Thoughts of the Day: September 6, 2022

A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning:

NO CELEBRATION HANGOVER, THE FOCUS IS ON KENTUCKY

After spending the entire 2021 season on the scout team helping the Gators prep for whoever was next on the schedule, Tyreak Sapp was in a celebratory mood following Florida’s 29-26 win over 7th-ranked Utah at The Swamp. He admits he didn’t get to bed until somewhere around 4 a.m. Sunday but instead of falling asleep immediately, he was still basking in the glow of such a huge season-opening win.

All thoughts of Utah were put in the rearview at 6 p.m. when the entire team gathered at the Heavener Football Center to begin preparations for 20th-ranked Kentucky, which comes to The Swamp Saturday for the first SEC game of the season.

“Yesterday evening when we came in, we came in new week, new everything,” Sapp said. “Just got to change your focus, got to get your game day high and got to understand we’ve got a big time, formidable opponent coming in. High combatants. It’s a team we lost to last year so we’re just looking forward to putting our focus on them and getting ready for that team.”

Sapp calls UK “high combatants” because, “It’s a war. This game is a war. They are combatants.”

There is no overlooking the Wildcats, who opened their season with a 37-13 win over Miami (OH). This is a team that won 10 games in 2021 and has gone to six consecutive bowl games. The bowl streak is the best mark in Kentucky history. It’s not the easiest place to win football games, as evidenced by the fact Mark Stoops tied Bear Bryant’s 69-year-old school record for wins (60) against Miami. It only took him 10 years to get there.

What impresses Florida coach Billy Napier about Kentucky is that Stoops has done it without 5-star recruits.

“They have some good players that maybe weren’t highly regarded [as recruits], but they’re just as good as anybody in the country,” Napier said Monday morning. “This is a good developmental program that I have nothing but respect for. So, you’ve got to beat Kentucky. They’re going to make you beat them.”

Napier complimented the Wildcats for being sound in every phase of the game. He sees a well-coached team that rarely strays from the identity Stoops has brought to the program.

“I think they know who they are on offense, defense and special teams,” Napier said. “I see a good set of fundamentals in all three phases, and they do a good job of evaluating players and they’ve got some height, length and speed.”

Other Napier comments:

On watching the film of the Utah game: “The film is sloppy, just so we’re all on the same page. I know we’re ready to put the crown on the Gators, but the Gators got a lot of work to do to play at our expectation and our standard.”

On what the team mentality is after the win over Utah: The great thing is the effort was there, the physicality was there, the toughness was there … the passion. I thought the chemistry and morale of the team was good. I thought we saw some leadership emerge, but overall, lots of areas where we need to improve. So, I think we’ve got a little bit of the best of both worlds here. I think we’ve got some momentum, but we also have a team that is very self-aware. I think we’ve got a smart group. I think they understand good football. They watched the tape. They know they can do better.”

O-line toughness: “That’s kind of who we want to be. That’s the brand of football we played in the past. We invest in that area. We have two offensive line coaches. We put a premium on line of scrimmage play ... But Coach Stapleton and Coach Sale are really good at what they do. I think that group – there’s a lot of room for improvement there – but we’re getting closer to the identity we want that group to have.”

Two more Tyreak Sapp comments:

Sapp on what Florida’s coaches are building: “They are building a tough, mean, nasty team ready to play anybody. Any type of high combatants, we’re ready for that. That’s what we’re trying to be.”

Sapp on wild dog mentality of the defense: “The African wild dog. That’s a pack mentality. We have a pack mentality. We play for each other every game. We play every snap for each other. We would lay our lives on the line for each other each and every snap. We make sure we do that and make sure we hold ourselves to that standard.”

Richardson, Brenton Cox Jr. honored by the SEC

Anthony Richardson was named Offensive Player of the Week and edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr. was named Co-Defensive Player of the Week by the Southeastern Conference. Richardson threw for 168 yards and ran for 106 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Gators past Utah, while Cox had a career-best 10 tackles to lead the UF defense.

SEC football

#1 Alabama (1-0): Answering a question if he was upset that Alabama had zero sacks against Utah State, Nick Saban replied, “They threw the ball and got the ball out so quick you didn’t have a chance to get a pass rush” … Alabama is a 20-point favorite on the road at Texas Saturday.

#19 Arkansas (1-0): HBC Sam Pittman offered no update on injured safety Jalen Catalon or nickel Myles Slusher, both of whom were injured in the win over Cincinnati. Catalon has a shoulder injury while Slusher appeared to hurt his collarbone.

Auburn (1-0): HBC Bryan Harsin plans on playing both TJ Finley and Robby Ashford at QB against San Jose State. “I expect both guys to play,” Harsin said Monday. “As far as the number of it, how we utilize it, we’re working on that right now. Every opponent is different.” In the win over Mercer, Finley threw for 112 yards and a TD but had two passes picked off. Ashford threw for 100 yards and ran for 68. … Auburn is a 22.5-point favorite over San Jose State.

#3 Georgia (1-0): After watching Georgia destroy Oregon in the season opener, Paul Finebaum on the ESPN College Football Podcast said, “There is reason to be cautious, but as you look at [Georgia’s] schedule I’m having a hard time finding a game that I would seriously be concerned about.”

