That’s what happens with your starters benched and walk-ons playing.
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Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 7:18 PM
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| 9:00 ET, Nov 12, 2013 |
No. 20 Wisconsin holds off No. 11 Florida 59-53
· Cards to pay $11M exit fee to join ACC
· Ole Miss' Henderson back from suspension
· Washington F Jarreau out for season
· ACC tournament headed back to DC in 2016
· Wiggins' surge helps KU top Parker, Duke
· No. 2 Spartans hold off No. 1 Kentucky
· Wisconsin starts slow but gets by Gators
· Graham's late 3 gets VCU past Virginia
(AP Photo/Andy Manis)
By GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer
MADISON, Wis. (AP) The stands were throbbing red, filled with anxious Wisconsin fans standing shoulder-to-shoulder pleading for a clutch shot against the toughest opponent to visit the Kohl Center for an opener in decades.
Sam Dekker and Traevon Jackson sent the vocal backers of the 20th-ranked Badgers home with smiles.
Dekker scored 16 points, and Jackson added 13 - including a floater at the foul line with 8 seconds left - to withstand late pressure from No. 11 Florida in a 59-53 victory Tuesday night.
"Trae is one of the most mentally tough guys I've been around," Dekker said. "He got his little rock-step going and got that lefty pull-up."
Wisconsin held on in its first home opener against a Top 25 team since beating No. 4 Kansas 67-62 on Dec. 3, 1968. The Badgers celebrated with an NBA-style pregame introduction with the lights dimmed and smoke machines pumping before Dekker, Jackson and Ben Brust (11 points, nine rebounds) helped finish off the Gators (1-1).
Michael Frazier II led Florida with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range.
"How many times do you open up with a ranked team though?" coach Bo Ryan asked rhetorically. "Not many teams in the country open up with a ranked team at home."
His team nearly let a 10-point lead in the second half slip away. For an average opponent, that deficit might feel like twice as much against the defensive-minded Badgers.
But the Gators turned up the heat in the backcourt. The lead was slowly whittled down, and a foul shot by Patric Young (eight points, six rebounds) cut it to 56-53 with 41.8 seconds left.
"So I wanted to keep it a one-possession game on the road and I thought if we could've gotten one stop, at least we'd get the ball back, three-point game, to either call a timeout or take a quick shot," Florida coach Billy Donovan said.
Jackson disrupted that plan. Ryan had faith in his guard taking a late shot, even one who had committed five turnovers.
"I knew if I flicked my wrist it would have a chance to go in," Jackson said.
The 17,000-plus fans in the Kohl Center let out one loud roar after it sailed through the net.
Casey Prather had 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting for Florida but it was Frazier who gave the Badgers the most trouble early.
They didn't have an answer for the sharpshooter in the opening 8 minutes. Frazier was 5 of 8 in the first half, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range, to help the Gators build a 16-4 lead about 7 minutes into the game.
That was a huge boost for Florida, which has started the season with just eight scholarship players due to injuries and off-court issues.
Then, things started swaying Wisconsin's way. Dekker was a big reason why after he shook off early tight defense by Prather to help Wisconsin finish the half on a 25-10 run.
"I never felt we got bogged down offensively that we couldn't get good shots," Donovan said. "I'm not so sure that we finished enough plays."
It was only a matter of time for the multidimensional Dekker. He can beat defenders off the dribble and hit from long range. He's a whirl of energy on the court, his eyes seemingly always wide open when calling for the ball.
Dekker followed his first 3 with another 3 in transition from the wing. Having created some space to maneuver, he went strong in the lane for his next two baskets.
"He's reckless with his body. He has no regard for his body in a lot of ways," Donovan said. "I think his offensive game has really blossomed."
Shots started falling for the rest of the Badgers.
Jackson hit a 3 off a pick to help give Wisconsin a 29-26 halftime lead. Nigel Hayes' putback at the shot clock buzzer with 13:36 left in the game gave Wisconsin a 10-point lead before Florida turned up the pressure down the stretch.
Florida has been without center Damontre Harris, forward Dorian Finney-Smith and point guard Scottie Wilbekin because of suspension or off-court issues.
A few other players are coming back from injuries including Will Yeguete (knee); Eli Carter (leg) and Frazier (mononucleosis).
