team in flux. Missouri is a team without a conference win or quality win. The Tigers' three wins are against Missouri State, Idaho and UConn – programs with a combined record of 8-17. The Gators need a win and they get one.
