Gators Online writers Zach Abolverdi and Nick de la Torre preview the Florida-Mississippi State game. We break down Florida's injuries for Week 4, players to watch and keys to the game.
Gators Online Podcast
Ep. 105: Florida vs. Mississippi State Preview | Gators Online Show
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What's up Gator Nation welcome to the latest Gators online show Zach Abu Verde and Nick Del Toro here and we've got Florida's first road trip of the season to preview another SEC game for the Gators they travel to Starkville Mississippi for a matchup with the Mississippi state Bulldogs who are coming off a pretty bad home loss to Toledo so an opportunity for the Gators to get a win in SEC play potentially killed some of the noise Nick but it's been very loud this week in Gainesville Florida a lot of storylines that we will cover from this week but nonetheless we're ready for another game week four of the 2024 season Nick we're a third of the way through it feels feels like the season's been going on for longer than 19 days Zach feels feels like we've been playing this season for months it does it does for our way but yeah game four it's a leap year so you get two by weeks Florida will get their first by week after this trip to Starkville I unfortunately will not be making it I'm trying to think I think this will be my fifth game that I've not been in attendance for I went to all the 2020 games I missed the Vegas Bowl which as the gender of a gambler as I am that was a good one for me to miss but yeah you were booked for it you got sick I got sick the day before the baseball or a couple of days before and then there was one other trip that I didn't make where I got like violently sick hours before the flight but yeah feels weird not going also I went to Starkville in 2018 no disrespect to Starkville Scott Strickland's alma mater I've been I don't need to see it again I've never been so I will see the check it check it off yep got to check it off see what the cowbells are like and it'll be a unique game I guess for Mississippi State because they'll be going all white at home forcing the Gators to bring out their blues and every team that Florida has played this year so far Nick has worn all white so this is a successful jersey combination against the Gators if you believe that what the players wear and what the team wears then you might want to bet against Florida this week in the whites yeah there's only one way to combat that I guess that's bringing out the blue tops and orange bottoms like they did against Samford but you don't see very often rock them every every week they did look clean I will say under the last time we had seen them Florida was getting blown out by Teddy Tugeloves in the little no they were they warm they warm against like north Texas or something like that in like 2016 or 17 but yes they don't bring them out often they also wore them in 1999 at home against Florida State and that game did not go well and that was the first time that they had ever worn them in my life but I've ever seen Florida wearing blue tops and orange bottoms that was the game yes that was the game where they had the shirts outside of the stadium all the Florida fans wore um the Heisman pose or the Heisman trophy and a pair of cups on it in a dillards bag uh token fun at Peter Warwick um that was classic uh but we got the mowlin bull this week Nick yeah I saw Dan's waiting about it um he's interested in this game Dan's made a bunch of money uh from both of those schools a bunch of money from Celsius too shots of Dan um yeah what it's what a guy what a tweet really tuned into they should have put him on the call they should have that and that would have been good TV uh there's somebody somebody missed the mark there we'll get all into this matchup uh what we're looking forward to on Saturday some keys to the game and everything like that for a 12 p.m. kick but uh 11 a.m. local time and Starkville, Mississippi so um stay tuned for that but we do have to start this show with some news uh this week there was uh a lot of different things that came out of the press conferences but I think the most notable item actually came from the injury report and that was a Eugene Wilson being ruled out for the second straight week against Mississippi State and uh on Thursday we learned why uh we first reported at Gators online that Wilson had uh minor knee surgery this week and uh that is what is uh sidelined him if you remember last week he was listed as questionable practice on Thursday went through pregame warm-ups then was ruled out as a game time decision and then this week um not even a chance obviously that he's gonna play against the Bulldogs after that surgery so uh it's not season ending Nick but nonetheless the Gators are now without uh their best offensive player for the second straight week in SEC play and that is that is not what they need. No uh certainly not in offense in listen the offense hasn't been the issue but the offense also hasn't it been inspiring uh to say to be kind um the offense has been inspiring but Florida's defense is has just been putrid Billy Napier called disgusting it's probably the one thing Billy Napier has said since August 31st where fans were like yeah you know what I agree coach well also I think they agree with with him when he said that he would have booed as well okay two things two things two things um and I wrote it after I think the the defense looking the way it has is where I've missed where I'm my preseason projections predictions have missed the mark the most um I thought the defense would take a step up obviously I think you lose ace to Turner um or second half early second half against Miami or maybe third quarter against Miami um that hurts and then also Joey Slachman not being the number two defensive lineman in the portal that he was rated to be and he's we don't have it on the screen but he's also out after minor surgery uh