Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Dan Mullen declared last week that his team had to get tougher and vowed the process would start at practice. No one in the UF locker room following Saturday's 48-10 victory over Colorado State at Spurrier/Florida Field would have dared make any sort of declaration that a win against a Mountain West foe represented any sort of referendum on toughness.

But, obviously, the Gators listened to their head coach. As in all Gators. As in offense, defense and special teams.  

Especially special teams. 

Freddie Swain returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter and the UF special teams blew up a pair of CSU punt plays, including one that was blocked and recovered for a touchdown. Third-year sophomore quarterback Feleipe Franks threw a couple touchdowns, a pair of tailbacks broke off huge scoring runs, and the Florida defense forced a trio of turnovers in what was an across-the-board rebound from last week's disheartening (and historic) loss to Kentucky. 

"We have a lot of things to work on, but we get to do it this week with a smile on our face," said Mullen, whose Gators (2-1, 0-1) will return to Southeastern Conference play next Saturday when it goes on the road to Tennessee (2-1, 0-0). "We're going to enjoy this win, get in as a coaching staff [Sunday] and evaluate how we can do better. We need to have an aggressive, attacking attitude again this week. The effort has to continue to increase."
 
As the season advances, the production of the UF offense will have to increase as well. The unit was only on the field for 44 plays and managed just 341 yards against the nation's 122nd-ranked defense, with part of that rooted in a slow start as Franks missed his first six throws and also had an interception. Colorado State, meanwhile, ran 83 plays and gained just 310 yards, making for what Mullen called "a funky game."

Ultimately, though, the Gators hit some big plays, with rushing touchdowns of 30 yards from Jordan Scarlett in the first half and a 68-yard burst from true freshman Dameon Pierce in the fourth quarter, the two biggest chunks of UF's 222 yards rushing. In between, Franks hit eight of his final nine throws for 119 yards, with scoring tosses of 18 to Swain in the second quarter and 38 to Van Jefferson in the fourth. 

"Our guys have worked really hard and put me in the right position," Franks said. "They trust in me and I trust them. Our line, running backs, tight ends and receivers all had a really good day. They were giving me the opportunities to move the ball."

And then there were were the special teams. 

"We're trying to be the best special teams in the SEC and they preach that each and every day," sophomore cornerback C.J. Henderson said. "I think that's why those guys showed out."

Added redshirt freshman linebacker James Houston IV: "Since Coach Mullen has been here he has put a big emphasis on special teams. We have a special teams practice every day and a a special teams meting every day. It paid off."

Did it ever.

It was Houston who put the Gators in excellent scoring position after CSU went three-and-out on its first possession. He came clean — "Bonsai Blitz," it's called — on a punt attempt and smothered Ryan Stonehouse and forced a fumble before the Rams punter even got into kicking motion. Josh Hammond recovered at the CSU 11. UF, though, had a couple Franks keepers sandwiched around a false start, then threw incomplete on third-and-6. The Gators had to settle for Evan McPherson's field goal, a 21-yarder, to go up at the 10:48 mark of the opening period. 

The Rams, with an impressive march that included a converted fourth-and-1, had a chance to tie the game on the ensuing possession, but Wyatt Bryan was wide right on a 41-yard field-goal try. An interception from Franks, who was late going for a wide-open Hammond down the middle of the defense, was countered instantly when CSU quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels (21 of 33, 217 yards, 1 touchdown) fumbled a snap from center on first down. UF defensive lineman Elijah Conliffe recovered for the Gators at the CSU 29, but Franks and company lost two yards on its three plays and again McPherson salvaged the turnover with his second field goal, a career-long 48-yarder, with 2:14 left in the first quarter.

That 6-0 lead held when Bryan missed his second field goal, a 53-yarder that was wide left. The Gators needed just five plays to go 65 yards, with a Franks-to-Jefferson completion of 24 yards to the CSU 30 the big hitter. On the next play, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound Scarlett finished the drive when he took an off-tackle carry to the outside and outran the Rams to the end zone. 

Swain awarded a three-and-out from his defense with a 22-yard punt return to the CSU 44 and six plays later Franks awarded Swain with his touchdown reception that made it 27-0. Swain, of course, wasn't done for the night by a long shot. 

"I want to be an all-around player," he said. 
 
The Rams got on the board with a 53-yard field goal from Bryan as time expired in the first half, then made it 10 unanswered points when Carta-Samuels found tight end Trey McBride uncovered down the middle third of the UF secondary. Safety Brad Stewart had a clean shot at stopping the play, but McBride ran through Stewart's arm tackle at the 30 and had clear sailing the rest of the way to make it 27-10 with nearly 12 minutes to go in the second half. 

The next three CSU possessions, however, went punt, punt, fumble. 

The next three UF possessions went 85-yard punt return, 34-yard touchdown pass, 68-yard touchdown run. 

"If you take away the punts and stuff it's a 10-point game," Carta-Samuels said. 

Maybe so, but it doesn't work that way. 

The Gators won a game there were supposed to win. Doesn't mean they can't feel good about it. Really good, if they dare, at least for a day or so, then get back to work.

"I hate losing and I love winning," Mullen said. "Sometimes, we look into these guys' eyes when they're coming into this program and they fear losing and they are relieved by winning. You can't be successful that way. You can't play that way, can't act that way. You have to go out there and play hard because you love to win." 

His players embraced his message in defeat a week ago. They need to embrace his messages in victory, as well. 

And they need to immerse themselves in the process and understand just where this program is and how far it needs to go. 

"Everybody has habits they feed and they're hard to change," Florida senior offensive guard Fred Johnson said. "It's not going to be quick, like a two-hour period and then you're done with that habit. It's going to take time. It's going to be a good year to see if we can overcome it and every week we'll strive better than the last week. I feel like we're going to get there."