No opponent wants to be on the list.
Before each game, Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn identifies two to four “violators,” opposing players who don’t carry the football correctly.
Before Saturday’s game, cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy made sure South Carolina receiver Ace Sanders knew he made the cut.
“I was like ‘You better hold it tight,’” Purifoy said. “‘You’re going to be a violator today.’”
Purifoy’s trash talk came to fruition in the second quarter, when Trey Burton stripped Sanders during a punt return and recovered the fumble.
Defensive end Dominique Easley said the term originated toward the end of last season.
Florida just didn’t face many violators in 2011.
UF didn’t reach four fumble recoveries until it faced Florida State during the final game of the regular season.
Florida has recovered four fumbles against Vanderbilt and South Carolina in the past two weeks. The Gators have forced eight fumbles this season.
“We got to get the ball back to the offense as much as we can and allow them to score points,” linebacker Jon Bostic said.
A team that has embraced catch phrases like, “Man down, man up,” and, “Florida never breaks,” now has another mantra to live by.
“It was something unique to here, and maybe it was one of those things that started as a buzzword and kind of took off from there,” Quinn said. “It wasn’t one of those things where we sat and talked about it. It was one of those terms that happened by one time calling it, and it stuck.”
Every week, Quinn shows clips of particular opponents not taking care of the football.
Then, on Saturdays, players such as Purifoy do the rest.
Against South Carolina, Purifoy took advantage of most teams’ biggest violator — the quarterback.
Purifoy blitzed Gamecocks signal caller Connor Shaw on the first play from scrimmage and forced the junior to fumble inside his own 10-yard line.
Florida’s offensive players are repeatedly reminded of the importance of ball security in practice.
Through seven games, the Gators are eighth nationally in turnover margin with a plus-11.
UF’s offense has fumbled the ball eight times this season. Three of them have been recovered by opponents.
“[The offense is] probably not doing it in games because of people like Loucheiz,” cornerback Jaylen Watkins said. “Coach Muschamp always gets on them if they do fumble. So the same emphasis we have in the game on the ball, we have it against our receivers in practice, so they’re aware of it in the game because of us.”
Sanders didn’t have the benefit of going up against the Gators’ defense in practice. The junior receiver had no idea what Purifoy was referring to before Florida’s 33-point victory.
“He might now,” Purifoy said.
Contact Adam Pincus at apincus@alligator.org.
Gunner Loucheiz Purifoy (15) chases South Carolina punt returner Ace Sanders (1) during UF’s 44-11 win on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Purifoy forced two fumbles in the game.
