Gators Online writers Zach Abolverdi and Nick de la Torre preview the Florida-Miami game with Gary Ferman of CaneSport.com. We break down both sides of the ball, players to watch and keys to the game. We also react to UF's Week 1 depth chart.
Gators Online Podcast
Ep. 102: Florida vs. Miami preview with Gary Ferman of CaneSport.com
what's up Gator Nation welcome to the latest Gators online show Zach Ababerti and Nick Deltor here and we have made it to game week folks Florida Miami the weight is over in the swamp Saturday at 3 30 rivalry renewed for the first time in 16 years in Gainesville Florida so looking forward to this one we will have Gary Fuhrman from Kane Sport on this episode to preview Miami and what to expect from them on Saturday we will give our takeaways from the depth chart here at the start of the show but first and foremost we got a welcome back new dad Greek Deltor what's up my friend just tired tired I guess a little Frankie she was excited for the game to Zach wasn't supposed to be here until September 12 decided to show up almost two weeks ago it'll be two weeks on Saturday showed up on her baby shower was probably matching get an invite to that either so I'm I'm a bust open that party but yeah being a dad is cool definitely tiring but but a really really cool experience first time for me my wife was up all night last night so we're up on coffee in adrenaline since this game week I've been in that boat before my daughter was born week one of week one of the Dan Mullen era in 2018 and I remember telling you that you planned it poorly and here I am here I am my wife was literally in labor as the game was going on and I was watching the game in the room at the hospital so I wasn't working though I was just watching the game but I still wasn't gonna I wasn't gonna miss it so but Frankie doesn't have to miss this first game I don't know if you remember it but you won't miss it that's for sure well we've missed you I'm glad that you've got to take some time with the family congratulations to you and low you got to shout out from Billy Napier as well that was very nice of him and obviously he knows what it's like being a new dad so we got a new season to talk about we got a new death chart that dropped on Wednesday some surprises that came from that death chart some things that we expected as well we'll kind of break this all down here before we are joined by Gary and talk some Miami hurricanes but Nick we've been waiting folks have been asking and it finally hit on Wednesday night and some surprises what were some of the things that jumped out at you right away two big things one Montrose Johnson coming back and Billy said you know last night he said yeah Montrose they closed practice that last those last couple days of fall camp and Billy made the comment he said yeah Montrose been back practicing it's like well you know we weren't there to see that bill but I think you know right away we when you hear knee injury and running back or anyone knee injury and football player you think the worst your mind goes to the worst and we're kind of told early on because some reports or some rumors were six weeks and he would be out for the A&M game or maybe getting back by the A&M game and then I think it was only one source so we didn't really go I didn't really write it because I wasn't able to get another source on it that just said it you know they just went in they ended up cleaning up some cartilage but the surgery showed that everything else was stable that there wasn't any other it wasn't a meniscus or an ACL or any other thing that everything else was stable and that the prognosis was like hey if everything goes well in terms of his rehab he'll be back by the end of fall camp and I thought that seems optimistic but here we are so getting Montrose Johnson back you know we spent the last three weeks talking about Tram Webb Jacoby Jackson and how the room and I think I even said on our shows act like I thought Florida's running back room was good and it had good depth but that was when Montrose was healthy and in it so getting him back for this game I think is big and then the other one is a little offensive line shake-up I've said on the show several times the farthest I am away from what the coaching staff says and what I think is the offensive line and we get a little shake-up there right tackle with camera weights who had been working at guard had missed some time with with injury was in a non-contact jersey during camp but seeing him ahead of Brandon Crenshaw Dixon the transfer from from San Diego State I think that was kind of eye-popping as well everything else really on across the offensive line I think was what we expected I mean even surprising to see him ahead of Kate and Jones Nick only because of two things one what we had been hearing about Jones and Crenshaw Dixon which was that it was a battle between those two but then when we got to see the viewing periods for the media during fall camp again this is just the viewing period they tell us not to like report things officially based on the way guys are repping in those drills because it can change and obviously here's a great example because when we saw the offensive line in fall training camp and we watch them go Rob sale call out the ones call out the twos call out the threes cam weights was running with the third team offensive line at right tackle so this is quite the climb up the depth chart and he was also cross-training at right guarders where you see him is also listed as a backup so but it's funny they can I wrote it on Gators online Thursday you know all the back and forth about you know what was going to happen at that right tackle spot over the last ten months they've used 10 or excuse me four different guys at that position and then they end up starting with the guy that they ended the year last year with and that was cam weights because he started the last two games of 23 at right tackle so those are obviously the big depth chart takeaways that kind of jump out we'll get into more of that breakdown a little bit later in the show and also give you know our thoughts on Florida and what we're looking