Transitional Gators Arrive To Prepare For UCF In Gasparilla Bowl

Greg Knox will attempt to go 2-0 as Florida's interim coach in Thursday's Gasparilla Bowl against UCF. (Photo: Alex Rodriguez/UAA Communications)

Transitional Gators Arrive To Prepare For UCF In Gasparilla Bowl

Monday, December 20, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

TAMPA — In a sequence of events that illuminated the current state of the Gators, shortly after the team arrived here Monday afternoon, interim coach Greg Knox met with a small group of reporters at the team's downtown hotel.

While Knox spoke mostly about Florida's Gasparilla Bowl matchup against UCF on Thursday night at nearby Raymond James Stadium, he was asked if he has met new UF head coach Billy Napier.

"I had a 10-minute meeting with him and that's about it,'' Knox said. "So, I haven't had much of an opportunity to get to know him. He seems like a great guy, seems like he's gonna be a great coach."

A short time later, Napier was spotted in the hotel lobby mingling with a Gators administrator and an occasional fan as he continues to transition into his new job. Meanwhile, shortly before the Gators were scheduled to depart Gainesville, former UF head coach Dan Mullen tweeted a family photo from Kennebunkport, Maine.

Transition phases are full of awkward moments as staffs come and go, but on Thursday, the Gators (6-6) can put 2021 to bed with a winning record if they can defeat UCF (8-4). That has been Knox's primary focus after replacing Mullen in the regular-season finale and leading the Gators to a win over Florida State and a bowl berth.

In the month since UF's 24-21 victory over the Seminoles, Napier was hired from Louisiana, defensive lineman Zach Carter opted out of the Gasparilla Bowl to focus on the 2022 NFL Draft, dynamic freshman quarterback Anthony Richardson underwent knee surgery and is unavailable Thursday, quarterback Emory Jones announced plans to transfer after the Gasparilla Bowl, leading tackler Mohamoud Diabate, leading receiver Jacob Copeland and reserve defensive lineman Khris Bogle entered the transfer portal.

Despite the instability, Florida is favored against the Knights in the first meeting between the schools in 15 years.

"As far as that, I haven't had anything recent to come up as far as the portal stuff," Knox said. "That stuff is not a big concern of mine. I'm concerned about the guys that have practiced and been out on that field and getting themselves ready to play.

"This is a big game for us."

The Gators practiced Monday before they headed to Tampa. Fifth-year senior running back Malik Davis has seen about everything during his college career. He signed in 2017 out of Tampa's Jesuit High, where the Gators will practice Tuesday. Jim McElwain was UF's head coach at the time. Mullen took over in 2018 and now it's Knox in the Gasparilla Bowl.

Davis won't play for Napier but came away with a positive first impression after meeting him.

"Everything he's done, he seems like a good guy,'' Davis said. "He told us he's all about the people. He wants to come in and build relationships with the players, the staff, and everyone around them."

The Knights, under first-year head coach Gus Malzahn, enter the sold-out Gasparilla Bowl with five wins in their last six games. UCF is led by freshman quarterback Mikey Keene, who took over for injured Dillon Gabriel early in the season and refused to let go of the job. Gabriel has since entered the transfer portal. Keene has thrown for 1,586 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.

The tailback tandem of Jimmy Richardson (693 yards) and Isaiah Bowser (548), and go-to receiver Ryan O'Keefe (77 catches, 727 yards) provide Keene some dangerous options.

Gators junior cornerback Kaiir Elam, who many thought might opt out of the bowl game to prepare for the draft, said that was not in his plans. Elam didn't indicate which way he is leaning after the Gasparilla Bowl, but on Monday, he stressed the Gators have something to play for against the Knights.

"My plans are to beat UCF and make a lot of plays,'' Elam said when asked whether he would declare for the draft.

The follow-up question: Why did he want to play in the Gasparilla Bowl?

"I just want to win. I feel like we've had ups and downs,'' he said. "I just want to showcase, I just want to, you know, finish out the season with a win. I just feel like this would be a good game for me to just get back – I had like had two weeks off to get health – and show what I could do. And then number two, I just felt like I owe it to my team."

In a time of transition for the Gators, a popular storyline for the Gasparilla Bowl is UCF wants to win more than the Gators. That won't be determined until Thursday night, but Davis said don't count Florida out.

"We're hyped up to play against them, and I know they are hyped up to play against us,'' he said.

Win or lose, the spotlight will be on Napier after the bowl game.

The 42-year-old Napier led Louisiana to the Sun Belt Conference championship and finished 40-12 in his four seasons in charge of the Ragin' Cajuns. He has been busy adding to his coaching staff and support team in his first two weeks on the job.

He will watch the Gasparilla Bowl to get a better idea of the talent he inherited heading into 2022. Elam is one of the players who, should he return for his senior season, could provide Napier's program a boost in Year 1.

Like Knox and Davis, Elam was asked about Napier on Monday.

"I met Coach Napier at practice, really great guy,'' Elam said. "I listened to what he had to say and offer. I feel like his plans are very detailed and precise, and how he takes his time with everything, I feel like that's pretty cool."

A Gators win over UCF would be cool, too, considering what has transpired over the past four months.