Florida AD Jeremy Foley backs Gators coach Will Muschamp '1,000 percent'
Related
Florida head coach Will Muschamp reacts during the first half of the game against the Georgia on Saturday. After losing to the Bulldogs, Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt is crucial to the Gators’ bowl hopes. (Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports)
By Phillip Heilman
Special to The Palm Beach Post
GAINESVILLE —
University of Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley gave Will Muschamp a strong public show of support Wednesday. Foley told Gator fans — many of whom have expressed their displeasure with the football coach during this injury-plagued, disappointing season — that Muschamp will fix the program.
The Gators, in their third season under Muschamp, are 4-5 and likely will be the first Florida team since 1990 to not play in a bowl game.
“As athletic director, I’m a thousand percent convinced that Will Muschamp is the guy to lead this football program,” Foley told the school’s website. “Nothing has changed in what we feel about Will Muschamp from the day we hired him.
“Everyone around here wants the same thing. We want to do what is right for the University of Florida. We understand that this football season has not gone the way any of us wanted it to go, certainly not the way our fans wanted it to go, and most of all, not the way Will Muschamp wanted it to go.
“We have a history of being successful, we have a history of fixing things when they need to be fixed, and that is what is going to happen here, and Coach Muschamp is the one that will fix it.”
Pressure has mounted around Muschamp and his staff as quickly as the team’s losses.
A year after enjoying an 11-2 season and a trip to the Sugar Bowl, the Gators are mired in a four-game losing streak and have a losing record for the first time since 1992.
With three games remaining in the season, the Gators are out of contention in the SEC Eastern Division and must win two games to even become bowl-eligible.
Florida plays at No. 10 South Carolina on Saturday (7 p.m., ESPN2)
“I understand the passion and the disappointment,’’ Foley said. “But at the end of the day, we’ve got great fans, they love the Gators and their passion makes this place special. They are hurting, they want the program to be successful and we feel that hurt.”
Foley also asked that fans of the program be patient while things get turned around.
“We will get better under Will Muschamp’s leadership,’’ Foley said. “This is not the quote-unquote dreaded ‘vote of confidence.’ This is just how we all feel around here. We have a strong faith and a strong belief in his capabilities, in his leadership skills, in his ability to evaluate what needs to be fixed.”
“Go back to a year ago: we’re 11-1 and beat four teams in the Top 10 and he was SEC Coach of the Year. I don’t think that was a fluke. I think coaching had a lot to do with that. We’ll stay the course here. We’ll get it right. We’re not going to let Gator fans down. We want the same thing they want.”
Gators may be forced to start untested Skyler Mornhinweg at QB
Posted: 6:44 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013
By Jason Lieser - Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
GAINESVILLE —
Tyler Murphy has played through pain for almost a month and might finally have reached his limit.
As floundering Florida gets ready for Saturday’s game at No. 10 South Carolina, it is preparing do so without its starting quarterback. Third-stringer Skyler Mornhinweg — a redshirt freshman who has never played — is running the offense this week as Murphy rests his injured throwing shoulder.
+
JOHN RAOUX
Murphy, the backup who took over when starter Jeff Driskel broke his leg early in the season, has played through what the school is calling a sprained acromioclavicular joint. Gators coach Will Muschamp has a history of being secretive about injuries, so it is difficult to discern the seriousness of the injury.
Murphy is not expected to practice any sooner than Wednesday and is questionable for Saturday’s game (7 p.m., ESPN2). That means the Gators, who desperately need a victory to have a shot at bowl eligibility, are preparing for Mornhinweg to make his first career start.
“He’s ready to go,” offensive coordinator Brent Pease said. “You hope you never have to play with a redshirt freshman. Nothing against him because he’s a smart kid and he works hard, but you hope that you get into your sophomore and junior year before you’re in that situation.”
Banged-up Florida does not have that luxury.
After Mornhinweg, walk-on Christian Provancha is the next quarterback. Neither has taken a snap. The Gators (4-5, 3-4 in the SEC) also have true freshman Max Staver, but are planning to redshirt him this season and would not want to burn a year of his eligibility at this point.
Murphy suffered the sprain in Florida’s loss at LSU on Oct. 12 and played through it against Missouri, Georgia and Vanderbilt. The Gators were off the week after playing LSU, and Mornhinweg took most of the snaps in practice heading into the Missouri game so Murphy could try to heal.
The pain in his shoulder was made worse by throwing 46 times and taking five sacks in Saturday’s loss to Vanderbilt. He completed 30 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown, but threw three interceptions and lost a fumble.