for for week one but right now it is time to talk about the Miami hurricane so we're gonna be joining my Gary Furman from kane sport.com to get you guys some perspective on Mario Christopher ball's team heading into Gainesville Florida Gary welcome it to the Gators online show how are you doing my friend doing great how you guys doing we're doing great we're getting close to game day man it's finally here man it's been a long off season we've we've had 41 new players added to the Miami team that's a lot of recruiting that we've had to cover. We are ready for football. Well you guys have a great job. Florida's had yeah Florida's had two back-to-back years with premier first games but this one feels different and I'm biased I'm from Fort Lauderdale and the South Florida kid born in 88 so I grew up during a heyday from Miami in the 90s or early 2000s but it's unfortunate these teams don't play more but yeah this this first game feels different it's nice to have from a writer perspective nice to have this as a first game instead of spending five months previewing north southeastern western state Tech College. Well you got you got about 48 hours to lobby Scott the athletic director up there Dan Radikovich from Miami has already said he is going to be having that conversation while he's in Gainesville Miami would love to schedule as many home and home series with Florida as Florida's will in the schedule because of what the game means to all the football fans in the state of Florida for both schools and yeah you know it's it's a shame that for a few decades now that we've been deprived of this game on an annual basis it's you know I get it schedules are difficult Florida's got most probably tough schedule in the country this year yeah but probably not the year they wish they were playing Miami but you know at the same time it's like what are they here for they're here to entertain people and and they're here to be relevant to people and man if they if if if they could just you know find a way to schedule this game every year I think we'd all be happy I know I speak for you guys but I can remember when Miami came to the swamp in 2002 and then again in 2008 No 2002 was Ken Dorsey came to the swamp and it was literally the college football's best team defending national champions come into the swamp first time in a while and just like the excitement for that game and that matchup and then it was once again there in 2008 like you're right Gary it's there's not a lot of things that can replicate it and I wish we did get it more often I was mentioned at the start you know you guys have done a great job it came sport covering this match of this week I would encourage Florida fans to go check out came sports.com if you got an on three subscription you can read all Gary and his teams work because you guys have got to talk to a lot of players and coaches this week where I think we're a little jealous but you know really giving us a feel for how they feel in core gables about this game what's been your sense just this week talking to the players and the coaches about this matchup. I mean they're excited you know you know they've worked so hard and and you know when you have to bring 41 new faces into your team that's a lot of work from a mental cultural standpoint and you know they put all that time in they've had their team bonding activities they you know had pretty good off-season workouts and and you know Ken Ward has come in seamlessly and taken a leadership role on this team they're ready to go see what they have you know they think they're a better Miami team there's no question they've improved the roster but the thing that was that I found interesting in the prep for this game is Vegas sets the over-under at 9.5 right for Miami in terms of wins this season but the betters are pounding the under you know they don't they don't trust Miami Miami has to earn their trust back and you know I think the the under's like - 160 or something there's just it's just getting killed at the sports books so listen Miami thinks it's better they they have improved the roster in most spots they're still light on depth in certain areas but now they just got to go out and prove it they got to go out and play a solid game their coordinators must come through like to me that's the key to their whole season they've got pieces to work with more than they've had in a very long time they two great guys that are the coordinators on each side of the ball but being great guys doesn't matter anything starting Saturday at 3.30 they got to be able to scheme it up they got to be solid for 12 games and last year I didn't feel they were and so to me that is the big variable for Miami is the schematic side of the game it's interesting to me because schematically Mario offensive lineman you think want to have and Miami does I think have a great front seven on the defensive side and a really good offensive line but he brings in Shannon Dawson who comes from like an air raid background to me it's almost like we're what it reminds me of like Will Muschamp when he was bouncing around coordinators and was pro style then spread is my when I look at what they got with Damian Martinez and how that line is what is Miami's identity because it seems like the offensive coordinator wants to throw the ball but the strength could be running the football well he's had to adjust Nick I mean he has had to adjust I mean you know I asked him the other day you know what he had he had a year at Houston where they put up huge numbers and and that's really what got him the Miami job and they had playmakers all over the place and you know I asked him if this was similar to that because Miami does have a day of playmakers now I mean you know that there's no excuses I'm not sure they have like a guy that's gonna go at the top of the first round of the NFL draft but they got a lot of guys on this on this in this offense that can make plays and I asked him if there were you know similarities to hit that one year at Houston and he said not really because we're doing things differently here and what he meant was that when he was hired he was asked to incorporate