AP source: Florida fires 2 assistants after defensive fiasco
Florida coach Dan Mullen, center, watches play against Oklahoma during the first half of the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)GAINESVILLE, Fla. โ A person familiar with the situation says Florida coach Dan Mullen has fired two defensive assistants in the wake of the unitโs worst season in more than a hundred years. The Sooners racked up a whopping 684 yards โ the most any team has ever gained against Florida โ in the Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night. The Gators played without three defensive starters in the Cotton Bowl. Even with those give guys, Floridaโs defense was mostly a debacle.
Toney, Trask shine as No. 10 Florida tops, fights Missouri
It could be costly for Florida (3-1), which plays rival and fifth-ranked Georgia next week in nearby Jacksonville. The referee huddled Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz and Mullen near the goal line and then announced the ejections. Missouri defensive lineman Tre Williams, Florida defensive end Zach Carter and Florida linebacker Antwuan Powell were tossed. Florida forced a fumble on the ensuing play, and Toney was at it again. Florida plays Georgia in the Worldโs Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, which will be limited to about 18,000 fans.
Floridaโs defensive debacle could prompt changes before LSU
With a defense giving up nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns a game, Floridaโs preseason title hopes are in jeopardy. Floridaโs defense ranks 13th in the Southeastern Conference and 72nd in the country (only 76 Football Bowl Subdivision teams are currently playing). โWell, first of all, as a defense weโve got to take responsibility,โ junior defensive tackle Zach Carter said. Now is a great time for us to come together.โItโs been a weekly debacle, really, with the teamโs offensive prowess masking many of the defensive deficiencies. โI think weโll be fine.โThe schedule doesnโt get much easier, if at all, with defending national champion LSU (1-2) up next.
Spiller helps No. 21 A&M top No. 4 Florida 41-38
โNow I want to see what do you follow up with?โIsaiah Spiller rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 21 Texas A&M beat fourth-ranked Florida 41-38 on Seth Smallโs 26-yard field goal as time expired Saturday. Spiller helped get the Aggies get into position for Smallโs decisive kick, sending A&M to its first win over a top-five team since a 41-38 victory over No. Florida led 28-24 early in the fourth when Spiller struck again, running 19 yards for a touchdown on a fourth-and-2 play. Spiller bounced off several defenders before waltzing into the end zone and then hitting the Florida fan section with a Gator chomp.
Trask, Pitts help No. 3 Florida top South Carolina 38-24
3 Florida to a 38-24 victory over South Carolina on Saturday. The next performance comes at Kyle Field, where Texas A&M will try to become the first Southeastern Conference opponent to slow down Trask and Pitts in 2020. Kevin Harris was one of the few bright spots for South Carolina, which flubbed a chance to make it a one-score game in the final minute. DROPPED PASSESA big reason South Carolina couldnโt keep up in the first half was dropped passes. Florida takes its โKyle to Kyle Showโ to Kyle Field to play Texas A&M next Saturday.
Florida Gators have potential for championships in Dan Mullens 3rd year
It also could be Mullen taking over-the-top precaution as the eighth-ranked Gators get ready to begin a championship-or-bust season. We have the potential to go compete for a championship and be a championship team, said Mullen, who is 21-5 in two seasons in Gainesville. Florida won 10 games in Mullens first season and 11 in Year 2. Despite Franks' departure, the Gators still have as much depth at the position as they've had in years. This season, Wilson has All-SEC potential and fellow cornerback Kaiir Elam is considered a rising star after a breakout freshman year.