this week so two guys that were supposed to be impact players on your defense haven't really done that to your point Nick and Puff Howard has yeah but it's it's more than just those couple players and I wrote it after the game I'm like shame on me shame on us um it's the same defense it's the exact same defense the same calls the same plays uh you had Tony you had Patrick Tony you had Austin Armstrong both who learned this defense underrun Roberts and it didn't work in 22 it didn't work in 23 oh let's just go straight from the source maybe the water was getting contaminated as it trickled down the ground and let's just go straight to the tap and listen I know they don't let kids drink out drink out of water hoses anymore Zack that water used to be good when you and I were young you were outside you're playing football you're on the other side you're just drinking out of the hose that's right the ground water's bad those those those have gone bad good contaminant shame on us for thinking and and hyping up around Roberts and in these portal picks because it's the same it's the same stuff we've seen for two three years um the offense is fine it's not great it's upper lower class in the SEC in that 13 to 14 range nine in a couple categories honestly the truest thing Billy Napier said I think this week was special teams have been this great program shout out to Jeremy Grazcha shout out to the mat I told you it was not embarrassing to have a mat it's more embarrassing to send nine guys out on the field consistently for special teams mat for MVP Joe Houston for MVP Jeremy Krazcha for MVP and also Shamirei DK for MVP on special teams he's done a great job and we learned that we have been pronouncing his name wrong so we apologize uh I I have been going Shamir and he corrected us on Wednesday night and shimmer I still can't get it right Nick yeah well you still have got Billy Napier's name Billy Napier's name right but I don't know that you'll need to figure it out um long chairman well just go chimp let's go chimp chamire chamire is how you say it uh I would not have guessed that so uh our apologies for months of mispronunciations at least at least it wasn't years of mispronunciations like it was with Kingsley Guacam eggucon Kingsley eggu pon um literally we asked princely umami ellen's coach hey how do you say his last name you guys princely gonna go there um so yeah a lot of injuries we'll get into the full injury report here in a moment but we already saw how it impacted the Gators against Texas A&M Nick how do you think that this continues to impact Florida with Wilson out of the lineup who needs to step up you know you've you've had obviously Khalil Jackson also you've got two starting receivers that are out and Marcus Burke has started the last two games since Jackson's injury and then Elijah Badger started for the first time last week with Florida with Wilson out so you're looking at DK Burke and Badger as your top three right now but I think some of those young guys as well will have a chance to maybe fill the void with with Wilson uh not falling once again yeah I think the initial one that I think of is is Elijah Badger um he had a really good game last week he's his first touchdown in orange and blue uh chimp he scored twice actually one got called back gets his uh chimp gets his first touchdown in orange and blue as well um tank I mean apparently Taylor Spirito is the guy that that fills in for Eugene Wilson not no no disrespect to Taylor Spirito um older player former walk on grinder hard worker um but I would look I would like to see tank Hawkins probably fill that role um Andy Jean is back this week allegedly allegedly he's not on injury report he was he was game time decision last week and was suited up and we didn't see him um but yeah eating myself tank Hawkins if Andy Jean makes the trip Andy Jean um TJ Abrams maybe I think TJ Abrams is a red shirt candidate if it's not these injury injuries that receiver keeps piling up apparently we we were all unfamiliar with dirty 30s game that's right and dirty 30s ahead of oh yes he's he's he's ahead of tank he's ahead of uh TJ he's ahead of Andy and based on the snap count it looks like he's even ahead of Aidan Myzel which is surprising but um maybe it comes down to trust assignments run the right routes uh who knows what the reasoning is for that rotation but that is something to monitor moving forward at the end of the day though I don't care who they go to to replace Eugene Wilson it's not going to measure up to number three and that's a big loss for Florida and um you know they are favored in this game in Starkville Nick but this offense is just not the same without him in the lineup and Mississippi state's chances of getting this win now go up significantly in my opinion with Eugene Wilson not in the lineup and we'll see what Florida does you know I think with their top of their receiver that's a wild statement this is a team that just got blown out by Toledo at home 41 to 17 like I don't disagree with you that yeah having Eugene Wilson hurts for his chances to win football games but that's crazy it improves Mississippi state's chance to win the game for sure because I mean you just don't have a guy now that can go on an 85 yard jet sweep or that can get you some extra yard just because of how quick and his first step I mean it's that's a big piece to the puzzle and offense that is now cast off to the side and and they've been playing with a soaking wet puzzle for two years anyway so hard to put the pieces together as is and now you're taking away wet cardboard from the puzzle that is Florida's offense yeah and it's again Florida's gonna have to figure out what they do at receiver but it's just not Eugene Wilson that they'll be missing on Saturday make the Gators are down a total of six starters on offense and defense not where you want to be heading into your first SEC road game you know we can break down some of these players