Florida coach Jon Sumrall got a sharp reminder on Monday that old ties do not always survive a new job.
Ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Auburn, Sumrall made it clear where his loyalties sit now.
"If I do, they're no family to me ... Florida pays my mortgage," Sumrall said on Monday. "Any family that's pulling against us ain't my family."
Auburn coach Alex Golesh answered that with a little bite of his own during his Monday news conference. Asked about the idea that he and Sumrall are friends, Golesh didn’t exactly lean into it.
"He said we were friends?" Golesh said, via tdauburn.com.
"Not this week; we're not. I got a ton of respect for Jon.
We were both assistants in this league at the same time, and he did a great job at Troy, high end job at Troy, did a high end job at Tulane.
"Got a ton of respect for how he works, A ton of respect for who he is. I think he does it the right way, competes like crazy.
I got a lot of respect for him. This week, don't care."
That exchange only adds more edge to a game that already carries plenty of it.
Sumrall had been viewed as Auburn’s top target for its next head coach when the Lane Kiffin-Florida smoke was still hanging around. Instead, Sumrall ended up with the Gators, and Auburn turned to Golesh after taking him from USF.
There’s also the matter of what happened last season, when Golesh’s Bulls went into The Swamp and beat Florida 18-16. That result is part of the backdrop now, even if both coaches would rather keep the focus on Saturday.
And there is plenty at stake beyond the personal stuff. Auburn and Florida both come in at 2-0, and this one opens SEC play. A win would give either side a 1-0 start in conference play and a burst of momentum that could matter later if a College Football Playoff run is in the picture.
Auburn has already been tested a little more than Florida. The Tigers opened with a 17-16 win over Baylor in Week 1. Florida has handled FAU and Campbell so far, and Auburn will be the first real test of the season for the Gators.
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Floridas SEC Opener Just Got More Concerning For This Gators Playmaker
Eric Singletons status is giving Florida another issue to sort through as it heads into its SEC opener against Auburn. The Gators receiver has been limited in practice while working back from an ankle injury, and coach Jon Sumrall said he is not yet guaranteed to play. Singleton has already missed games because of the injury, leaving Florida without one of its pass-catching options as the league schedule begins to tighten.
A return for Auburn would obviously help, but the more realistic question is whether Singleton can be ready to contribute without being rushed. Florida is at least keeping alive the possibility that he could be back for the Ole Miss game on Sept. 26, which gives the Gators a little more time to manage the situation. For now, though, his availability is one of the more notable injury watch items hanging over the weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Eric Singleton Jr Brings Major Suspense To Floridas Auburn Test
Floridas preparation for Auburn has come with a dose of uncertainty, and it starts with Eric Singleton Jr. The receiver, who transferred to Gainesville from Auburn, has been sidelined by an ankle injury sustained in Week 1, and head coach Jon Sumrall said both Singleton and defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo were limited in practice this week. The encouraging part for Florida is that both players are out of their walking boots, a sign they are moving in the right direction as the Gators get closer to kickoff.
Still, the bigger question is whether either will actually be available when Florida lines up against Auburn. Sumrall called both questionable, which leaves the Gators waiting on two players who could affect the game in very different ways, especially Singleton against the school he just left. For a Florida team trying to sort out its lineup late in the week, the uncertainty is enough to keep this matchup feeling a little more tense than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Vernell Brown III Is Giving Florida A Dangerous New Weapon
Vernell Brown III gave Florida a jolt in Week 2 against Campbell, and not just because the Gators were able to cash in on a lopsided win. The freshman showed up in every phase he touched, turning two punt returns into touchdowns while also adding three catches for 43 yards and another score, a reminder that his value goes well beyond the return game.
What makes the performance more intriguing for Florida is the process behind it. Special teams coach Jon Sumrall pointed to analyst Greg McMahons new punt return strategy as part of the setup that helped Brown break loose, and Browns arrival in Gainesville already carried a bigger meaning, tied to his family legacy and the staffs vision for how he could be used. If this was the first glimpse of what that plan can look like, the Gators may have found a dangerous new weapon. [Read more 🡒]