the Alabama running game into his air raid passing concepts and you know I think there was a little bit of an adjustment period last year to that you know I mean I mentioned earlier that you know I didn't feel it Miami was always at its best schematically last year you know they had a quarterback that mentally imploded that took a lot of the heat and the blame for everything but it was you know I you know I just didn't feel like they really had it all together schematically either just in terms of having a hurry up offense at points in the game where you needed a hurry up offense things like that exploiting what the opponent was doing if they're not covering the flat you got to throw the ball to the flat and they make them cover the flat if they're single covering you on the outside you got to be able to hit shots down the field against that single coverage to get them out of that single coverage these are kind of little things that I thought fell through last year for Miami that this year can't fall through the expectations are higher justifiably because the talent level is higher so what's the identity we're gonna find out I mean they'd be foolish with the running back room they have and the offensive line they have to abandon the running game and but that conflicts obviously with the agenda of Cam Ward and coming here to showcase himself in National Football League who wants to put up 400 yard passing games so they're gonna have to strike a balance it a lot of it'll be determined I think week-to-week based on what the opponent is doing and what the strengths of the opponent are but a true identity that's gonna be a project I think from Miami to find the true identity Gary we I think we know and we had you you know obviously I joined your show this week and we talked about it there the concerns for Miami on the defensive side of the ball which we'll get into but on the offensive side of the ball there is a lot to like where are the concerns with this unit and obviously coming into a first game on the road the environment that the swamp will provide new quarterback new running back what are some of that is that maybe some of the concerns or is there is there something else that you can maybe pinpoint my only concern on offense is the lack of that one outfit dude out on the outside that can change that can change a game on his own when you're in trouble you know I mean you look back to the history of Miami there was always like a Michael Irvin or Andre Johnson those kind of players you know Santana Moss that that you could reach to in the moments when you need to get out of the game and get and get a victory and you know I don't care how good you are even like the Georgia's in Alabama's of modern day like I don't care how good you are you're gonna have those three four five weeks during the season where that game's gonna be hanging in the balance in the quarter and your dudes got to go win it for you like whether the quarterback the running backs to receive whoever it is so my only concern for my with Miami offensively because they do have pieces all over the place is do they have that alpha dude that's the eraser you know for them when they're in trouble when they're having a bad day when they turn the ball over when the other team comes with a great game plan and they are exploiting your defense a little bit putting up points and you have to score a lot of points to win you know do they have that dude that's gonna get them out of that out of those jams defensively I you know what I saw this fall I thought they were improved you know they're lacking depth in a few areas particularly in the defense of backfield you know I'm not sure about the depth that linebacker could just because they have young kids that have never done it they're unbelievable at the defensive line so you know Florida is gonna have its hands full up front I think with the waves of talent that Miami's gonna be able to roll in on the defensive line and that's gonna create really the the probably the big subplot of the game can Florida's offense find ways to move the ball and probably get it out of Graham Mercy's hands quickly to you know to have success offensively and how does that conflict with Nick we you know we talked I mean Zach we talked about this the other day how's that conflict with their initiatives to get more big plays down the field you know justifiably so you know you lost five games in a row to end the year doing the think think and dunk thing you had a quarterback that completed 73 percent of his passes I mean it's unheard of but when you complete 73 percent you're not throwing the ball down the field a whole heck of a lot you know to get to that 73 percent mark so if you're trying to be different because you should be you lost your last five you weren't a good team last year you have to find a way to get more explosion into your offense then the quarterback's got to sit back there for a few seconds to let those routes develop and and that's what's going to be interesting in this game can floor to do what it wants to do offensively to try to generate those bigger plays on offense while containing the Miami pass rush yeah that's been the thing for me because I think if you look at Miami's defense kind of like you said I think Graham Mertz if he has time can kind of pick apart the secondary but that's to me in me in my mind I've talked about our listeners are probably tired of hearing me talk about Florida's offensive line but to me that's a huge if and Graham was sacked more than 30 times last year I remember walking up to him I think it was at LSU and I said man you're tough as hell and I wish you didn't have to prove it every weekend he kind of laughed but yeah that's a huge thing and I wonder if Florida tries to run like right at Ruben Bain to try to get the running game going do they try to use the jet sweeps and some quick screens to kind of soften things up but I think it will be a tough a tough task you know just from the standpoint of getting Graham time because I think at least now before the games have been played the book to beat Miami might be hey if you you can probably pass on them a