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As you may have heard once or twice this week, Florida has beaten Kentucky in 28 consecutive football games.
The Gators put that streak to the test last season, narrowly escaping with an overtime win at The Swamp.
This season, the Wildcats faithful is cautiously optimistic that this could be the year that the streak finally comes to an end. After a win at South Carolina last week, and the bonus of the Gators traveling to Commonwealth Stadium, things do seem to be lining up well for Kentucky.
While we wait for Saturday, let’s take a look at what each team will bring to the field on its coaching staffs this season, and just what their line of thinking might be for this game:
HEAD COACHES
Jim McElwain, Florida: The SEC’s only new head coach in 2015 has done a commendable job in his two non-conference games to begin the season, aside from creating a national discussion about berating his starting running back on camera, of course. Kelvin Taylor and McElwain are all good, and so are things for the Gators heading into McElwain’s SEC debut on Saturday. He faces immediate pressure to keep a nearly three-decade long winning streak against Kentucky in tact.
Mark Stoops, Kentucky: Now in his third season at Kentucky, Stoops has the Wildcats program trending upward. He took them from two wins to five wins between his first and second seasons, and, after a 2-0 start to 2015, has his eyes on a bowl game in Year 3. Stoops was able to snap a 22-game road losing streak with a win at South Carolina last week, but finishing the job that was left undone in Gainesville last season is what has been on the minds of his supporters all offseason.
OFFENSE STAFFS
Florida coordinator: Doug Nussmeier (QB)
His staff: Tim Skipper (RB), Mike Summers (OL), Kerry Dixon II (WR), Greg Nord (TE/ST)
When Florida has the ball: Expect there to be more of the two-quarterback system that we have become accustomed to from the Gators during the first couple of games this season. Also expect a heavy dose of RB Kelvin Taylor, as the Kentucky defense ranks worst in the league at defending the run.
Kentucky coordinator: Shannon Dawson (QB)
His staff: Tommy Mainord (WR), Vince Marrow (TE), John Schlarman (OL), Chad Scott (RB)
When Kentucky has the ball: Kentucky has run the ball for 6.0 yards per carry this season, which would indicate that’s something they’d like to rely upon as conference play continues, but the Florida defense is tops in the league against the run, allowing just 1.2 yards per attempt. That could mean that QB Patrick Towles, who threw for 369 yards against the Gators last season, could be called upon again for another big game.
DEFENSE STAFFS
Florida co-coordinators: Geoff Collins, Randy Shannon (LB)
Their staff: Kirk Callahan (DB), Chris Rumph (DL)
When Kentucky has the ball: The Gators will have to account for both an experienced quarterback in Patrick Towles and a sophomore running back (Boom Williams) that has three consecutive 100-yard rushing performances. The Gators are known to stop the run well, so expect that the game film of Towles throwing for 369 yards in Gainesville last season to be ingrained in the brain of each Florida defender.
Kentucky coordinator: D.J. Eliot (ILB)
His staff: Derrick Ansley (DB), Jimmy Brumbaugh (DL), Andy Buh (OLB)
When Florida has the ball: The Wildcats will have the difficult task of game planning for two quarterbacks with different skill sets. Gators QB Treon Harris will challenge them with a dual-threat option, while freshman Will Grier offers a little in the passing game. Expect the Wildcats to key on stopping the known quantity, which is the Florida running game.
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
