Florida football: Is Miami a rival, or not?

I think it is about time to put to rest the debate over whether Miami is a true rival for Florida football or not.

Granted, it hasn’t been since 2013 that Florida football and Miami squared off.

Sept. 7, 2013, was when Miami defeated the Gators, 21-16, avenging a 26-3 beating the Gators gave the Hurricanes five years before.

But, it has been pretty quiet since.

That was until Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin decided to remove patsies on the Gators’ schedule in lieu of tougher competition.

Enter this season when the Gators will take on Miami in the first game of the season. They will square off at 7 p.m. Aug. 24. It will be the first time since that 2013 meeting they have played each other in football.

It does raise the question on whether the Hurricanes could be considered true rivals for the Gators.

There is no question about Florida State’s status in that department. But, then again, the Seminoles and Gators play each other every year, and in some cases twice in a season (see 1996 and 1997).

Florida head football coach Dan Mullen characterized the game as a rivalry game when he addressed it at the SEC Media Days in Alabama this week.

"“It’s not one that’s played all the time, but there’s a lot of tradition in that game and there’s a lot of people I feel have very strong opinions and are happy that the game’s being played, and to get to see that rivalry be played is really exciting,” Mullen said."

One of the primary reasons the regular match-up stopped was thanks to scheduling by the Southeastern Conference. In 1988, the conference elected to add a conference game and Florida needed at least six home games each season. That meant two non-conference opponents would be those that didn’t require the home-and-home contract, with the third being Florida State.

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And there have been some memorable match-ups between the two teams over the years.

• The 28-3 pasting of eventual national champions Miami by Florida in Gainesville.
• The 35-23 win by the Gators in the 1985 Orange Bowl.
• The Brock Berlin win for the Hurricanes in 2003.

Those are just a few.

However, is it a rivalry? Especially considering they haven’t played in six years and not consistently since the mid-80s?

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks says ‘yes.’

“Yeah. We don’t play often, and that’s one of the things that makes it so special. Two really good, in-state teams that became rivals,” Franks said, at SEC Media Days. “It is such a fun game. I love playing games that are highly anticipated, that you play a really good team.”

Toss in the fact that this game is the season-opener and it likely means a combination of motivation to start the season and just beating Miami (who have a 5-1 record against Florida since the series stopped).

“Any school you play in Florida, those are the games that mean something,” said defensive lineman Jabari Zuniga. “We know that we are going to get their best and that they will get our best.”

The Gators know they will have the spotlight nearly all to themselves that day.

“I am very excited. I am actually excited to be here today as well. That’s going to be a great experience,” said running back La’Mical Perine. “We have got the spotlight on us, because we are probably going to be the only game on that day. I am excited about it and pumped up, and I am sure my teammates are as well.”

Okay, so there you have it. I think it is safe to say the Gators are going to treat this like a rivalry game. I would suggest Gator Nation do the same.