little bit with that secondary but the caveat is like you said it's not just Ruben Bain it's it's a number of guys that you can keep rolling in and who will be fresh in the third and fourth quarter and they're gonna try to test the secondary I mean you know these are professional football coaches I mean it doesn't you know it's not rocket science but that's the that's where Miami's you know in transition and and has question marks and if you're gonna beat Miami you're gonna have to beat them there I mean there's no doubt about it so they're gonna they're gonna try to find ways to test it and you know having the time to develop routes to me is gonna be a big deal in this game now I was at the real quick exact one stat I think you well when we were exchanging stories it's hard to find fumble numbers but you found Cam Ward's fumble numbers how does a football player fumbled that he's on a bad team that's coming from behind the line and he's in a lot of bad situations and he's having to throw the ball almost every down and doesn't have a great offensive line in front of him and he's always running around like a chicken with his head cut off trying to find ways to deliver the football and people catch him you know I think you know what they did is when Ken word came to Miami Shannon Dawson the offensive foot intercept and I watched every fumble he he wanted to get to the bottom of why there were problems to that degree and you know I think they've worked with Cam Ward on it I there has been no signs at all of that problem resurfacing at Miami in practices or anything he has been much more protective of the football now they're not live in practice you know he's not getting hit so you know you won't really know until you get out on game Dave he's got a much better offensive line in front of him and I think he should be in in significantly less number of those situations here this year now as he's kind of settled in Gary and and kind of started to take command in this offense what are some of the things that's staying out about his game and how do you feel like he could potentially hurt the Gators in Gainesville he seems like a guy that like a like a shooter from three-point range can get hot yeah it's his ability to extend plays you know he'll sit back in the pocket and deliver nice passes and everything but that's not where he's gonna blow people's minds like oh my god you know it's like you know I mean he's a good passer solid but where he differentiates himself a little bit is he he's you know knows how to use the pocket and find by time and he's able to deliver the ball at different angles very similar I mean I'm not gonna sit here and say he's Patrick my homes but you know the better quarterbacks and football now have that ability you know it's not just sit back and throw it from up here you know they can they can they can find other ways to get the ball to their receivers and get get the ball through windows and he's pretty good at that and the biggest thing with him is his confidence his leadership I think that's contagious and I think his teammates believe in him and and and and that's the you know I think the leadership aspect of Cam Ward is probably as big if not a bigger contribution to this Miami program right now than the physical abilities that he brings to the table I mean let's be honest if it was just physical abilities he'd be in the national football league right now right hey I mean that's the god honest truth I mean he is here to try to prove himself on a bigger stage to the NFL that was only gonna make him maybe a fifth round draft pick you know fourth fifth round draft pick and that's why he came to Miami took the big NIL deal and came here on a one-year loaner to try to improve his stock and if he had it all from the physical standpoint I have no problem saying he wouldn't be here that must have been fun to cover because I remember he's going he's not going he's couldn't test the draft and you're a massive no it wasn't they even hi they signed another quarterback in the portal that was supposed to be the starter and then out of nowhere Cam Ward decides well you know what I will come after all and they had to make the budget for him to come I mean Reese Poppenbarger was signed to compete with Emery Williams to be the starting quarterback this year so it came out of left field it came late you know I mean yeah obviously Miami jumped at it when it did they never lost communication with them but it was it was a pretty crazy thing to cover yeah speaking of communication just popped into my head how has Miami been practicing the new radio helmet communication sideline communication we were talking we talked to Florida about it I just saw that FSU had to stop using it because Georgia Tech stopped working when they were in Ireland I think for Florida's offense it'll be fine shouldn't be too loud when the offense on the field but might be different for Miami how have they worked on that radio communication and what kind of you know backups contingency plans do they have extensively from ever the first minute of the first drill they have worked with it with the technology with the adjustments to the technology if the technology doesn't work you know one of those transmitters don't work you still got to be able to get your signals in so you know they have practiced both simultaneously you know they've got their system pro their signal protocol in place they obviously have the you know the headsets in place and they've practiced with an enormous amount of crowd noise so you know they they are as prepared as you can be for any contingency on the technology front good to hear good to hear Gary just some broad stuff before we get you out of here your thoughts on this the state of the program of Mario Christoball and what it's been like covering him so far from your experience and just how he's come in to try and turn this program around I think it's on track you know it's like people want to you know the first two years we're not textbook you know nobody wanted to be like basically a 500 program at Miami and you know you bring a new coach like this in you dedicate the the budget dollars