Thoughts of the Day: November 8, 2021 on Mullen’s Firing Of Two Assistants

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

MULTIPLE REPORTS: GRANTHAM, HEVESY HAVE BEEN DISMISSED Per multiple reports Sunday night, Dan Mullen has dismissed defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and offensive line coach John Hevesy effective immediately. Official announcements are expected from Mullen and the University of Florida Monday morning.

The dismissal of Grantham had been expected since the LSU debacle three weeks ago, but after the Gators gave up 289 rushing yards to a South Carolina team that was averaging 117 per game coming into the 40-17 walloping of the Gators, dismissal was considered inevitable. Mullen and Grantham have worked together since 2017 when Grantham was the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State. His four-plus years with Mullen are the longest he’s worked for any coach since his first six years in the profession working for Frank Beamer, his college coach at Virginia Tech.

Grantham’s first two Florida defenses were encouraging, especially 2019 when the Gators finished 7th nationally in scoring defense, 8th in rushing defense and 9th in total defense, but in the 21 games since it has been roller coaster ride. The Gators finished 83rd nationally in total defense in 2020 and while they are currently ranked 45th, it is the inconsistency that made the situation untenable.

The dismissal of Hevesy during the season is somewhat of a surprise considering they have worked together since 2001 when they were part of Urban Meyer’s first head coaching staff at Bowling Green. When Mullen took the Mississippi State head coaching job in 2009, Hevesy went with him as the offensive line coach.

In Saturday night’s loss to South Carolina, there was no running game (82 yards), inconsistent pass blocking and the lowest total yardage output (340 yards) since the 2018 loss to Georgia. At the midway point of the season, the Gators were ranked third nationally in rushing yardage and were among the top seven teams in the nation in fewest sacks allowed.

Following the South Carolina game Saturday night, Mullen was asked if staff changes were expected. Mullen replied, “I’m not going to get into any of that stuff right now of what we are going to do. We are going to evaluate where we are at and look.”

Where the Gators are is 4-5 this season and guaranteed to have the first losing record in SEC play (5 losses in an 8-game league schedule) since Mullen became the head coach. There have been reports ongoing in the past two weeks that there were escalating numbers of discipline problems within the team. There have been rampant rumors that the locker room is divided and that it’s as close to anarchy as you can get within a team situation.

Will these two changes suffice and quell what seems to be a potential rebellion? Or is this just scratching the surface? Those two questions lead to the one that is on the mind of everyone in the Florida fan and booster base: Can Mullen regain control of this team and right what seems to be a sinking ship?

With the dismissal of Grantham, safeties coach Wesley McGriff will assume the defensive coordinator duties. McGriff has been a defensive coordinator in the SEC at Auburn and Ole Miss. Former Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni will likely fill the open spot on the defensive staff.

Graduate assistant Mike Sollenne who has been running the scout team offense is expected to take over the offensive line duties for Hevesy.

The Associated Press Top 25 poll: 1. Georgia 9-0; 2. Cincinnati 9-0; 3. Alabama 8-1; 4. Oklahoma 9-0; 5. Oregon 8-1; 6. Ohio State 8-1; 7. Notre Dame 8-1; 8. Michigan State 8-1; 9. Michigan 8-1; 10. Oklahoma State 8-1; 11. Texas A&M 7-2; 12. Ole Miss 7-2; 13. Wake Forest 8-1; 14. BYU 8-2; 15. UT-San Antonio 9-0; 16. Auburn 6-3; 17. Houston 8-1; 18. Baylor 7-2; 19. Iowa 7-2; 20. Wisconsin 6-3; 21. North Carolina State 7-2; 22. Coastal Carolina 8-1; 23. Penn State 6-3; 24. Louisiana 8-1; 25. Pittsburgh 7-2

