Feleipe Franks capped a strong spring camp with a big day in the Orange & Blue Game. (Photo: Marco Martinez/UAA Communications)
No Joke: Franks' Turnaround Impressive
Sunday, April 14, 2019 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Feleipe Franks threw an interception and nobody booed.
If needed, read that sentence again and then proceed with caution.
A lot happened on the field during Saturday's Orange & Blue Game – the Gators rolled up 920 yards of offense for Tebow's sake – but the pick-six Franks tossed in the second quarter registered low on the concern meter.
Now that's a #SwampMoment.
In fact, longtime Gators booster and honorary coach Bryan Kornblau, in charge of Franks' Orange Team, didn't even mention the interception in his postgame press conference. Kornblau was too busy relishing a victory over the Blue Team's honorary coach, former Gators quarterback Tommy Shannon, whom Kornblau admitted had the superior football IQ.
Move over X's and O's. This one was not for Sunday morning quarterbacks: Orange 60, Blue 35.
"We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time,'' Kornblau said. "I tell you if that doesn't ring true right now. If I'm not here any longer, I've had a good time."
In the second edition of Florida's annual spring game under the direction of head coach Dan Mullen, fun ruled the day on a warm mid-April afternoon at the Swamp. Mullen planned it that way following a spring camp which focused more on a young and inexperienced offensive line than any perceived quarterback battle.
No joke.
Let's face it, there's nothing that keeps fans and media engaged in spring football more than a true competition at quarterback to determine the starter. The Gators have had one of those nearly every spring since Tim Tebow departed. Quick side note: Saturday was the 10th Orange & Blue Game since Tebow played his final game for the Gators.
This spring was different. Coming off a breakout season in which he was at this best in the final portion of the season, Franks showed no signs of regressing as the reigning starter. Backups Emory Jones and Kyle Trask got a similar amount of reps this spring, but this is Franks' team.
A redshirt junior with 21 starts in his career, Franks looked more confident than he's ever looked with the Gators. He showed poise, toughness, leadership – all those qualities coaches speak about the way chefs discuss the complexities of salt and pepper.
"Every time he steps on the field he works on something,'' Gators receiver Freddie Swain said. "It's obviously showing. He keeps getting better."
Franks put up numbers Saturday that Mullen and Gator Nation will take any day: 13 of 18, 327 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Yes, back to that interception.
Perhaps since he called the play, Mullen downplayed its severity. At the time, Team Orange led 35-21 midway in the second quarter when Franks hit a Team Blue defensive back on the number. The 36-yard return for a score by Lito Sheppard trimmed Orange's leave to 35-28.
Yep, that Lito Sheppard. Oh, and Chris Doering caught a touchdown pass, too.
"Lito did a great job,'' Mullen said. "He's made a lot of big plays in the Swamp. He's still got it, that step on the ball."
Once those among the announced crowd of 39,476 realized who intercepted the pass, they cheered. Another side note: The final attendance figure is certain to be the most investigated in the history of Orange & Blue Games.
Meanwhile, Franks was off the hook and on his next very next pass to open the ensuing drive, he connected with Trevon Grimes for a 64-yard completion. Two plays later he scored on a 1-yard run. Never has Franks moved on from an interception so smoothly.
On a serious note, Mullen praised Franks for the way he led the team and has continued to progress in his development. When Mullen took over the program, Franks was lost in the fog.
"I thought Feleipe's had a really solid spring. And it was really good to see him come out there today, you know, when there is different pressure on him today than there is in a regular practice," Mullen said. "You put the fans in and you have people critiquing it. As you play quarterback at Florida you are under a lot of critique.
"That's what you've seen him out of him this spring. Make good decisions, more comfortable in the offense, getting the different reads and knowing where to go with the ball and using the offense to make plays instead of just trying to execute it, knowing when and how to make plays. It's good to see him to do that in a game setting."
If someone just glances at the stat sheet from Saturday's game, they might go ahead and pencil in Franks as an All-SEC pick. He may very well be, but for that to happen the Gators will have to shore up their offensive line before they open the season Aug. 24 against Miami.
Mullen said that is a priority and that the O-line is nowhere near a finished product as the Gators break camp for the summer. He said they could add a graduate transfer. Whatever they do, for Franks and the Gators' offense to shine when the games get real, the offensive line will have to develop as much as Franks has under Mullen.
Redshirt freshman Jones, who continues to progress in his second year in the offense and figures to provide a change-of-pace for the offense this season, sees what everybody sees.
"I see [Coach] developing Feleipe,'' Jones said. "I've seen how much Feleipe has grown over the past year. It's just crazy."
For now, another crazy Orange & Blue Game is in the books. The teams combined for 65 points in Mullen's first spring game. They combined for a game-record 95 in his second one.
It's a program on the rise.
Even the losing coach was in a good mood Saturday.
"Nobody loses today. The Gators are the winners,'' Shannon said. "That's the way we play it. Nobody got hurt. Good stuff."
Good stuff on a good day.
And now, a final word from the winning coach.
"It was a great experience until the Gatorade [bath] ruined my free shoes,'' quipped Kornblau. "Free shoes. Did I just say that?"
