OGT 2024: Week 14 Florida Gators at FSU Seminoles

[Escambia94]

Overview

Welcome to the 68th edition of the Sunshine Showdown! This matchup will take place in the giant erector set that is Ron Zook Field, Talla-crappy, Lower Alabama/ Northwest Florida. The Gators are 37-28-2 all-time in a rivalry that dates back to 1958. The Gators have lost the last 4. The Gators are favored by 10.5 points here and the over/under is at 45.5. The Noles scored 21 points in a game for the first time last week against the mighty Charleston Southern Buccaneers. With that amazing upset, the Noles now have twice as many victories in week 14 as they had in week 13. All 43,711 reported fans in attendance were excited about Mike Norvell's seminal victory, which should lead to continued success so the FSU administration does not have to fork over $54.4M of buyout money.

Scouting the Enemy

The Noles are pumped for their program-changing upset over the FCS's worst team, the Charleston Southern Buccanneers. Here are the results of their stellar season to this point where they started ranked in the top 10 and are currently ranked near the bottom 10.

Date	Opponent	Rank	Result	Site	Attendance
August 24	vs. Georgia Tech	No. 10	L 21–24	Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland	47,998
September 2	Boston College	No. 10	L 13–28	Ron Zook Field	51,719
September 14	Memphis*		L 12–20	Ron Zook Field	55,107
September 21	California		W 14–9	Ron Zook Field	55,107
September 28	at SMU		L 16–42	Gerald R. Ford Statium	34,879
October 5	No. 15 Clemson		L 13–29	Ron Zook Field	55,107
October 18	at Duke		L 16–23	Wallace Wade Stadium	30,735
October 26	at No. 6 Miami (FL)		L 14–36	Hard Rock Stadium	66,200
November 2	North Carolina		L 11–35	Ron Zook Field	55,107
November 9	at No. 10 Notre Dame*		L 3–52	Notre Dame Stadium	77,622
November 23	Charleston Southern*		W 41–7	Ron Zook Field	43,711

Reviewing the Gators

The Gators have suffered a disappointing season but have somehow turned things around in late November with back-to-back upsets over ranked opponents #22 LSU and #9 Ole Miss.

Date	Opponent	Result	Site	Attendance
August 31	No. 19 Miami (FL)*	L 17–41	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium	90,544
September 7	Samford*	W 45–7	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium	89,295
September 14	Texas A&M	L 20–33	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium	89,993
September 21	at Mississippi State	W 45–28	Davis Wade Stadium	49,655
October 5	UCF*	W 24–13	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium	90,369
October 12	at No. 8 Tennessee	L 17–23 OT	Neyland Stadium	101,915
October 19	Kentucky	W 48–20	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium	89,906
November 2	vs. No. 2 Georgia	L 20–34	EverBank Stadium	76,307
November 9	at No. 5 Texas	L 17–49	Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium	103,375
November 16	No. 22 LSU	W 27–16	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium	90,067
November 23	No. 9 Ole Miss	W 24–17	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium	89,942

 

[DRU2012]

Oops. Hadn't realized E-- had this thread up already. See my "pre-comments" over at the end of "Florida vs Ol' Miss" thread...
If E-- wants to move it over here, that'd be fine with me. Either way works: My comments there, if anything, are more a preface to this one.
Just a strong vote for the follosing:
"Little changes at this point. We come in with a chip on our shoulders and EXECUTE.
LET'S KICK THEIR ASSES, START TO FINISH!"
We deserve a game like that to wrap this season.
"We" being players, coaches AND fans.
Who better to get it against, and what better time?