obviously already talked about the two receivers but I think on the defensive side slackman certainly stands out but I think having Aaron Gates be ruled out for this game I think is a big deal because he has been one of the bright spots on defense in my opinion and even when Sheriff Denson was gone went from questionable to being able to play against Texas A&M Aaron Gates still got to start over him and look like he had it kind of had the edge so now you go back to Denson and you still don't have jakeem jacks in back which again he didn't look great in the first two games but he was still he still started both of those first two games so that's a starter that you're missing you got Aaron Gates down you still don't have ace a Turner you have DJ Douglas available but like do you make a change there given the way that he played against Texas A&M do they go bridges thortons back in the lineup at safety I asked Billy before knowing that Gates was out if they would have thought of potentially playing gates at safety because of how well he's played and at least you can go to Denson at star and not have too much of a drop off if any but obviously they don't have that option with gates out of the lineup but Nick outside of Eugene Wilson which guy is really going to hurt their chances as well this Saturday not being able to play I think Aaron Gates he's one of that pointed to obviously he Shari Denson was getting the start over him but I thought Aaron Gates was really impressive especially against Samford because Samford was really trying to just throw the ball into the flats get the ball quickly and I thought the way he played downhill thought to get to the ball carrier was really impressive he's probably the guy that I look to outside outside outside of Eugene Wilson I think those two are probably the the top two slackman it counters it factors in because as I said and I think as we're seeing there there isn't a I said before the year there's not a all SEC player on Florida defensive line I thought they could play better or above their singular personal levels because they only had to play a certain number of snaps and now you've lost Jamari Lyons who was your backup nose tackle Joey Slackman's a guy who's had to kind of help and fix fit in there and then my table row is out on Saturday you're taking out you know you used to be three four deep at some of these positions and now it's Dez and and Sam Jackson Dez and Cam Jackson and it's an offense that is similar to Tennessee that wants to move the ball quickly get the ball over her hands as soon as the the umpire I think the umpire is the one that sets the ball as soon as the umpire sets the ball down the ref sets the ball down we want to have our play called and be ready to go again you're gonna get these defensive linemen trapped on this is a team who already can't get off the field they're any of these defensive linemen trapped on the field for six seven plays at a time and then when they come out you're putting another guy in who might have already might already be tires you don't have the depth to rotate those guys so I think that's going to be I think I'm talking myself into a pick here your your your defensive line is missing that that depth which I thought was their biggest strength coming into here yeah it's uh it's unfortunate to see some of these pieces that I think that they counted on to to make a difference not be able to show up in the early part of this season so we'll see what type of impact it has on Saturday as we continue to break down Florida's first SEC road trip to Starkville I want to give a shout out to our new sponsor and that is row back and the best way and only way to describe row back is best fit and best feel for those who aren't familiar with row back they are completely changing the game with their incredibly comfortable active wear they just released their new licensed game day collection and it is awesome novel polo designs clean hoodie qzip designs from your favorite schools including of course the Florida Gators nothing else like this is on the market and we had a chance to check out some of the selection from their Florida brand and it's very impressive awesome shirts awesome detail and you can get your hands on it with the promo code Gators20 go to row back.com type in that code Gators20 and get 20% off for all new customers that's our h-o-b-a-c-k.com 20% off with the code Gators20 and that's performance polos shorts and much more make sure that you guys go and check that out at row back.com and Nick you know I think that going back to the the injury front you know one of the one of the disappointing things for Florida as well as it's just kind of what I think has happened you know at the safety spot that was that was a position where looking into the 2024 season coming out of training camp coming out of the off season we thought that that might actually be one of Florida's strengths on defense if not their strength on defense and obviously Asa Turner one of the top rated safeties in the portal being out has has not been good but also you know the disappointing play from DJ Douglas which I mentioned it was unfortunate what happened to bridges in the Texas A&M game you lose him in the first half he probably could have helped you in that second half against Aggies and you know even Bryce Thornton has been banged up at times so just not a lot to be excited about and about how that's developing with those injuries and then Gregory Smith you know he's one guy that we heard some hype about during camp he got some run with the ones on defense but he hasn't really been able to make an impact and then with Aaron Gates out at stars don't really know exactly who the backup is there you know I think it's Josiah Davis the true freshman but they also had somebody else listed as a backup at one point so Nick there's really problems you know across the board on defense I think the one the one spot that's that's been