+3
The Florida Gators will be without Sharrif Floyd for their second game of the season, but don't expect that to slow them down any.
Matchup: #18 Florida Gators vs. Alabama-Birmingham
Game Time: 7:00 pm
Coverage: FSN, 1250 AM
Staff Prediction: Florida 38, UAB 10
For our full game preview and analysis, see J.C. De La Torre’s work. Here’s a brief snippet:
John Brantley and the Gator passing game moved the ball well against FAU as he threw for 229 yds and completed 70% of his passes, but Brantley also tossed two interceptions against a subpar secondary.
If Florida is going to be successful this season, Brantley has to do a better job at protecting the football. […]
Florida gets its second sacrificial lamb of the season – but UAB could be a little feisty – at least for a little while. They have some talent (certainly a lot more than FAU did) and could offer a bit of a challenge for the Gator defense.
For a game recap and analysis, follow along with SB Nation Tampa Bay on Twitter.
The Gators take on the University of Alabama this week - but its not the powerhouse from Tuscaloosa. Florida hosts C-USA's Alabama-Birmingham this week as their last tune up before launching into the SEC schedule.
This game obviously lacks the same luster as the one that will happen on October 1st, but there's still a few storylines that could make this one a little more than just a yawner.
A Little About UAB
Record: 0-0
Team Mascot: Dragon
Nickname: Blazers
Biggest win in school history: September 23, 2000 - UAB upsets LSU 13-10 in Baton Rouge, La.
Notable Players: Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons, Joe Webb, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Other Facts: UAB is 2-15 all time against SEC opponents.
Series: Florida leads 1-0
Last Meeting: 2002, Florida 51, UAB 3
Florida Gators Passing Attack vs. UAB Blazers' Pass Defense
John Brantley and the Gator passing game moved the ball well against FAU as he threw for 229 yds and completed 70% of his passes, but Brantley also tossed two interceptions against a subpar secondary.
If Florida is going to be successful this season, Brantley has to do a better job at protecting the football.
UAB boasts an experienced secondary featuring first team All-Conference USA defensive back Jamie Bender and senior Lamansky Ware that could give the Gators a little trouble.
Advantage: Florida
Florida Running Game vs. UAB Run Defense
Florida's two headed monster of Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey definitely terrorized FAU last week. Combining for 184 rushing yds and 4 touchdowns, Demps and Rainey provide dual threats. If Florida can show that the dynamic duo is consistent this could be the driving force to keeping the Gators in contention for a division title.
UAB's defense suffered from attrition, but still boasts All-Conference USA senior DT Elliot Henigan and linebacker Marvin Burdette, who registered an impressive 147 tackles.
Advantage: Florida
UAB Blazers Passing Game vs. Florida Gators Pass Defense
Florida limited FAU to just 107 yards passing and no scores in week one. Unfortunately, FAU didn't offer much in regards to quarterback play so its hard to gauge whether it was FAU's poor execution or Florida's pass defense (or a combination of both) that resulted in the dominant performance.
UAB will be more of a challenge with a quality quarterback in Bryan Ellis. Ellis threw for 2,940 yds and 25 touchdowns last season. His top two targets Jackie Williams and Patrick Hearn return to give their passing attack a veteran look.
Advantage: Push
UAB Running Game vs. Florida's Run Defense
The Gators were even more dominant in run defense, holding the FAU Owls to 30 yds on 30 carries (even a Seminole fan can do that math). FAU did have a runner with a pedigree but again the entire team wasn't much of a challenge.
UAB will be a step up in competition, with running back Patrick Shed being a threat. Shed was 5th in Conference USA in rushing, running for 847 yds and 3 scores. He averaged 5.4 yards a carry. Shed also showed talent catching the ball out of the backfield, pulling in 47 receptions and 4 touchdowns.
Advantage: Florida
Special Teams
Caleb Sturgis was perfect on his two field goal attempts last week and the Gators never punted.
UAB has a senior punter, Trey Regland, and a freshman kicker Ty Long.
Florida's Demps and Rainey also contribute on Kick/Punt Returns, as does the 2010 National Returner of the year Andre Dubose.
Advantage: Florida
Coaching
Will Muschamp is in his first season at Florida and is 1-0. Charlie Weis, former Notre Dame Head Coach and New England Patriots/Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator is Florida's offensive coordinator.
Nick Callaway is in his fourth season at UAB. He is 15-33 with no post season appearances. UAB offensive coordinator Kim Helton is a UF alumni
Advantage: Florida
Outlook
Florida gets its second sacrificial lamb of the season - but UAB could be a little feisty - at least for a little while. They have some talent (certainly a lot more than FAU did) and could offer a bit of a challenge for the Gator defense.
Still, Florida is just too talented and too deep.
Prediction: Florida 38, UAB 10
On Thursday, the NCAA declared Florida defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd ineligible for two games and fined him $2,700 (to be paid to charity). As he already missed one game this season, Floyd will only have to sit out this weekend's game against UAB before he can return to game action.
But sit back down, this story is just beginning to get good. After the ruling came out, the Gators released this statement:
It is important to note that Sharrif brought this matter to our attention and we reported the facts to the NCAA this past February. We were comfortable with the information we provided, yet the NCAA staff interpreted that there were violations. In accordance with NCAA rules, we declared him ineligible for the season opener and requested restoration of his eligibility. Sharrif has been extremely forthcoming throughout the process and the NCAA has commented on his honesty and openness.
Sharrif grew up in an environment where he didn't have the things most of us take for granted - food, shelter and clothing. In the absence of parents, there were kind people, in no way affiliated with the University of Florida, who were not boosters or sports agents, that helped him along the way to provide those things that he would otherwise not have had. This is not an issue about his recruitment to the University of Florida or any other University.
So the NCAA has ruled Floyd ineligible because he was born into a bad situation and kind people were there to help him? People gave him money for food and general life expenses, and provided him with the opportunity to visit colleges when he wouldn't have been able to otherwise. Great job, NCAA! You're setting a wonderful precedent with this one.
Message to anyone hoping to play for an NCAA team: "If you're poor, deal with it 'cause we won't let you play anyway."
I think Will Muschamp's statement is my favorite, though...
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Gators Blank UAB 39-0
The Florida Gators completed their final tune up for SEC play with a 39-0 woodshed whipping of the UAB Blazers.
For the second consecutive week, Florida was dominant on defense, limiting the Blazers to just 212 yds of total offense and 1-for-10 on third downs.
The Florida running game again was the story on offense as Chris Rainey, Trey Burton, Mike Gillislee and others combined for 299 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground.
John Brantley did a better job at protecting the football with no picks or fumbles while completing 12 of his 19 attempts for 195 yards.
All was not perfect for the Gators, as superstar running back Jeff Demps left the game early with an undisclosed injury and the Gators struggled early in the red zone, settling for field goals on 3 of their 7 red zone opportunities.
The bullets fly for real next week when Tennessee comes to the Swamp to open SEC play.
Sep 10 11:07p by JC De La Torre