Gators head coach Dan Mullen during Friday's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl press conference at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Peach Bowl Prez Aware of Mullen's Play-Calling
Friday, December 7, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
"Flea-flicker off the screen. How about that one. Never seen that play. Steve Spurrier didn't even invent one like that." – TV analyst Gary Danielson at the 2005 Fiesta Bowl
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dan Mullen recalled Friday the last time the Gators were in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, a 27-10 loss to Miami on New Year's Eve 14 years ago.
Mullen was not at the Georgia Dome in the final Gators game before he arrived at Florida with Urban Meyer to be the offensive coordinator. Instead, he played the role of spectator in his hotel room in Arizona as Utah prepared for its Fiesta Bowl matchup against Pittsburgh the following night.
"I remember watching that game and to look at what type of players we would have when we got here,'' said Mullen, at the time Utah's offensive coordinator. "That was pretty exciting."
Florida fans, eager for a closer look at Utah's offense, were excited, too. The Utes crushed Pittsburgh 35-7, their final score coming on a bit of trickery late in the third quarter. Using an array of formations to keep Pittsburgh's defense guessing, Utah sealed the win with a hook-and-ladder touchdown.
Quarterback Alex Smith threw a screen pass to receiver Steve Savoy, who then flipped the ball to receiver Paris Warren as Warren came around the backfield from the other side of the field. Warren took the pitch and raced 18 yards for a touchdown, prompting ABC television analyst Gary Danielson to marvel at the creativity of Utah's offense (see above).
In promoting this year's Peach Bowl on Friday, bowl president Gary Stokan referenced Michigan's top-ranked defense (No. 1 nationally in allowing only 262.5 yards per game) and the challenge Florida's offense faces Dec. 29 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Sounds like Stokan has studied up on the teams -- and Mullen's history as a play-caller.
"I think it's going to be defense vs. defense,'' Stokan said. "Coach Mullen is going to have to pull some rabbits out of the hat here offensively, which he is liable to do."
While the game remains three weeks away, Florida (9-3) has started to practice for its third clash against Michigan (10-2) in the last 38 games. The Wolverines are 4-0 all-time against the Gators, including a win in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl at the end of the 2015 season and in the Advocare Classic to open the 2017 season.
Mullen wasn't around for either of those games, but Gators Athletic Director Scott Stricklin was at Jerry World for the 33-17 loss to Michigan in Arlington, Texas, a season ago. The defeat foreshadowed a 4-7 season that cost former head coach Jim McElwain his job and led to the hiring of Mullen.
The Gators quickly turned around their fortunes and are playing in a New Year's Six bowl for the first time since a trip to the Sugar Bowl six years ago.
"That New Year's Six designation is really special. There's obviously only 12 opportunities to be a part of one of those,'' Stricklin said Friday. "Not only are we in it, we get a chance to kick off those six games this year. When you make a change, especially coming off a 4-7 season, I don't think it's realistic to say this was an expectation.
"It's really rewarding. I said this after the FSU game, the momentum and the enthusiasm from Gator Nation, those fans out there wearing the orange and blue, that is really rewarding and that is fun to see. I've got to give Dan credit for creating that spark and making this program a lot of fun for our fans to follow."
Mullen's return to Gainesville has resurrected a program that had two losing seasons in the previous five prior to his arrival. The Gators are ranked 10th in the College Football Playoff poll and have an opportunity to move up with a victory over the No. 7 Wolverines.
Mullen said much of the focus early in the bowl preparation is to work on fundamentals, technique and to develop young players for next season.
However, by kickoff time in Atlanta, there's only one goal in mind.
"Anytime you are in a top-10 matchup in college football, those are great games," Mullen said. "The most important thing is to go win the game. We have an opportunity to win the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl championship. So I think winning the game would be a real satisfying end to this season and jump-start us into where we expect to be in the future."
A few minutes later, Mullen picked up the replica Peach Bowl helmet off the table he sat at during the press conference and walked over to another table that featured lunch items from Chick-fil-A.
He grabbed five cookies and dropped them in the helmet, stocking up for a family treat later.
