Bowling Green is not familiar with the Southeastern Conference.
Head coach Dave Clawson has heard the masses preach about the speed of SEC defenses, and watching the Gators on film has only confirmed what he’s heard.
“I was able to coach one year in the SEC and I can certainly attest that the defenses in that conferences are different,” Clawson said. “Certainly on the defensive line with Florida … they’re outstanding up front. You have some great players with (Sharrif) Floyd and (Dominique) Easley and (Omar) Hunter and (Dante) Fowler. … I just think the caliber of defensive lineman in that league is what separates the defenses apart from other conferences, and I think that is one of our greatest challenges going into this game.”
Bowling Green has not played a game against an SEC team since its 1996 season opener, when it lost 21-7 to Alabama.
Bowling Green played Missouri four times and went 2-2 during that span, while the Tigers were still part of the Big 12.
Saturday’s matchup was scheduled when Urban Meyer decided to do a favor for the school that gave him his first head coaching job.
With Florida in need of a nonconference opponent, Meyer reached out to Clawson, and the chance to play in Gainesville was an offer the Falcons’ coach couldn’t turn down.
“This is a great opportunity for our program to play against one of the most historic and premier programs on a national stage, so these are opportunities we feel like we can never pass up.”
Playing in a stadium as large as the Swamp will not be an unfamiliar experience for Bowling Green, and Clawson has done his best to replicate a gameday atmosphere in practice.
Two seasons ago, the Falcons traveled to Ann Arbor to take on the Wolverines in Michigan Stadium, which seats more than 100,000 people.
“There’s no way you can simulate that,” Clawson said of Saturdays at the Swamp. “We haven’t been able to get 100,000 people to come to Bowling Green and watch us practice and make noise. We’ve pumped in some sound, which isn’t the same. It’s certainly not going to vibrate the way it is down there.”
Defensively, the Falcons are preparing to deal with the Florida quarterback situation. Will Muschamp said on Monday that either Jacoby Brissett or Jeff Driskel will play the first quarter of the opener, and the other will play the second. Florida’s coaches will then evaluate their performances at halftime before deciding who will play the second half.
“One is more of a traditional pro-style,” Clawson said. “The other is a little more of a threat to run. They’re installing a new offensive system. I think they are going to ask both guys to run their system. Neither of them played a lot, so there’s not a ton of film on what they did a year ago.”
Clawson said he has known offensive coordinator Brent Pease for nearly two decades, but said he doesn’t know exactly what to expect from UF offensively.
“There’s a little bit of a guessing game on what they’re going to do,” Clawson said of the Florida offense. “How much of it’s going to be Boise? How much have they incorporated from last year’s scheme? … I’m sure there’s going to be a lot to prepare for and there’s going to be a few wrinkles in there.”
Contact Josh Jurnovoy at jjurnovoy@alligator.org.
Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Brent Pease, gives instructions during open practice Aug. 18.
