ATLANTA — Austin Appleby knelt on the field and gripped the helmet in his right hand.
Jim McElwain stood at the lectern on Monday and made a bold declaration. With a matchup against No. 1 Alabama — a team with the No. 1 scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense in the country — looming following a double-digit loss to Florida State, the second-year coach was asked about the obvious mismatch of his No. 114-ranked offense facing the elite Crimson Tide defense.
As No. 15 Florida prepares for a matchup with No. 1 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Championship game on Saturday, here are a few things to know from this week’s conversations with Florida’s players and coach Jim McElwain.
Jalen Tabor remembers the feeling.
So, Jim McElwain, is your offense ready for the mismatch it’s about to face in Saturday’s Southeastern Conference Championship Game against Alabama’s defense?
TALLAHASSEE — The pocket was closing, so Austin Appleby ran.
TALLAHASSEE — Austin Appleby never saw Josh Sweat coming.
TALLAHASSEE — CeCe Jefferson slogged to the sideline and shoved defensive line coach Chris Rumph.
Austin Appleby knew there were no guarantees when he came to Florida.
It would be difficult to overstate the magnitude of the moment.
BATON ROUGE, La. — “Theirs but to do & die, into the valley of death rode the six hundred.”
Antonio Callaway turned and propelled himself through the air like a rocket, extending his arms as high as they’d go to grab the football. The pair of LSU defenders on either side of him didn’t have time to react.
Florida kicker Eddy Pineiro could face two misdemeanor charges after police said he caused roughly $800 worth of damages to two scooters, according to a sworn complaint filed Nov. 7.
If the Gators hope to escape Baton Rouge with a second-straight Southeastern Conference East title, there’s two things they need to do according to head coach Jim McElwain.
The Florida-LSU matchup didn’t need any extra hype.
T.J. McCoy didn’t have time to think before going in to play against South Carolina on Saturday.
A week after losing by 21 points to Arkansas, Florida defeated South Carolina 20-7 at home, lost a handful of starters to injuries, and is now faced with a must-win game at LSU if the Gators want to guarantee a clinch of the SEC East.
Austin Appleby walked to the lectern with the confidence one would expect from a backup quarterback who’d just led his team to a Southeastern Conference win.
Through the stadium tunnel, past a pair of double doors and nestled in a corner of the weight room, Ahmad Fulwood sat with a confident smile following the best collegiate game of his life.
As if transferring power to a new president, Jim McElwain met defeated former Florida coach Will Muschamp at midfield and embraced him for about 10 seconds. McElwain said he thanked Muscamp for the defensive players he left behind and complimented what he’s doing at South Carolina. He also gushed over Muschamp’s character.
Solutions by The State News
