GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The reality is that the Gators, ranked as high as No. 10 earlier this season, have lost three of their last four games. The recent stretch is undoubtedly disappointing for UF players, coaches, administrators and fans.
The perception is that Florida and head coach
Dan Mullen are speeding toward oblivion, unable to recruit even bench-warmers and so far behind Southeastern Conference rival Georgia that there is no hope of ever beating the Bulldogs again.
Meanwhile, the truth is that Florida lost to the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs 34-7 in Jacksonville on Saturday afternoon and in the 48 hours since, the exaggerated ebbs and flows of emotions after a rivalry game have been on full display and distorting reality and perception – well, at least on social media.
Adding to the theatre, the Gators announced that players and assistant coaches will not speak to the media this week as the team prepares for this weekend's road trip to South Carolina. At last check, Florida (4-4, 2-4) still intends to play the Gamecocks (4-4, 1-3) despite the current state of affairs.
In discussing reality during his shorter-than-usual press conference Monday afternoon, Mullen acknowledged the most significant factor to the Gators' slide. It bit the Gators on the backside again Saturday late in the first half when a 3-0 deficit mushroomed into a 24-0 Georgia lead in less than three minutes off the game clock.
A fumble by quarterback
Anthony Richardson gave the Bulldogs the ball at UF's 11, resulting in a James Cook touchdown run on the next play. And on the Gators' next two drives, Richardson tossed a pair of interceptions, the first resulting in a 36-yard touchdown pass from Stetson Bennett to Kearis Jackson on the following play, and the second pick returned by Nakobe Dean 50 yards for a score.
The status of quarterback Anthony Richardson remains uncertain for Saturday night's game at South Carolina. (Photo: Anissa Dimilta/UAA Communications)
The sequence dazed the Gators and their side of the TIAA Bank Field. With a half to go, the game was essentially over.
"I think, you know, obviously the big one is turnovers,'' Mullen said of what has ailed his team. "It's a huge deal for us. We're turning the ball over at an extremely high rate."
The Gators are ranked next-to-last in the SEC and 123rd among FBS schools in turnover margin at minus-7. While the Gators had three takeaways in the second half against Georgia, it was too little too late. On the season, Florida owns a minus-7 turnover margin and its 16 giveaways (14 interceptions, two fumbles) have resulted in 66 points.
The first step in altering both reality and perception is simple.
"We've got to find a way to win this week,'' Mullen said. "We have to live in the reality in the world, not in the perception world."
Mullen said that task starts this week in practice by improving the consistency of every snap, focusing on details large and small. There's also still questions at quarterback.
The status of Richardson remains uncertain. In his first career start Saturday against the Bulldogs, Richardson struggled mightily against the nation's top defense. He finished 12 of 20 for 82 yards and three turnovers, and rushed 12 times for 26 yards. He left the game early in the second half with an undisclosed injury.
"We'll see,'' Mullen said when asked about Richardson on Monday.
Whether Richardson is healthy or not,
Emory Jones could return to the starting lineup based on his performance Saturday. Jones finished 10 of 14 for 122 yards and added 22 yards rushing, scoring Florida's only touchdown on a 2-yard run with 2:49 remaining. Jones started the season's first seven games.
Mullen faced repeated questions Monday about the negativity surrounding the program, which has been amplified with each loss since the then-No. 10 Gators lost at Kentucky Oct. 2 while committing 15 penalties. The Gators rebounded with a homecoming win over Vanderbilt on Oct. 9, but have now lost two in a row and going back to last season, seven of their last 11 games.
"That's part of the job,'' he said. "It's six inches from a pat on the back and a kick in the rear. In the SEC you're either getting one or the other. There's no in-between. That's why I say the perception and the reality."
In his postgame press conference Saturday, Mullen vowed to turn the season around to finish on a positive note. The Gators were able to do that in his first season when after a loss to Missouri dropped them to 6-3, they won their final four games and carried that over to the 2019 season when they finished 11-2.
However, after starting 8-1 in 2020, a three-game losing streak to end the season slowed momentum, a trend that has reared its ugly head in 2021.
Mullen has challenged the Gators – and himself – to find a way to turn around the season, starting at South Carolina.
"I see the frustration,'' Mullen said. "I don't think any of our guys are happy with where we are. I know I'm certainly not. I'm a competitor. You've got to be a competitor.
"And here's the thing: you don't usually get here, you're not playing football at the level that these guys play football at, you're not playing in the Southeastern Conference, you're not playing at the University of Florida if you have a complacent mindset. You don't even make it here, you know what I mean? That's a competitor, man. You got to be a competitor. The guys on our team our competitors."
They are working this week to be winners. Nothing changes perception like the reality of a victory.
