Florida Gators: Stand Back And Let The Big Aircraft Carrier Eat. How "Big Des" Inspired His Team.
- Buddy Martin
- Nov 13, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 13, 2022
“That’s a 440-pound man trying to run with that ball. Six-foot five and a half. I’m proud of Des. He’s come a long way and he’s going to get better.”
By BUDDY MARTIN
There is nothing quite like one of The Big Fellas getting his hands on the ball with a chance to look like a running back wannabe that excites everybody – especially his teammates. In particular, one built like an aircraft carrier, someone who actually had to lose 30-40 pounds to get down to his playing weight, someone just learning to play the position and the game, someone whose work ethic inspires the efforts of those around him.
If you don’t believe it, you should have seen how Desmond Watson's teammates stormed the field on the first play of the second half of Florida’s 38-6 victory. Must have been 80 or 90 of them. Which drew a flag from officials. And which downright delighted his coach. It was a sideline warning which Billy Napier wore like a badge of honor. And he wore a big smile after the game, talking about the Plant City sophomore with one of the most happy faces we’ve ever seen on Napier.
“Big Des, man,” Napier said, shaking his head side to side in admiration, conflicted about bragging on the mild misconduct of his squad, but seemingly enjoying the bit of outlaw in it. In fact, Billy bragged on it. Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see any reference to this roguish comment in the official game notes. But I did hear Billy say this:
“You know, I always tell the players, ‘I want the officials to warn me. I want you to celebrate your teammates … I want the sidelines energy … I want you to be creative. ' But that’s next level stuff. We got a warning, but rightfully so.
“That’s a 440-pound man trying to run with that ball. Six-foot five and a half. I’m proud of Des. He’s come a long way and he’s going to get better.”
Oddly enough, Desmond Watson’s big play inspired the team more than anything Saturday – including its third straight shutout quarter and the spectacular rushing game that netted 374 yards, most of it among the trio of Anthony Richardson, Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr.
“Running the ball. It’s what we do,” Napier said. “It’s what we’re good at.”
Yeah, and they were pretty good at takeaways, too.
The sight of a massive Mountain Man, all 6-5, 440 pounds of him, stripping quarterback Spencer Rattler of the football, picking it up, then making his Heisman move by changing hands as he chugged toward the end zone completely lit The Swamp. Had Watson navigated those final 12 yards for the score, the stands at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field would have erupted like Mount Tambora.
Maybe the eight-yard jaunt wasn’t as spectacular as the 75-scoring run of Etienne or the career high 163 yards of Johnson, but in many ways, it was symbolically comparable of how far both Des and his teammates have come this season. All of a sudden, Napier’s team that was given up for dead a few weeks ago found that spark in the third period vs. Georgia and has ignited a path toward post-season prominence. One projection even has Florida in the Gator Bowl vs.Clemson but Napier will hear none of that talk yet.
Almost nonchalantly, the Florida Gators boat-raced South Carolina to become bowl eligible and maybe a lot more. For the first 15 minutes, Billy Napier’s Gators looked like Steve Spurrier’s Gators, rolling up a 21-0 first period lead and stringing together their third scoreless quarter in a row before squashing the hapless visitors.
A sold-out crowd turned out for the final home game of the year and was treated to the closest thing to a complete game. It was a lovely way to spend a splendid Indian Summer Saturday … if we can still say that anymore. And if not, make it a Native American Saturday. Anyway, it was splendid.
At least three things stood out as beyond impressive:
1. The fast start and 21-0 lead.
2. The momentary trio of 100-yard rushers which was eradicated by the -6 sack of A.R. which knocked him back to 96 yards.
3. The spate of three takeaways in the first 5:33 of the third period – the biggest feeding frenzy of its type this season for this now-hungry defense which has made a quantum leap in recent weeks.
Actually, make that four things, because the enthusiastic support of the nearly 90,000 on Senior Night was a sweet going away kiss for 18 players – and maybe more. There could be another one going when Richardson gets drafted in the first round next April.
On the other hand, A.R. didn’t act or sound like somebody who’s ready to bolt from his hometown where he is already a millionaire and could sleep in his own bed next year while playing for the Mighty Gators, who could be formidable in 2023 with new faces to bolster them.
What’s new for Richardson is the vocal leadership, which he has found to be of his liking. When you can lead by example AND spirted dialogue, you’ve got something special. It’s the kind of thing that Napier loves to talk about when reflecting on his team’s growth.
“I think the character, the consistency of the character of an individual, it’s easier to respect an individual when you see consistency from a person. You see them really trying,” said Napier. “You can’t fool players and you certainly can’t fool your teammates. I think that there’s been ownership at that level. There’s been leadership. There’s been challenges made. They know who is doing their part and who’s not. They know who can do better. I think that you finally got to the point where players are basically taking the bull by the horn to some degree. Players make a team. I think that some of those things were missing to be quite honest. I think that we’ve seen the growth in some of those areas and I think it's affected how they play.”
That means A.R. That means you, too, Big Des. Hey Billy, how about putting in a short goal-line play for Des the way Mike Ditka did for William “The Refrigerator” Perry back in the eighties? Yeah, and we could nickname him Desmond “The Aircraft Carrier” Watson. That, alone, would be worth the price of admission. Especially on Veteran’s Day week.
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