This might be the most serious problem for the Gators after the hurricane. Forget LSU.
Matthew hits recruiting
Florida's home game with LSU is not only big on the schedule and in the standings, it's also a huge recruiting opportunity for the Gators.
But, like the game itself last week, UF's biggest recruiting weekend of the fall was wiped out by the threat of Hurricane Matthew.
"No, we didn't have anybody on campus. It was canceled," McElwain said Wednesday. "Actually, recruits were canceled prior to that, all I know is the two that we had scheduled ended up visiting somewhere else last weekend."
McElwain said numerous other recruits were expected to attend last Saturday's game, which was postponed last Thursday. Some are expected to make the trip to Gainesville for Saturday's game against Missouri.
"It obviously was a big loss because we had a ton of (2019 recruits) and 2018s, as well, unofficially for what really was our biggest game of the year as far as environment and that type of stuff," McElwain said. "I know people were looking forward to this game, and yet here's the interesting thing when you really sit back and say really, look, all the peoples' lives that were in danger and different things and scenarios that could have happened.
"It's one of those deals where don't cry over it, just pick up and figure how you're going to move forward. We have a lot of people coming in this weekend, which will be good. Any environment on a game day in The Swamp is pretty special, so yeah, we may have lost things but in the big picture the safety of those recruits and those people planning on coming, that was the most important thing for us."
Oliver Barry, CRS, GRI
Real Estate Broker
PARKS
305B Indian Lake Blvd
Suite 220
Hendersonville TN 37075
Phone: 615-826-4040
Mobile: 615-972-4239
From: gatornews@googlegroups.com [mailto:gatornews@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Shane Ford
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2016 8:40 AM
To: GatorNews
Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]: UF football notebook: McElwain on LSU: 'We'll play them anywhere'
UF football notebook: McElwain on LSU: 'We'll play them anywhere'
Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain paces on the sideline against North Texas Mean Green Saturday, September 17, at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field in Gainesville.
Cyndi Chambers/Special to The Sun
By Robbie Andreu
Gainesville SUN Staff writer
Published: Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at 11:20 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at 11:20 p.m.
Florida coach Jim McElwain clearly is not happy about the perception in Baton Rouge and Knoxville that the Gators are ducking LSU after the postponement of last Saturday's game due to the threat of Hurricane Matthew.
McElwain delivered another strong response to the skeptics and conspiracy theorists after practice Wednesday.
"As I said before, I'll go play them anywhere," McElwain said. "I don't get where all this is coming from. The one thing we never do is back down, and if you understand the circumstances you understand what occurred, I get it. But to ever think we wouldn't play them anywhere, that's ridiculous."
Brantley's status uncertain
Starting defensive tackle Caleb Brantley, who injured his hand against Vanderbilt two weeks ago, did not go through a full practice Wednesday and it's unclear how much, if any, he will play Saturday.
"He didn't go a full day today," McElwain said. "I don't know what his deal is. We want guys to show up and play."
McElwain was asked if he is frustrated with Brantley.
"No, I'm not frustrated with him," he said. "He's a great player. He can dominate a game. Sometimes, he's his own worst enemy because, there again, he's so hard on himself, rather than clap it off and go play the next play."
The rest of the injury list for Saturday's game against Missouri is relatively short.
Linebacker Daniel McMillian (shoulder) practiced Wednesday and should be good to go. Cornerback Joseph Putu (ankle) is expected to play. Wide receiver C.J. Worton (unspecified) did not practice and his status is uncertain. Defensive end Justus Reed (unspecified) is out.
Matthew hits recruiting
Florida's home game with LSU is not only big on the schedule and in the standings, it's also a huge recruiting opportunity for the Gators.
But, like the game itself last week, UF's biggest recruiting weekend of the fall was wiped out by the threat of Hurricane Matthew.
"No, we didn't have anybody on campus. It was canceled," McElwain said Wednesday. "Actually, recruits were canceled prior to that, all I know is the two that we had scheduled ended up visiting somewhere else last weekend."
McElwain said numerous other recruits were expected to attend last Saturday's game, which was postponed last Thursday. Some are expected to make the trip to Gainesville for Saturday's game against Missouri.
"It obviously was a big loss because we had a ton of (2019 recruits) and 2018s, as well, unofficially for what really was our biggest game of the year as far as environment and that type of stuff," McElwain said. "I know people were looking forward to this game, and yet here's the interesting thing when you really sit back and say really, look, all the peoples' lives that were in danger and different things and scenarios that could have happened.
"It's one of those deals where don't cry over it, just pick up and figure how you're going to move forward. We have a lot of people coming in this weekend, which will be good. Any environment on a game day in The Swamp is pretty special, so yeah, we may have lost things but in the big picture the safety of those recruits and those people planning on coming, that was the most important thing for us."
Room for improvement on defense
The Gators' defensive numbers certainly look impressive on the weekly SEC stat sheet — first in pass defense, first in total defense, first in scoring defense — but the Gators aren't where they need to be yet, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Randy Shannon said.
"I think we've played OK," he said. "I wouldn't say we've played great. We've got to get better. We're not where we need to be as a defense. We've got some great individual guys who have done some great things, and top five in every category. But why can't we improve to be No. 1?
"That's why I think we're doing OK (but not great). We can improve each week. We're winning games. That's great. But if we don't continue to get better on defense, we're just going to be an OK defense."
Zuniga's growth spurt
One of the best players out of the 2015 recruiting class might turn out to be one of the lowest rated coming out of high school.
Redshirt freshman defensive end Jabari Zuniga, who has a team-leading five sacks, was rated only a two or three-star prospect and originally committed to North Carolina State before flipping to Florida late in the process.
He may have been overlooked by many schools because of his lack of size his junior year, Shannon said.
"He was about 5-11," Shannon said. "But his senior year, he sprouted up. It was like, 'Whoa, wait a minute, who is this guy?' Some people didn't go back through the school because he was 5-11 (as a junior).
"But he's an explosive young man who's quick and has good hands and he's learning the game. He's doing tremendous job for us in the pass game and sacks and stuff, but his run game – if you watch him on tape – he's very, very disruptive because he has very, very strong hands and a very good punch.
"He's done a tremendous job for us and he's continuing to get better. He's gotten better this week. He's learning it."
Zuniga is now 6-3, 245, and still growing in terms of weight and strength.
Sent From Shane's iPhone
Go Gators! & Skål Vikes!
ALPCA #8756
Europlate #1045
--
--
GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY!
1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions |
Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorNews" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatornews+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
No comments:
Post a Comment