The Coaches Top 25 poll: 1. Georgia 9-0; 2. Alabama; 3. Cincinnati 9-0; 4. Oklahoma 9-0; 5. Ohio State 8-1; 6. Oregon 8-1; 7. Notre Dame 8-1; 8. Michigan 8-1; 9. Michigan 8-1; 10. Oklahoma State 8-1; 11. Texas A&M 7-2; 12. Ole Miss 7-2; 13. Wake Forest 8-1; 14. Iowa 7-2; 15. BYU 8-2; 16. Texas-San Antonio 9-0; 17. Houston 8-1; 18. Baylor 7-2; 19. North Carolina State 7-2; 20. Auburn 6-3; 21. Coastal Carolina 8-1; 22. Pittsburgh 7-2; 23. Penn State 6-3; 24. Wisconsin 6-3; 25. Louisiana 8-1

THE SEC AFTER 10 WEEKS Alabama (8-1, 5-1 SEC): Alabama ran for six (count ‘em) yards on LSU. Six. That’s the worst game running the football for a Nick Saban-coached Alabama team. Ever. If Alabama can’t run Auburn is going to be a struggle. Alabama was 4-13 converting third downs against LSU. Next week: vs. New Mexico State (1-8)

Arkansas (6-3, 2-3 SEC): Arkansas will go bowling for the first time since 2016 after KJ Jefferson drove the Hogs 75 yards to score the game-winning touchdown with 21 seconds to go. Jefferson completed 19-23 passes for 191 yards and Dominique Johnson ran for 107 to lead the Hogs. Next week: at LSU (4-5, 2-4 SEC)

Auburn (6-3, 3-1 SEC): Credit the Auburn defense even in a loss because the Tigers didn’t give up a single offensive touchdown. The loss to Texas A&M is squarely on the offense and Bo Nix for an inability to convert third downs (4-16). Next week: vs. Mississippi State (5-4, 3-3 SEC)

Georgia (9-0, 7-0 SEC): There was a JT Daniels sighting against Missouri, but it should be very clear that this is Stetson Bennett’s team. Daniels was 7-11 for 82 yards and a TD, but he also threw an interception. Bennett was 13-19 for 255 yards and two TDs, a nifty 13.4 yards per pass attempt. Next week: at Tennessee (5-4, 3-3 SEC)

Kentucky (6-3, 4-3 SEC): The Wildcats lost their third straight game despite outgaining Tennessee 612-461. Wan’Dale Robinson caught 13 passes for 166 yards and a TD. Next week: at Vanderbilt (2-7, 0-5 SEC)

LSU (4-5, 2-4 SEC): LSU held Alabama to 308 yards, the worst offensive game for the Crimson Tide since the 2017 semifinal win over Clemson. The Tigers sacked Bama QB Bryce Young four times for -43 yards. Next week: vs. Arkansas (5-4, 2-3 SEC)

Mississippi State (5-4, 3-3 SEC): The Bulldogs threw an interception, missed three field goals and committed 10 penalties for -78 yards. The three missed field goals prompted Mike Leach to say, “There’s an open tryout on our campus for kickers. Anybody who wants to walk on and kick at Mississippi State, we’ll hold a tryout anytime you can get over here to our building providing you’re cleared by the NCAA.” Next week: at Auburn (6-3, 3-2 SEC)

Missouri (4-5, 1-4 SEC): QB Connor Bazelac missed the Georgia game. It won’t be known until midweek if he’s able to go against South Carolina. Next week: vs. South Carolina (5-4, 2-3 SEC)

Ole Miss (7-2, 4-2 SEC): The Rebels sacked Auburn’s Malik Willis nine times in their 27-14 win over Liberty. Matt Corral threw for 324 yards and a TD while Dannis Jackson was 6-126 receiving and John Rhys Plumlee was 7-110. Next week: vs. Texas A&M (7-2, 4-2 SEC)

South Carolina (5-4, 2-3 SEC): The Gamecocks have a chance to become bowl-eligible if they can beat Missouri on the road next week. They’ve found their QB for the last three games in Jason Brown, who threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns without an interception to lead the win over Florida. Next week: at Missouri (4-5, 1-4 SEC)

Tennessee (5-4, 3-3 SEC): Hendon Hooker’s first two passes in the win over Kentucky went for touchdowns of 75 and 72 yards. He threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns on the night. Next week: vs. Georgia (9-0, 7-0 SEC)