at least some consistency is is the F position where they've been they've had a pretty steady rotation I don't necessarily know that the production is is what they want I thought I think Tyreak's app has played well but there's there's still a heavy rotation there even though the production is not really where they want it yet yeah and I still think Jordan Castell is a good player I think he's long and rangy and can run Florida's linebackers I think it played well in both of the losses didn't play well in the game four to beat Sanford but that was more of a what Sanford was doing offensively it was going to be a good game for linebackers specifically everything to me those starts up front and Florida's offensive offensive and defensive lines just aren't cutting it defensively like I said you're now losing players to injury and losing the strength which was your death it's not that Florida's secondary is all Americans and they're having bad years but it is correlated to how long the quarterback has to throw and it's harder to cover guys for longer it's just to me it feels like we've just been saying the same things now not just this year but for three years about the defense and it starts up front the only thing that we're really changing and saying differently is that hey the linebackers are playing well like that's a that's a solid room yeah and you got and then you got depth and edge and that's about it you know or or should I say F you know I you've had TJ Cersei and George Gums both playing that jack spot and they've had some bright you know some flashes but I don't think either of them were playing to the level that Prince Lee Uma Miella was playing at we tried to tell people they didn't want to hear it because you know there would be a singular Twitter clip of Prince Lee loafing from a game one of the 58 snaps he'd play and should we try to tell people like this is a guy that led you in tackles and sacks two straight years it's going to be a lot the team named him their defensive MVP after last season the team that's not what I saw in Twitter so that that's obviously business you'll see him again in November you'll see him again a little person on November but that's obviously something that's been noticeable is is not being able to fill that board I think that's been left another storyline that we've I think been monitoring on defense Nick you and I have kind of known about this but didn't really know exactly we just had been heard we've heard things and kind of saw the writing on the wall but we did get some clarity this week from Napier who revealed that Ron Roberts the co-DC and head coach of the defense and linebackers coach is in fact calling the place now that's not how it was in the spring Austin Armstrong we were told would be the coordinator based on our exposure at practice in the spring camp it looked like he was still running the defense and running the show but that has not been the case this fall and and you know I don't know at one point the the the he the keys were handed over to Ron but he is now driving the bus here and you know Billy had said earlier in the season that when he was asked about offensive play calling that he thought that it was overrated to be giving credit or say who is calling plays I ever say I disagree there are no fans due to because you know when when things are going well you want to know who to give credit to and when it looks awful you need to know who to blame and somebody's got to call plays and we still don't have clarity on the offensive side of a we've reported gators online the things that we've heard and observed but we do know now who's calling plays on defense and you know Billy said Nick that he thought that having a third defensive play calling three years isn't necessarily the issue that of why they're struggling because it's the same system and the previous two guys were calling it but at the end of the day it it's still a new voice leading that room and leading that unit and there's going to be an adjustment period for him there's going to be an adjustment period for these players and then if you've got injuries or talent deficiencies this is what it looks like yeah it's it's new voice new decision maker and crunch time when you're making plays on first and 10 second and five second and 14 third and one different people will make different decisions it doesn't matter if it's the same system maybe it's the system and maybe you should figure out that the system sucks by now I mean Florida has a different system I mean Florida has the same system on NCA college for about 25 but me calling plays on there and you calling plays on there is two different things yeah mine's way better but you know you can have the playbook but how do you dial up those plays and there's certainly been some questionable calls from Ron and some of the coverage concepts that we've seen have been a little head scratching not to my liking personally but that guy knows a lot more about defense than I do but nonetheless the product through three games has been abysmal Nick and we'll see if they can turn it around but I don't think that you can just chalk it up to injuries and new pieces and youth and talent deficiencies like there is also some scheme issues and there's some problem with the play column this it's it's also it's not just players it's on coaching too yeah and and a couple of us have asked uh Billy asked Graham I think I asked Billy and I asked Graham what are you seeing Monday through Thursday that and what's the disconnect from Thursday to Saturday because whatever you saw and I wrote about it before the year's act like as the season got closer there was this quiet confidence that these guys were exuding like uh keep talking we'll show you um what where is that what what were you seeing to give you any sort of confidence because it wasn't even a blowout against Sanford until in the second half yeah it wasn't like it wasn't like you the