Gator News and Recaps

This is a feature I'm going to try and maintain throughout the season and into the future. Any criticism (constructive of course) is welcome.

Senior kicker Stephen Stein must have been the sickest man in the man in the world as he watched his opposite number, Caleb Sturgis, split the uprights at the end of the 4th overtime, ending a marathon game that saw the Gators prevail 31-28 over a Bowling Green squad that refused to be put away. Stein missed all four of his field goal attempts, including two potential game winners in overtime, in a game that featured 6 lead changes and well over 700 yards of offense. The Gators had a big advantage in yards and big plays but it was Florida's inconsistency that kept the Falcons in the game as the gators managed to turn the ball over 5 times in addition to failing twice on 4th down. All five of the turnovers were attributed to sophomore QB Jacoby Brissett who fumbled twice, and also threw three interceptions. It was not all bad for the young Brissett as he threw four touchdown passes, including a 2 yard scoring strike to Andre Debose that tied the game with 21 seconds to go.

Bowling Green QB Matt Schilz, who was brilliant in regulation, had trouble moving his team in the extra time frames as the Falcons only managed one score in four tries in overtime. The Gator pass rush certainly wasn't helping the junior as Dominique Easley, Omar Hunter and Co. finished with 10 sacks, many of them coming in the extra session. Gator running back Mike Gilleslee also had a solid day, rushing for 95 yards on 22 carries, whilst also scoring on a 62 yard screen pass from Brissett in the middle of the 3rd quarter. The crowd at the swamp was sent into a bit of a frenzy in the 1st quarter as reserve QB Jeff Driskel appeared in an offensive set that closely resembled the "Tim Tebow" package from a few years ago. Unfortunately the formation was largely unsuccessful, including a failed fourth down attempt in the 3rd overtime.

Player of the Game: WR Andre Debose (6 Rec, 128 Yds, 2 TD)

Good stuff, keep it coming. Crazy finish in regulation to tie with 21 seconds like that.

For two and a half quarters the Texas A&M Aggies looked sure to win their SEC debut against the mighty Gators of Florida. The home team was leading 27-14, the 12th man was going crazy, and the A&M defense had already twice intercepted Gator QB Jacoby Brissett. What could possibly go wrong? Bad question to ask in College Station. In what have been a stark reminder of their late game struggles in 2011, the Aggies gave up 24 unanswered points in the 2nd half, while the offense managed three turnovers, all in the 4th quarter.

The Gators, for their part, looked inept for much of the game as well. In the first half A&M made the Florida defense look silly and slow as the Aggies scored 24 easy looking first half points. Jacoby Brissett continued to struggle in the turnover department, throwing the aforementioned two interceptions. But when the 4th quarter rolled around the Gators rolled up their sleeves. Brissett actually started the turnaround late in the 3rd hitting Andre Debose for a 15 yard strike to pull the Gators within six. Kicker Caleb Sturgis narrowed the lead to three early in the fourth. The Gators seemed destined to pull out the victory when Frankie Hammond dropped a perfectly thrown ball from Brissett on a 3rd down with 2:19 to go. Then Quinten Dunbar appear to kill the Gators' last chance when he dropped a pass on the ensuing 4th Down. The Gator defense forced a quick punt however, and Brissett, once again showing a flair for the dramatic, found Hammond behind the defense for an 85 yard touchdown with 1:15 to go. What most folks will not remember is that A&M defensive end Spencer Nealy jumped offsides on 4th down and inches one play before. Cornerback Louchiez Purifoy iced the game 32 seconds later, scoring on a fumble recovery with at the :43 second mark.


Frankie Hammond celebrates his late touchdown grab. Hammond finished
with 184 yards and 2 TDs on six catches and took home player of the game honors.

In a mid week press conference Gators head coach Will Muschamp revealed details of the early season recruit visiting schedule. Apparently 7 potential Gators will in the Swamp for the Florida's showdown with Kentucky in week 4, including #1 Defensive End Jon Coker. Other expected attendee's include:

#3 FS Adrian Richardson
#11 Ath Kevin Fenton
#4 CB Shane Rogers
#2 CB Jeff Rich
#3 MLB Eric McCloud
#2 SS Kevin Williams

Muschamp was quick to point out that this list in preliminary and there may be more players added to the list at a later date.


#1 High School Defensive End Jon Coker

Nice, I've been meaning to do a weekly write up on the progress of the Virginia Cavaliers but haven't had the time.

Keep it up, we're reading.

andre debose: early favorite for the heisman?

Gators head football coach Will Muschamp has announced a revised list of the prospects that will be UF's campus during the week 4 matchup with Kentucky. In addition to the prospects announced last week the following high schools players will also make a pilgramage to the Swamp on September 29th.

#3 OT Jonathon Sherman
#24 Ath Carl Sanders
#5 OG Ben Landry
#2 C Brian Carroll
#17 Ath Mike Moore
#5 CB Matt Hunter

The nations top Free Safety prospect Daniel Wesley was also expected to announce his intention to visit UF and a number of other universities this week but as of press time has made no such announcement. When asked why there has been little movement on the commitments front Muschamp answered "We feel that the University of Florida is doing a very strong in terms of football recruiting this season. A prospect committing four years of their life to a single university is not a decision to be taken lightly and we encourage all our potential student athletes to thoroughly explore all their options." Muschamp did say that he expects a number of commitments soon, pointing to the date with Kentucky later this month, where many of the nations top prospects are expected to be in attendance.

In other news Muschamp announced that the University and football program have ceased their recruitment of Cornerback prospect Jeff Rich. Muschamp refused to comment on why this decision was made.

Different score, same story for the Tennessee Volunteers as they lose to their SEC East rival Florida for the eighth straight outing, this time by the score of 21-18. As has been said elsewhere, the rivalry that once defined the SEC has turned into a one-sided affair. You have to go back to a controversial win in 2004 to find a Tennessee victory in this series. For their part this particular Volunteer team didn't look too bad in front of their home crowd, playing much of the first half from out in front. The Volunteers struck first midway through the opening quarter on a 9 yard pass from Tyler Bray to his favorite target Justin Hunter. Much like their first two games the Gator defense looked overwhelmed early but stiffened as the game went only allowing one more Volunteer score until late in the fourth quarter. Florida's response to the Tennessee touchdown came on the first play of the second quarter when Jacoby Brissett found running back Mike Gillislee on a screen pass that went 17 yards to the house. Except for that possession however Florida's offense spent most of it's time on the wrong side of the 50 as Tennessee's special teams were dominant, especially in the first half.

After a Mike Palardy field goal put the Vol's up 10-7 in 2nd the Gators began to slowly grind Tennessee to a halt stopping all semblance of a running game and severely limiting the home team's passing game until late in the 4th quarter. After Palardy's field goal Brissett and the Gator offense took over, with the quarterback leading the team inexorably down the field until the sophomore QB found receiver Frankie Hammond on a long bomb with :35 seconds to go in the half, giving the #25 team in the country the lead for good.

The third quarter was a defensive struggle as both teams were unable to mve the ball with any consistency until Jeff Driskel punched it from 7 yards out with one minute to go in the stanza. Both offenses struggled along in the defensive minded game and as a result there was only 500 yards of total in the game, with much of Tennessee's 269 yards coming on their final possession. On that possesion Bray found Hunter again, this time from 60 yards out to close the scoring in the game. Florida recovered Tennessee's onsides kick attempt to end any hope for the Vols.


Sophomore QB Jacoby Brissett went 8-14 for 141 yards with 2 touchdowns on Saturday and
took home player of the game honors in Florida's 21-18 win in Knoxville.