Florida football hasn’t done much growling in recent years.
The homecoming game, usually against a lesser opponent, is supposed to showcase the program to the influx of alumni and generate excitement among the student body.
Instead, the Gators have experienced a Gator Growl hangover, and the product on the field has matched the signature act from the night before: It’s been uninspiring.
Last season, the Gators needed to recover a late onside kick to secure a victory against Vanderbilt.
In the past three seasons, the homecoming game has been decided by an average of less than four points. Florida lost 10-7 to Mississippi State in 2010.
The No. 7 Gators host the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns of the Sun Belt Conference on Saturday. With a victory, UF would move one game closer to completing just its fourth undefeated home slate in the past 11 seasons.
There won’t be a homecoming loss for the Gators this season — I’ll bet a Josh Turner CD on that — but a Furman-type collapse is certainly possible.
That can’t happen for Florida. While the Ragin’ Cajuns may seem like pushovers, the Gators can’t fall back into their “winning ugly” ways.
On homecoming weekend, with the fans clamoring for any semblance of an offense, Florida must beat Louisiana and beat it bad.
“It starts with winning at home,” Muschamp said. “Having been a visitor here before, I understand how difficult it is to come in here and play well and win a game. So, I’ve tried to stress it since Day 1 with our players the importance of playing well at home and defending The Swamp.”
Florida has to prove to its faithful that it is the team that thoroughly dominated LSU and not the team that squeaked past Missouri. With two non-conference laughers coming up, the Gators need a solid showing to continue to stay in any sort of BCS conversation.
“Last year, we played Furman and didn’t play to the level we wanted to play, so we know that any team can come in here and is not going to lay their hats out for us,” cornerback Jaylen Watkins said. “We want to go undefeated in The Swamp this year.”
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium hasn’t been as kind to Florida as it was in the 1990s. The Gators sported a 30-game home winning streak from 1994-1998.
Florida went 9-5 at Florida Field from 2010-11.
Coming into 2012, the players were tired of losing. Muschamp said special seasons aren’t possible without defending your home turf.
“We don’t lose in The Swamp,” senior running back Mike Gillislee said. “Only Gators get out alive. The past two years we lost in The Swamp, and we wanted to get it back to how it used to be.”
Muschamp called The Swamp one of the top arenas in sports. Florida will determine whether the energy level is high against Louisiana on Saturday.
“It’s a really exciting time here at the University of Florida, and I know it’s important for us to get back in The Swamp and play well again,” Muschamp said.
Florida’s seniors will be recognized on the Gator Growl stage on Friday night. It’s time they put on a show come Saturday.
Contact Adam Pincus at apincus@alligator.org.
Coach Will Muschamp reacts to a call during Florida’s 14-7 win against Missouri on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
