Saturday vs. South Carolina is a very big deal

Game Cocks

THOUGHTS OF THE DAY

By Franz Beard

A few thoughts to jump start your Thursday morning:

SATURDAY VS. SOUTH CAROLINA IS A VERY BIG DEAL

A win Saturday over South Carolina (6-3, 3-3 SEC) would give the Gators (5-4, 2-4 SEC) their sixth win of the season and take the mystery out of bowl eligibility. Getting to six wins just a couple of weeks after a second straight loss is very important. For one thing, it takes the pressure off the Gators’ shoulders. Six wins with two games to go gives UF a chance to finish 8-4. All things considered, an 8-4 regular season in which all the losses were to ranked teams is a rather nice achievement for year one of the Billy Napier Era at the University of Florida.

Getting bowl eligible is important as is sending off Florida’s 18 seniors with a win in their final home game in The Swamp. Senior Day should be special and the kind of celebration that resonates with the entire team and the fan base. Can anyone ever forget Vernell Brown on his Senior Day in 2005, hobbling out on crutches while the sellout crowd let out a roar that may have come close to moving the seismograph on campus. If Vernell’s Senior Day didn’t move the seismograph, then Tim Tebow’s surely did.

Almost as high a priority as winning the game will be impressing what promises to be a very large contingent of recruits including at least one 5-star and perhaps a couple of prominent commits to other schools that might be teetering on the verge of a flip.

“We’ve been very intentional about working hard to get them [recruits] in here,” Napier said. “The tropical storm is affecting that a little bit relative to a lot of these [high school] games being moved to Saturday, so, but there’s no question we’re hustling to get them here. It’s out last opportunity. I think we’ve got … we’re hopeful we’ll have a good group there. Certainly it being a sellout, it has a chance to be a very special game.”

The Gators currently have the No. 8 recruiting class in the nation. If they can build some momentum over the next couple of weeks, there is every chance they could finish a couple of places higher in the rankings, which would help set a strong foundation for the future.

Richard Gouraige on Senior Day emotions

Left tackle Richard Gouraige isn’t 100 percent sure if he will cry or not when he makes his way out of the tunnel at Senior Day Saturday, but he’s certain the tears will be blowing from his mom and his little brother – “He’s a crybaby as well,” Gouraige said Wednesday.

If Mom cries, as he is certain she will, Gouraige knows what he will be saying to her: “A little bit, like c’mon Mom, we can cry a little later whenever we’re not here. I know she’s going to have her moment, knowing it’s going to soak in, knowing – hopefully – knowing it’s going to be my last time on this field, hopefully to have a chance to come out with a win with my brothers. There’s nothing else I could ask for.”

Amari Burney on Senior Day emotions

Linebacker Amari Burney went through Senior Day last year, but decided to use his COVID year for one more chance to play for the Gators. That, of course, means a second Senior Day and this one is likely to turn very emotional.

“I’m not the type of person to cry but I’m just going to feel some type of way going to feel some type of way knowing that this is my last game in The Swamp,” Burney said. “The freshmen that came in, they are like brothers to me already. I told Shemar (James) I’m going to cry, maybe cry but I feel like five years have been … I’m just happy to have been here for this long and just want to go out for a bang.”

Florida’s 18 seniors: Jack Anders, Jack Brady, John Curtis, Trey Dean III, Kyle Engel, Travis Freeman, Richard Gouraige, Will Harrod, Noah Keeter, Lorenzo Lingard, Ventrell Miller, Jordan Pouncey, William Sawyer, Justin Shorter, Tyler Waxman, Chase Whitfield, Trent Whittemore, Nay’Quan Wright.