He also suffered a minor leg injury when a Vanderbilt player stepped on him, and Mornhinweg began warming up in case he was needed.
“There was a point where I was kind of limping a little bit, but I was able to just shake it off,” Murphy said. “But Skyler’s a guy who’s working very hard. If his number’s called, he’s going to be ready to step up.”
Pease said the Gators are willing to wait until kickoff to decide on Murphy’s availability if it comes to that. They are open to playing him against South Carolina (7-2, 5-2) without him practicing beforehand.
Since taking over for Driskel, Murphy has completed 60.5 percent of his attempts and is averaging 135.1 yards per game. He has six touchdown passes, five interceptions and has rushed for three touchdowns.
Florida won his first three games against the lowly trio of Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas, but has since dropped four straight.
If Mornhinweg’s unique last name sounds familiar, that is because he is the son of New York Jets offensive coordinator and former Detroit Lions head coach Marty Mornhinweg.
Skyler Mornhinweg originally committed to Penn State, which was mired in the aftermath of its infamous scandal, but Pease swayed him to the Gators in January 2012. He is 6-foot-2, 206 pounds and was rated a three-star recruit by Rivals. He came to UF from St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia.
After spending his first year with the Gators running the scout team offense, he took more significant reps in the ensuing off-season. He was the No. 2 quarterback when Driskel missed the opening week of training camp following an appendectomy.
Florida O-coordinator Brent Pease feeling heat but doing best to focus on task at hand
Related
Courtesy University of Florida Athletics
Florida offensive coordinator Brent Pease works with freshman receiver Latroy Pittman (left) during a practice before the 2012 season. (Photo courtesy University of Florida Athletics)
By Jason Lieser
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
GAINESVILLE —
Brent Pease is feeling the heat but doing his best to ignore it.
Since coming to Florida as the offensive coordinator last year, he has presided over a struggling offense that shows little promise of redirecting itself. The Gators rank 106th in scoring and 112th in total offense in the nation, and Pease knows that might make it tough to keep his job.
“It’s human nature to think about that,” he said. “But, you know, I’ve still got an obligation to this team and the head coach and the players and the administration that I work for.”
UF ranked 78th in scoring and 104th in yardage last year.
Despite the noise surrounding him amidst a disastrous season, Pease is concentrating solely on Saturday’s game at No. 10 South Carolina (7 p.m., ESPN2).
“It’s the same thing we tell the kids: You’ve got to be mentally tough,” said Pease, who was Boise State’s offensive coordinator before joining the Gators’ staff. “You’ve got to shut it out sometimes. And I understand what people are saying and frustrated with. You’ve got to work through it.
“In my situation, I don’t think you can lose confidence in who you are and what you believe and how you’ve got to do your job.”
Pease has managed most of this season without his starting quarterback and running back, and the offensive line has been battered by injuries.
The biggest lost was Jeff Driskel, a dual-threat quarterback who was the focal point of the offense. He broke his leg in the third game of the season and was replaced by seldom-used backup Tyler Murphy.
The Gators might be forced to play their third-string quarterback, Skyler Mornhinweg, this week as Murphy rehabs a sprained shoulder.
Florida also is missing offensive tackles Chaz Green (torn labrum), Tyler Moore (broken elbow) and D.J. Humphries (sprained knee) this week. Green and Moore are out for the year, and Humphries is hoping to return for one of the two final games.
Those aren’t ideal conditions for a man who might be coaching for his job.
“Yeah, it’s tough, but what are you going to do?” Pease said. “You’ve got to play the cards you’re dealt.”
Harrison alleges racist words: In his first public comments since being ejected in the Oct. 5 game against Arkansas, Gators center Jonotthan Harrison said his frustration boiled over in part because a Razorbacks player called him a racial slur.
Harrison, who is black, said he became angry and approached a referee about the issue. He was ejected for making contact with the official during the discussion, though Harrison said it was unintentional.
“I got called every version of the N-word known to man,” he said Tuesday. “I went up to the ref and I’m like, ‘Ref, please, you have to control this player. He’s been calling me every racial slur.’ And I talk with my hands, and I touched the ref in his chest.
“There was no malicious intent. I was honestly just trying to tell the ref to get this player because I was getting attacked. I felt like I was getting harassed, and it was beyond football. Calling me the N-word and everything is not football anymore. It is just going out of your way.”
Harrison, a senior, had never previously been ejected from a game. He has a reputation as one of the most intelligent and levelheaded players on the team.