Texas A&M (7-2, 4-2 SEC): The Aggies didn’t get an offensive touchdown but they got three field goals Seth Small and a defensive touchdown from Micheal Clemons for a 20-3 win over Auburn. The Aggies held Auburn to 226 total yards, only 73 on the ground. Next week: at Ole Miss (7-2, 4-2 SEC)

Vanderbilt (2-7, 0-5 SEC): Next week: vs. Kentucky (6-3, 4-3 SEC)

FOOTBALL IN THE MINOR LEAGUES ACC: The ACC’s last hope to make the College Football Playoff went down in flames when Wake Forest (8-1) was outscored 24-7 in the fourth quarter in a 58-55 loss to North Carolina (5-4) … Tyler Van Dyke threw for 389 yards and three TDs to lead Miami (5-4) to its third straight win over Georgia Tech (3-6), 33-30 ... North Carolina State (7-2) squares off with Wake Forest this week in a game that likely decides the Atlantic Division title. The Wolfpack got four touchdown passes to beat Florida State (3-6).

Big 12: Oklahoma State (8-1) got it done with defense in its 24-3 win on the road at West Virginia, holding the Mountaineers to 133 yards of offense. Baylor (7-2) fell two games behind Oklahoma when the Bears lost to TCU (4-5).

Big Ten: No. 3 Michigan State (8-1) can expect to take a dip in the College Football Playoff poll after going down, 40-29, to Purdue (6-3). For Purdue it was the second signature win of the season. Four weeks ago, the Boilermakers took down then No. 2 Iowa (7-2). This week Purdue is at Ohio State. Three giants in one season? … Ohio State (8-1) is the only Big Ten team with an unbeaten record (6-0) in conference play. Saturday, the Buckeyes outgained Nebraska (3-6) 495-335 but managed only a 26-17 win … Michigan (8-1) rebounded from its loss to Michigan State by knocking off Indiana (2-7), 29-7. The Wolverines travel to Penn State (6-3) Saturday.

Pac-12: Oregon (8-1) stayed in the hunt for the final four with a 26-16 win over Washington (4-5), holding the Huskies to 166 yards. The Ducks will face Pac-12 South leader Utah (6-3) in two weeks in Salt Lake City. Utah hammered Stanford (3-6), the only team that has beaten Oregon so far, 52-7.

Independents: Notre Dame is 8-1 and ranked 7th in both the AP and Coaches polls, but that’s pretty much the ceiling for the Irish. They don’t have a ranked team left on the schedule and they need a signature win … UMass (1-8) pulled the plug on Walt Bell after the Minutemen lost to Rhode Island 35-25. Bell was 3-23 in three years.

Group of Five: Cincinnati (9-0) was on the verge of overtime with lowly Tulsa (3-5) when the Hurricanes blew two chances to get into the end zone in the final seconds. Will an unbeaten record, the loss by Michigan State and that earlier in the season win on the road at Notre Dame be enough to vault Cincinnati into the top four of the College Football Playoff poll Tuesday night? … Houston (8-1) will probably face Cincinnati in the American Athletic Conference championship game. The Cougars whacked South Florida (2-7), 54-42 … UTSA (9-0) has a chance to crack the CFP poll after taking out UTEP (6-3), 44-23. The Roadrunners are 15th in the AP poll, 16th in the coaches.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Change is never easy for a head football coach. When he has to dismiss assistant coaches, it’s more than just ending a professional relationship but one that is also personal and involves families that will have to be uprooted. While it has become obvious that Dan Mullen needed to make some changes before his entire football team imploded, we have to know that dismissing Todd Grantham and John Hevesy was not an easy thing to do. Mullen and Hevesy were part of Urban Meyer’s first coaching staff at Bowling Green in 2001 and they worked together for 21 years. Grantham was with Mullen since 2017. If you’ve ever been a boss who has had to fire someone who worked with you for some time or if you’ve ever been on the bad end of a pink slip, then you should know this wasn’t an easy thing to do. So before you celebrate that Grantham and Hevesy are gone, please take the time to wish them well and Godspeed that they will find a new job.