Since Florida coach Jon Sumrall took the reins as head coach of the Gators, the days of the “players’ coach” Billy Napier have vanished.
Now, on the coaching staff are an offensive coordinator who wants to stay ahead of the chains and prioritize efficiency, and a defensive coordinator who wants nothing more than to make the opposing team’s offense wish they hadn’t stepped onto the field with the Gators.
Sumrall expected more from the Gators and was livid, feeling that Florida didn’t put forth maximum effort at Faurot Field.
“The fact that we put less than our best out there absolutely makes me freaking sick,” Sumrall said.
Heisman contender running back Jadan Baugh ran for 13 yards on 12 carries; the secondary couldn’t stop the fly even with a fly swatter, and once the score hit 45, the Gators understood why Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons originally won the starting job over Trinidad Chambliss last season at Ole Miss.
Following the game, Baugh sent a message to Sumrall apologizing for the performance, vowing never to let an outing like that happen again.
“He [Baugh] is ready to move forward,” Sumrall said.
If Baugh hopes to regain Heisman Trophy momentum, it isn’t a suggestion; it’s a must, as in Sumrall's eyes, talent runs through the veins of the Gamecocks.
“They’re the best talent team we have played to date,” Sumrall said. “You look across their offense, defense and even their return game; they’ve got NFL guys everywhere.”
Florida can't afford to overlook South Carolina this Saturday
South Carolina is currently on a three-game losing streak, with its last win coming against Kentucky by one point.
Losing decisively on the road is a rite of passage for being a great Florida coach.
In Steve Spurrier’s first year coaching the Gators, he marched into Knoxville, Tennessee, undefeated, ready to carve out a 6-0 start like Florida did this season. However, just as Sumrall’s Gators were blown out by Missouri, Spurrier’s Florida had been dominated 45-3; Spurrier’s Gators hadn’t even scored a touchdown.
Rather than wallow in the fruits of their defeat, they picked up their helmets and marched on to a four-game win streak, ending their season 9-2.
When Urban Meyer started 4-0 in his first year in Gainesville, his first trip to Tuscaloosa ended in a 31-3 defeat to Alabama. The Gators would then take their frustrations out on Mississippi State the next week, beating the Bulldogs 35-9.
Those coaches didn’t sit on their losses; they bounced back and dominated their opponents the following week.
Now Sumrall’s Gators seek to do the same.
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