 

[DRU2012]

Alright, it is Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, and while we are all finding ourselves rather suddenly THANKFUL to be feeling "It's GREAT, to BE, a FLO RI DA Gator" once more, there IS now also a slight cloud drifting over our parade:
This is still a young Gator team...These are kids, these Gators, and it would only be natural for them to be reading, hearing, feeling the good vibes piling up around them now.
For all my own rallying bravado coming INTO this annual season finale, this program, its team and Coaches MUST buckle down now and focus:
Never MIND all the evidence that has been presented of late as to how much further along WE are in our identity resurgence than they.
This is our perennial rival with a chance to semi-redeem their otherwise disastrous season at THEIR place, in what for them is the last game of the year...They are coming off a "big lopsided win" (albeit against one of the lowest ranked teams from the nether regions of college football), now sending out a young but highly-touted QB for his first career start.
Florida, meanwhile, generally hasn't looked near as good on the road as they have at The Swamp--and again, this one is at the Doak.
All I am trying to raise here is the idea that it is incumbent on everyone in our locker room--Coaches, team-leaders and everyone else on this squad to shut out all the noise, distraction and late-coming pats-on-the-backs flooding the airwaves and live, everywhere they go:
Never MIND all that crap: GO OUT AND GET THE JOB DONE. You know, and now WE know that you CAN do it. Don't beat YOURSELVES.
I'M going to be looking to see some things finally cleaned up--if not perfect then "moving in the right direction" at the very least. Billy, you GOTTA improve your clock management and situational poise, along of COURSE with more consistently imaginative crucial-moment play-calling (but maybe the latter only comes with a new OC).
However, this time WE are the better team, with more of the "intangibles". The win is there for the taking. OUR taking.
See it. Feel it. Think it. GET IT DONE.

 

[Escambia94]

Quick comparison between QBs:

Season	Team	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	TD%	Int	Int%	Y/A	AY/A	Y/C	Y/G	Rate	Awards
2024	Florida State	ACC	FR	QB	5	29	56	51.8	362	3	5.4	2	3.6	6.5	5.93	12.5	72.4	116.6
Career					5	29	56	51.8	362	3	5.4	2	3.6	6.5	5.93	12.5	72.4	116.6

Season	Team	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Cmp	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	TD%	Int	Int%	Y/A	AY/A	Y/C	Y/G	Rate	Awards
2024	Florida	SEC	FR	QB	10	79	135	58.5	1477	9	6.7	6	4.4	10.9	10.27	18.7	147.7	163.5
Career					10	79	135	58.5	1477	9	6.7	6	4.4	10.9	10.27	18.7	147.7	163.5

 

[DRU2012]

Interesting how LITTLE a "Quarterback Comparison" between us now really shows or tells anyone. WE know WAY more about our guy than this one begins to tell, and what can it possibly say about their freshman QB, starting his first full game after appearing just ONCE, no matter how "impressive", against one of the worst teams in college football?
No, while we THINK there may be good reason for guarded optimism regarding OUR young leader, the fact is this is no time for hubris:
The whole team needs to come in with a reserved confidence and quiet determination as we enter Doak Campbell for this prime time showdown.
Bad as this season has gone for FSU, it hasn't exactly been an unending celebration of Gator excellence either...We are on a late season upsurge now, but any kind of arrogance or carelessness could easily undo all the good that is now starting to come our way.
The game is at their place, for one thing, with a chance for them to redeem for themselves some modicum of fan- and SELF-respect.
I must tell you that the closer it gets, deep down the more the reasons to worry begin to accumulate in my heart and soul. That is only what the last few seasons have embedded in us all.
It is time, PAST time to begin banishing those fears, wash them away as we build a new foundation. No big brave words from here on in--just quiet determination.
Lets finish right.

 

[DRU2012]

I've been thinking long and deep about this game, and what continues to emerge is that this annual showdown's particular edition is in so many ways a TEST:
A practical examination as to whether we have indeed "turned the corner", made that crucial 180° about-face in what for so long has been our generation-long OUTWARD BOUND journey AWAY from relevancy--but are now finally heading "back to where we once belonged".
"Free Shoes U" isn't gonna just lie down. They are at home with a chance to reclaim some lost pride in front of their fans and, in many cases, the very same young men on OUR side of the field that they have been competing with since before HIGHSCHOOL.
So the early going will be everything:
If I'm right, and this is finally now a new and freshly poised and aware, fully prepared Gator squad that comes out and takes care of business, collectively smacks 'em upside the head on BOTH sides of the ball from the very start, this particular 'Noles team will fold, as they are by now somewhat primed to do.
I truIy believe that it is within our power this time to ASSERT OUR WILL on a rival who has similar talent individually but NOT as a TEAM.
Lets go out snd show them exactly what that means.

