Jason Marshall Jr. and Gators head coach Billy Napier on the sideline of last week's game at Vanderbilt. (Photo: Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)
Sunshine Showdown: Gators Eager to Get Back on Right Track at Florida State
Monday, November 21, 2022 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — This is what they mean when they say to go from one extreme to the other.
Two days after their painful loss at traditional Southeastern Conference doormat Vanderbilt, the Gators returned to the practice field Monday night to prepare for their bitter rivals from Tallahassee.
Florida (6-5) seeks a fourth consecutive win over Florida State (8-3) when the two in-state rivals tangle on Friday night at Doak Campbell Stadium in the first Friday night regular-season meeting between the schools since the series started in 1958.
"It's a rivalry game, a big game for the city of Gainesville, a big game for the University of Florida,'' Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson said. "We've got to bring it this week. When we win this one, it's definitely going to build momentum for us."
The Gators undoubtedly have to bring more than they took to their first loss at Vanderbilt in 34 years if they want to maintain their winning streak over the Seminoles. FSU has won four games in a row and outscored opponents 173-39 during its late-season surge. UF has not played in Tallahassee since 2018 – the 2020 game was canceled due to the revamped COVID-19 schedule.
More than that, it's a chance to get right six days after a day gone wrong in Nashville.
The mood around the Gators turned glum following the disappointing loss to the Commodores, but they vowed Monday to have a short memory with the Seminoles looming.
"From what I'm feeling from the other players on the team and for the history that I've noticed … it's a big game," said offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence, the Louisiana transfer prepping for his first Sunshine Showdown. "It's a big rivalry. So, it's important that we get this win, and it's important that we get it leading into next season."
The matchup presents a formidable challenge for first-year Gators coach Billy Napier. FSU is ranked 16th nationally in total offense (473.7 yards per game) and 11th in total defense (293.4 ypg). FSU quarterback Jordan Travis is completing 65.3 percent of his passes for 2,526 yards, 21 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Meanwhile, 6-foot-7 receiver Johnny Wilson, a teammate of Gators receiver Ricky Pearsall for the last two seasons at Arizona State, leads the Seminoles with 33 catches, 649 yards and five scores.
Napier has stressed to the Gators that they can't have another lackluster performance and expect to win. They have to show up on a mission.
"Simply put, a lot of lessons to learn from our experience in Nashville,'' Napier said. "The laundry list of things that contributed to not playing winning football was way too long. We've got to get up off the ground, dust ourselves off, and get back to work, fight for each other, work hard for each other."
Florida appeared to have turned a corner with back-to-back wins over Texas A&M and South Carolina before the road trip to Vanderbilt. However, too many penalties (eight), a rash of costly mistakes -- highlighted by Jason Marshall Jr.'s muffed punt that resulted in a Vanderbilt touchdown -- and too many trips to the red zone without a touchdown (two) cost the Gators.
Richardson threw for 400 yards and three scores, but after averaging 332.5 yards in the previous two wins, Florida's rushing attack produced just 45 yards at Vanderbilt.
The Gators hit the reset button mentally and physically Monday.
"Everybody in the world don't think we're going to be ready to play, but we're going to be ready to play,'' senior safety Trey Dean III said. "It's going to be a great matchup."
Receiver Daejon Reynolds races toward the end zone on his 74-yard touchdown reception at Vanderbilt. (Photo: Tiffany Franco/UAA Communications)
The Gators finished the game at Vanderbilt without several key contributors, including Pearsall, safety Rashad Torrence II, receiver Marcus Burke and linebacker Ventrell Miller. Pearsall, Torrence and Burke departed due to injuries, and officials ejected Miller for targeting in the second half.
He is expected to miss the first half against FSU barring an appeal from the SEC to the national coordinator of officials.
"We did extensive research on this," Napier said. "I think all those things are done behind closed doors with the league office and different people. So, we've got great leadership in that area, and certainly, it is what it is. There's challenges, good and bad, that go with that."
Regardless of Miller's status, the Gators have ample motivation to show last week's performance was an off-day, not a stagger to the finish line. Florida can improve its bowl standing with a victory.
And, of course, own bragging rights over the Seminoles for another year.
"We shouldn't let our alumni down,'' receiver Daejon Reynolds said. "Florida's been the big dog of every school in Florida, and I feel like we owe that to them."
"It's a rivalry game, a big game for the city of Gainesville, a big game for the University of Florida,'' Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson said. "We've got to bring it this week. When we win this one, it's definitely going to build momentum for us."