ball was kicked off against Sanford and you put your foot to the floor and just ran away with the game you ran away with it late and those four it was 14 to nothing that half that one quarter one touchdown quarter just spread them out um and it's it just comes down to them saying executing um and you're getting to the point where your execution on the field is going to get your coach executed off the field um okay Brian Kelly um you said it better than him yeah um and it's true like listen you don't want more on Robert's going out there trying to make a tackle uh in his mid 50s uh you don't want Billy Napier to be calling the plays for himself and and trying to complete passes against SEC defenses it does come down to the player at some point but you have to also coach and put your players in positions to be successful so um this season through three games has just been a failure at every single level except special teams uh they're exceptional yeah put in the special and special teams right they are they are um it's September 19th and the season is cooked like your stakes Zach medium medium well well I mean on that note what is the chances that you think this team even temporarily can't get the season back on track and what does that look like in your mind I wrote like Billy Napier will coach Florida in 2025 if Florida finishes six and six or seven and five and I said six and six which only feel happy but you have two losses now six and six you're going to lose you're going to lose spectacularly to Tennessee at new spectacularly uh you're going to lose to Texas you're going to lose to Georgia that means a seven and five season let's do that that means you're beating LFC Ole Miss Florida State uh Kentucky like you're you're going to go on a run here to get to seven and five I don't I just don't see that like that road the the earthquake on August 31st and then the following earthquake um last week that road is no longer drivable I don't see a realistic path to even six and six or seven and five I mean I see I will say this though I see a path to the second by week I know a lot of people think that it could happen this weekend if they lose before the first by week a lot of folks are pointing to the first game after the first by week against UCF because you're five games into the season if you make a move at that point you're not as worried about people shutting it down and and trying to take a red shirt and preserve their year of eligibility which could happen but I do feel like if Florida can get the next two games which is a big if but they are games that Florida should be able to be more competitive in and have a better chance to win than Miami and Texas A&M. Mississippi State and UCF just are not at the level of those two teams and UCF is going to be favored in Gainesville. I agree with that um but if they do that then they go from one and two to three and two you lose at Knoxville which I don't think anything is going to stop that and then I mean it's you are once again in must-win territory if you lose to uh Kentucky at home I think that does it but you know hey the Wildcats almost beat Georgia so that is very that is a very real possibility but I also I like to tell the Wildcats get beat by South Carolina so Kentucky Mark Stoops ever sent saying that like changing the climate is easier than changing the culture and you can put your sunglasses on and wear your stupid backwards hat ever since then Shane Beamer just whoops Mark Stoops just whoops him um Mark if he had a time machine would go back to the estimated days but Shane Beamer is a hell of a coach he's fantastic one of the worst great saves but also like I have no illusion that Florida is going to stop Kentucky running the football I have no delusion that Florida will win on the lines of scrimmage offensively or defensively against Kentucky and we'll be able to run the ball effectively enough to then open up passing the game and I've seen nothing from Billy Napier on any given Saturday to think well he'll out-scheme Mark Stoops of the of the next three possible wins that we just listed off which one do you think is the most attainable is it this weekend is it at home against UCF after a buy it's this weekend UCF's gonna run for 300 yards against Florida merging 375 a game it's what I said over the summer I was like hey that that UCF game is gonna be sneaky they've got two guys last year that ran for 1300 yards they have the actual created player at quarterback that if Gus Malzahn got his hands on an Xbox or PS5 controller he would make KJ Jefferson even though KJ Jefferson might struggle completing a pass he can run for 100 yards a game they've got three guys on their roster that I will make the prediction now that UCF has two guys that rush for 100 against Florida and they they will get close to having three different guys rush for 100 yards against Florida with KJ Jefferson being one of them the easiest game the most winnable game I think is this week and I'm saying that about a team that's two and nine away from home as they make their first road trip I was staring at Billy Napier when he's like you know historically the first SEC road games are tough and like historically those opponents didn't just have the doors blown off by Toledo that's true plus historically or in recent history those road games have been hard for the Gators no matter whether they were the first SEC trip or not they have struggled away from the swamp which Steve Spurr has pointed out on about four different radio shows this week um the other thing too is like logistically they're saying I was told like in Birmingham or in Tuscaloosa it's like a 90 minute bus ride even even with a police escort yeah and it's an 11 a.m. game so you're waking up at 7 a.m. to be out of the hotel by 8 to get there by 9 that's a tough that's a tough wake-up call I've seen I've seen exactly normally when we see this it's in Vanderbilt and I've also been out enjoying