travisduncan
Gator Fan
Gator Nation it could be worse, you could be a Florida State fan tonight, experiencing a one-point loss on a missed field goal at the end of the game against Virginia. Or you could be the Oregon kicker who missed a field-goal which could have sent a loss against USC into overtime, instead watching the Ducks' BCS title game dreams go down the drain.
But it's pretty bad when the Gators give up 22 first quarter points to a very talented well coached FBS team.
Despite the incredible plays which were made late in the game in a 54-32 win, this will go down as one of the worst for performances in 2011 the Gators for a variety of reasons.
The center snap over John Brantley's head in the first quarter, which resulted in a safety,was the icing on the cake for a procedure we expect collegiate athletes to master.
The Gators were penalized six times for 60 yards and didn't seem to have an idea exactly how to stop the Furman offensive attack when they stepped on the field.
Furham outgained the Gators 196-7 in the first quarter.
The most telling statistic is a familiar one: the Gators gave up 233 yards rushing on the ground. That's not about being lack of preparation, that's about pursuit of the football, plugging gaps and making tackles.
"Obviously in the first half we were completely scrambling on defense trying to adjust," said Will Muschamp.
"The next two series we had some eye control issues – we weren’t watching what we were supposed to watch. Defensively, more than anything I’m very disappointed. Offensively, we moved the ball in the first half and in the second half we had some big passes. With Andre Debose and Quinton Dunbar we had some vertical passes down the field. I’m not pleased with how we started, but we responded and hung in there.”
With the win the Gators are bowl eligible for the 21st straight season. A win next week against Florida State would be a tremendous way to close out the regular season. It's not expected. The bowl takes on extra meaning as a possible winnable game.
Muschamp said that he's looking forward to the Bowl game so that it can give some of his players even more experience. It will also be a one last shot at glory for seniors like Brantley, Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps.
Muschamp said, "When you’re bowl eligible it’s more practice, and I made that comment the other day. Our young guys have been scrimmaging better. That will help us a whole lot. Right now 70 percent of our offense is freshmen and sophomore athletes – we have a very young team. We’re looking for reps, more turns, improving, taking steps forward and continuing to step forward. As ugly as the victory may be for us, the most pleasing part for me is that no one really panicked. They went out there and kept on playing. "
Up next for the Gators, Florida State at home next Saturday at 7 p.m. ET ESPN2.
But it's pretty bad when the Gators give up 22 first quarter points to a very talented well coached FBS team.
Despite the incredible plays which were made late in the game in a 54-32 win, this will go down as one of the worst for performances in 2011 the Gators for a variety of reasons.
The center snap over John Brantley's head in the first quarter, which resulted in a safety,was the icing on the cake for a procedure we expect collegiate athletes to master.
The Gators were penalized six times for 60 yards and didn't seem to have an idea exactly how to stop the Furman offensive attack when they stepped on the field.
Furham outgained the Gators 196-7 in the first quarter.
The most telling statistic is a familiar one: the Gators gave up 233 yards rushing on the ground. That's not about being lack of preparation, that's about pursuit of the football, plugging gaps and making tackles.
"Obviously in the first half we were completely scrambling on defense trying to adjust," said Will Muschamp.
"The next two series we had some eye control issues – we weren’t watching what we were supposed to watch. Defensively, more than anything I’m very disappointed. Offensively, we moved the ball in the first half and in the second half we had some big passes. With Andre Debose and Quinton Dunbar we had some vertical passes down the field. I’m not pleased with how we started, but we responded and hung in there.”
With the win the Gators are bowl eligible for the 21st straight season. A win next week against Florida State would be a tremendous way to close out the regular season. It's not expected. The bowl takes on extra meaning as a possible winnable game.
Muschamp said that he's looking forward to the Bowl game so that it can give some of his players even more experience. It will also be a one last shot at glory for seniors like Brantley, Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps.
Muschamp said, "When you’re bowl eligible it’s more practice, and I made that comment the other day. Our young guys have been scrimmaging better. That will help us a whole lot. Right now 70 percent of our offense is freshmen and sophomore athletes – we have a very young team. We’re looking for reps, more turns, improving, taking steps forward and continuing to step forward. As ugly as the victory may be for us, the most pleasing part for me is that no one really panicked. They went out there and kept on playing. "
Up next for the Gators, Florida State at home next Saturday at 7 p.m. ET ESPN2.