Gators receiver Trent Whittemore hauls in his first career touchdown catch in the third quarter of Saturday's victory over South Carolina. (Photo: Kelly Chase/UAA Communications)
A Unique Home Opener, A Win And A Catch
Saturday, October 3, 2020 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On the day of a normal University of Florida football game, this city's population expands by tens of thousands of orange-and-blue revelers from cities and towns all around the Sunshine State.
The 2020 home opener was different. And for now, this is the new norm.
First, many people showed up you don't normally see on a Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Tom Brady was spotted. Rob Gronkowski, too. The late, great Tom Petty made an appearance, which probably freaked a few people out. Former Gators quarterback and TV personality Jesse Palmer was in the house. Somebody said they saw J. Lo, but that rumor has been difficult to confirm.
Meanwhile, ex-Gators head coach Will Muschamp stopped by, directing his fifth South Carolina team to a 38-24 loss to the No. 3-ranked Gators. UF head coach Dan Mullen, who won for the 12th time in 14 home games since he took over, reportedly had his dog Heisman in the stands for additional support.
It was that kind of day at the Swamp. A little of this, a little of that. Some offense here, some defense there. Real living, breathing fans in one row, cardboard cutouts in the next.
For those among the announced crowd of 15,120, the most normal part about Saturday was the action on Florida Field. They already knew that many of their friends from Jacksonville and Tampa, from Melbourne and Live Oak and points in between, would not be among the reduced-capacity crowd. COVID-19 restrictions took care of that.
Still, football returned to the Swamp and the Gators, though not perfect, did what they needed to win their ninth consecutive home game, one unlike the others. Of course, the Gators experienced the altered reality of playing during a pandemic in last week's season-opening win at Ole Miss, but this time it hit closer to home.
It was home.
A socially distanced Pride of the Sunshine plays during Saturday's game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Photo: Isabella Marley/UAA Communications)
No Gator Walk. A virtual Mr. Two Bits. And instead of 90,000 fans packing the Swamp to greet the country's third-ranked team, a crowd half of what they usually draw for a typical spring game.
The Gators welcomed every single one with open arms.
"Hopefully the people that came got to experience a little bit of normalcy in their life," Mullen said. "They're spending an October Saturday here at the Swamp cheering on the Gators. There were a lot of cutouts there, too. Saw a lot of smiles on their faces the whole game.
"Great to be back out there, great to be playing at home, playing here at the Swamp. Glad people came out and got to see us play and cheered us on and gave us as much of an advantage as they could."
Afterward, many of the questions and talking points resembled those from the win at Ole Miss.
Quarterback Kyle Trask had another stellar game, tossing four touchdown passes and throwing for 200-plus yards (268) for the 10th consecutive game. He tied John Reaves on the school's all-time list for such a streak, trailing only Shane Matthews (17) and Rex Grossman (13). Kyle Pitts did what he does, hauling in four catches and two touchdowns to give him six in the first two games. Kadarius Toney had a 57-yard touchdown catch and, yes, the defense gave up some plays that caused some grumbling among the critics on social media. Still, Florida's defense tightened up compared to Ole Miss and it didn't help that the Gamecocks ran 83 plays to Florida's 53. What is most notable from that fact? The Gators still gained more yards (348 to 329).
There will be a day when the coronavirus pandemic has passed and the Swamp once more can be heard in Micanopy after a big play. When that happens, those at Saturday's home opener and the games yet to be played under these circumstances will reflect on what they remember from this strange time.
As I was walked out of the stadium early Saturday evening with a chill in the air, for me I thought about how the mostly "local" crowd Saturday saw a "local" boy have a moment in the sun. With the Gators leading 24-14 midway in the third quarter, Trask threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to receiver Trent Whittemore.
A redshirt freshman, Whittemore's first career touchdown undoubtedly brought former UF volleyball player Missy Aggertt out of her seat. She has gone by Missy Whittemore for two decades after marrying Mark Whittemore and she still serves as a Gators volleyball analyst and does work for the SEC Network.
Trent Whittemore starred at Buchholz High, which is only a few miles from the Swamp.
"It feels great to be playing football again, and to get a touchdown with my family there, friends there, it's just a blessing, huge blessing,'' Whittemore said. "It was surreal. That's a great way to describe it. Growing up and watching so many Gator games and being at some too, it's just a super cool moment."
Whittemore made another catch that brought fans out of their seats in the first half when he went high in the sky to grab a pass from Trask for a 26-yard gain. Mullen said everyone got to see what the Gators have seen Whittemore do in practice.
"We've seen a lot of great things,'' he said. "I'm sure it was even more exciting for him than me, being a local guy growing up here and growing up as a Gator. Getting that opportunity is pretty special."
It was a home opener Whittemore won't forget. Actually, one few will.
It was unique. It was fun. It was weird. It was exciting. It was quiet. It was loud. It was a little bit of everything.
"It's 2020. It is what it is,'' Mullen said. "So, let's go."
