- Jon Sumrall's Gators have scored 214 points in four games, the most by any SEC coach in his first four games.
- Florida was unbeaten in September but faces a tougher schedule in October with three of four games on the road, including the top two ranked teams.
- Texas' win at Tennessee reminded me of other teams in the past that had no discipline but good enough players to overcome it.
The Front 9 comes at you after an amazing day in the Swamp where the sun was as bright as the future of Florida football. Or at least the present.
1. When Jon Sumrall said after the 52-28 win over Ole Miss that he is “not Eeyore, mad at life” because he said Florida has not played its best football and is “still not a finished product,” he’s not degrading Saturday’s win. He wants nice things for all of you Gator fans. So far, he has delivered. What did you want? An offense you could count on. His Florida team has scored 214 points in four games, more points than any SEC coach ever in his first four games. You wanted a coach with energy? He busted his headset when the refs missed a call, then sprinted down the sideline with Duke Clark on his TD run. You wanted WINNING? Well, there are only five unbeaten SEC teams and it’s not even October.
2. My daughter Kelsey asked me after the game, “Dad, are we back?” Of course, I pumped the brakes on that a little bit. Nobody needs to start Googling where the playoffs are this year. Still, to leave September without a loss is impressive. October is going to be even tougher with three of the four games on the road (sorry, Atlanta is not a neutral site for Fla-Ga). But, as Lloyd Christmas said, “So you’re telling me there’s a chance.”
3. FOMO game of the week
Let’s shift from football for a minute because this is a glorious time to be a sports fan. The Major League Baseball playoffs begin Tuesday with four games every day through Saturday except the day off for everyone on Friday. The games are on NBC mostly as well as TBS and Fox. Why did we need 162 games to get to Red Sox vs. Yankees? Only baseball purists could tell you.
4. Four questions with Ali Peek Wilbur, podcaster, mother, wife of Eric and overall sweet person
- How did you get into the world of podcasting after being a sports reporter?
Ali Peek Wilbur: I have a friend who had just left his corporate job to do podcasting full time. He reached out and told me that he felt like there was room in the Florida content creator space and I should consider trying it. He knew how closely I already followed Gator athletics so it wouldn’t be a huge time commitment since I was doing the research anyway. I felt like it would be a fun creative outlet, so I took the plunge. - Does Eric ever get upset that you have become the more famous Wilbur?
Ali Peek Wilbur: He actually is so amused when people come up to us at games and recognize me from my shows. I couldn’t do this without his support, and I think he loves what we have built. - Considering your family’s legacy, was there even a choice of where to go to college?
Ali Peek Wilbur:No. It was the only place I applied. Good thing it worked out! - Who is your favorite Florida player of all time not including anyone named Eric?
Ali Peek Wilbur: Watching Eric win a national title and my brother as well are some of my favorite memories of my entire life. My dad and my grandfather are my two very favorite players because they shaped who I am and cultivated the love of UF that my whole family shares. If I’m not allowed to pick anyone I’m related to or married to, I would have to go with Danny Wuerffel. I was 12 years old during the 1996 season and that run and all the twists and turns of the season shaped who I became as a sports fan. He was always such an inspiration to young Gator fans and such a great example of doing things the right way. He is one of the first players that made me interested in who he was as a person, not just as an athlete.
5. Five key stats from Florida vs. Ole Miss
- Jadan Baugh is the fastest player to 10 rushing TDs in Florida history to start a season. The record was previously held by Tim Tebow, who was there Saturday to witness it.
- The Gators had their fourth straight game with double-digit explosive plays and have 53 for the season.
- Florida’s O-line — a concern when the season began — allowed zero sacks and paved the way for 302 rushing yards.
- Florida has scored on 33 of 42 drives this season.
- The Gators now lead the series 14-13-1 after winning four of the last five.
6. It Just Means More Report
It was SEC Day on the Disney family of networks and we saw some strange things:
- Missouri could have set up a battle of unbeatens Saturday but lost to the Cowbells.
- Texas A&M fans did not sign up for this.
- Neither did Oklahoma’s.
- Shane Beamer’s seat is getting hotter.
- The league is now 38-2 against non-cons.
- Alabama might still be Alabama.
7. Hot take of the week
I have to say that watching Texas win its game against Tennessee reminded me of other teams in the past that had no discipline but good enough players to overcome it. Arch Manning threw two passes from well beyond the line of scrimmage. The Longhorns allowed Tennessee to recover an onside kick in the last minute. After a sack, Colin Simmons pretended to urinate on the field and then issued a lame apology. But Simmons also had five sacks and Manning got the win. Still, the only reason Tennessee was throwing it into the end zone at the end of a three-point game was the idiocy of the Longhorns.
8. Tweet of the week
From Connor O’Gara of The Next Round Live: “In hindsight, it’s a good thing that Billy Napier refused to lean on Jadan Baugh because man, he looks as fresh as can be now.” Burn.
9. Remote drop of the week
I am a Marvel fan but that doesn’t mean I think all those movies are great. “Avengers: Endgame” is the best of them all. Especially since the one before it when Thanos wiped out half the world was such a downer.