Gators offensive lineman Austin Barber and his teammates celebrated a big win in the SEC opener against Tennessee on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Photo: Katalina Enriquez/UAA Communications)
Old Rival, Newfound Success for Napier, Young Gators
Sunday, September 17, 2023 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — They started to flood the streets and bars and parking lots around Ben Hill Griffin Stadium early Saturday afternoon, setting the stage for a memorable evening regardless of what happened a few hours later inside.
And then, kickoff arrived, and the drama unfolded in waves.
"That was just the weirdest end to the game I've ever had," said Gators quarterback Graham Mertz, playing in his first SEC game. "I guess that's Florida-Tennessee."
It did feel a bit like old times for those acquainted with the shades of orange that have tinted the Florida-Tennessee rivalry since 1992, when the schools became SEC East rivals and names such as Spurrier, Wuerffel, Fulmer and Manning became nationally known because the feud was that good, that important in the national polls.
Those days are distant, but the presence of ESPN cameras and more than 90,000 screaming fans at "The Swamp" on a steamy Saturday proved that the Gators and Vols, meeting for the 32nd consecutive and final season as SEC East foes, still resonate on a national stage because of their storied rivalry.
A rivalry that, for the last two decades, has resembled Albert dragging Smokey around on a leash. His grip remained strong Saturday. The Vols came to town and left 29-16 losers.
Florida's 10th consecutive home win over Tennessee included a chippy conclusion that featured a late hit on Mertz and punches thrown by both teams. When the game finally ended, the Gators waved goodbye to the visitors as they departed Florida Field with a familiar feeling. The last time Florida lost to Tennessee at home (2003), Gators second-year coach Billy Napier was a graduate assistant at Clemson.
Napier stepped inside the sold-out Swamp 20 years later in search of his first win over No. 11-ranked Tennessee after losing a season ago in Knoxville, just UT's second win in the last 18 games in the series. The circumstances seemed stacked against Napier and his team.
Gators coach Billy Napier applauded the performance of a sold-out crowd Saturday night at the Swamp. (Photo: Mallory Peak/UAA Communications)
Not only did the Gators lose to Tennessee in 2022, but they also lost to LSU, Georgia and Florida State. For non-history buffs out there, those are Florida's four primary rivals.
You could say angst was running high with the Orange & Blue faithful.
Hence, when Napier arrived at his postgame press conference, he could breathe a little easier following arguably the most important win of his 16-game tenure.
"How sweet it is," Napier exhaled afterward. "We got good veteran players that have set a good example, and we've got some really talented young players that, I think, it's good for them to experience what they experienced today."
The win was a tasty elixir for anyone in Orange & Blue. Since a mistake-filled loss at Utah to start the season cast doubts on what kind of team the Gators would have in 2023, a sense of unrest has bubbled among the fan base on social media and message boards. A 49-7 win over McNeese improved the tone a week ago, but the Gators needed a signature win to quiet the critics.
The crowd of 90,751 roared at what it saw in the first half against Tennessee. Florida fell behind 7-0 but scored 26 unanswered points before halftime, a 62-yard scoring run by running back Trevor Etienne setting off fireworks.
"Trevor was on fire out there," Napier said. "The instincts, the vision."
Etienne, who rushed for a career-high 172 yards and a score, was far from alone. Mertz completed 19 of 24 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. Montrell Johnson Jr. rushed for a touchdown. Defensive lineman Desmond Watson had a hit on Vols quarterback Joe Milton III that led to Devin Moore's interception and a Mertz quarterback sneak for a score.
Like so many Gators-Vols clashes in Gainesville over the past two decades – the SEC is adopting a non-divisional format in 2024 with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma – the latest one threatened to be over by halftime.
The crowd certainly sensed it and piled on the Vols every chance it had.
"That place is special," Napier said. "I grew up watching games on TV. I grew up watching Florida-Tennessee. When it's sold out, and they are into it like they were tonight, there's not another place like it in the country. A pretty good night."
Etienne agreed with his coach. He arrived from Louisiana a year ago and experienced some special home moments, such as the win over Utah in Napier's debut or the late-season romp over South Carolina, but Saturday's energy was next level.
Etienne left with a newfound appreciation of Gators fans.
"It doesn't get any better than this," Etienne said.
He's too young to have experienced what it was once like around here. For Etienne and his youthful teammates, Saturday is as good as they know. They earned it and deserve to enjoy it.
For those with maybe a touch of gray under their cap, they have seen bigger wins and better games, but what made Florida's latest win over the Vols memorable is how the Gators responded in the face of adversity and criticism.
Mertz was good. Etienne was special. The defense was strong. Special teams still need work, but Napier could go home and get a good night's rest.
The Gators executed, played physically tough, started fast, and kept Tennessee's quick-strike offense off the field for most of the first half.
Oh, and Napier had his first rivalry win.
"Ultimately, the plan that we had worked," he said.
