At a time when Florida needed a rallying cry, interim coach Billy Gonzales brought it and made it stick. His sentiment of playing for the patch rang through the Florida program and continues to resonate with players.
“He hit it on the head,” defensive back Jordan Castell said Monday. “It's bigger than the team, we play for the logo.”
Following the dismissal of Billy Napier, the already struggling Gators faced a program shakeup that prompted varied reactions across Florida’s program.
In all the shifting, one thing has seemed to resonate with the Florida squad: Gonzales’ emphasis on playing for the patch. Immediately following his initial statement, it resonated with sophomore linebacker Myles Graham, senior center Jake Slaughter and sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway, who echoed his assertion.
Following the bye week and the contest against Georgia, the mantra has stuck, with players continuing to keep it top of mind.
“You play for the patch, and then you honor your name on your back,” Smack said after the bye. “That's something huge that I hadn't really thought about until he said that. Just doing whatever I can for this university.”
Smack has continued to rebound following his season opener against Long Island and has been perfect in point-after-attempts and field goals since the setback. After Georgia, he holds a program record for the most 50-yard field goals, securing his ninth.
This is a new sentiment in the Gators program and it has clearly had a significant impact across Florida’s roster. Despite the result in Jacksonville, the players still clung to Gonzales’ mantra.
“I feel like, whenever I put that jersey on, I gotta represent,” senior George Gumbs Jr. said Monday. “I'm always having a patch on my shoulder, my name on my back.”
The Gators led most of the game against the No. 5 Bulldogs. However, Florida’s 20-17 lead dissipated in the fourth quarter following two failed offensive drives and a Georgia touchdown. It marked yet another instance this season where Florida fell just short.
As they eye Kentucky, the Gators face another team that has faced its share of struggles the past two seasons. The Wildcats haven’t won an SEC game at home since 2023, when they topped Florida, claiming their third straight win over the Gators.
However, last season, Florida topped the Wildcats 48-20 at home and snapped the streak. UF hopes to bring that momentum on the road to Lexington.
Despite their slow start, Castell said the determination for a bowl game is still evident.
“It’s Florida,” he said. “That’s the standard.”
Contact Ava DiCecca at adicecca@alligator.org. Follow her on X @avadicecca24.
Ava is a sophomore sports journalism student and the volleyball beat reporter for fall 2025. She enjoys playing basketball and volleyball in her free time and going on beach trips with friends. She has been a Boston sports fan all her life (Brad Marchand we miss you).