Gators C Jonotthan Harrison says Arkansas player called him the N-word
by Jason Lieser
Florida C Jonotthan Harrison would be considered one of the least likely players on the team to be ejected from a game, so when he was tossed out against Arkansas last month, it was reasonable to assume there were unusual circumstances.
Harrison, who is black, revealed today that his frustration mounted because an Arkansas player repeatedly directed a racial slur at him. When Harrison brought his complaint to the ref, he accidentally hit him in the chest and was ejected.
“One play I got face-masked, then the next play I got called every version of the N-word known to man,” he said this afternoon. “I went up to the ref and I’m like, ‘Ref, please, you have to control this player. He’s been calling me every racial slur.’ And I talk with my hands, as you guys probably have seen this whole time, and I touched the ref in his chest. I didn’t poke him.
“There was no malicious intent. I wasn’t trying to be an A-hole or anything like that. I was honestly was just trying to tell the ref to get this player because I was getting attacked. I felt like I was getting harassed, and it was beyond football. Calling me the N-word and everything is not football anymore. It is just going out of your way.”
Here is ESPN’s video from the game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uju88zwhCtI
Harrison, a senior, had never previously been ejected from a game.
He was thrown out in the third quarter of Florida’s 30-10 victory over the Razorbacks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Oct. 5. Today was the first time he has been available to the media since the incident.
Can Florida Gators end skid against South Carolina? (Video)
by Post Staff
Jason Lieser and CineSport’s Justin Shackil break down this week’s game against South Carolina, including the Gators’ QB situation, bowl outlook, the SEC and more. Check out the video after the jump.
Florida-South Carolina Preview
· Former BYU star Christensen dies at 57
· Florida officials supporting Muschamp
· Cards to pay $11M exit fee to join ACC
· SWAC to fine Grambling for forfeit
· Hokies K Journell dismissed from team
· 2 more charged in Tar Heels agent probe
· Ducks' Mariota says knee isn't an issue
· Ohio St. WR gets media ban for Tide jab
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier knows his team's chances of playing for the Southeastern Conference title depend on what happens in a game that should finish before the No. 11 Gamecocks kick off Saturday night against Florida.
But Spurrier doesn't plan to pay much attention to the game between No. 25 Georgia and seventh-ranked Auburn.
Instead, he wants his team to focus on beating the Gators for the third time in four years.
"No interest at all in that game. We have no control over it," Spurrier said. "We're just going to talk about trying to play our best this week. Whatever happens within the division happens."
Both Georgia and Missouri have to lose one more SEC game for the Gamecocks to win the SEC East. But the Gamecocks are still in a pretty good position. While the Bulldogs get an Auburn team with just one SEC loss, Missouri has a bye before facing Mississippi and No. 10 Texas A&M to end its season.
But a loss to the Gators would end just about any hopes of making it to Atlanta for the SEC title game for just the second time in school history.
"We can't win it this week, but we can lose it this week," offensive lineman Ronald Patrick said.
Florida (4-5, 3-4) has dominated South Carolina (7-2, 5-2) since the Gamecocks joined the SEC in 1992. But South Carolina broke a 14-game losing streak against the Gators in 2005 and won two in a row before Florida's 44-11 win last season in a bizarre game.
The Gamecocks outgained the Gators 191 yards to 183 yards, but three fumbles and an interception doomed South Carolina. It was similar to Florida's 34-17 loss last week to Vanderbilt, where the Gators outgained the Commodores, but turned the ball over four times.
"They clobbered us last year," Spurrier said. "We fumbled it all over the place and got beat probably about as badly as we have in the last two or three years around here."
But that Florida team was ranked third in the country and was 6-0. This year's Gators are in danger of their first losing season since 1979. Florida has the worst offense in the SEC at 336 yards a game, but the best defense, allowing just under 279 yards a game.
"Our guys have confidence. We just need to put them in situations to be successful," Florida coach Will Muschamp said,
What has hurt Florida the most is injuries. The Gators have lost 10 players, including six starters, to season-ending injuries.
"We need to learn to overcome our circumstances," Muschamp said.
Offensive coordinator Brent Pease said Tuesday that quarterback Tyler Murphy's throwing shoulder is still sore and could keep him out against the Gamecocks.
Murphy sprained his right shoulder against LSU last month. He started the last three games - losses against Missouri, Georgia and Vanderbilt - and completed 55.7 percent of his passes for 479 yards, with one touchdown pass and four interceptions. He also was sacked 15 times.
