Out went All-Americans Tim Tebow, Brandon Spikes and Joe Haden and in came a new mentality.
The Gators are without the superstars that have vaulted them into the national spotlight for the past four seasons and that’s just fine for some Florida players.
"I guess we got rid of the prima donnas," wide receiver Chris Rainey said. "All the selfish cats. That's probably it right there. Guys who were worried about themselves or worried about trying to get to the NFL."
Rainey’s comments didn’t go unnoticed and bothered Urban Meyer.
“Chris Rainey won’t speak to the media again,” Meyer said. “It was inappropriate, wrong and not thought out – which he does quite often. I love Rainey, but when I ask him a question I give him a whole day to think about it.”
This year, Florida is a little quieter and a little less noticeable. And nobody embodies UF’s new image better than its new quarterback.
“I look like a normal student, so if you didn’t really know who I am and you don’t see me with my helmet on … they don’t really know who I am because I don’t look like a typical athlete,” redshirt junior John Brantley said. “I like it a lot because it lets me do my own thing and concentrate on doing what I need to do.”
Gators center Mike Pouncey said the team was distracted and fell into a complacent mindset when it went into the Southeastern Conference Championship Game against Alabama.
But this season, a different group of characters will carry the team. With the departure of Tebow and Spikes, players expect Pouncey to be the vocal leader.
With the memory of the loss to Alabama in the back of their minds, the Gators will try to use their new identity to their benefit.
“We all have a chip on our shoulder,” senior safety Ahmad Black said.
