The Most Devastating Kind Of Loss For Coach: RIP George Sumrall

 

it was the happiest of days when George Sumrall got to see his son landing as new Gator coach (Family photo)

When you lose your father, you become the anchor for the entire family.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jon Sumrall's father, George Sumrall, passed away at 77 on Thursday, December 18, 2025, in his sleep after health issues, just a day before Tulane's College Football Playoff game, a loss Jon shared on social media, honoring his father as a fighter and great example of faith and hard work.  He posted on social media about his father being a fighter and a man of faith, grit, and hard work, and expressed gratitude for the time they had. Our sincerest condolences.

Competitors hate to lose, often more than they love to win. If there is one thing we know about Florida’s new football coach,is he is a competitor. And it is apparent that he hates to lose. 

Everyone else may have known that Tulane had a snowball’s chance in South Florida to beat Ole Miss on Saturday. My guess is that there were a lot of people in that hotel and bus ride to the stadium wearing green that believed they could do the impossible. Most of it infused by the man at the front of the first bus. 

The game went as expected. Tulane was overwhelmed, over matched, and had only a puncher’s chance at a win that evaporated with the first turnover. The loss stung. Every loss stings to a competitor. When it doesn’t, it’s time to give up the game! The final game for some including the head coach makes that feeling magnified. But losing a game wasn’t the most devastating one experienced over the weekend by Coach Sumrall.

His father lost his battle with his health on Thursday night. Losing your father is one of the most devastating losses a man can suffer. 

When you lose your father, you become the anchor for the entire family. There is added pressure to take care of your mom along with your own family. And if you had a good or great relationship with your dad, you are dealing with your own incredible sense of loss. Those of you that have experienced this loss know the toll it takes on you.

Now imagine dealing with that loss in front of the world and trying to get a team ready for the biggest game in the program’s history and trying to get a new team ready to play next year by working out who is going to stay and who you need to get in the transfer portal. I certainly can’t imagine what that level of stress is like, can you?

So, if Coach Sumrall is quiet for a few days during the Christmas season, let’s give him some grace and some space. The last thing he needs to be worried about now is how to appease a fan base. Let’s show him that in all kinds of weather we all stick together isn’t just a line in a song, but what he and his family can expect from real Gator fans.