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The Opening Kickoff: Florida State at Florida (Sunshine Showdown, Presented by Fresh from Florida)

Friday, November 26, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — If you are from the Sunshine State, or live here, or went to school at either Florida or Florida State, you know what the Florida-Florida State game means.

Passion. Intensity. Tradition.

Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown

Sure, the annual Gators-Seminoles matchup has taken a few lumps in recent years, but for three-plus hours on Saturday afternoon at "The Swamp," any Floridian with the slightest interest in college football who is not at an inappropriately scheduled wedding or funeral, pays attention.

"That'd be big-time. My last game in 'the Swamp,' big rivalry game, Florida-Florida State,'' said Gators fifth-year senior defensive lineman Zachary Carter when asked what a win Saturday would mean. "I grew up watching that game as a kid. Still one of the biggest rivalries in college football. So it would mean a lot to go out with a win."

The Gators (5-6) close a tumultuous week when they host the Seminoles (5-6) in the final regular-season game of the season. Both teams need a win to become bowl eligible. Both teams need a win to keep their critics quiet. Both teams need a win to gain offseason momentum. The list could go on and on. That's what a rivalry game is all about.

"I know what this game means," said FSU coach Mike Norvell, who is taking part in the annual rivalry for the first time. "If you don't get up for this one, then go somewhere else, go do something else, because it is not for you."

That has been part of Gators interim coach Greg Knox's message to his team this week following the departure of head coach Dan Mullen. UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin made the decision to replace Mullen when he woke up on Sunday morning, a few hours after arriving home from Florida's 24-23 overtime loss at Missouri.

Following a 29-6 start to his tenure, including a pair of wins over the Seminoles, the Gators went 5-9 in Mullen's final 14 games.

Stricklin had seen enough to know the program had stalled and shifted into reverse. He opted to go ahead and part ways with Mullen despite FSU waiting in the wings on Senior Day, always a special event for players and their families.

Rivalry renewed in 24 hours! #GoGators pic.twitter.com/Pm7TRhWoY4
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 26, 2021

"That was a consideration. But also, once you make that decision — as I mentioned, I came to that conclusion [Sunday] morning — once you make that decision, it's really not fair to Dan or anyone else to not move forward,'' Stricklin said of the timing. "And I don't think it's fair to the players that if I know I'm going to make a change, to let them go through everything with that kind of facade if you will. I wish we weren't in the situation we're in. I have a lot of confidence in the coaching staff that we have. We have a lot of veterans, a lot of years of experience represented on that staff, and I think they'll get our guys in good position."

Stricklin's message to fans and the media about the primary reason Mullen is no longer at UF — the lack of sustained success over a sustained period — has been a hot topic in Tallahassee the past few seasons, too.

Following the departure of Jimbo Fisher in 2017, FSU turned to Willie Taggart. That lasted less than two full seasons. Norvell came in a season ago and finished 3-6. As they prepare to face off on Saturday, the Gators and Seminoles seek to return to the days when both were ranked in the top 10 when they played. That hasn't been the case since 2012.

Norvell and Stricklin sounded alike this week in discussing the future.

"We will achieve success," Norvell said. "When we get there, we've got to make sure that it is built the right way so that not only when you achieve it, that you can sustain it."

For more on the Florida-Florida State game, here is the final regular-season edition of The Opening Kickoff:

THREE STORYLINES

Florida dismissed head coach Dan Mullen following last week's overtime loss at Missouri and Greg Knox was named interim coach. The Gators have lost five of their last seven games and need a victory to become bowl eligible. Meanwhile, the Seminoles have won five of their last seven after an 0-4 start and also need a win to earn a bowl berth. While this isn't your typical matchup between the Gators and Seminoles, a lot is at stake. The winner has bragging rights and a boost of momentum heading into National Signing Day next month.
The Gators will honor a group of seniors on Saturday that has experienced a roller-coaster ride at UF. Some are playing their final game in "The Swamp" on the heels of the second coaching change of their careers. They have also been to three consecutive New Year's Six bowl games. If the Gators can pull out a win against the Seminoles and win a bowl game, the seniors can leave on a winning note and with a winning record.
The Florida-Florida State rivalry started in 1958 and was held for 62 consecutive seasons until last year's game was not played due to the coronavirus pandemic that altered the schedule. Florida has won the last two meetings after losing five in a row from 2013-17. This marks the first time since 1963 that back-to-back games in the rivalry have been held in Gainesville.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Gators redshirt freshman quarterback Anthony Richardson is always a topic of conversation for fans and media. Richardson is expected to play Saturday as is Emory Jones, who has started 10 of 11 games. Jones suffered an ankle injury in practice this week and won't be 100 percent. This is perhaps an opportunity for Richardson, who suffered a concussion in his only start of the season in the loss to Georgia, to state his case as a key building block of the program's future. Richardson has passed for 474 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions, and is averaging 9.4 yards per on 40 rushing attempts, with touchdown runs of 80, 73 and 5 yards.
The Seminoles had quarterback issues early in the season with redshirt sophomore Jordan Travis and former UCF star Mackenzie Milton splitting time. Since Travis took over as the full-time starter, FSU is 5-1. The 6-foot-1, 201-pound Travis has thrown for 1,337 yards and rushed for 428, accounting for 20 touchdowns. Perhaps most importantly, Travis has not thrown an interception in his last 108 attempts over the last five games.
It will be interesting to see if Knox and quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee, who will call the offensive plays, will alter the game plan significantly from Mullen's approach. If they do, senior running back Dameon Pierce seems the most likely beneficiary. Pierce has rushed for 455 yards and 11 touchdowns. Fans have called for Pierce to get 15 to 20 carries to utilize his downhill running ability. While Pierce has been a steady performer for the Gators in his 48 career games, he has yet to have a 100-yard rushing game.

