GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Jon Sumrall on Tuesday disclosed the format for Saturday's annual Orange & Blue Game.
It's going to be different. It sounds like it could be fun. And it will involve some real-game encounters that contradict the recent trend of turning many spring games into a sideshow rather than an actual scrimmage.
"We're gonna celebrate playing tackle American football,'' Sumrall said. "Okay. Like, we're gonna tackle the guy with the football."
By now, Gators fans have been exposed to Sumrall's compelling personality. He could turn a seminar on how to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches into something interesting.
But who knew Sumrall created the four-point play? Time for an explanation.
Sumrall's first spring game as a head coach was four years ago, when he was in his first season at Troy (Ala.) University. The Trojans lacked depth on the offensive line, and Sumrall recalled this week that, with only nine available for the annual T-Day Game, he decided to tweak the format.
He turned the scrimmage into Offense vs. Defense. Both units had different scoring systems, and to make it even more interesting, Sumrall later created a four-point play that could provide offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner a chance to pull off some shenanigans on Saturday at The Swamp.
"The offense can go for two from the 3-yard line. There is one part that's unique here. I think I put in the rules, but for Buster, I think they can go for maybe three from the 5 and four from the 10," Sumrall said. "So, if the offense is down by four at the end, we can go for four." Receiver Micah Mays Jr. is one of many newcomers participating in his first Orange & Blue Game on Saturday. (Photo: Ethan Roy/UAA Communications)
The defense is rewarded three points for forcing a three-and-out, one point for each forced punt not a three-and-out, and six points for a turnover or fourth-down stop.
Meanwhile, the offensive scoring system is the usual six points for a touchdown, three points for a field goal and potential two-point PATs. However, the three- and four-point plays offer a twist.
"It's extremely unique football,'' Sumrall quipped. "I don't know if we've box-scored that in the past."
As for the actual teams, the defense will be the Orange Team, which will wear white jerseys. The offense is the Blue Team and will wear blue tops. The quarterbacks will wear orange jerseys.
Sumrall has stuck with the spring-game format he started at Troy and took to Tulane and brought with him to Florida. The undermanned Trojans offensive line served as the impetus.
"It just kind of made sense," Sumrall said. "I'm like, 'yeah, I sort of like this,' so stuck with it."
The depth of his initial UF roster helped keep the tradition alive as well. Sumrall has been pleased with the effort and buy-in this spring, but he knows that before the season starts, the Gators have questions they need to answer.
"We need to develop our competitive depth in this roster,'' he said. "I don't feel really good — in full disclosure — I am very uncomfortable with the depth of how competitive we are. In this league, you'd better be. We're not there yet — at all. It's a little uneasy for me. So, we need to challenge some guys to go play football. This is a developmental game. I don't know any way you get better at football than playing football or practicing."
