Carter's Corner: Gators Focus on Game Week, More Storylines

The Gators open the season in eight days against Charleston Southern. (Photo: Carly Mackler/UAA Communications)

Carter's Corner: Gators Focus on Game Week, More Storylines

Friday, August 24, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The intensity of a Saturday in the Swamp is difficult to duplicate on a Friday morning.

Still, Gators head coach Dan Mullen and his staff put the Gators through a mock game on Friday in preparation for the season opener in eight days against Charleston Southern.

Mullen's plan was to introduce the Gators to as many scenarios as possible, everything from running out of the tunnel to substitution drills.

"We'll run through any situation that can happen during the course of the game so they've seen the procedure and how it's done from the sidelines,'' Mullen said. "I think our guys are ready to get into it."

Friday's mock game concluded a week full of activity for the Gators. They participated in Fan Day on Sunday afternoon and then scrimmaged Sunday night. They had a helmets-only practice Monday, practiced Tuesday, started classes Wednesday and practiced that night, and then completed preseason camp on Thursday night.

😤 #AcceptTheChallenge 😤#RelentlessEffort 🐊 #GoGators pic.twitter.com/GkDPIiPeNT
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) August 24, 2018

The Gators get a weekend breather before returning to the field Monday night for their first game-week practice of the season.

Mullen said shifting into game-week mode is an opportunity to introduce the team to a new part of his program.

"All the players are kind of ready to transition to the next phase,'' Mullen said. "I imagine it's probably going to be different than what they've done in the past, so we've got to educate them on that transition as well. A lot of learning going on in the program.

"You know, with spring ball and [fall camp], we've had 34 practices of our offense going against our defense. Starting Monday, we're going against a different offense and a different defense."

With the Gators in transition, it's a good time to take a look at some stories late in camp in case you missed them:

Receiver Van Jefferson is one of the Gators' biggest additions since last season and Will Sammon of The Athletic writes about Jefferson's path to Florida (subscription site).
One more from Sammon of The Athletic, this one on a chaotic night in the life of Florida's Gatorade Fuel Truck.
Mullen is more focused on UF's depth than position battles. This is why writes Alanis Thames of the Miami Herald.
Tampa Jesuit alum Malik Davis back to 100 percent with Florida Gators writes Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times.
Mullen's playbook an easy read for Gators writes Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel.
UF cornerbacks Marco Wilson, CJ Henderson forge a close bond despite their differences writes Thompson.
Feleipe Franks, Kyle Trask say they're not worried about quarterback competition writes Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
In this story by Andreu via PalmBeachPost.com, Gators linebacker Rayshad Jackson seeks to get onto the field and prove doubters wrong.