Broadway and the mornings are tough this is tough for a whole different reason sure and it might just be like listen when when teams play Florida they said they have to say no Cal but Cal is much closer than Tuscaloosa is to Star Trek my dogs are probably going to bark here as uh this uh this gentleman walks up to the door to drop off a package so in there there there they go who let the dogs out um it will be interesting to me I think we're in territory zak here where and I don't know that Scott Strickland feels this way um I think it would based on who I think we're in territory where the next loss you need to make a move and you're not going to make a move to appease the fan base but as these losses pile up you'll get into the territory fans right now are saying he's lost the locker room you know there were rumors flying on Twitter that be probably because of a one thumb double tap on Instagram that Trey Wilson had quit on billing apier and he wasn't going to I saw some man tweet today that Trey Wilson text me and said he quit on billing I'm like I don't I don't think he texts you and told you anything and then you break the news that hey he's having surgery which pretty much debunks any of the hey he's quitting on billy I don't think anybody elects to have surgery and quit on their team yeah unless it's you know cosmetic surgery but they uh a knee surgery is not cosmetic um as you get lost as though guys will start to check out um you know I I would if you're a Florida player listening to this I would advise you not to check out if you have dreams and aspirations of playing in the NFL throwing a tantrum about a coach you may or may not like uh and putting out bad tape which is your resume for 32 NFL teams not the way to handle it um but you you're gonna get into that apathy it's going to be interesting to see if Florida fires billy napier the transporter window opens for 30 days do guys just say we're one and three we're one and three I'm done with the season and I can start talking to Kirby smart right now and I think that's part of the reason why Florida's waiting because they're trying to avoid that happening at least until you've got past the four game threshold that your players could take advantage of now they might be six seven games into the season and they make a move and then it's still a free-for-all and you're dealing with coaches recruiting your roster but at the very least at least they're not also shutting it down for the season and not playing for you now that would cancel out some NIL deals guys would lose their NIL if they elected to make that decision but I think some might make that sacrifice if it meant preserving the year of eligibility um but Nick you make a good an interesting point like I and I got to say I agree with you I think any of the next any of the next uh three losses other than any of the next two for sure to me but like Tennessee Tennessee my mind it's not going to be a close loss it's going to be embarrassing to be a Florida football fan yeah I think any of the three losses except for Tennessee would be what could lead to a move because you can't stomach losing at Mississippi State you can't stomach losing at home to UCF and then even if you win those next two games and lose to Tennessee which I don't think anybody's going to hold against this Florida team but a four straight loss to Kentucky three under Napier at home I think that would also do it even if you've got some even if you've got some goodwill from winning at Mississippi State and beating UCF which shouldn't be a lot uh because those are two that's a problem that's a that's a problem and I think why so many fans wanted to happen because nobody there's not a single Florida football fan that is going to have their mind changed about Billy Napier by beating Mississippi State there's not a single Florida football or UCF um and you're in a lose lose situation you win the game and it is harder to fire him I mean Texas A&M gave Jim but the Texas A&M beat the brakes off of Mississippi State and they fired Jima right after the game uh and gave him a bunch of money maybe Mississippi State is the common denominator because Billy Napier's by it would be the second largest after Jimbo you beat Mississippi State and you get a consolation prize of a buyout from your contract um but that's where we're at I think it is a real thing I don't know that we've had a coach firing in September when the transfer portal has been in its current integration. That's a good point that's a good point so you had like Clay Helton was fired in week two or three at USC with a transfer portal those guys had to stay what does it look like now and it's awesome covering a program where we keep having unprecedented things happen on a seemingly weekly and yearly basis but I think it is a real thing what I joked around on another show Taylor spirits have got 29 reps because when you fire Billy he's gonna be one of the five receivers that's left on the roster uh at the end of the year who has an inlay board and available and you gotta get one it won't quit on the team yeah so that's interesting it's also the dynamic of you would used to want to if you're going to make a move you used to want to do it earlier but now the top 12 teams are in the playoff if you're Florida and we wrote I wrote this in the war room today Florida's last four football coaches were no head coaching experience coach and waiting I'm saving assistant g5 coach a scc coach changed and got a coach with sc experience but was that a tough place to win outside of having Dak Prescott didn't really win in a way that would make you excited at Florida and g5 coach you can't go down that route again Florida has historically done it and done it well another former saving assistant g5 coach yes um so the boosters I talked to and we put this in the war room are pushing lane camping a coach another another former another former saving system well listen savings savings