that they've allocated that you put the NIL program together you're bringing in a lot of players you're going into every season expecting to be really really good but the problem was that the program was in such a bad place and the depth was so horrific that you know this has been a complete overhaul I mean I think there's four five players left on this roster that have not been recruited by Mario Christoball in two and a half years I mean that's pretty that's pretty that's a lot of recruiting man and talking about Florida you're talking about Florida here I mean I mean man it's it's it is so much recruiting that I think the fans have somewhat detached from recruiting in a sense the way they always you know historically have in the past and you guys got a couple great recruiting writers on your staff as good as anybody in the business and keep dober and Corey Bender but like it's it's like I think people like have a look at the touch a little bit just because it's too much you know with the portal and the and all the number of recruits that are coming and going all the time yeah it has changed college football and it's been a big adjustment I think for the fans out there and you know I'm sure they re-engage obviously from time to time you know you sign a big a big recruit all that but it's like I think they just want to get to Saturday man they want to get to the game and see what you've got and that's why we're so excited to finally be here because it really has been a lot to navigate through over the last eight months and we've all been working like crazy I mean you know sometimes it's almost unfair you know what what you know I mean I'm the publisher it's fine you know but it's like you know you know we got these young guys you know they want to have girlfriends they want to you know they don't want to be out on a date on Saturday night and have to deal with a commitment at eight o'clock on Saturday night you know but when you're signing 41 kids it's coming it's coming all hours a day any day of the week so you know it's it's been a long haul and I think everyone's very happy to finally be getting to the game day but as far as the overall program it's on track okay if this season evolves the way they hope it will they're not they're not there yet they're not Alabama they're not Ohio state but they are in on the right trajectory but it has to be proven Saturday afternoon this is a massive moment for both programs obviously you know Billy Napier is fighting for his job he's got the hottest seat in the country I think Florida fans are assuming they can go get Lane Tiffin I would caution that they pay him an awful lot of money he's got a really good situation at Ole Miss but you know if this is a big moment for both programs and it's gonna be a fun place to be in the swamp on Saturday afternoon and we couldn't be happier to be heading up there on that note with real quick Nick on that note with Mario this hasn't really been talked about a lot this week even though Napier mentioned it in his Monday presser but just the dynamic of them two having worked together for four years I feel like a lot of times when two head coaches are going up against each other that work together on the same staff it's more of a storyline than this year's matchup is between Napier and Mario and maybe because there's so many other storylines with this game or there maybe don't have the connections that some other coaches do but what do you think about that dynamic does that create any extra edge or element to this game from your standpoint you know that could work both ways honestly you know especially when you're working for Nick Saban under that level of intensity on a coaching staff where he's you know MF and his coaches every five seconds and blaming everybody for everything that goes wrong and it's a lot of pressure you know and and and you know sometimes in those kind of coaching staffs they can get kind of heated behind closed doors in all honesty I don't really have a feel for what the Napier crystal ball relationship was during that time I mean I'm sure they'll give each other a hug get about you know 245 on on Saturday when they see each other out on the field I don't get the impression that these guys are going to dinner together and when they're at coaches during anything like that I don't get that impression that they're that their boys like that but yeah I mean that they obviously know a little bit about each other but I don't see that really is that significant impact in this game it will be interesting I think they're kind of tied together I think there's a lot of Florida fans that were born in Mario crystal ball you know they were hired the same off-season I don't think that they're in the same seat like they both were hired the same year so I think they're kind of compared against each other but Mario's had a big contract he's a University of Miami guy he's not going anywhere his seats not hot outside of Miami going to intend somehow this year you know my he's not going anywhere but I do think they're kind of linked in that way just it's too very proud fan bases who are not happy with being under 500 in two seasons and it certainly has happened different ways I mean if Miami takes a knee last year you probably feel a lot differently about that season as a whole with an extra win yeah Mario's not on a hot seat yeah he's just not I mean you know even if the season were to totally fall apart his job would not be in jeopardy but they don't feel that that's gonna happen I mean they feel they have taken a big step forward here and that Miami is starting to look like what Miami is supposed to look like I mean it's not all the way there yet but they really feel like they are moving this thing in in in the right direction and and it would be surprising if they didn't win 9 10 games at least this year and you know if they win this game on Saturday you know I think the sky is the limit I mean they'll have some tough ACC games the you know but they if they win this game Saturday they are probably going to be favored in just about every game they play this year I mean I don't know what that road game that