ABOVE VIDEO: Backup quarterback Austin Appleby took over for Florida after Luke Del Rio was knocked out of the game with a leg injury Saturday night against North Texas.
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If Del Rio’s injury broke Appleby’s heart, it made McElwain’s blood boil. Del Rio should be back under center at around the midway point of the season, so all the Gators have to do is survive three SEC matchups on the road against the Tennessee Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores, then a home contest against the LSU Tigers.
There is something Florida fans are certain to like about Appleby.
Del Rio’s injury overshadowed one of the greatest defensive performances in school history.
The victor of the game gets a head start in what looks to be a wide-open SEC East. Georgia needed a fourth-down touchdown with less than two minutes left to beat Missouri in Week 3 and Tennessee is dealing with injuries to key players too. If they can’t get the job done they will have to hope Tennessee doesn’t do well so that they don’t have to worry about any tie breakers with Tennessee.
Appleby started 12 games in parts of two seasons at Purdue, and was 2-10 in those starts.
North Texas fell to Florida 32-0 on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Thanks to seven sacks, the most since the Tennessee game in 1999, the Gators held the Mean Green to minus-13 yards rushing.
“All our guys have good arms”, McElwain said. “They know how much I care. I’ve also learned what it’s like when you try to cover too many people and you make mistakes”.
“We’re already in the “next man up” mindset, and we’re just executing”, defensive back Rashaan Gaulden said. So, we’ll see, and yet, you know what, we’ve got other guys that will jump in there and play.
The last time Florida squared off against Tennessee – an unforgettable 28-27 Gators victory in The Swamp last September – Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs pulled off a rare feat. And I ain’t really good at rubbing guys’ bellies, so they probably won’t come.
Late the second quarter, on 4th-and-2 from the UNT 8-yard line, McElwain called for a misdirection pass play. “There’s some things we kind of need to do to that I’d just appreciate that we kept to the Gators and go on from there”, McElwain said. “I’ve got their back”. With a CBS broadcasting the game as its Game of the Week and ESPN College GameDay broadcasting live from campus earlier that morning, Vols vs. Gators has established itself as one of the marquee matchups of the young college football season.
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North Texas: Opens Conference USA play at Rice (0-3). Like in the game against Kentucky, penalties were likely Florida’s biggest shortcoming in a blowout win.
