Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks and teammates celebrate Saturday's win at Vanderbilt. (Photo: Carly Mackler/UAA Communications)
Gators Get Back to Basics, No Complacency Allowed
Tuesday, October 16, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gators quarterback Feleipe Franks stepped into a different sort of huddle following Tuesday night's practice. One of the last players to exit the team's indoor practice facility, Franks was surrounded by a gaggle of reporters after he finished talking with former UF standout Lawrence Wright.
Coming off their fifth straight win, the No. 11-ranked Gators (6-1, 4-1 in the Southeastern Conference) have a bye this week before facing No. 8 Georgia in Jacksonville. Florida's recent surge has spiked interest from fans, alumni, former players and the media.
Franks was asked if it was difficult to imagine some of the good vibes surrounding the Gators considering expectations at the start of the season or the lingering doubts just a few weeks ago. You know, subjects such as bowl eligibility, his 15 touchdown passes in seven games, Dan Mullen as a potential candidate for SEC Coach of the Year.
Franks played along.
"There are a lot of things,'' he said. "You could go on and on."
The Gators' mission is to make sure they stay on the favorable side of this conversation. Florida and No. 20 Cincinnati are the only two teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25 that had losing records a season ago. Florida won for the fifth consecutive week on Saturday by coming back from an 18-point deficit in a 37-27 win at Vanderbilt.
Following a home loss to Kentucky on Sept. 8, the Gators have beaten Colorado State, Tennessee, Mississippi State, LSU and Vanderbilt. Three of those victories came on the road, and Florida's back-to-back wins over SEC West foes Mississippi State, ranked No. 22, and fifth-ranked LSU cast the Gators in a different light nationally.
Franks threw for a career-high 284 yards and two scores in Saturday's victory. His 15 touchdown passes are the most for a Gators quarterback in a single season since Tim Tebow threw 21 in 2009.
The tone around the team is a world away from a year ago when the Gators prepared to face Georgia while riding a two-game losing streak and with former coach Jim McElwain under intense scrutiny.
"It feels good, knowing that we're obviously a different record,'' Franks said. "You're playing with guys that have a lot more confidence. All these guys, they've been putting the work in all offseason to come in and have the season we're having right now. You can't get complacent and we know that. You've just got to keep on working and winning games."
The Gators have started to glance at film of the Bulldogs, who were upset by LSU on Saturday. However, much of their preparation this week is taking care of themselves physically and mentally.
"This week is just a lot of fundamental work, getting some technique down,'' fifth-year senior tight end R.J. Raymond said. "Really, going back to the basics."
And staying grounded.
Florida, after not being ranked at the start of the season, entered at No. 25 the week before losing to Kentucky. The Gators then dropped from the radar before their victory at Mississippi State in Mullen's much-anticipated return, re-entering at No. 22. They jumped to 14th after beating LSU and climbed three more spots following the comeback win at Vanderbilt.
Depending on what happens Saturday, the Gators could be ranked in the top 10 by the time they face Georgia. Regardless, both schools will be ranked at the time of their annual clash for the first time in six years.
The Gators suffered a 42-7 loss to Georgia a season ago that remains fresh.
"Not too good,'' said Gators cornerback CJ Henderson when asked his memory of last season's matchup. "I really don't want to talk about it. I expect to change that this year."
Florida's turnaround under Mullen has surprised many outsiders. In the locker room, it's no mystery as to what has happened.
"We put in the work for it and we're reaping the benefits,'' defensive lineman Elijah Conliffe said. "I feel like we got closer as a team. Every game we've got to come with the same intensity. Keep working to get better to win games so we can be where we want to be."
For that to happen, the Gators must continue to rely on what got them to this point.
They are winning the turnover battle consistently, the defensive line has been disruptive, Franks and the offense have found a way to produce at critical junctures, and special teams have made a difference.
Franks isn't concerned about complacency spoiling the ride. He sees his teammates' motivation during the bye week.
"They have drive. They are not satisfied with 6-1,'' he said. "You want to win each and every game. We want to go to the playoffs. We want to do those kind of things. We don't want to just win eight games. We want to go and continually prove people wrong about our program. Our bye week is not our off week."
As Franks spoke to the huddle Tuesday night, one of those teammates and a roommate, receiver Van Jefferson, playfully asked a question from the fringes.
