The Cowboy Doesn’t Talk Very Often But His Actions Speak Even Louder
Updated: 2 days ago
How and why Gator Nation and its head coach have fallen in love with Florida’s newest QB.
UAA Photo
By Buddy Martin
You’re not the only one smitten with Aaron Philo. Get in line behind Jon Sumrall, who’s gushing like a guy with a new bass boat.
“He’s got a little bit of, like, a cowboy mentality, man,” Sumrall said after the 44-39 shootout at Auburn. “Like, he’s tough as nails… He don’t talk a whole lot just to talk, he ain’t that type of dude, but he ain’t gonna back down or nothing… He’s a tough, blue-collar, chip-on-your-shoulder type of guy.”
Translation: Florida finally has a quarterback who doesn’t need a ring light.
“Cowboy” doesn’t mean gunslinger. Gainesville has had plenty of those, the guys who threw it up and prayed, then blamed the wind. Sumrall means the other kind.
Rodeo people have a phrase for it: “Cowboy up.” It means summoning the toughness, grit and perseverance to push through when things turn difficult, dangerous or painful. When the bull throws you and you’re spitting dirt, you get up and climb back on.
That’s Philo. Auburn threw everything it had, and Florida still walked out of Jordan-Hare with 44 points. You can’t coach that, and you can’t find it in the portal either.
So Does the Cowboy Talk?
Well, yes.
Philo recently stated, “I'm honored, and I don't take it lightly at all. I don't take this position for granted at all. It's something that I've worked my whole life to get to... I'm gonna do everything in my power to bring Florida back.”
He doesn’t say much, but when he does, it’s worth hearing.
Daddy’s Proud
On the SEC conference call, Sumrall sounded like a father handing out cigars.
“He’s got a lot of time on task in the system,” he said. “Buster (Faulkner) trusts Aaron because he’s been in the system for a decent amount of time.”
The trust runs both ways. The coordinator isn’t wondering what the quarterback will do next, and the quarterback isn’t freelancing.
After years of Florida offenses that looked put together in a parking lot, that alone is worth a parade.
Then the clincher: Philo “made other players around him better by helping them understand what to do and how to do it.”
A quarterback who makes other players better? What a concept! Somebody tell the last few guys who played there.
He’s also protected the football. There are two interceptions on his record, and Sumrall says “both of them hit our pass-catchers in bad spots, the hands.” So the picks belong to the receivers.
Promised Nothing
Here’s the best part. Philo showed up from Georgia Tech with a couple of starts and no hype. He wasn’t a portal celebrity.
“He was promised nothing to come here other than an opportunity to compete for the starting job,” Sumrall said.
In an era when transfer quarterbacks want new cars, gold chains, guarantees, NIL deals and their own locker room, Philo took a fair shot at the job. He didn’t whine or threaten to transfer again. He cowboyed up and won it.
That’s where the chip on his shoulder comes from.
Sumrall’s test for a quarterback is simple: character, competitiveness, toughness.
“I don’t care what your physical traits are at the quarterback position,” he said. “If you don’t have those other things, good luck.”
“Good luck” is coach-speak for “don’t let the door hit you.”
Bottom Line
Florida went shopping for a tough guy and came home with a cowboy. He won’t give you a sound bite or talk trash. He’ll just beat you.
Ole Miss is next, and The Swamp is no petting zoo. Time to cowboy up. Again.
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