Murphy said Monday he landed on his shoulder against the Commodores - he was sacked five times - and possibly made the injury worse.
He sat out practice Monday and Tuesday, and Pease said his availability will come down to "how well he can throw the ball with spin."
If Murphy can't play, redshirt freshman Skyler Mornhinweg would make his first career start. Mornhinweg, the son of New York Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, hasn't played a down in two years.
South Carolina has missed just one starter, center Cody Waldrop, and he may be back on the field Saturday, Spurrier said.
"Injury-wise and health-wise for our team, we're probably as healthy as about any team in the country, I guess. We've been very fortunate there," Spurrier said.
The Gamecocks were off last week, and Spurrier believes it helped a lot of players, especially starting quarterback Connor Shaw. The senior played the last two games in a knee brace, limiting his mobility. He was held to negative yards rushing in both games, something that has happened just three other times in the 39 games he played at South Carolina.
The Gamecocks converted just one of 11 third downs in a 34-16 win over Mississippi State on Nov. 2 and Spurrier said Shaw's knee was part of the problem.
"He'd take off and run for them. We didn't do that any in the last game," Spurrier said.
South Carolina can also set a school record Saturday by winning its 16th straight home game. The Gamecocks' streak is also the longest in the country. Spurrier is proud of the mark, but said he also realizes schedules have something to do with the streak. South Carolina has played just two Top 25 teams at home during that run.
Spurrier said, "Our schedule has favored us pretty well - some of the top teams we've played recently, like last year, we were on the road against LSU and Florida."
UF NOTEBOOK
Gators coach Will Muschamp fumes over penalties
Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp gestures during the team's game against the Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Field in Jacksonville on Nov. 2, 2013.
SAM GREENWOOD / GETTY IMAGES
BY JESSE SIMONTON
MIAMI HERALD WRITER
GAINESVILLE -- Will Muschamp has had enough.
Incensed over Florida’s lack of discipline and weekly penalty problem, Muschamp embarrassed players Monday in a heated team meeting, highlighting every player and the number of penalties they had committed his season.
Message sent, according to senior guard Jon Halapio.
“When you show and display that in front of the whole entire team you can feel the accountability and embarrassment when you’re getting called out in front of the team like that,” Halapio said. “So I think everybody is gonna do a better job this week.”
Florida ranks No. 119 nationally — and tops in the SEC — with 8.1 penalties per game.
UF has more penalties during its four-game losing streak than seven teams in the country have all season.
• Andre Debose — sidelined for the season with a torn ACL — will return for a sixth season in 2014, according Muschamp. Debose must petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibly, but the wide receiver/kick returner should qualify due to multiple season-ending injuries over his career.
Since the Missouri game, running backs coach Brian White has moved from the coach’s box to the sidelines.
Muschamp, frustrated by the lack of consistency, has reopened UF’s kicking competition — again. Florida ranks No. 104 nationally in field goal percentage (58.8 percent) and are tied for the fourth-most misses (10-of-17) in the country.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/13/3749240/gators-coach-will-muschamp-fumes.html#storylink=cpy
UF FOOTBALL
Reeling Gators might start third-string QB Skyler Mornhinweg
Tyler Murphy, who replaced the injured Jeff Driskel, has a shoulder sprain, and UF might have to turn to redshirt freshman Skyler Mornhinweg.
Florida quarterback Tyler Murphy (3) scampers for yardage after failing to find a receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 in Gainesville, Fla. Vanderbilt defeated Florida 34-17. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
PHIL SANDLIN / AP
BY JESSE SIMONTON
MIAMI HERALD WRITER
GAINESVILLE -- Florida’s offense, already a fragile and teetering unit ranked No. 111 nationally, faces a daunting proposition this weekend with a trip to No. 11 South Carolina.
The last thing the Gators need is additional uncertainty, but this situation might get worse.
The Gators could be down to their third-string quarterback Saturday (7 p.m., ESPN2) against the Gamecocks if redshirt junior Tyler Murphy is unable to practice at all this week with a lingering shoulder sprain, offensive coordinator Brent Pease announced Tuesday.
“I think it’s probably a game-time decision,” Pease said. “Same situation we’ve been in before. He’s got to get in some practice time at some point in time. I mean he’ll be able to do the run game. He should know that. It’s more his [comfort] of how to throw, I guess. How well he can throw the ball with spin?’’
