Official Game Thread, Week 1: Florida Gators 53, Charleston Southern Buccaneers 6 9/1/2018

[Escambia94]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/GatorsFB/status/1033496745638998016?s=19
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Game week is here! The Gator Nation is anxious to erase the memories of the 2017 season, and this cupcake will give the team an opportunity to boost its confidence following a 4-7 season.

Date: Saturday, September 1
Game Time: 7:30 pm ET
Venue: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL
Network: ESPN3

CSU finished with a 6-5 record, including a 49-0 loss to Dan Mullen's Mississippi State Bulldogs. CSU was 10th in the FCS in sacks last season, and they get back Ronnie Harris and London Johnson's abilities to get into the backfield for a defense that allowed just 312 yards per game. The Gators will have either Feleipe Franks or Kyle Trask making quick reads in order to avoid what will be a relentless pass rush. Just as in years past, the Gator offensive line is full of question marks, but if they cannot hold back last year's #10 FCS pass rush, this will be the sign of a long season for the Gators. If anything, Mullen's improved coaching will click with his designated starters and the offense will get rolling after a slow start.

Charleston Southern scored 176 of the team’s 250 points in its last three games, so this should not be a major test for he revamped Gator defense. The defense should keep this a scoreless game, even if they simplified their look for this game.

Escambia94's prediction: Florida Gators 42, Charleston Southern Buccaneers 3.

 

[Leakfan12]

Who is going to start? Well either way both guys should get a number of snaps.

 

[Escambia94]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/GatorsFB/status/1034115811437436928?s=19
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Feleipe Franks gets the nod to start the 2018-2019 season at QB. Here is the remaining depth chart.

 

[Escambia94]

Who is going to start? Well either way both guys should get a number of snaps.

Mullen says that he will not be swapping out QBs. Franks is the guy.

 

[Leakfan12]

Mullen says that he will not be swapping out QBs. Franks is the guy.

For the first game? Pretty sure the CSU Bucs is going to be a blowout. Is Mullen going to keep playing Franks if the score is 50-3? I doubt it.

 

[Escambia94]

For the first game? Pretty sure the CSU Bucs is going to be a blowout. Is Mullen going to keep playing Franks if the score is 50-3? I doubt it.

Mop-up duty, yes. Swapping? No.

 

[DRU2012]

Thanks for putting this up, E--and thanks also for the ESPN3 telecast tip, 'except that so far we've lost ESPN3 on our system and I am still not sure if its promised return will be by this weekend, leaving me scrambling around for an alternative way to see it (best chance so far is news that FOX Sports 1 may pick up the Sunshine Network feed to fill the current loss in our region...otherwise, unless I can find an internet access to ESPN3, I may be stuck with the Stadium radio broadcast).
Gator blow out, yes (but we could look a little poor early, with new systems, people and terminology all over the field--but the D will keep order as needed, as E notes, and I expect the new offense to get untracked eventually, roll it up on them for a long-frustrated crowd at The Swamp)...
But it is our first look at it all that is the main draw here: Franks will be called on to RUN the offense, patiently and efficiently--but who doubts he'll drop a bomb or two fairly early on, to the delirious relief and delite of the long-suffering faithful?

 

[DRU2012]

(... and btw: While we look in pretty good shape--and hands--at QB, starter AND backup, it is the 3rd string freshman, physically and in overall skillset theoretically at least a perfect fit in Mullens' version of the spread he is and will be building towards over the next coupla years, who will, as he learns and grows/fills out over that same period, it is hoped step up and into THE ROLE for the eventual feature, "Gator QB Leads Us Back To The Promised Land", right about, mmmmm, 2020 or so? Now, if Franks or Trask could pull a "Leake"-like season out of themselves and the surrounding cast before then, this year or next along the way, well, you get the idea of where the skyrocketing expectations could take it all. But as Hadrian said to the Romans, "Brick by brick, fellow citizens. Brick by brick.")

 

[Escambia94]

@DRU2012 Here are some options for watching or listening online:

TV: SEC Network
Live Stream on WatchESPN: WatchESPN.Com
TuneIn app:
https://tunein.com/radio/Gator-IMG-Sports-Network-s230232/
Radio stream (WRUF):
http://www.wruf.com/listen-live/

The SEC Network is available on Sling TV for an additional $5, or bundled with many other channels as part of the Orange package for $20.

The WatchESPN app is $20 by itself, which includes all the ESPN channels, SECN, B1G, Longhorn Network, and others.

 

[DRU2012]

@DRU2012 Here are some options for watching or listening online:

TV: SEC Network
Live Stream on WatchESPN: WatchESPN.Com
TuneIn app:
https://tunein.com/radio/Gator-IMG-Sports-Network-s230232/
Radio stream (WRUF):
http://www.wruf.com/listen-live/

The SEC Network is available on Sling TV for an additional $5, or bundled with many other channels as part of the Orange package for $20.

The WatchESPN app is $20 by itself, which includes all the ESPN channels, SECN, B1G, Longhorn Network, and others.