SIX DIGITS

7 — Consecutive games in which FSU's defense has recorded an interception, the Seminoles' longest streak since 2007.
3 — Meetings between the longtime rivals in which neither is ranked over the past 10 matchups (2011, 2017, 2021).
5 — Consecutive games in the series that have been decided by 16 or more points.
20 — Years since the last Gators-Seminoles game featured both Steve Spurrier and Bobby Bowden on the sideline.
5 — FSU head coaches since last Spurrier-Bowden matchup in 2001 (Bowden, Jimbo Fisher, Willie Taggart, Odell Haggins [interim] and Mike Norvell).
9 — UF head coaches since last Spurrier-Bowden matchup (Ron Zook, Charlie Strong [interim], Urban Meyer, Will Muschamp, D.J. Durkin [interim], Jim McElwain, Randy Shannon [interim], Dan Mullen and Knox [interim]).

NOTABLES

This is the 65th all-time meeting between Florida and Florida State. The Gators lead 36-26-2, including 21-12-1 at Florida Field.
The Gators are averaging 5.7 yards per rush, which ranks second among FBS schools.
UF receiver Jacob Copeland had a career-high eight receptions in last week's loss to Missouri to give him 36 on the season, tied with Justin Shorter for tops on the team.
Jones surpassed 3,000 career passing yards (3,013) with his 261-yard performance at Missouri.
In the reshuffling of the staff, Gators quality-control assistant Dean Kennedy will move into an offensive on-field coaching position for Saturday's game.

FSU redshirt sophomore running back Jashaun Corbin is tied with Richardson atop the national lead with a pair of runs of 70 or more yards. Corbin broke off an 89-yarder against Notre Dame and a 75-yarder against Louisville.

Florida linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper is coming off the best game of his career with a team-high 12 tackles at Missouri.

FSU second-year head coach Norvell is coaching his first game at "The Swamp." Norvell is 1-2 all-time against SEC opponents, splitting a pair of games against Ole Miss and losing in overtime to Missouri while head coach at Memphis from 2016-19.
Jones became the 12th different UF player with a touchdown reception this season when he caught a 6-yard pass from receiver Trent Whittemore on Florida's first drive of overtime at Missouri.
The Gators will honor the late Bowden, who passed away in August at the age of 91, with a video tribute during the first timeout of the first quarter.

INJURY REPORT

FLORIDA — OUT: CB Jaydon Hill (knee, out for season), S Kamar Wilcoxson (knee, out for season); LB Ventrell Miller (arm surgery, out for season); PROBABLE: QB Emory Jones (ankle); QUESTIONABLE: LB Jeremiah Moon (undisclosed), DL Daquan Newkirk (undisclosed), Jadarrius Perkins (undisclosed), Ethan White (ankle). FLORIDA STATE — OUT: DB Sidney Williams (undisclosed), DT Dennis Briggs Jr. (undisclosed), DE Leonard Warner III (undisclosed), OL Thomas Shrader (leg), LB Emmett Rice (undisclosed), DB Byron Turner Jr. (undisclosed); QUESTIONABLE: WR Keyshawn Helton (undisclosed).

BOTTOM LINE

For the third time in four meetings, an interim coach is in charge of one of the teams in the annual Florida-Florida State rivalry. That sort of sums up the state of the two programs at the end of the 2021 regular season. In the wake of Mullen's departure, Knox has attempted to keep the Gators focused for what is an important game. The winner becomes bowl eligible and has bragging rights on the recruiting trail. Florida has won back-to-back games in the series. What makes this matchup intriguing beyond the heated rivalry is that the teams have gone in opposite directions. The Gators have faded since a fast start, while the Seminoles have rebounded from their 0-4 start. Florida is a three-point a favorite at home and while they have not looked very good in recent weeks, my gut tells me they are going to surprise some people on Saturday. Call me crazy, but I expect the Gators to put on a good showing despite the obvious challenges.