Talk remained all on Mississippi at Urban Meyer's Monday morning press conference.
Despite the fact that No. 12 UF's (3-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) loss to Mississippi was two days prior, and even though the Gators go on the road to play unranked Arkansas (2-2, 0-1 SEC) on Saturday, it's clear this week's main focus will be how the Gators respond to their 31-30 loss.
Meyer called an emergency team practice Sunday night, a time that the team usually has off, in order to try and move forward as quickly as possible.
"We all had to get around those players," he said, "and put closure to a bad day."
Players were not available Monday because the team did not practice.
He also held a team meeting, the details of which he refused to disclose, but it was clear the attempt was to clear the air.
"The first thing (you do after a loss) is you feel sorry for yourself," he said. "Second thing is you point a finger at someone. That's everywhere. That's from Little League to … UF football."
It's too soon to tell how well the team will fare after this test.
Meyer has seen teams that dealt well with adversity, mentioning the 1996 and 2006 national champion UF teams as well as his 2004 Utah team, which finished its season 12-0. He said it's not a matter of whether a team will deal with setbacks, but how well they do afterwards.
"Because a guy throws a helmet or kicks the dirt and says, 'Doggone it', that doesn't make him angry," he said. "If you play with a little chip on your shoulder, if you pay great attention to detail, if you come together - that's how you make those statements."
PLAN FAILS: Meyer continually reiterates his plan to win each week, which consists of five key parts - play great defense, win the turnover battle, red-zone efficiency, win kicking game and third-down efficiency. The Gators failed in all but red-zone efficiency (three touchdowns and one field goal on four trips).
- The defense gave up 325 yards Saturday, including 140 on the ground. There were 11 missed tackles.
- UF lost the turnover battle, 3-1, including fumbles on back-to-back drives to start the second half.
- Meyer said the kicking game accomplished only two of 10 unspecified goals. UF had a potential game-tying PAT blocked.
- The Gators converted an abysmal 9 percent of third downs, going 1 for 11. He said the toughest part was they kept getting stuck in third-and-long.
ARKANSAS TALK: Only one question was asked of Meyer about the Razorbacks, but he said he was concerned with their passing attack on offense.
"They are throw-oriented right now, and on defense they are very capable," Meyer said.
The Razorbacks lost two running backs - Darren McFadden and Felix Jones - to the first round of the NFL Draft back in April. Both were on display when UF faced Arkansas in the 2006 SEC Championship Game.
INJURIES STACKING UP: After starting middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, the linebacker corps is not in good shape. Starter Dustin Doe continues to play through a double hernia, according to Meyer, and key reserve Ryan Stamper did not play Saturday due to an ankle sprain.
On the offensive side of the ball, Emmanuel Moody has a high ankle sprain and is also "very questionable." Meyer said tight end Aaron Hernandez is in a boot, but "should be fine."
LSU TIME SET: The Oct. 11 UF-LSU game will kick off at 8 p.m. in The Swamp and will be televised on CBS. This is the second straight year the game will be featured in primetime.
Last season, the Gators fell to the Tigers 28-24 after LSU converted two fourth downs on its game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.
CBS gets one weekend per year to air a double-header, and the network will start that day with the Tennessee-Georgia game at 3:30 p.m.
