Column: Does History Matter? Does the Weather Matter? Live Notes from No. 6 Florida vs. Tennessee
The History
Former Florida Gators receiver Matt Jackson once told me, “Osama Bin Laden stole a National Championship from me.”
Those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it; it’s a lesson as old as history itself. And it’s true. We should know our history to keep it from happening again…but when it comes to the gridiron, often the only history that matters is the history you’re currently in.
Let’s review the historical facts, for posterity.
In 2001, the Florida Gators were forced to reschedule their annual game against SEC East rival, the Tennessee Volunteers. The 9/11 terrorist attacks had caused the entire country to hit pause, sending people inside their homes and life as we knew it, just, stopped.
The Florida-Tennessee game that would normally have been played in September was moved to the first weekend in December. Both teams came in 9-1, but Florida was on a collision course with the National Championship and Rex Grossman was a Heisman favorite.
The Gators lost, 34-32 and Grossman lost the closest Heisman race of all time to Nebraska’s quarterback Eric Crouch, a race that was so argued and contested it makes the 2020 Presidential Race look like child’s play.
Fast forward to 2020. The Florida Gators were forced to reschedule their annual game against SEC East rival, the Tennessee Volunteers. The coronavirus global pandemic COVID-19 had caused the entire country to hit pause, sending people inside their homes and life as we knew it, just, stopped.
The Florida-Tennessee game that would normally have been played in September has been moved to the first weekend in December. Both teams come in on different trajectories, but Florida at 7-1 hopes to be on a collision course with the National Championship and Kyle Trask is the odds on Heisman favorite.
Should the Gators be worried about history repeating itself?
To be frank…no.
This isn’t 2001. This isn’t the same Volunteers team. UT is starting a freshman quarterback today. And the players on this Gators team—well some weren’t even alive then. History means little on the field if it’s not on your mind.
You know what history will be on the minds of these players today? That Florida has beaten Tennessee 14 of the last 15 years. The players on these teams know that last season the Gators stomped the Vols last season 34-3 and that Feleipe Franks and Antonio Callaway have ripped out creamsicle orange hearts in recent memory.
2001 the long ago odyssey won’t be on players minds today. It won’t even be on coaches minds since none on the sidelines were here during that time. But the recent history will be, and that’s what works in Florida’s favor.
Says Mullen, “I hope anybody that played in that [2001] game is still cheering for us, if they're around. But I don't see that, it's all about us playing Tennessee this year and their team against our team. There's, you know, stuff doesn't really to me carry over. Like last year's game has no effect on it, year before has no effect and next year it being, it won't have any effect on this year's game. So, it's about our preparation and our execution in this game."
The Weather
The weather report for Knoxville today had not been good during the week. In fact Dan Mullen and players spent a significant portion of time discussing the possible changes if the weather report held for low temperatures and sleet.
“I’m a Florida boy, South Florida boy, so I mean, I’ve been in snow, I’ve seen the snow, so I’m not strange to it, but playing in the cold, it’s different for Florida boys. We’ve just got to be hype and get that blood going, juices flowing, so we can come out strong,” joked linebacker James Houston.
Laughed Mullen, “I’ll probably be bundled up with like hat, gloves and a big puffy winter jacket on. I've gotten used to the warm weather, that Florida weather. So, uh, but I think for our guys, you know I mean I don't think it'll be that big of a factor to be perfectly honest with you, I think, you know, it just kind of it is what it is.”
There is a factor when playing in the cold. According to The Weather Channel, “When temperatures change by a factor of 10℉, pressure changes by a factor of 1 PSI. This means that an inflated football can actually lose pressure and become slightly smaller and under-inflated when the weather gets colder. Within an hour, a football’s air pressure can be reduced by 20%.”
This was the basis of “Deflategate” with the New England Patriots.
However, the weather won’t seem to be an issue. The sky is clear here in Knoxville with the only clouds placed there bean artist and seeming to hold no snow. The temperature is currently 53℉ and are expected to drop to 41℉ by 7pm which should likely be the close of the game.
The East
With a win today, the Gators will officially clicnh the SEC East and a spot in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. That could also have happened with a Georgia loss. The Bulldogs game against the Vanderbilt Commodores however has been postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Dores program.
If Florida loses to Tennessee today, they can still clinch the East with a win next weekend over LSU. Essentially a win in either this weekend or next will clinch the East for UF, regardless of any future Georgia wins.
With a win over LSU this evening, Alabama can win the SEC West, setting up the most oft played matchup in the game’s history.
Unavailable List
4 David Reese
6 Shawn Davis
7 Jeremiah Moon
17 Kahleil Jackson
21 Ethan Pouncey
54 Lamar Goods
55 Hayden Knighton
66 Jaelin Humphries
80 Trent Whittemore
95 Lucas Alonso
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