tentacles which are why well four to needed to do was former saving assistant scc coach that was that they they had it right they had one of them right each time they just didn't get the combination but you're going to want to go for a coach who is a proven winner um throwing like names out there like Lincoln Riley but USC's ranked in the top five they're going to be a playoff team and Eli Drinkwitz is a proven winner at the SEC level well Missouri's schedule is the easiest in the SEC they could be in the playoff lane Kiffin's team is probably going to be in the playoff the first playoff game is December 20th so we're talking I just mentioned unprecedented things what happens if you've identified a coach that you want but signing day is two weeks before that last playoff game uh the portal is two weeks after closes two weeks after they're voting soon to even have a spring portal you might not even have a spring portal and if you do have a spring portal with a new coach you can't get guys from the SEC and we've said before the the spring portal is lower quality higher price um it's not a good situation to be in but so like the the the idea to get ahead of the coaching search be the first one on the track um to to get a leg up you're not getting that leg up now because the coaches that you're going to want to target are probably going to be coaching well into December yeah yeah it's and you're not skipping a a playoff game like you would skip the cheeses bowl like hey you know what I'm gonna coach my team in the conference championship first week in December but then I've got that two weeks where I don't have a life and I just recruit recruit recruit recruit for my new job no lane Kiffin's not if lane Kiffin is the guy he's not leaving Ole Miss during a playoff run you should start recruiting for Florida you sure I think old lane you sure you sure that he doesn't make the playoff and get in but then early December get announced as short as next coach to take over after his postseason run is done because it has happened before and I know I know I know it wasn't in the playoff era but it literally happened with Urban Meyer you know and and again it's different level different time but uh there are coaches that do finish out their postseason but also take a new job this would be different levels because it literally would be one coach going from one SEC school to another uh and playing for a national championship playing for a potential national championship while recruiting for another school and not having your current program benefit from the postseason exposure of you playing in the playoff I'll say this though you said old lane Kiffin to hell with that I think if there's any coach that would do something like that it would be lame like if he wants to do it he doesn't care and you know he remember he was going to do it for FAU when he was uh at Alabama and Saban said no uh so he's I mean he's willing to juggle two jobs if that's what it comes to but I don't think I think Florida would have to make him or anybody else probably have to make that announcement like they would let them finish out their postseason and and remain at the program that they're at before it would have to publicly be able to announce that this is their next coach and have a press conference before the portal closes and before signing day and if you can't get that then that guy is not your guy so he got three years ago yeah that's a conversation for another day all right well before uh we get out of here want to give a shout out to my perfect franchise .net if you are ready to leave the corporate rat race for the american dream looking for a side hustle while working your current job wanting to diversify build wealth and or leave a legacy Andy can help he's a franchise consultant as well as a franchise owner and helps people find franchises that fit their skill sets financial requirements time to commit and more his services are 100 free and he's here to help if you have any questions about business ownership you can learn more and contest contact Andy anytime at myperfectfranchise.net or calling or texting him at 404 973 9 9 0 1 and another ad read that we'll get to real quick as well as we give a shout out to Prairie Dental Center the doctor is a UF grad who's practiced in Gainesville for three decades and developed a deep understanding of how to diagnose and treat various dental problem along with advanced skills to provide better care for his patients if you're having dental concerns or just need a cleaning Prairie Dental Center offers a wide range of options to meet your needs give their office a call 352-373-3431 tell them Gators online sends you and your new patient exam will be free and with that we look ahead to Saturday's matchup the Gators and Mississippi State in Starkville first time that these two teams have met since that Mullen Bowl back in 2018 him visiting his former team what less than half the season after leaving them was a crazy setup there Starkville has not been good to the Gators historically the Gators just five and seven playing at Mississippi State we all know of course those that remember at least what that trip meant for one former Florida coach that was the end of his tenure as Ron Zuck lost at Florida in 2004 and was subsequently fired as the Gators had coached although he did finish out the season which was interesting but nonetheless there's also been some good moments that came from a loss at Mississippi State make the Gators lost there in 2000 with Spurrier and then went on a run and won the SEC title and did not lose another conference game so we'll see what storylines come out of this matchup in Starkville but for you what do you see some keys to the game for Florida State? Mississippi State does not run the ball they do not stop the run dead last in the SEC in both categories Florida has to run the football Mississippi State is literally begging teams they play against