Florida football interim coach Billy Gonzales further laid out the offensive coaching re-structure heading into its showdown on Nov. 1 with rival No. 5 Georgia (3:30 p.m. ABC).
Gonazles said quarterbacks coach Ryan O’Hara will call plays from the booth and offensive analyst Steve Spurrier Jr. will be more involved on the field, working with the quarterbacks.
It’s a change from how the Florida Gators (3-4, 2-2 SEC) have operated the first seven games of the season, when former head coach Billy Napier called played from the sidelines.
“He wanted to go upstairs and thought it would give him an advantageous opportunity to see what the defense is doing,” Gonzales said of O’Hara. “And I think it’s actually going to play out pretty darn good. He’ll be sitting right next to our offensive coordinator, Russ Callaway. They’ll be sitting up there. They’ll have a chance to converse in between series.”
Spurrier Jr., the son of UF’s legendary coach Steve Spurrier, has been working with UF’s quarterbacks throughout the season.
“Coach Spurrier is going be, he’s got a wealth of knowledge,” Gonzales said. “So he’ll be on the ground and in between series he’ll be the voice that gets to talk and gets to start and start to sit down with DJ and quartetbacks and review the film.”
Gonzales said in taking a more active management role with the team, analysts Chad Lucas, David Doeker and Eric Kiesau will work collaboratively with the wide receivers.
How Florida football is approaching the open week
The shakeup comes as UF looks to improve an offense that ranks 13th out of 16 teams in the SEC (363.0 yards per game) during an open week before its matchup with the rival Bulldogs. Florida has lost seven of its last eight meetings with Georgia. Gonzales said UF has already done some prelimary game-planning for Georgia, which is once again in position to reach the Collge Football Playoff under head coach Kirby Smart.
“We’re spearheading that right now, to be honest with you,” Gonzales said. “It’s a bye week, and you want to get players healthy, and you want to have them get an opportunity to get some rest. But at the same time, it always gives you an opportunity to get a head start. You’re talking about a football team that is extremely, extremely good. Obviously, coach Smart. He’s been there, it’s his 10th year. His record is 111-20.”
Florida players returned to the Heavener Center on Oct. 21 and will practice on Oct. 22 and Oct. 23 in preparation for the showdown with Georgia.
“The biggest thing is they wanted to get out there on the football field amongst each other, and get back to doing what they love to do, and that’s playing football,” Gonzales said.
Florida players understand the importance of the open week despite the tumult that has occured since Napier was fired on Oct. 19.
“It’s not about what happens to your life, it’s how you respond,” Florida linebacker Myles Graham said. “So that’s a big deal for us. That’s huge. And just battling through adversity. It’s not our first time, and it won’t be our last, as teammates, as people and just life. So, responding to adversity is what we’re going to do. We’re going to come out stronger.”
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
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This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football interim coach says Ryan O’Hara will call plays from booth, Steve Spurrier Jr. will be more involved
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