Well, not that anyone (besides ME) was losing any sleep over it, but thanks for all the info, and with time runnimg down I HAVE made a move...Now, streaming (with freezes, buffering etc) I have found can be a rather frustrating way to watch games at times--on the couple of occasions I fell back on it on my phone (secretly "cheating" at work) last season, I found myself on these occasions witnessing (and hence commenting on) the action on GE sometimes up to 30 seconds AFTER y'all were already reacting to a play...So: I just bit-the-bullet, bought a brand new wifi router for home, and upped my service to the highest offered: I now have ESPN+ on my FireTV thru Prime, ALONG WITH hugely multiplied bandwidth and speed... With this new iPhone, I SHOULD be getting every Gator game, fast and smooth.
So far so good: Here at home I have access to all I need in unbroken HD...If/when it comes to it, I am much better prepared for those on-the-road experiences: With one line and an iPhone to monitor our exchanges onGE, AND another line for pad or larger screen phone, I can (assuming hi-speed wifi access) hopefully now get a better feed (and do a better job) "out there". Looking ahead, seems I'll have access to the whole reg 2018 Gator season, much to my current relief.
(BTW, didja notice that "if"/when Saban's charges wins their opener, he will finally pass SS's record streak with the Gators of number of consecutive victories over unranked teams (tied at 73 coming in)?...Um, time to start a NEW one, Dan!)

 

[Escambia94]

Here is a perspective from a Charleston Southern sports writer: https://www.postandcourier.com/spor...cle_8f91e5f4-ad49-11e8-b535-13ddddf229cf.html

David Shelton of the Charleston Post & Courier predicts a 49-10 victory for the Gators. Last year, Dan Mullen's MSU Bulldogs beat CSU 49-0. Urban Meyer's Gators beat CSU 62-3 in 2009. I predict a 52-7 victory by the Mighty Gators.

 

[DRU2012]

Still a LOTTA fallout continues for Meyer, btw--and they are all OVER it on the various panel shows from what I'm sering on ESPN+: Finebaum especially is just (hilariously, if completely accurately) over-the-top disgusted in his criticisms (eg. "This isn't going away, either...I believe that Urban Meyer will not coach at Ohio State after this season: He will do as he always does when faced with pressure resulting from his own actions and misdeeds--Find some lame excuse to QUIT.") Great line.

 

[DRU2012]

Alright...Just here early to see how everything is working for tonight. Have been playing a certain amount of learning/"catch up" in the streaming-experience: The big lesson (y'all may be well-aware of this, but "news-to-ME"!) has been the increasing need for a "VPN" nowadays. Will leave it to y'all to look into what that is and why it is becoming more and more an online necessity to "the rest of us" everyday moderate/plus internet users--NOT just for hackers and heavy porn users anymore: Suffice it to say that the one I'm using (IPVanish) has, among other things, noticeably upgraded both speed and smoothness of my game-streaming. Doing everything I can to be able to rely on it for following the Gators this season: We're just not NEAR far enough "back" to find a lot of our games on even the main Sports channels, let alone network television.
Meanwhile, interesting day so far out there. Mich St almost beaten, Ol' Miss still ahead of Texas Tech in 3rd (but Ol Miss may be choking thisone away--after goimg conservative, just coughed it up with fumble at midfield...Texas losing to Maryland again, looked outmatched by Terps most of 1st half--but Longhorns coming back hard since QB change late in 2nd qtr. Don't know WHAT to expect in that Miami/LSU game. Can't see this Tigers team to be all that dominant--but sure'd love 'em to step up THIS week. STILL hate that buncha arrogant thugs from "3rd World Florida"!
Jeez, I am PSYCHED for our game and season to get under way.

 

[DRU2012]

OK. They're still yapping over here on SEC Network...Damn! Was really hoping App St was gonna pull another shocker, beat "The Molesters" on the 10 year anniversary of the Mich opening day defeat. Rain played its part influencing the results in the 4th qtrs of a number of games in the SE today. Hope that isn't ANY kind of factor in G-ville.
Well, here we go. This one might be "sloppy/interesting" early, but I expect our Reptiles to wear them down BIG time as the game goes on. So now's the "interesting" part of the evening for us fans.
GO GATORS!!! Now begins the long march BACK.

 

[awebbf5]

Let's go gators!!!!!!!

 

[DRU2012]

Clearly "targeting" back there, but Franks just "off" so far: That's what I meant by "sloppy/interesting". 1st down.

 

[DRU2012]

DAMN!!! SHOULDA WOULDA COULDA...
But here's the TD on the next play.
Man, we are gonna SWAMP these poor guys!

 

[awebbf5]

Well I know we are playing a nobody,but at least that was fun to watch.

 

[DRU2012]

Down 7 players to "team violation" suspensions, 6 to injuries (including key defensive backfield guys), and Franks still a bit "off"--and I'm still seeing/sensing more, both in potential and performance, than I have since a coupla flukey games early in the Muschamp era (remember Trey Burton with SIX TDs???).

 

[DRU2012]

Whatta ya think? Time for a pick-6?