At the start of Florida’s practice on Monday, the first since its season opener against Idaho was suspended, coach Will Muschamp said the team focused first on going through film from the game — all 10 seconds of it.
"We started as a team and watched all the plays from Saturday night," Muschamp said. "(It) took a long time."
After a two hour, 48 minute lightning delay, the Gators and the Vandals completed the opening kickoff before more lightning and rain suspended play at Ben Hill Griffin for good on Saturday.
"I didn’t think they were going to call it," said redshirt junior Valdez Showers, who returned the opening kickoff for 64 yards, "but once I saw them hold the offense I knew it probably was going to get cancelled."
Muschamp said that with the return of Andre Debose — who is tied for the Southeastern Conference record with four career kickoff return touchdowns — opposing kickoff teams are going to shy away from kicking the ball to the redshirt senior.
"You’ve got to ready for all alternative kicks - squibs, skies," Muschamp said. "I tell (special teams coordinator) Coleman (Hutzler) all the time, ‘I wouldn’t kick to (Debose).’ I would kick away from the guy. Make someone else beat you."
Added Showers: "If the field was better, I was definitely looking to cut back. But I knew there was a chance I would slip so I was just trying to get as much yardage as I could."
Showers, a Detroit native, is used to playing in less-than-perfect weather conditions.
"I mean it was pretty slippery, but I’m from up North so I’ve played in all types of weather — a lot of snow," Showers said. "So I was ready to play the game regardless."
Suspensions lifted: Nose tackles Darious Cummings and Jay-nard Bostwick (violation of team rules) and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (university sanction) will be eligible to play against Eastern Michigan on Sunday, Muschamp announced Monday.
The three players were originally suspended for the Idaho game.
"(Cummings and Bostwick) will be back this week with us," Muschamp said. "Not just as far as the suspension of a game, but they’ve handled a lot of other things for me, as well as Demarcus Robinson, who had a university sanction that’s been resolved."
Offense progressing: The Gators did not have the opportunity to showcase Kurt Roper’s up-tempo offense, but Muschamp feels the group is ready for Saturday’s game against Eastern Michigan.
"There’s not as many question marks that I thought there would be going into the season positionally," Muschamp said. "Schematically, I think we have answers for a lot of different things. I feel very comfortable with where we are. Again, we haven’t done it against an opponent yet. We’ll have to see how that goes."
The Eagles finished 120th in total defense in 2013, giving up 510.6 yards per game.
In its 31-28 season-opening win against Morgan State, Eastern Michigan surrendered 479 yards.
Christy to start at punter: Kyle Christy had a rough season in 2013.
One year removed from being a finalist for the Ray Guy award given to the best punter, Christy found himself warming the bench after Florida’s 17-6 loss to LSU on Oct. 12 after averaging a meager 39.6 yards per punt for the season.
Muschamp announced Monday that Christy will be the team’s starting punter over Johnny Townsend, giving Christy the opportunity to return to his sophomore-year form.
"I asked our team, I said, ‘look at Kyle and Johnny. You make that decision,’ because they’re both really good players and there’s only one punter," Muschamp said. "It’s not like another position where you can contribute on a coverage unit or a return unit."
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Redshirt junior Valdez Showers returns the opening kickoff — the only play of the game — during Florida's season opener against Idaho on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Showers returned the kickoff 64 yards to Idaho's 14-yard line. Play was suspended shortly afterward.