Florida depth chart for South Carolina (starters in bold face)

WR: Xzavier Henderson; Marcus Burke or Daejon Reynolds

WR: Justin Shorter or Caleb Douglas; Kahleil Jackson WR: Rick Pearsall; Thai Chiaigkhaio-Bowman or Trent Whittemore LT: Richard Gouraige; Kamryn Waites

LG: Ethan White; Richie Leonard IV C: Kingsley Eguakun; Jake Slaughter

RG: O’Cyrus Torrence; Richie Leonard IV; Jalen Farmer

RT: Michael Tarquin or Austin Barber TE: Dante Zanders; Jonathan Odom

QB: Anthony Richardson; Jalen Kitna; Jack Miller III RB: Montrell Johnson Jr.; Trevor Etienne; Nay’Quan Wright or Lorenzo Lingard

Defense DE: Princely Umanmielen; Justus Boone

NT: Desmond Watson; Chris McClellan; Jalen Humphries DE: Gervon Dexter Sr.; Jalen Lee or Tyreak Sapp

JACK: Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr.; Lloyd Summerall III or David Reese

LB: Ventrell Miller; Derek Wingo or Scooby Williams

LB: Amari Burney; Shemar James; Diwun Black STAR: TreVez Johnson; Jadarrius Perkins

CB: Jason Marshall Jr.; Jalen Kimber; Jordan Young

S: Rashad Torrence II; Kamari Wilson; Corey Collier Jr.

S: Trey Dean III; Donovan McMillon or Miguel Mitchell

CB: Jaydon Hill; Avery Helm

Special Teams KO: Adam Mihalek; Travis Freeman

PK: Adam Mihalek; Travis Freeman

P: Jeremy Crawshaw; Jacob Watkins LS: Rocco Underwood; Chase Whitfield

H: Jeremy Crawshaw; Chase Whitfield

KOR: Trevor Etienne; Xzavier Henderson or Jason Marshall Jr; Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman PR: Xzavier Henderson; Jason Marshall Jr. or Trevor Etienne

Injuries: Ja’Quavion Fraziars (out); Justin Shorter (questionable); Keon Zipperer (out); Devin Moore (out); Trey Smack (out); Marco Ortiz (out); Ethan White (questionable); Arlis Boardingham (out); Nick Elksnis (out)

Gators sign No. 1 softball recruiting class Tim Walton signed what many experts are calling one of the greatest softball recruiting classes in history that includes the top two pitchers in the country – Keagon Rothrock and Ava Brown – and the top position player in second baseman/shortstop Mia Williams, daughter of former UF basketball star and NBA player Jason Williams and track All-American Denika Williams. Rothrock was the 2022 Gatorade National Player of the Year while Brown was the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year. The rest of the class was filled out by infielder Alyssa Hovermale; catcher/utility Ariel Kowalewski; and outfielder Cassidy McClellan.

Lacrosse signs 10: Alyssa Deacy; Ashley Dyer; Lea Flobeck; Frannie Hahn; Makena Harrington; Samantha Hughes; Cate Isaacson; Gabbi Kouri; Delaney Radin; and Keira Rooney.

Volleyball signs three: Madi Gravlee (6-4); Kira Hutson (6-3); and Kennedy Martin (6-6)

Men’s golf signs three: Jay Brooks; Rylan Shim; and Jack Turner

Gymnastics signs four: Skyle Blakely (will defer to 2025 to focus on the 2024 Olympics); Gabby Disidore; Skylar Draser; and Anya Pilgrim

Soccer signs eight: Lena Bailey; Paris Bice; Elyse Campbell; Sami Fisher; Megan Hinnenkamp; Amelia Malkin; Paloma Pena; and Avery Upton.

Lane Kiffin on talk that the Alabama dynasty is ending

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, who was Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator in the 2015 national championship season, says it is “ridiculous” talk by Paul Finebaum and others that the Alabama dynasty is crumbling, particularly after two losses on the last play of the game.

“Dynasties are over when you start to see people outcoached, outplayed, losing by 21 points. You’re talking about tow of the hardest places [to play at Tennessee and LSU] versus two real elite teams who were at the time as hot as anybody in the country when they went into both places and elite quarterbacks. That’s not coming down to one play.”

