Florida wide receiver Trevon Grimes does a Gator Chomp during his team's 41-14 blowout road win at rival Florida State last year, the program's first victory in the series since 2012.
Game Day: Florida vs Florida State, (Saturday, 7:30 pm)
Saturday, November 30, 2019 | Football, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Barack Obama was in just the 10th month of his first term. Dan Mullen was in his first year as head coach at Mississippi State. "Modern Family" made its television debut that fall. "The Blind Side" had just hit theaters. Florida, the nation's defending national champion, was ranked No. 1 and Tim Tebow was playing his final home game at Florida Field.
Nov. 28, 2009.
Ten years ago.
That's the last time Florida defeated Florida State at home.
To rewind: Tebow passed for 221 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for two more. Tailback Jeff Demps rushed for 106 yards. The Gators rolled to 541 yards of total offense, including 311 on the ground, while holding the outmanned Seminoles to 281 in what was the most lopsided UF win in the series since, well, the year before. It marked Florida's sixth straight win in the series that dates to 1958.
Then everything flip-flopped in FSU's direction.
If it seems like a long time ago, well, that's because 3,351 days is a long time ago. So imagine the scene, anticipation and buzz under the lights Saturday night at the "Swamp," with hours for the orange-and-blue faithful to get primed, when the No. 8 Gators (9-2) get the Seminoles (6-5) in their sights at sold-out Spurrier/Florida Field as 17-point favorites and with a chance to take out a decade's worth of homefield frustration on an emotional "Senior Night," no less.
[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" setup here]
So much is on the line for Florida, starting with a chance to post back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in 10 years to making its case for a second straight New Year's Six Bowl, to beating the hated Seminoles for a second straight year — the Gators won 41-14 at Tallahassee last year — for the first time since that 2009 wipeout.
Some key pregame numbers stack up in UF's favor, most notably on the defensive side. While both offenses check in virtually dead-even — Florida State is averaging 417.1 yards per game (59th among FBS programs) to Florida's 416.5 (60th) — the Gators will roll out a defense ranked seventh in scoring (14.2 points per game) and 12th overall nationally (303.5 ypg), while the Seminoles are giving up 433.2 yards and 27.5 points (96th and 64th in the country, respectively).
Offensively, UF is led by fourth-year junior Kyle Trask (66.8 percent, 2,293 yards, 21 touchdowns, 6 interceptions), who is putting up the best numbers by a Florida quarterback since that final Tebow season. And while the running game behind an offensive line that has been suspect all season (124.2 yards per game ranks last in the Southeastern Conference), Trask has eight receivers with at least 18 catches and six of them with at least 247 yards, and Mullen has done an exemplary job spreading the ball around.
Florida State tailback Cam Akers, with 1,042 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns this season, will be the focal point of the Florida defense Saturday night.
FSU has won two straight since longtime defensive line mentor Odell Haggins replaced fired Willie Taggart three weeks ago as interim head coach. Haggins, who can make a serious statement regarding the removal of that interim tag with an upset on the road Saturday, will lean on quarterback James Blackman (64.2 percent, 1,945 yards, 16 TDs, 7 INTs) and one of the nation's top tailbacks in Cam Akers (1,042 yards, 13 TDs) to go with a dangerous wideout in Tamorrion Terry (20.3 yards per catch, 8 TDs). Blackman and the Seminoles, though, are at great risk when dropping back, due to an offensive line that has struggled all season to protect the quarterback (36 sacks). The Gators, subsequently, lead the SEC and rate fifth nationally in sacks (3.5 per game), with senior defensive end Jabari Zuniga expected back at near full strength from a sore ankle.
History tells us that numbers in rivalries, of course, don't always mean very much. But a lot of history sure has happened since the last time the Gators won this game in their house.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 on the SEC Network, with the crew of Tom Hart on play-by-play, Jordan Rodgers providing analysis and Cole Cubelic working the sidelines. The game will be rebroadcast twice on the SEC Network: Monday at noon and Tuesday at 1 a.m.
Also, check out the "First & 10 Pre-Game Show," hosted by GatorVision's Shelby Granath, coming from the field via Facebook Live on the Florida Gators page at 2:10 p.m. This week's loaded lineup includes chats with Mullen, Trask, punter Johnny Townsend, safety Donovan Stiner, wideout Frankie Hammond, former superstar wingback and first-round NFL pick Percy Harvin, who will take a turn as honorary "Mr. Two Bits," as well as former UF tight end and Gator Radio Network sidelines reporter Tate Casey.
Finally, follow senior staff writers Scott Carter and Chris Harry on Twitter (@GatorsScott and @GatorsChris) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete coverage content from the game Saturday night and fresh content Sunday, as well.