Hey, that's another #SwampMoment.
If needed, read that sentence again and then proceed with caution.
A lot happened on the field during Saturday's Orange & Blue Game – the Gators rolled up 920 yards of offense for Tebow's sake – but the pick-six Franks tossed in the second quarter registered low on the concern meter.
Now that's a #SwampMoment.
In fact, longtime Gators booster and honorary coach Bryan Kornblau, in charge of Franks' Orange Team, didn't even mention the interception in his postgame press conference. Kornblau was too busy relishing a victory over the Blue Team's honorary coach, former Gators quarterback Tommy Shannon, whom Kornblau admitted had the superior football IQ.
Move over X's and O's. This one was not for Sunday morning quarterbacks: Orange 60, Blue 35.
"We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time,'' Kornblau said. "I tell you if that doesn't ring true right now. If I'm not here any longer, I've had a good time."
In the second edition of Florida's annual spring game under the direction of head coach Dan Mullen, fun ruled the day on a warm mid-April afternoon at the Swamp. Mullen planned it that way following a spring camp which focused more on a young and inexperienced offensive line than any perceived quarterback battle.
No joke.
Let's face it, there's nothing that keeps fans and media engaged in spring football more than a true competition at quarterback to determine the starter. The Gators have had one of those nearly every spring since Tim Tebow departed. Quick side note: Saturday was the 10th Orange & Blue Game since Tebow played his final game for the Gators.
This spring was different. Coming off a breakout season in which he was at this best in the final portion of the season, Franks showed no signs of regressing as the reigning starter. Backups Emory Jones and Kyle Trask got a similar amount of reps this spring, but this is Franks' team.
.@CoachDanMullen keeping it 💯 #GoGators pic.twitter.com/6Q6cNDnLR4
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 13, 2019
A redshirt junior with 21 starts in his career, Franks looked more confident than he's ever looked with the Gators. He showed poise, toughness, leadership – all those qualities coaches speak about the way chefs discuss the complexities of salt and pepper.
"Every time he steps on the field he works on something,'' Gators receiver Freddie Swain said. "It's obviously showing. He keeps getting better."
Franks put up numbers Saturday that Mullen and Gator Nation will take any day: 13 of 18, 327 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Yes, back to that interception.
Perhaps since he called the play, Mullen downplayed its severity. At the time, Team Orange led 35-21 midway in the second quarter when Franks hit a Team Blue defensive back on the number. The 36-yard return for a score by Lito Sheppard trimmed Orange's leave to 35-28.
Yep, that Lito Sheppard. Oh, and Chris Doering caught a touchdown pass, too.
"Lito did a great job,'' Mullen said. "He's made a lot of big plays in the Swamp. He's still got it, that step on the ball."
Once those among the announced crowd of 39,476 realized who intercepted the pass, they cheered. Another side note: The final attendance figure is certain to be the most investigated in the history of Orange & Blue Games.
Meanwhile, Franks was off the hook and on his next very next pass to open the ensuing drive, he connected with Trevon Grimes for a 64-yard completion. Two plays later he scored on a 1-yard run. Never has Franks moved on from an interception so smoothly.
On a serious note, Mullen praised Franks for the way he led the team and has continued to progress in his development. When Mullen took over the program, Franks was lost in the fog.
"I thought Feleipe's had a really solid spring. And it was really good to see him come out there today, you know, when there is different pressure on him today than there is in a regular practice," Mullen said. "You put the fans in and you have people critiquing it. As you play quarterback at Florida you are under a lot of critique.
"That's what you've seen him out of him this spring. Make good decisions, more comfortable in the offense, getting the different reads and knowing where to go with the ball and using the offense to make plays instead of just trying to execute it, knowing when and how to make plays. It's good to see him to do that in a game setting."
If someone just glances at the stat sheet from Saturday's game, they might go ahead and pencil in Franks as an All-SEC pick. He may very well be, but for that to happen the Gators will have to shore up their offensive line before they open the season Aug. 24 against Miami.
Mullen said that is a priority and that the O-line is nowhere near a finished product as the Gators break camp for the summer. He said they could add a graduate transfer. Whatever they do, for Franks and the Gators' offense to shine when the games get real, the offensive line will have to develop as much as Franks has under Mullen.
Redshirt freshman Jones, who continues to progress in his second year in the offense and figures to provide a change-of-pace for the offense this season, sees what everybody sees.
"I see [Coach] developing Feleipe,'' Jones said. "I've seen how much Feleipe has grown over the past year. It's just crazy."
For now, another crazy Orange & Blue Game is in the books. The teams combined for 65 points in Mullen's first spring game. They combined for a game-record 95 in his second one.
It's a program on the rise.
Even the losing coach was in a good mood Saturday.
"Nobody loses today. The Gators are the winners,'' Shannon said. "That's the way we play it. Nobody got hurt. Good stuff."
Good stuff on a good day.
And now, a final word from the winning coach.
"It was a great experience until the Gatorade [bath] ruined my free shoes,'' quipped Kornblau. "Free shoes. Did I just say that?"
Hey, that's another #SwampMoment.
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