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Eight and counting. That’s where we are now that South Florida’s Jeff Scott has joined the Extinct Species List. Eight coaches down, no telling how many more will get the pink slip by the time championship game weekend rolls around. Rumors about who’s going where as replacements but so far no hires have been made. Someone is going to take the plunge and hire someone.

Countdown to firing day: Week 10

Extinct Species List

Scott Frost, Nebraska: Apparently the coaching search at Nebraska has turned to three candidates: Former Baylor and Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule, former TCU head coach Gary Patterson and Army head coach Jeff Monken. Monken would be an interesting choice since his option offense out of that funky offense that was invented by the late, great Tom Perrin of Clermont and Lake Weir fame would drive defensive coordinators batty trying to prep for it in a week. At Nebraska he would get better athletes to run it than he gets at Army. Pay attention to Rhule.

Herm Edwards, Arizona State: Deion Sanders would be the home run hire but there are some whispers that the coach will be either Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham or Mike Norvell at Florida State. They’re both former ASU offensive coordinators. Dillingham is a former ASU quarterback.

Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech: It’s not going to be Prime Time. Alabama OC Bill O’Brien has traction but two new names getting vetted are Coastal Carolina’s Jamey Chadwell and East Carolina’s Mike Houston. If Collins says no, think Chadwell.

Karl Dorrell, Colorado: With $15.5 million banked from his Auburn buyout, Bryan Harsin wouldn’t have to get a mega-deal. If they don’t go after an experienced head coach, then Ryan Walters, the Illinois DC probably gets the job. Eric Bienemy almost certainly remains in the NFL.

Paul Chryst, Wisconsin: They’ve hired a coaching search firm. What that tells us is they haven’t a clue. It also tells us that Lance Leipold has probably said something like, “You’re kidding me, right?”

Will Healy, Charlotte: No money, a 15,000-seat stadium and no tradition. They’ll go with somebody’s assistant. FSU O-line Alex Atkins or UNC offensive coordinator Phil Longo are early names in the clubhouse.

Bryan Harsin, Auburn: Prime Time would kill it but would he take the Auburn job given the crazy boosters? Bill O’Brien and Hugh Freeze are probably higher on the list. Hugh probably realizes his gig at Liberty is way too good to leave for Auburn insanity. Figure O’Brien.

Jeff Scott, South Florida: The rebuild necessary is so massive that Jeff Scott did a lot of good things and still only went 4-26. No on campus stadium kills recruiting. The fans want Jon Gruden, who lives in Tampa. Donkeys will fly first. Would they bring back Willie Taggart or Jim Leavitt?

On Life Support

Neal Brown, West Virginia: He needs to go. They want him gone. Can they come up with the $16 million it would take to fire him and then all the money it would take to hire someone new?

Ken Niumatalolo, Navy: If he loses to Army, he’s probably a goner. If he wins, they probably give him one more year to right the proverbial ship.

Tom Allen, Indiana: The Hoosiers are 3-6 and they go to Ohio State Saturday. Things are so bad that QB Jack Tuttle, who said he will enter the transfer portal in December is starting.

Endangered Species List:

Willie Taggart, Florida Atlantic: The smart thing for Willie would be to beg the South Florida people to let him have his old job back. Even if he wins out, the potential at FAU isn’t nearly what it is at USF.

David Shaw, Stanford: He’s the winningest coach in school history so while they may want him to go, they’ll probably give him another year. He won’t leave unless pushed out the door.

Danny Gonzales, New Mexico: He’s 7-21 overall, 0-5 in Mountain West play this year. Patience wears thin. Odds are good he finishes the year 2-10.

Justin Wilcox, California: The Bears have lost four straight and five of the last six. Nobody was happy when he got a raise to $4.75 million and a contract extension back in May. Boosters want him gone but are they willing to buy him out?

Jeff Hafley, Boston College: He got the public vote of confidence from athletic director Blake James. Sometimes that’s a sign that firing is inevitable.

Phil Montgomery, Tulsa: The reason he’s not going to get fired is because they can’t afford (a) the buyout, (b) the buyout of his assistant coaches, and (c) the cost of hiring a new HBC and staff.