Louisville is gonna look like we'll see how they show up but they will be favored and pretty much every game they play this year if they win on Saturday so you know people are the people of matter they're happy with Mario they're supporting Mario but you know and I talk about this all the time when you look at what's going on I mean you got a university that's made a big financial commitment to football and athletics that you know that everybody in the university community is not thrilled about you know the people at the med school and you know well you know every every segment of a university wants wants the money it's all you know for different things that that that's on their agenda but the you know this university has made a big commitment to athletics because it came to the understanding that athletics is the face of the university like you could have the greatest hospital system in the world and you help is doing great really funding all of this but nobody's looking at that around the around the world around the country the reputation of the University of Miami the U is built on the success of football program so they've put all all of that money in another hidden some plot not just for Miami but for Florida and everybody else is the boosters and and and the supporters and the money that they are putting into NIL in the past you used to make a donation to an athletic department was tax deductible you know you at least got some financial benefit out of it you know you're you're only spending 65% on the dollar or whatever and and you're supporting the school you want well when you throw a million bucks at a collective you know that's not tax deductible okay like you're only ROI on that money I mean obviously you get access you get to be closer to the team you know people would be stupid to not give them that but your ROI is winning okay you know winning and you know when you look around the country and how many teams are really going to win this year you know if you put the NIL costs aren't going down so it's critical so critical in terms of Billy Napier Mario Cristobal that they win to maintain the level of support that you need to be successful and that's why Napier probably is on such a hot seat that he is in his third season because if the Gators really only win four or five games this year like some people are saying you know all those full Gators that are giving their money away might not be so anxious if there's not a coaching change and that's why it's so tough but it's you know it's funny guys we got Ed Orgeron he's on our practice field all the time now you know he got 18 million to leave LSU and his son's now working in the Miami football program so he's out of practice almost every practice he doesn't miss much of a practice and you know he's over there you know yelling cocaine's now and stuff but you know that wonderful voice but he summed it up perfectly like man you know they wrote me a check for 18 million dollars to leave it was like you know what door would you like me to walk you know and Napier is in the same way he's got four years left on his contract after this year you know I think I if I remember Craig it'd be like 13 million dollar buyout $14 million buyout if they fire him I don't know how stressed out he is going into this season I mean he's obviously giving it his best shot but like you know this is the world the coaches live in now it you know and universities can't sustain the money that they need to run the program if the fan base and the boosters and supporters are not happy with the head coach Florida would owe Billy Napier if he's fired after or during the 2024 season 25.67 million dollars so that booster checks that you were talking about they're gonna be written one way or the other it's it's either it's either for a buyout or for some more players a lot of money to be given away Nick with no return on investment man that's a lot of money I've been I've been saying the best job in the world is fired to one football coach oh my god it's sensational you just have to be good enough to get a job like a Florida or an LSU and then be bad enough without breaching your contract it's a really cash-in yep yeah it's funny man I those numbers aren't going any lower either keep ragging up well hopefully I know a few of those bowl gators and they want an ROI like yeah they want an ROI they're tired of being a stepson in the SEC you know they they want to see Florida back up there and it's harder than ever now you got Texas, Oklahoma coming in I don't know what the SEC's thinking they are killing programs like Florida killing them destroy like like you can't be that heavy of a conference I know it's financially great and everything and everybody's got big budgets but you're destroying the majority of your programs because they can't possibly win enough to keep people happy playing this type of schedule look what Florida has to do this year it is a absolute joke now on that note Gary what do you feel like since you brought it up what do you feel like about some of the schools that are trying to pull out of the ACC and the potential for maybe some more conference expansion in the SEC there's been talk about them should they get North Carolina Virginia Clemson Florida State yeah yeah what's your thoughts on the SEC why does the SEC need North Carolina or Virginia the big thing even the big 10 why do you need North Carolina or Virginia like everybody can't play in the same conferences you know it just doesn't it's just it's destroying the game in my opinion to me the ACC if these lawsuits are leveraging ESPN to make the dollars more equitable because literally at the end of the day it's the TV networks that are ruining the whole thing because they made the money the mother's too great of a disparity in the money number one and then you got MBC over here on the sidelines that's empowering Notre Dame to be an independent which is also totally destructive like what if you took Notre Dame and put them in the ACC and you know maybe you know the SEC constricted a little bit and you know a couple of those programs that just can't compete like the South Carolina's of the