- Jadan Baugh has played his way into the Heisman conversation after averaging 18 carries and 152.7 yards through three games, with eight touchdowns.
- Gators great Carlos Alvarez recalls the first play of his UF career and names the receiver he believes is Florida's greatest ever.
- Peter Burns of the SEC Network says the Gators have regained their swagger in very short order.
The Front 9 comes at you after an incredible weekend except for Gator fans who found out that Auburn’s stadium is easier to win at than it is to get into. Lot of complaints from Gators who want Scott Stricklin to do everything the opposite of Or-bun when Florida renovates.
1. It’s only a three-game sample size and there are a lot of things to nitpick (what’s 16 penalties among friends?). But there is something about Jon Sumrall and his “track record” as Steve Spurrier likes to call it. He wins football games. And it is one thing to say “Scared Money Don’t Make Money” but it’s another thing to live by it. The double pass “was a dagger” according to Auburn coach Alex Golesh. The fourth-down play was a gutsy move that would have been ridiculed if it had failed. Remember, though, that Florida coaches have started fast before and then flamed out, none more spectacularly than Jim McElwain. Memo: Aaron Philo: Don’t put anything in your body without asking the trainers.
2. Jadan Baugh for Heisman? The numbers he is putting up are enough to get him on the betting sheets. And I think it’s smart to use those other backs so Baugh can stay fresh. In three games he is averaging 18 rushing attempts and 152.7 yards a game. He also has eight touchdowns, as many as he scored all of last year. I know, I don’t think about the Heisman (as a voter) until late October. I’m just sayin’.
3. FOMO game of the week
It’s important to note that this won’t always be college football. But the 3:30 games Saturday are pretty sweet if you can get away with dragging a second TV into the living room. Florida hosts Ole Miss and Oklahoma plays at Georgia. Get your popcorn ready.
4. Four questions with the great Carlos Alvarez
- Is it difficult to believe your record for most catches in a season lasted through the Steve Spurrier Era?
Alvarez: I was also surprised. The Spurrier offense is THE dream offense for any wide receiver. - What went through your mind when they called the third play of your college career and you knew it was coming to you?
Alvarez: I knew it was coming and I was very calm. Our brilliant offensive coordinator, Fred Pancoast, had told John Reaves and me before we went out on the field after warmups that would be the third play after a couple of line of scrimmage runs. John and I had practiced that play hundreds of times that summer. - When you immigrated from Cuba, what made a young Carlos Alvarez the most nervous?
Alvarez: Girls! I went from an all-boys Jesuit school to a co-ed Catholic school — St. James Elementary in North Miami. No one spoke Spanish except my two brothers and me and I was way too shy and inexperienced to interact with girls, especially blonde ones. - Who is the best wide receiver to ever play for UF not including yourself?
Alvarez: An extremely difficult question to answer because there have been so many great Florida wide receivers that I admire and there are so many variables to the position — speed, hands, quickness, toughness, intelligence to name a few. That said, I would put Percy Harvin on that pedestal.
5. Five key stats from the Florida-Auburn game
- Florida is now 16-of-17 scoring in the red zone this season. Better play calls.
- The Gators had six straight drives of 65+ yards resulting in points.
- UF was flagged for 16 penalties, one off the school record set in 1996. That team was OK.
- Emmanuel Oyebadejo was a game-time decision and still had 2.5 of Florida’s seven sacks.
- Florida had 12 explosive plays in the game and now has 41 in its first three games. The fun is back, no?
6. The SEC Report
Steak, caviar, white linens and candles:
- Florida, for sure, because we’ve been pointing to this game for a hot minute.
- Vanderbilt, how in the heck did you win that game?
- Kentucky, where did that come from?
- Miss. St. no longer the worst team in the SEC.
- Thank you Alabama, but you put a scare into us.
- Ole Miss v. LSU delivered.
Beans and weenies, paper plates and no sharp objects:
- Texas A&M got some ‘splaining to do.
- Oklahoma scored 14 against New Mexico. And won. But the fans are not happy.
- And in Columbia, they are warming the seat for Shane Beamer.
7. Hot take of the week
College football is still undefeated. If you were sitting in front of multiple TVs for 12 hours like I was Saturday, you know what I mean. The NFL is the King because of the finances it generates, but college football is so much more fun to watch because you never know what you’re going to get. Saturday was glorious, so good that I lost the Miss. State-South Carolina game in the shuffle of channels. Praise college football. We can’t quit you.
8. Tweet of the week
From Peter Burns, SEC Network: “My goodness … Florida looks like a force right now. Sumrall got the Gators back with some swagger in a hurry.”
9. Remote drop of the week
I feel like I should have a football movie in here so I will go with “Unnecessary Roughness” which is a funny, sweet movie about a guy trying to recapture glory.