 

[Escambia94]

Billy Napier has not won three games in a row since 2023: McNeese, #11 Tennessee, and Charlotte. This will be an opportunity to beat three Power Conference opponents in a row for the first time in his career.

 

[DRU2012]

Am watching the Egg Bowl, and let it be a warning to the Gators, so far a cautionary tale in underperformeing an outmatched rival.
Rebels ahead in the 2nd half, but shoukd be WELL ahead in a game they have had every opportunity to open up but continuing to misfire at crucial moments. They have repeatedly failed in the face of a weaker MSU somehow rising to the occasion. This is EXACTLY how the outmanned underdog can pull off the upset.
This is NOT a dazzling demo of Lane Kiffen's game prepared, play-calling, OR CHARACTER building. Even if they end up winning it.
PLEASE let us NOT have to suffer through this kind of lack of character and/or preparation when our young Gator team goes into Doak Campbell tomorrow evening.

 

[DRU2012]

This Georgia/Georgia Tech game is another example of how you never know what'll happen in these rivalry games...
Tech has outplayed them. I only tuned back in to witness them close out UGA's last coupla minutes of playoff contention...Dogs had rallied but were still behind late. Tech were running it out, had the first down at the 2 minute mark--and FUMBLED. Now about to tue it uo at the very end.
"Gators: Don't F-around! "
Go out there and take control EARLY if you possibly can--or YOU will have to come back heroically TOO.
Truthfully, though I always enjoy UGA losses, I don't care THAT much about the Yellow Jackets.
If anything, watching them sort of playing for overtime now reminds me all too much of US against Tennessee. You know: Billy's "White Flag Strategy" to lose that one).
Anyway--though I'd enjoy seeing UGA bummed, I fully expect them to win this now--and it won't break my heart by any means.
All I really care about now is seeing our resurgent Reptiles finish THEIR season right.

 

[DRU2012]

(Didn't watch the endless OTs--8 of 'em, fer cryin' out loud!--but of course UGA eventually won it, something like 46-44...anyway, so much for "highly favored". Again, consider ourselves forewarned.)
OK. It's Saturday now. GameDay, more than 8 hours before Kickoff in Tallahassee.

 

[Escambia94]

Head to head matchup:

	UF	SWAC
Total offense	375.7 YPG (79th)	273.1 YPG (131st)
Total defense	406.1 YPG (104st)	387.5 YPG (88th)
Turnovers lost	16 (T-77th)	18 (T-84th)
Turnovers gained	18 (T-40th)	5 (T-131st)

 

[DRU2012]

Not that big a deal, I suppose, but it sure seems like all the teams I came in HOPING would do well today are thus far falling behind. Even the ones who started well appear to be wilting in the 2nd halves of their respective games...Vandy to Tennessee, SC(east) to Clemson, and so on.
Still 3rd quarter games, and we are talking about "teams I wanna see lose", nit "teams I root FOR" (there is of course just ONE of THOSE). BUT...
It is getting to be enough of a seeming "trend" here that I do believe it is time to change the vibe, tune away--Render the whole thing MOOT:
This week, this year, all that matters TO "us" IS "us"--GO GATORS!
See y'all tonight at kickoff.

 

[DRU2012]

UM just lost to Syracuse in a big comeback win.
Now it is our turn: Get it done, boys.

 

[DRU2012]

They get a big QB run and we lose another key piece of the D on the very first play.
just like last week's game's start.

 

[DRU2012]

I am just too uptight.

 

[DRU2012]

Gotta step back.calm down.

 

[DRU2012]

Come ON, Gators. Let's get down to business here.

 

[DRU2012]

We are letting them, HELPIMG them move tge ball here.
STOP SCREWING AROUND, guys.

 

[DRU2012]

whats with this long pause?

 

[DRU2012]

THERE IT IS! Sack on 3rd down.