Jon Sumrall’s fire returned against Texas, and Florida seemed to feed off it

When Florida had their back-to-back losses to Missouri and South Carolina, the demeanor of Jon Sumrall came into focus. Well, more specifically, the lack of demeanor.

It was notable that Sumrall didn’t seem to have the same level of energy on the sidelines during Florida’s two losses compared to Florida’s first four wins. Rumors started that Scott Stricklin told Sumrall to tone things down and not use words that we here at Hail Florida Hail are discouraged from writing verbatim. 

Sumrall shot those rumors down last week, and it’s clear from Florida’s cinematic recap of Florida’s win over Texas that he still has the green light to say whatever he wants. 

It also begs the question as to whether or not Sumrall needs to rethink his own approach whenever Florida does get behind.

Jon Sumrall doesn’t have a muzzle on him

Credit the social media team for Florida, who had to bleep out what felt like every other word from Sumrall during their recap video. We noted yesterday one part of the video when Florida got the ball back with under two minutes to go. Sumrall challenged the Gators to go out and get a first down to end the game:

“We are not f****** kicking a field goal! Four downs, ten f****** yards! Man the f*** up! Man the f*** up!”

There are plenty of other moments like this from the video. 

With Florida down 17-3 in the 2nd quarter, the Gators got the ball back and offensive line coach Phil Trautwein is seen telling the team “Let’s f***ing fight!”

Florida went on to score a TD on that drive before halftime, and yet Sumrall was still seen on the sidelines chewing out Caden Jones for a mishap during the drive.

During his halftime speech, with Florida trailing, Sumrall is seen saying:

“We have got to strain and make this a f***ing street fight. A f***ing legal street fight, though. Everybody got it! No f***ing let up! Do simple (better)! All the little things! Let’s f***ing go! We’re tougher than them! F***ing play that way the rest of the f***ing game! Everybody got it? Let’s go. Family on one.”

Bring the heat

The rumors that Sumrall had been muzzled in part because of the leaked video that showed him after the Auburn win telling the locker room “F*** em” seemed a bit far fetched at the time, but it was clear we didn’t see this level of energy against Missouri and South Carolina.

Sumrall did explain his rationale after the South Carolina loss as to why he hadn’t been as animated:

“When things aren't going good, I have to figure out how to calm them down because we are still a young, maybe at times immature, emotional bunch…. When the fans are booing, the worst thing I can go do is MF our guys. Our guys at that point need to go, hey, boys, it's all right.” 

We understand the angle that Sumrall was trying to take, and there are times when this is the right approach to take, but it also runs in contrast to how this team was built. And based on comments Dallas Wilson gave the team in the locker room after the South Carolina loss, it doesn’t feel like the players are actively asking Sumrall to keep things calm. They want energy; they want the fire; they want the passion.

Florida just spent four years getting a soliloquy from The Man in the Black Polo when things went south, and it didn’t work. Going back to the clip of Sumrall lighting up Jones, both DJ Coleman and Harrison Moore stepped in to make sure that Jones didn’t walk away. When this team is playing on all cylinders, it’s in part because they are feeding off the energy from Sumrall. 

Let those who are bought into that play and let those who want no part of it ride the bench.

Cursing and having high energy doesn't automatically make one a good coach. All we know is Jon Sumrall has been energetic in five games, and Florida won all five of those games.

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