"Can I get the keys to the house?"
Franks and others had a good laugh. Five consecutive wins and a bye week have a way of doing that.
Coming off their fifth straight win, the No. 11-ranked Gators (6-1, 4-1 in the Southeastern Conference) have a bye this week before facing No. 8 Georgia in Jacksonville. Florida's recent surge has spiked interest from fans, alumni, former players and the media.
Franks was asked if it was difficult to imagine some of the good vibes surrounding the Gators considering expectations at the start of the season or the lingering doubts just a few weeks ago. You know, subjects such as bowl eligibility, his 15 touchdown passes in seven games, Dan Mullen as a potential candidate for SEC Coach of the Year.
Franks played along.
"There are a lot of things,'' he said. "You could go on and on."
The Gators' mission is to make sure they stay on the favorable side of this conversation. Florida and No. 20 Cincinnati are the only two teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25 that had losing records a season ago. Florida won for the fifth consecutive week on Saturday by coming back from an 18-point deficit in a 37-27 win at Vanderbilt.
Following a home loss to Kentucky on Sept. 8, the Gators have beaten Colorado State, Tennessee, Mississippi State, LSU and Vanderbilt. Three of those victories came on the road, and Florida's back-to-back wins over SEC West foes Mississippi State, ranked No. 22, and fifth-ranked LSU cast the Gators in a different light nationally.
Franks threw for a career-high 284 yards and two scores in Saturday's victory. His 15 touchdown passes are the most for a Gators quarterback in a single season since Tim Tebow threw 21 in 2009.
#Gators QB Feleipe Franks talking to media after practice ... pic.twitter.com/sfQy7NeqNk
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) October 16, 2018
The tone around the team is a world away from a year ago when the Gators prepared to face Georgia while riding a two-game losing streak and with former coach Jim McElwain under intense scrutiny.
"It feels good, knowing that we're obviously a different record,'' Franks said. "You're playing with guys that have a lot more confidence. All these guys, they've been putting the work in all offseason to come in and have the season we're having right now. You can't get complacent and we know that. You've just got to keep on working and winning games."
The Gators have started to glance at film of the Bulldogs, who were upset by LSU on Saturday. However, much of their preparation this week is taking care of themselves physically and mentally.
"This week is just a lot of fundamental work, getting some technique down,'' fifth-year senior tight end R.J. Raymond said. "Really, going back to the basics."
And staying grounded.
Florida, after not being ranked at the start of the season, entered at No. 25 the week before losing to Kentucky. The Gators then dropped from the radar before their victory at Mississippi State in Mullen's much-anticipated return, re-entering at No. 22. They jumped to 14th after beating LSU and climbed three more spots following the comeback win at Vanderbilt.
Depending on what happens Saturday, the Gators could be ranked in the top 10 by the time they face Georgia. Regardless, both schools will be ranked at the time of their annual clash for the first time in six years.
The Gators suffered a 42-7 loss to Georgia a season ago that remains fresh.
"Not too good,'' said Gators cornerback CJ Henderson when asked his memory of last season's matchup. "I really don't want to talk about it. I expect to change that this year."
Florida's turnaround under Mullen has surprised many outsiders. In the locker room, it's no mystery as to what has happened.
"We put in the work for it and we're reaping the benefits,'' defensive lineman Elijah Conliffe said. "I feel like we got closer as a team. Every game we've got to come with the same intensity. Keep working to get better to win games so we can be where we want to be."
For that to happen, the Gators must continue to rely on what got them to this point.
They are winning the turnover battle consistently, the defensive line has been disruptive, Franks and the offense have found a way to produce at critical junctures, and special teams have made a difference.
Franks isn't concerned about complacency spoiling the ride. He sees his teammates' motivation during the bye week.
"They have drive. They are not satisfied with 6-1,'' he said. "You want to win each and every game. We want to go to the playoffs. We want to do those kind of things. We don't want to just win eight games. We want to go and continually prove people wrong about our program. Our bye week is not our off week."
As Franks spoke to the huddle Tuesday night, one of those teammates and a roommate, receiver Van Jefferson, playfully asked a question from the fringes.
"Can I get the keys to the house?"
Franks and others had a good laugh. Five consecutive wins and a bye week have a way of doing that.
Players Mentioned
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