to run the football Florida could not last week against the guy who wanted to be their defensive coordinator but they would not make their defensive coordinator Jay Bateman and the Texas A&M Aggies run the football force I don't even know that you can't force Mississippi State because they have no intention of running the football I don't know if you can force them to be one-dimensional they make themselves one-dimensional but you're gonna have to tackle run the ball act with the other ball carrier and I think also you know you're right Nick they don't run the ball well they've done a solid job throwing it you know they've got the 43rd rank passing offense in the country and the Gators are coming into this game down they're starting nickel down obviously they're starting safety and ace returner and also down jakeem Jackson is Florida secondary still suspect is that something that the Bulldogs can exploit that's certainly something that I'm that I'm looking for in this game both of these teams really haven't done a great job getting takeaways on defense both of them just have two and one interception they're actually tied with each other nationally so can you win the turnover battle on Saturday I mean that's key obviously every weekend but on your first road trip trying to take those cowbells and that crowd out of the game getting a turnover on defense would be big for the Gators and obviously taking care of it as well but this is the week for a fake punt Zach this is the week I feel it in my gut I would be all for it you know again Florida's had a good year so far on special teams it's been one of the bright spots but still not a game-changing play yet so that would definitely be something to see and then another thing to watch is is of course the two quarterback system for the Gators last week the first time that we've seen them alternating lagway and Mertz Mertz got the start but lagway played every other series they pretty much played the same amount of snaps Graham was clearly the more productive quarterback kind of got the hot hand in the second half and the Gators did not stick with him stuck with their plan how do you see that potentially playing out Saturday Nick especially in a road environment and another must win game is potentially could we see more of a hot hand scenario I think probably more Graham this week I would guess the noise makers the cowbells Zach again I know I have to remind you several times bring Advil shout out to Cassidy Hill was an absolute lifesaver for me the cowbells are loud they only have to stop once the quarterback is like under center or ready to get a snap so the helmet communication this week that extra bit of help you can give DJ lagway to be able to coach him is not there simply will not be there I would I would be I wouldn't be surprised if Florida goes away from the helmet communication completely this week starting to try yeah probably we probably dropped the ball we probably should have asked about that but like just spoon say hadn't even heard of about the cowbells like that should be you should be playing cowbell music sound I was surprised by that answer like I mean I guess he's on defense so yeah but you're still gonna hear it dog you're still gonna hear it you hear those cowbells from a mile away and I mean would you not play that sound at practice I mean you can play other toys but like I would play here yeah more cowbell maybe he'd be the end of the next and say to play more cowbell this week they were not fans of that Saturday nightlife sounds a little feral um yeah so hot hands I don't know I think I think it'll probably just be if in my opinion probably should be more gram than DJ I don't know the the black and white your drive my drive your drive my drive your drive my drive worked out um I thought it was funny I thought it was funny that fans who had spent the entire week leading up to the texting and game being like grammar it's thanks but no thanks then immediately we're like Billy has no feel he kept he took gram out of the game after grandma's touchdown drive I'm like you want to gram out of the building you didn't even want him on the field to begin with we got some hope switching yeah listen man Florida fans are mad I get it I get it they're just in anything to trigger them they will be triggered at this point they they're tired of losing certainly tired of going into matchups like this feeling like there's a chance to lose um there should not be this is a game that Florida should win uh even with all the issues this season even even with all the controversy Florida is still the better team even with all the injuries Florida is still the better team so they're favored to win this game they should win this game it's a third year program versus the first year staff it's kind of not the same situation as last week I mean Mike Elko had been at Texas A&M they've got the resources from an NIL standpoint to kind of rebuild their officer and you've seen that he's put together for a good squad and you're run Mississippi state is not there not even close um so Florida should take care of business as Nick said they need to run the ball they need to stop the run they need to not give up big plays in the passing game uh with with a secondary that's dealing with some injuries and then obviously they need their quarterback situation and production to work out a lot more smoothly than it did against Texas A&M so we'll see how that plays out on Saturday we'll be joining you guys with a rapid reaction after things uh play out in Starkville uh and um here we are folks week four first SEC road trip my first time here in the cowbells I'm looking forward to it uh we'll see what the Florida Gators have in store on Saturday we'll be there to cover it as always at Gators online for Nick del Tori I'm Zach I've already see you guys set Saturday.
Gators Online writers Zach Abolverdi and Nick de la Torre preview the Florida-Mississippi State game.