#20 Kentucky (1-0): HBC Mark Stoops said he cannot comment on the status of running back Chris Rodriguez or linebacker Jordan Wright, both of whom were suspended for the season opener. “There are things going on, layers to this, that I’ve been advised I really can’t comment on it,” Stoops said Monday … The UK O-line has been shaken up for the Florida game: LT Kenneth Horsey, LG Jager Burton, C Eli Cox, RG Tashawn Manning, RT Jeremy Flax … The Wildcats are 4.5-point underdogs to Florida.

LSU (0-1): Brian Kelly was roasted on Twitter following the Tigers’ 242-23 loss to Florida State Sunday night. Probably the most interesting was from Michael Tadlock, who tweeted, “Am I the only one that feels like Les Miles is back at the helm for LSU? They have no passing game and are trying to run a pro style with a dual threat QB. It’s like they fired Oregon to bring back Les.”

Mississippi State (1-0): Mike Leach thought QB Will Rogers played his best game seeing the field and delivering the football in the 49-23 win over Memphis. Rogers says he was unhappy with the way he played, especially after the rain delay. Rogers threw for 450 yards and five touchdowns … Mississippi State is a 10.5-point favorite on the road at Arizona.

Missouri (1-0): Former Gator Ty’Ron Hopper was Mizzou’s defensive star in the Tigers’ 52-24 win over Louisiana Tech. Hopper had six tackles, a sack and an interception … Missouri is an 8-point underdog on the road at Kansas State.

#21 Ole Miss (1-0): Ole Miss will start Luke Altmeyer for Saturday’s game with D1AA Central Arkansas. Altmeyer backed up Jaxson Dart in game one, completing 1-2 passes for 13 yards. Dart was 18-27 for 154 yards with one TD and one interception.

South Carolina (1-0): The Gamecocks managed just 79 yards on the ground against Georgia State and QB Spencer Rattler threw two interceptions, prompting HBC Shane Beamer to say about the problems, “It’s game one and we’ll be better” … The Gamecocks are 8-point underdogs at Arkansas Saturday.

Tennessee (1-0): Speaking Monday about the Tennessee offense, Pitt HBC Pat Narduzzi said, “Offensively, there’s not a more explosive offense, there’s not a faster tempo offense in the country.” … The Vols are 7-point favorites over Pitt.

#6 Texas A&M (1-0): Cornerback Jaylon Jones and D-lineman McKinley Jackson are expected to return from injury for Saturday’s game … The Aggies are 17-point favorites at home against Appalachian State.

Vanderbilt (1-0): Through two games, QB Mike Wright has thrown six TDPs without an interception and he’s run for 247 yards (10.29 per carry) and four more scores … The Commodores are 8-point home underdogs to Wake Forest.

Our SEC orphans in the Big 12

#9 Oklahoma (1-0): After scoring three quick touchdowns in their 45-13 season opening win over UTEP, offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby slowed the game down and went to the running game, which he said was to “give the other side (defense) a break so they can catch their breath.” … Oklahoma is a 32-point favorite for Saturday’s game with Kent State.

Texas (1-0): Instead of worrying about Alabama coming to town Saturday, HBC Steve Sarkisian says the Longhorns “need to be enamored with us, focused on us” … The Longhorns are 20-point underdogs to Texas.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Two things continue to stick out in my mind after watching Florida beat Utah Saturday night from the press box, then watching it a second time on replay and finally, watching Florida State beat LSU Sunday night.

(1) Anthony Richardson never let the moment be too big for him. He was completely under control and with the exception of one ill-advised pass that probably should have been picked off, made very few noticeable mistakes. There is no question he is (a) better coached than he was last year and (b) far more aware, which, of course, goes back to coaching. I’m left to wonder what the hell was Dan Mullen thinking in playing Emory Jones over Anthony Richardson? EJ is a good kid, but you have to go back to Cam Newton to find a Florida quarterback as athletically gifted as Anthony Richardson.

(2) A year ago, Billy Napier was coaching at Louisiana, less than an hour down I-10 from Baton Rouge where Coach O and LSU were doing a tag-team meltdown. Coach O was fired on October 17. The coach who made the most sense for LSU was Napier, who went 33-5 in his final three seasons at Louisiana. LSU passed on Napier, electing to go after Lincoln Riley and when that failed, luring Brian Kelly from Notre Dame. Two days before LSU named Brian Kelly its new head coach, Scott Stricklin hired Napier, who was his first and only priority.

Napier is 1-0 as Florida’s head coach. There are 11 regular season games to go, but everything Billy Napier says and everything we’ve seen him do, such as beat Utah in game one, convinces me that UF has the right coach at the right time. This guy is a keeper.

Brian Kelly is 0-1 at LSU. He’s done a fake southern accent that went over like a fart in an elevator, tried to be way too cool with dance moves, and we’ve seen him lose a game to FSU that has to make LSU fans question why he was hired in the first place. You have to go back to the Gerry Dinardo or maybe even Curly Hallman to find an LSU team that looked as disjointed and poorly coached as the one that lost to the Seminoles. It’s still early. Kelly has 11 regular season games to go to prove he’s the right guy at the right time for LSU, but what I’ve seen so far tells me (a) Florida got the right coach and (b) LSU AD Scott Woodward is dumber than a box of rocks for passing on Billy Napier.