Sumrall's My Old Kentucky Home

Jon Sumrall speaks with reporters at his Nov. 7 postgame press conference in Gainesville. Frame from Florida Gators/UAA video.

“This game's got very little to do about my ties to the place.”

By Buddy Martin

My Old Kentucky Home has been swapped for “We Are The Boys From Old Florida” as far as Jon Sumrall is concerned — a song trade-off for a different sport, different place and different time.

The guy who was born in Texarkana, Texas and raised in Alabama has come from the Bluegrass country to the green grass of north central Florida. And he’s grateful for both the blue and the green.

Looking back, Sumrall is thankful for his time in Lexington:

“Kentucky has given me a lot. I wouldn't be where I'm at today if it wasn't for the University of Kentucky. They were one of the schools I was able to trick into offering me a scholarship out of high school. And so I was fortunate enough to get a chance to play there for four years. I kid around with people. I led the team in ‘trips’ in 2004. I wasn't good enough to actually tackle anybody. But I tripped a lot of people that year. And then went back to work for Coach Stoops.”

Clearly he’s bleeding some orange now with that blue.

“I'm a Florida Gator, but I wouldn't be where I'm at without maybe some of the things that Kentucky's done for me individually. I have a lot of respect for the place and tons of great friends and relationships that have been forged over the years in my time there.”

He quickly added: “But this is not a reflection week. This game's got very little to do about my ties to the place. It's about how do I get our team ready to play better and match really how they're playing to be quite honest with you. So we've got, I've got my full focus on how to help our guys get better and help our team get better. But there is that component to it.”

At his Monday press conference, less than 48 hours after a stinging low point and loss to underdog Oklahoma, Sumrall said he didn’t have time “for any reflection.”

He stopped short of defending their recent loss of four games in five weeks and substantiated what he’s done in the past in terms of practice will not change. But he hopes the result will be different.

“I think the process is that of how we practice the rhythm, the routines. It's the same process that we did that beat Ole Miss and Texas. And so I think it's helping our guys find consistency with their preparation. Week in and week out.”

He did talk a little about some Gators who left, but who mostly had already planned to leave.

“(But) there's a lot of things that as I've looked back, you know, when you're in the middle of the grind or the season you're trying to go 1-0 every week, you do constantly like reflect on what can we have done better. And I keep really detailed notes on all that stuff. And there's a lot that I go back to last, the end of November last year when I got hired to where I'm like, okay, I would do this differently. Okay, I think this was done the right way, from a football perspective.”

Often things don’t go your way, as was the case with two Gator players who transferred to Kentucky, of all places.

Aaron Gates and Jordan Castell are two starting defensive backs who transferred from the Gators to the Wildcats in January 2026. They both moved during the offseason following coaching changes at Florida, choosing to reunite under Kentucky's defensive coaching staff.

“There's plenty of things that I think we have to improve upon that we probably don't have enough time to discuss all of it today. But you're constantly learning. I think you have to always learn and evolve and adapt or you're going to continue to make the same mistakes over and over.”

Gates played for Florida from 2023 through 2025 before transferring to Kentucky in 2026.

“I tried to keep him (Castell) — tried to keep Gates, both the guys that are on their roster. Thought we were keeping Gates to be quite honest with you. I thought it was like almost done and then it wasn't. And then I never really get enough, being I accepted this job, I was coaching the playoffs.”

A Dad’s Apology

Recently I wrote about the dad guilt of coaches: Nick Saban has been saying the quiet part out loud lately, and it ought to be required listening for every young coach drawing up his first game plan: He missed his kids growing up. The games, the recitals, the fights in the back seat, the whole golden blur of it, traded away one recruiting cycle at a time. He wasn’t bitter about it. He was just honest.

“I missed my kids growing up,” he said. “I didn’t really want to miss my grandkids growing up. So this has given me a little bit more time to have those relationships.”

The man who never lost a grip on anything on a football field had to admit, at 75, that the grip he never got on his children’s childhoods is the one that won’t come back. There are no do-overs in that league. No transfer portal for time.

This is the lament of almost every father I have ever known who was dedicated to his profession — trying to win for himself and for his family at the same time, and never quite sure which master he was serving.

The Reaction: In Appreciation To Dr. Pete

It was an honor to receive a response to the dad guilt from someone for which I have a great admiration – Dr. Pete Indelicato – following my column on coaches who must make difficult choices about family and career.

My recent column was straight from the heart and I was pleased to know that it connected with someone like Dr. Pete Indelicato, for whom I have great respect. He wrote this response:

“Buddy: I just read your article this morning about: The Monster that’s never fed…it was so so very spot on… literally brought tears to my eyes…coaches aren’t the only ones who deal with choices between professional success and spent time with families… team physicians do ( at least the dedicated ones) …thank you for a wonderful true article God bless your wisdom.” Dr. Pete Indelicato

Comment: I am sure much of that was on his own heart during the time, as his good friend Urban Meyer was being honored as the newest member of the Gators Ring of Honor Saturday night.

What Does This Say?

Non-conference records against Power 4 teams

SEC 10-2 Big 12 6-7 ACC 6-12 Big Ten 4-10 Mountain West 1-9 American 1-12 MAC 1-17 CUSA 0-9 Pac-12 0-12 Sun Belt 0-1

Underwhelmed By ESPN Changes

I had an overwhelming response to this probably 50 people within 24 hours, all 100% agreement. Your thought. I am trying to give them every chance and realize that change can sometimes be unfamiliar if not painful, but I’m having a very hard time grasping the new SEC Nation, with a whole lot less of Paul Finebaum and no Laura Rutledge. Except for Tim Tebow’s credibility and work ethic, it kind of sucks. I’m not seeing the cohesion with Matt Barrie, Roman Harper, and that other guy, Chase. And I find Game Day almost unwatchable with Pat McAfee’s $encroachment. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m just getting old.

An Almost Overlooked Name Change

It appears the "Exactech Arena" name is no more. The 10-year naming rights deal from 2016 has expired. Exactech says no renewal. It’s now officially just Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Which is fine. Thanks to my Ocala friends for stepping up for 10 years.

AP Poll fallout

—How is LSU still ranked???

—How is Ohio State still ranked? Lost back to back games. How is Ole Miss still ranked?

How is Oregon ranked? So what they beat Ohio State without their QB

When somebody figures it all out, call me.

I’m done.

Crazy Rumors: I am glad to see that the unofficial Heisman trophy leading candidate Jeremiah Smith has NOT opted out of the rest of the season. The rumor started from viral social media posts and media speculation following Ohio State’s 41-28 loss to Oregon. The rumor started when CBS Sports analyst Damien Harris suggested on-air that Smith should shut it down for the season to protect his stock for the 2027 NFL Draft, arguing he has "nothing to gain" by playing out the rest of the year. Stop it!

Sooey Pig Latin

Great facts in Arkansas, but who cares?

1. They are still actively trying to hire Gus Malzahn.

2. Arkansas has the only mascot in college football that is an invasive species in their state.

3. Arkansas has the worst bowl record of any SEC team

4. Arkansas claims the 1964 national title as does Alabama. Arkansas was 11-0 Alabama was 10-1….Alabama fans do not recognize this title.

Photo courtesy University of Kentucky