Bowl games might count on season records, but bowl season is unlike any other part of the year.
Teams have varying levels of motivation once the regular season is over and their goals have or have not been met.
Players are contemplating their futures and whether playing hard for one more game is in their best interest.
Coaches are using the extra month of practice as an extension of spring practice, evaluating players who will be back and who can emerge for the next season, while also trying to maintain the momentum from the season to be ready for the bowl.
These are all the things that coach Jim McElwain will deal with over the next month. But for a man trying to build a sustaining program, he views this month as a chance to do just that.
"I look at this bowl opportunity and practice to really help your team get better, not only for this ball game but for the long-term future," McElwain said. "Get a lot of our young guys a lot of quality practice back in."
McElwain isn’t making any claims to know whether or not all of his players will be totally focused on bowl preparation, particularly with some dealing with the distraction of their potential NFL futures.
But the coach expects a lot of his players to be itching for another game in which to play.
"You know it’s interesting, because obviously you’ve got a lot of guys that maybe with people in their ears," McElwain said. "But going into this game, I think with a great opponent like we’re gonna play, you know a lot of pride goes into it too. … I know that there’s a lot of Gators that are really excited about being in this game."
Many of those excited to play will be younger players, who have the opportunity to showcase what they have and if they’re worthy to have a bigger role going into 2016.
With almost one month of practice to utilize, McElwain will give those players more time on the field before the hardcore preparation for the Citrus Bowl against Michigan begins.
"We’ll actually do it a little bit different," McElwain said. "The seniors and the guys that are for sure coming out, we’ll actually have those guys lift and run for those first four practices where they’re getting their bodies back. Those guys just do a lot of that stuff. They’ll join us back up when we get into true game prep, which will be about eight practices prior to the game itself."
As for Florida’s struggling offense, the coach isn’t willing to go into any detail about what he hopes to tinker with before facing the fourth ranked total defense in the nation in the Wolverines — a defense ranked two spots ahead of the Gators’ defense.
"There’s some things we need to obviously take a look at both structurally and personnel-wise," McElwain said.
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Jim McElwain walks on the field of the Georgia Dome during warmups prior to Florida's 29-15 loss to Alabama in the 2015 SEC Championship Game.
