Linebacker David Reese had to issue a wake-up call around this time last year.
He called out his teammates after a 39-point loss at Missouri that followed a 35-point loss at the hands of No. 1-ranked Georgia the week prior, and he was doing it as a sophomore because no upperclassman would.
“We knew what we needed to do, and we still didn’t accomplish it,” he said in 2017. “It’s upsetting, but it’s something to learn from going on.”
The Gators (6-2, 4-2 SEC) suffered another disappointing blow on Saturday, a 36-17 defeat that all but eliminated them from contention in the SEC East. But the attitude of this team compared to that of last year’s squad is completely different.
Just look at what sophomore defensive tackle Kyree Campbell had to say at Monday’s press conference.
“The way we handle this loss is going to determine the rest of the season,” he said. “So everybody is expected to come out today and have one of the best practices of the season.”
Campbell’s an underclassman with big expectations for how his team bounces back from a loss, but that doesn’t come from just him. That comes from the tenured leaders of this Florida team and from its coaches.
It starts with guys like Reese, who remains one of the outspoken leaders of the defense, and wide receiver Josh Hammond, who said on Monday that they have to “be more physical” and “continue to grow as a football team.”
The attitude is not only different at media events, but it’s noticeable in the team’s play.
Feleipe Franks fumbled critically on his own one-yard line in the third quarter on Saturday. The 2017 defense -- the same one that appeared to lay down to Georgia in the first quarter -- would have accepted defeat in this instance. The Bulldogs, regardless if they tacked on a field goal or a touchdown, were going up by two scores barring a turnover.
But the 2018 Florida defense never thought about giving up and letting UGA in for six.
“We just knew we had a lot to play for,” Reese said. “We didn’t want to let that rope slip. We still had a chance to come back.”
Last season, we saw interim head coach Randy Shannon essentially lie to the media when he announced quarterback Malik Zaire would be the starter against South Carolina following a bad start in the loss to the Tigers. Shannon said Zaire did well moving the ball down the field despite the fact that he never led a touchdown drive in 10 possessions.
However, Dan Mullen responded to Franks’ having the worst game of the season by stating what needed to be said. He missed some throws. There was a lack of ball security on the fumble. The attention to detail was missed.
The coaches and the upperclassmen of this Florida team are holding everyone accountable now. The difference showed up in Jacksonville. I expect the difference to be more glaring this homecoming weekend, when the Gators try and take much sought-after revenge against Missouri.
Mark Stine is the online sports editor for The Alligator. Follow him on Twitter @mstinejr or contact him at mstine@alligator.org.
