The Gators have Georgia on their mind.
After an offseason in which the players worked in the trenches of practice without making headlines off the field, Florida has truly begun the Will Muschamp era.
And now the Southeastern Conference Championship game in Atlanta supposedly awaits.
“Guys have bought into what we are trying to do,” Muschamp said. “Obviously, their way didn’t work. They understand where we are heading with this program.”
The message this training camp has been SEC title game or bust, but reaching the Georgia Dome will be tough.
No. 23 Florida plays four teams ranked in the top 10 in the preseason poll.
Of the last seven SEC title games, only one finalist has had fewer than 10 victories. Florida doesn’t have to be great. Try being good first.
Muschamp’s first year didn’t go as planned.
He arrived at Florida with a depleted roster and the sour stench left behind by Urban Meyer.
Muschamp kicked Janoris Jenkins, his best cornerback, off the team in April due to a second marijuana-related arrest in the span of three months.
Four other Gators were arrested during the 2011 offseason.
On the field, players had to adjust to new coaches and new schemes. Those Gators were doomed from the start.
UF couldn’t catch a break once football started. John Brantley, the senior quarterback, and backups Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett were sacked nearly twice as often as they threw touchdowns, and the defense couldn’t stay off the field.
It took until the bowl game against Ohio State before the players bought into the new coaching staff.
“I’m not surprised,” defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd said. “I’m not saying I expected it this way. Some people learn in different ways and some people group together in different ways, and it took us a year.”
So let’s give these Gators a blank slate. The words from players and coaches during the preseason suggest these Gators have changed.
UF is 15-11 the past two seasons, which ranked eighth in the SEC. They’re tired of mediocrity.
Florida took the right steps this offseason.
Muschamp had only two arrests and players ran their own practices.
Strength coach Jeff Dillman instituted a new training program, which players and coaches have raved about.
The mindset of this team has improved.
“Football means a lot more to some of the guys,” redshirt senior Sam Robey said. “A lot of entitlements are gone now. That was one of our big problems last year.”
Last season was not what this Muschamp-led program is about.
“You get to the point where he’s put his stamp on the program,” offensive coordinator Brent Pease said. “You’ve got a feel of the kids and you’ve built up your standards and how to interact. They know what’s right. They know what’s wrong. They know what is going to fly in the system and what’s not going to fly in the system. At times, you fix things (that) aren’t working.”
These Gators are on the mend and will show a better product on the field.
While reaching Atlanta may be the “goal,” just getting rid of 2011 would be an accomplishment by itself.
Contact Adam Pincus at apincus@alligator.org.