world you know they have no shot like like I don't care what they think in South Carolina you know like they have no shot to compete in the modern day SEC like those programs are getting destroyed are you know the Arkansas's of the world you know Ole Miss I guess as a good quarterback right now a good team maybe they'll compete this year a little bit but they kind of they supposed to sustain that even with even with Leighton Kippen as their head coach it's almost impossible now to win anything for most of these schools in the SEC I would like to see a few of those schools you know go to the ACC I would like to see Notre Dame come into the ACC now you got three great conferences in college football and then go to work on the big 12 and figure out ways to build that up so you have four really really really good conferences in college football that are all competitive make the money equitable and save the game because I just I don't see what's going on a sustainable to be honest with you and I really mean that I don't see how Florida gets out of this hole that it's been anytime soon and it's not fair it's not fair to all you guys like you know you know Miami's in a little better position in the ACC to get out of it in Florida's good point so you're not excited about Big Ten traditional rivals UCLA and Rutgers playing a football game this year like what's the point of that like excitement what is Rutgers tonight that's another great example what the hell is Rutgers doing now in that conference they can't compete it's it's a waste of their time well they're still expected to pony up the same NIO budgets and they're still you know they better have the money to run their program but they have no chance to compete against all those teams every year you're lucky if you can be one of them in a given year and pull the biggest upset in the world they've ruined they've ruined the college game it's it's horrible and I hope someday it gets fixed again well one thing that got fixed was Florida and Miami getting scheduled happy that that is happening rivalry getting renewed on Saturday we cannot wait Gary thanks for joining us today and giving us and our listeners some perspective on the canes and again encourage everyone to go if you want to read up more about Miami leading up to kickoff head over to canesport.com Nick and I have been over there feverishly feverishly every day reading your updates so great work man thank you man we just need a they got to build a few more hotels in Gainesville where you're having to stay in Ocala yeah it's like I don't want to stay at most of the places that are available from seven hundred dollars a night with a two-night minimum yeah I mean they got to build some hotels up there man well let me well we have a ton of apartments more than we need that's for sure when you drive up there's a it's right it's probably a five-minute drive from campus a little Cuban restaurant called Miapa you can get some pasta pastelitos you can get some capisito there make you feel like your home and after waking up early to drive from Ocala and I'll tell you what drive early because it will be packed there's a lot of people let's say including the opposing team stays in Ocala and has to bust up so you don't want to get stuck behind that motorcade either so get there early go to Miapa get a little caffeine and a little taste of home how about breakfast man where do you go for breakfast breakfast my favorite spots flying biscuit not gonna have a baby Saturday game day not gonna happen it's gonna be two hour wait peach valley cafe over at celebration point same thing it's gonna be a two hour wait for me for me 35 years old now breakfast on game days at home I got back when I was a student we would we would you know stumble stumble out of bed and wait in that line but can't do it now metro diner is another good spot too you can get a good breakfast at Miapa all right well listen I look forward to seeing you guys this weekend it should be a heck of a game can't wait Gary thanks for the visit man we'll see you Saturday but any time guys all right Gary Fuhrman from canesport.com appreciate him joining us and great stuff as we get ready for this rivalry to kick back up Nick and we'll get it again in 2025 will be going to Coral Gables it's been a while Miami Gardens Miami Gardens Stadium is in Miami Gardens it's it's essentially in Broward County that's right our first trip there in 12 years 13 13 yeah yeah I know that Gary and a lot of Miami fans want this game to be every year but not gonna have no they they kick the kick the schedule can you know down down the street another year but I don't see a way that the SEC is staying at eight games it's gonna go to nine games Florida and Florida State are going to play that's 10 or 12 you're not gonna have Florida State you're not going to have Florida Miami every year it's unfortunate because I love this game I've been I've been pumped for this game all offseason growing up in South Florida my grandpa was a hurricane fan my dad went to school at Florida but I think he rooted for Miami before he became a gator now not a big fan of Miami but growing up down there especially during that time watching Miami was fun this is a great rivalry it would be nice to have it every year maybe if maybe if Miami leaves the ACC and comes to the SEC it could be you know more often but as the conferences expand and I think the conference schedule will expand I don't know that Florida will be scheduling home and homes in Miami well we've obviously hit on some of these with Gary talking about this matchup you know we can kind of look at this at a lot of ways but you know we've covered it at length the gators online as well but now we'll talk about it on this show and that is the keys to the game for Saturday for Florida get a victory Nick what does that look like what has to happen yeah I kind of touched on with Gary it's to me it's the offensive line Miami the blueprint I guess right now in my mind Miami's weakness on defense is the secondary Graham Mertz is accurate and yes listen last year I'd mentioned and I think at one point I even looked up on PFF sure he's completing 