Pease listed Murphy as “day-to-day,” saying, “He’s sore. He’s rehabbing. He’s in a situation where he’s spending time in the training room getting healthy again.”
Murphy, UF’s starter the past six games, initially sprained his AC joint in his throwing shoulder in the loss to LSU on Oct. 12. If he’s unable to play, redshirt freshman Skyler Mornhinweg — son of New York Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg — would start at quarterback.
The former three-star prospect has never taken a collegiate snap and has mostly been viewed as a long-term project and career backup.
“He’s ready to go,” Pease said hesitantly, before quickly adding, “The thing that’s tough on a kid in his situation is just experience. You hope you never really have to play with a redshirt freshman. Nothing against [Skyler] because he’s a smart kid, he works hard. But in a developmental situation, you hope that you get into your sophomore and junior year before you’re in that situation, whether you’re competing for the job or in a backup role ready to play.”
Murphy is hopeful he can start this weekend, but he isn’t particularly optimistic.
“It’s very difficult just because after these last few losses and not playing well on Saturday, I need all the practice I can get,” he said. “It’s just frustrating being banged up a little bit and having to sit out and try to get healthy. I’m just gonna live in the training room and get healthy and try to get back out there as soon as possible.’’
Florida’s current quarterback quagmire isn’t totally foreign to the team or staff. Mornhinweg actually took the majority of reps with the No. 1 offense during the Missouri week, as Murphy continued to nurse his shoulder.
“Skyler will get the reps. We’d been in a situation before with Tyler where he was getting the reps in place of Jeff [Driskel]. Now, a couple of weeks ago, Skyler was taking all the reps going into the Missouri game,” Pease said.
“It’s not something that is a new situation for us, but you’ve got to plan and make sure the things with do with Skyler, Murphy should also be able to perform. Fit things around both of them in a game plan that’s really going to benefit our team.”
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/13/3749832/reeling-gators-might-start-third.html#storylink=cpy
Notebook: Kickers, Spurrier & more
GAINESVILLE -- Florida’s field goal kicking carousel won’t stop spinning.
Coach Will Muschamp again shuffled kickers in Saturday’s loss to Vanderbilt, but the “hot hand” approach yielded similar results with another missed kick.
Muschamp -- frustrated by the lack of consistency -- said the competition remains open this week and the staff will reevaluate who practiced best before the team travels to South Carolina.
Redshirt freshman Austin Hardin (4-of-10) and walk-ons Brad Phillips (2-of-2) and Frankie Velez (4-of-5) have all taken shots as the starter, as Florida ranks No. 104 nationally in field goal percentage (58.8 percent) and are tied for the fourth-most misses (10-of-17) in the country.
Muschamp said the team has scratched the long- and short-kicker philosophy, saying, “Right now we just need to have the one guy that’s hitting the ball the best and most consistent.”
QUOTABLE – TALKING THE OLD BALL COACH
"Well, he's got a statute in front of the stadium. I've got great respect for him because he's won, and he's done it the right way. And everywhere he's been, he's been successful. And he's an outstanding football coach, but he does things the right way. He handles things the right way. And I just have a lot of respect for him as a player, coming up and playing against him, and now as a coach that's coached against him multiple times. Just a guy that I've got tremendous respect for."
-- Muschamp on why it was important for him to reach out to South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier when he was first hired by Florida in 2011.
THIS & THAT
Andre Debose -- sidelined for the season with a torn ACL -- will return for a sixth season in 2014, according to Muschamp. Debose must petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibly, but the wide receiver/kick returner should qualify due to multiple season-ending injuries over his career. The fifth-year senior has eight career touchdowns -- four as a returner and four as a wideout. … Since the Missouri game, running backs coach Brian White has moved from the coach’s box to the sidelines. “Just with the youth at running back, we felt like he needed to be on the field to make sure we’re getting the communication with those guys,” Muschamp said.
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gator_clause/2013/11/notebook-kickers-spurrier-more-.html#storylink=cpy
Harrison alleges racial epithets
GAINESVILLE -- Offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison, a fifth-year senior who has started 36 straight games, spoke to reporters for the first time since his ejection in the third quarter against Arkansas on Oct. 5 -- Florida’s last win.
Harrison -- who was tossed for touching an official -- charged his ejection to an incensed reaction following continuous racial slurs hurled at him by an unnamed Razorbacks player.
