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Florida football: Analysis of Tom Petty’s actual boost to the Gators

By Benjamin Henderson

Sep 3, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA; a general view of fans at the The Swamp during the second half between the Florida Gators and Utah Utes at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA; a general view of fans at the The Swamp during the second half between the Florida Gators and Utah Utes at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Florida football: A new hope

Florida football
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 13: head coach Dan Mullen of the Florida Gators is interviewed by ESPN after defeating the Samford Bulldogs 70-52 in a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 13, 2021, in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /

Dan Mullen is at the head of Florida football at the start of 2018, but Tom Petty didn’t inspire him to a great start. In Florida’s 56-6 win over Charleston Southern, Florida was outscored 6-2 in the fourth. The Gators were then even in the fourth against Kentucky, but they needed to be better than that and lost 27-16. It was Florida’s first loss to Kentucky in 31 years.

The Gators finally got it together against Colorado State and won the fourth quarter 21-0.

Florida football finally had its first fourth-quarter comeback since playing Tom Petty against 5th-rankedd LSU. Florida was winning 14-13 before falling behind 19-14. Lucas Krull threw to Feleipe Franks for the go-ahead score and Brad Stewart sealed the game with a pick-six off of Joe Burrow. Florida won the fourth quarter 13-6.

Those good vibes went away a month later against Missouri with a lifeless 38-17 loss, losing 3-0 in the fourth.

But a week later the Gators had another comeback victory. Trailing South Carolina 31-21 before the playing of Tom Petty, Florida scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a Franks TD on fourth-and-goal from the one to win 35-31.

Florida played the fourth quarter against Idaho even in its 63-10 blowout of the Vandals. Florida football would end the 2018 season winning the fourth quarter at home 42-28.

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