73% of his passes but like something like 80% of those passes were nine yards or less in the air I think the key to the game is keeping Graham Mertz upright and giving him time to throw and listen Florida Florida's coaching staff understands my name is defensive line they know that listen we did we feel incredible but our offensive line but Graham's not gonna have six seconds we might want to take shots down the field but the way to win this game might be screens and slants and jet sweeps you're not going to have all day to throw with Miami's defensive line versus Florida's offensive line so the key to the game to me is keeping Graham Mertz upright and finding ways to get the ball out early get you you've gotten some speed in space this country was founded on speed and space Zach and I think if you can get the ball into the hands of Jim Eugene Badger Khalil quickly and let them go to work not necessarily trying to throw the ball 20 yards in the air to get a completion just get the ball into your playmaker's hands see if they can make somebody miss quick game yeah which listen that fans were tired of it last year but you know what I'm tired of I'm tired of watching offensive line and peel Graham Mertz off the grass that and it reminds me and I know you'll remember this that 2018 Florida game plan against Mississippi State on the road Dan Mullen went in there against his former team he knew his offensive line for the Gators could not block Mississippi State's defensive line so the whole game was quick game screens I mean and they just like took them to took them to work it's almost like like Gary said you know they they wouldn't find something they find something that worked they wouldn't go to it when he said that I instantly went to the last time Florida beat Georgia and they threw 1,000 wheel rounds so they're running back that Georgia hard to cover listen we're just gonna keep running these same two plays until you stop it and then I guess we'll try to figure it out but I think Florida the key to the game to me is that offensive line and and you know as we kind of touched on earlier fans probably like I said are tired of me talking about the offensive line but if you're making these kind of changes where Cam weights is now you're starting right tackle when he was working at guard and working at third state tackle that tells me maybe I knew what I was talking about and I didn't trust the right side the offensive line if you're doing that kind of shifting and moving now can't wait to his size 20 shoe can show up Saturday and and keep room bane in front of him and give grand time to work I think Florida has a really really good shot at winning this game good stuff well we're looking forward to it we will have our official score predictions out at Gators online on Friday so make sure that you guys tune into that to see what we think we've already put out our predictions for the season you can go check that out as well and do would be remiss if I did not mention the kickoff sale that we've got going on at Gators online this week if you guys are not subscribed the deal doesn't get any better than this right here they're only doing this for this week for the start of the season it is our kickoff sale half off for the whole year and this is the time to join if you're not subscribed to Gators online with the season starting with recruits coming down for visits we'll have updates around the clock message board conversation as well our our forum gets nuts once the fall hits so if you guys aren't subscribed make sure that you take advantage of that and when you go to sign up and you want to get that yearly subscription and take advantage of this deal you put in the promo code kickoff 24 that's kickoff 24 when you go to subscribe and Nick it's time we're here man no more talking no more previewing next time you guys hear from us it'll be rapid reaction in the swamp to actually talk about a game that's been played so listen I've got last thing I'll say last before I end my talking season I can't wait for that environment I said it at some point in the offseason that the swamp is when when it's going and I think Miami week one the first ABC on ABC game of this new contract I think the stadium is going to be a special environment so if you're going to the game enjoy it the swamp I've been to every SEC stadium except for Auburn Georgia Texas and Oklahoma I think the only one that rivals the swamp is LSU and Death Valley it's a special environment and I didn't get the chance to bring it up to Gary but I think eight new players eight new transfer players starting I think it's a tough tough environment for Miami to come into to open their season I got the swamp for seven points I'm getting the fans seven points this weekend Zach if order was playing Miami any other week during the season especially a few weeks into the year this could go the other way in Miami could be much more in an advantageous spot to get a double for Florida but because of the newness like you just said Nick and then because of the environment that these guys have not played in many of them it's a tall task and look I'll give Miami credit man if they come into the swamp I know they're favored to win but I feel like this is Florida's game to win in my opinion and if Miami can come in and get it done you got to tip the cap to them because this is not a easy season opener for a team that's coming in with this many new transfers trying to figure it out on the road so we will see how it plays out in the swamp on Saturday we'll keep you guys covered at Gators online before kickoff leading up to kickoff during the game and then afterwards as well so make sure that you guys stay locked for all of our coverage on the team side on the recruiting side appreciate Gary Furman for joining us from kainsport.com and folks the weight is over football is here enjoy the first game enjoy your Saturday and we will see you guys Saturday night live on YouTube for our rapid reaction until then for Nick Deltory I'm Zach Albuquerque
Gators Online writers Zach Abolverdi and Nick de la Torre preview the Florida-Miami game with Gary Ferman of CaneSport.com.