"Hard to beat the Chick-fil-A cookie,'' Mullen said. "That's my biggest concern with the bowl game right now, is the amount of Chick-fil-A cookies that will be around. I have a hard time of resisting them."
They will taste a lot better with a win over the Wolverines.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dan Mullen recalled Friday the last time the Gators were in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, a 27-10 loss to Miami on New Year's Eve 14 years ago.
Mullen was not at the Georgia Dome in the final Gators game before he arrived at Florida with Urban Meyer to be the offensive coordinator. Instead, he played the role of spectator in his hotel room in Arizona as Utah prepared for its Fiesta Bowl matchup against Pittsburgh the following night.
"I remember watching that game and to look at what type of players we would have when we got here,'' said Mullen, at the time Utah's offensive coordinator. "That was pretty exciting."
Florida fans, eager for a closer look at Utah's offense, were excited, too. The Utes crushed Pittsburgh 35-7, their final score coming on a bit of trickery late in the third quarter. Using an array of formations to keep Pittsburgh's defense guessing, Utah sealed the win with a hook-and-ladder touchdown.
Quarterback Alex Smith threw a screen pass to receiver Steve Savoy, who then flipped the ball to receiver Paris Warren as Warren came around the backfield from the other side of the field. Warren took the pitch and raced 18 yards for a touchdown, prompting ABC television analyst Gary Danielson to marvel at the creativity of Utah's offense (see above).
In promoting this year's Peach Bowl on Friday, bowl president Gary Stokan referenced Michigan's top-ranked defense (No. 1 nationally in allowing only 262.5 yards per game) and the challenge Florida's offense faces Dec. 29 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Sounds like Stokan has studied up on the teams -- and Mullen's history as a play-caller.
"I think it's going to be defense vs. defense,'' Stokan said. "Coach Mullen is going to have to pull some rabbits out of the hat here offensively, which he is liable to do."
While the game remains three weeks away, Florida (9-3) has started to practice for its third clash against Michigan (10-2) in the last 38 games. The Wolverines are 4-0 all-time against the Gators, including a win in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl at the end of the 2015 season and in the Advocare Classic to open the 2017 season.
Mullen wasn't around for either of those games, but Gators Athletic Director Scott Stricklin was at Jerry World for the 33-17 loss to Michigan in Arlington, Texas, a season ago. The defeat foreshadowed a 4-7 season that cost former head coach Jim McElwain his job and led to the hiring of Mullen.
The Gators quickly turned around their fortunes and are playing in a New Year's Six bowl for the first time since a trip to the Sugar Bowl six years ago.
"That New Year's Six designation is really special. There's obviously only 12 opportunities to be a part of one of those,'' Stricklin said Friday. "Not only are we in it, we get a chance to kick off those six games this year. When you make a change, especially coming off a 4-7 season, I don't think it's realistic to say this was an expectation.
"It's really rewarding. I said this after the FSU game, the momentum and the enthusiasm from Gator Nation, those fans out there wearing the orange and blue, that is really rewarding and that is fun to see. I've got to give Dan credit for creating that spark and making this program a lot of fun for our fans to follow."
Mullen's return to Gainesville has resurrected a program that had two losing seasons in the previous five prior to his arrival. The Gators are ranked 10th in the College Football Playoff poll and have an opportunity to move up with a victory over the No. 7 Wolverines.
Mullen said much of the focus early in the bowl preparation is to work on fundamentals, technique and to develop young players for next season.
However, by kickoff time in Atlanta, there's only one goal in mind.
"Anytime you are in a top-10 matchup in college football, those are great games," Mullen said. "The most important thing is to go win the game. We have an opportunity to win the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl championship. So I think winning the game would be a real satisfying end to this season and jump-start us into where we expect to be in the future."
A few minutes later, Mullen picked up the replica Peach Bowl helmet off the table he sat at during the press conference and walked over to another table that featured lunch items from Chick-fil-A.
He grabbed five cookies and dropped them in the helmet, stocking up for a family treat later.
"Hard to beat the Chick-fil-A cookie,'' Mullen said. "That's my biggest concern with the bowl game right now, is the amount of Chick-fil-A cookies that will be around. I have a hard time of resisting them."
They will taste a lot better with a win over the Wolverines.
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