Harrison alleges, “What happened was, one play I got face-masked, then the next play I got called every version of the N-word known to man. And I went up to the ref and I'm like, 'Ref, please, you have to control this player. He's been calling me every racial slur.'
Harrison said after the third-down play, the Arkansas player again crossed the line and Harrison pleaded with the official before making a boneheaded mistake.
“I talk with my hands as you guys probably have seen this whole time and I touched the ref in his chest. I didn't poke him, but I was talking like this. I didn't even know I got ejected,” he said.”
“I was sitting on the sideline talking to the coach and I heard my number, and then they just walked me off the field. There was no malicious intent. I wasn't trying to be an a-hole or anything like that. I was honestly was just trying to tell the ref to get this player because I was getting attacked. I felt like I was getting harassed, and it was beyond football. Calling me the N-word and everything is not football anymore. It is just going out of your way."
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gator_clause/2013/11/harrison-alleges-racial-epithets-.html
VIDEO: Harrison also dished on offensive coordinator Brent Pease's job security, his "erasing" of the Vanderbilt loss, the injuries and the "woe is me mentality" and playing South Carolina not Jadeveon Clowney.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOkLxpLIX5o
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gator_clause/2013/11/harrison-alleges-racial-epithets-.html#storylink=cpy
With pressure mounting, Pease blocks out the noise
GAINESVILLE -- Brent Pease is not oblivious to the criticism. Florida’s embattled offensive coordinator hears fans’ frustrations. But ultimately, UF’s second-year coordinator is ignoring the noise by practicing what he preaches.
"It's the same thing we tell the kids, you've got to be mentally tough. You've got to shut it out sometimes,” he said. “And I understand what people are saying and frustrated with. Do they understand all of the circumstances? Not all of the time. But you've got to work through it. In my situation I don't think you can lose confidence in who you are and what you believe in and how you have got to do your job.”
Florida’s woeful offense is destined for a third consecutive finish in the bottom-20 in all of college football. The Gators rank No. 111 nationally and last in the SEC in total offense. UF is also last in league in touchdowns and yards per play (4.82) -- the only team in the conference averaging less than 5.33 per touch.
(Courtesy bullgator.com)
With the injuries, ineptitude and a swelling cacophony of vitriol aimed in his direction, Pease admitted he’s pondered his job security.
“I mean, it’s human nature to probably think about that,” he said. “But I still got an obligation to this team, and the head coach, and the players I coach and the administration that I work for.”
Quarterback Tyler Murphy said Pease’s demeanor and daily drive hasn’t changed at all though during the team’s recent tough stretch.
“He's still working hard, still coaching hard. Still treats everyone the same. I haven't noticed a change in him. He's upset with how we're performing and that we're losing but he's still working hard day in and day out,” Murphy said.
Murphy also voiced support for Pease, saying the coach absolutely puts the players in the best position to succeed but they’re simply not making enough plays.
“Coach Pease calls plays and puts us in good situations. We just haven’t been successful as players doing that. We have to hold ourselves accountable and find ways to get the job done,” he said.
Although Pease has definitely struggled with player development during his time in Gainesville, injuries have derailed his coaching abilities this season.
Five offensive players -- starting quarterback Jeff Driskel, starting tailback Matt Jones, starting offensive tackles Tyler Moore and Chaz Green and wideout Andre Debose -- have been lost for the year to season-ending injuries, while another handful of key contributors -- right guard Jon Halapio, left tackle D.J. Humphries and hybrid tailback Valdez Showers -- have missed action too.
“It’s tough, and I mean, what are you going to do?,” Pease said. “You got to play the cards you’re dealt.”
But while Florida has flopped mostly 2’s and 7’s, players continue to endorse their beleaguered coach.
“It's a team thing. It's not just Brent. It's not just coach Pease that's affecting the team,” fifth-year senior center Jonotthan Harrison said. “No, it's a team thing from the players, from the leadership of the players, from coaching. Whatever it is, it's just a whole team thing and we just need to pull tighter as a team. There's no one person that we can really blame for any of our problems. We just need to pull tighter as a team and gel as a team as a whole.”
Harrison added: “It is unfair to blame coach Pease for everything.”
ICYMI: Reeling Gators may be forced to start their third-string quarterback this weekend. And coach Will Muschamp fumes over Florida's persistent penalty problem.
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gator_clause/2013/11/with-pressure-mounting-pease-blocks-out-the-noise.html#storylink=cpy
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