Florida coach Will Muschamp was thrilled after beating Tennessee 33-23 in The Swamp on Saturday, but he wasn’t happy with the excessive number of penalties the Gators racked up.
Florida was flagged 16 times for 150 yards, including six pass interference calls. The 16 penalties tied for second-most in a single game in Florida history, and the 150 yards were second only to a 152-yard day against Kentucky in 1987.
On the Gators’ second series of Saturday’s game, the offense sputtered thanks to a holding call on right tackle Chaz Green and then a false start on first down at the Tennessee 20-yard line. The drive stalled, ending in one of kicker Caleb Sturgis’ career-high four field goals.
“Those are things that have got to get corrected,” Muschamp said. “Are they being addressed? Yes. Are they being addressed the right way? Obviously not, because they’re still happening.”
Florida had nine penalties a week ago against UAB and nine against Florida Atlantic in the season opener.
Muschamp was most upset with what he called breakdowns in discipline — false starts, lining up offside and holding calls.
But he defended the play of his secondary, saying the aggressive nature with which it plays can result in penalties. Clearly irritated, Muschamp made his way to midfield and was jawing at the officials on the way to the locker room at halftime.
“If they call it, it’s a foul,” he said of the multiple pass interference calls. “As I evaluate the film, I may tell a young man, ‘You were in good position here.’ But if they call it, it’s a foul.”
Cornerback Marcus Roberson had an interception nullified on a questionable interference call in the third quarter.
Pass rush comes alive: After looking ineffective at times in Florida’s first two games, the pass rush showed up in force Saturday against Tennessee.
The Gators sacked Volunteers quarterback Tyler Bray three times and pressured him another six. They also had six tackles for loss, and defensive tackle Dominique Easley lived in the Tennessee backfield.
Pressured by Ronald Powell, Bray threw an interception to safety Josh Evans at the start of the second half and another to safety Matt Elam that sealed the game.
Florida had just two sacks through its first two games against FAU and UAB.
Elam, Rogers talk trash: Elam and Tennessee wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers exchanged barbs on Twitter last week and it carried over into pre-game warmups and Saturday’s game.
Rogers’ first Tweet, which has been deleted, read: “gonna eat boiled Cajun peanuts off top of your DBs heads.” Elam replied: “So Tennessee wide receivers talking trash??! Haha ok good job!”
Elam then said: “Let your game film do the talking & no disrespect to Montana & Cincinnati but you really don’t have any!” That Tweet has since been deleted, but Rogers responded: “Tweets of a terrified DB.”
Elam broke up a two-point conversion attempt aimed at Rogers and also broke up a pass intended for Rogers in the third quarter. Rogers finished the game with five catches for 62 yards and a score, but it was Elam’s interception that sealed the Florida win.
Etc.: Backup linebacker Dee Finley did not dress and did not play in Saturday’s game after he was arrested last Monday on charges of driving with a suspended license and resisting arrest. … Tight end Jordan Reed (hamstring) was on Florida’s dress roster for Saturday’s game but did not suit up or play. Tight end A.C. Leonard played for the first time this season after tearing the meniscus in his right knee during training camp. … Defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd was a team captain, and he received a standing ovation after making a tackle in the third quarter. It was his first game back from a NCAA-imposed suspension for receiving impermissible benefits during recruitment. ... Former Gators quarterback Danny Wuerffel spoke to the team on Friday and former running back Emmitt Smith did so on Saturday.
Contact Matt Watts at mwatts@alligator.org.
Defensive end/linebacker Ronald Powell pressured Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray into throwing an interception to start the second half Saturday.
