Gators Can't Let Momentum Slip Against Tennessee This Week

The No. 11 Florida Gators will face another home challenge against SEC opponent Tennessee, following a momentum-building week against Alabama.

Demetrius Harvey | Sep 23, 2021

When the No. 11 Florida Gators return to The Swamp this weekend, they'll do so after having spent a lot of its energy and fight just a week prior in a championship-caliber matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

This week, they'll face off against another SEC opponent in the Tennessee Volunteers. While the talent level isn't the same as it was against Alabama, Florida shouldn't give in, and the Gators need to build up the momentum they got even in a close loss against Alabama just last week.

Head coach Dan Mullen sees the opportunity that Florida has in front of them, an ability to turn around and play a matchup that actually means more considering the Volunteers are in the same division as them, too.

"There's a lot that they can build off of that and obviously they're going to need. Quick turnaround, huge rivalry game against Tennessee coming up this weekend here at the Swamp," Mullen said on Monday.

"When you go into a big game like that, you come out with the physical wear and tear and the mental wear and tear of a big game. But we’ve got to turn that around quickly for even a bigger game this week."

It could appear difficult on paper to generate the same energy, enthusiasm, fight and everything that goes into playing the game of football playing a lesser opponent, but that's not the mindset Florida can have this weekend.

While the team hasn't lost to Tennessee since 2016, they also haven't played them coming off of a matchup quite as big as the one last weekend.

Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen

Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen and his son, Canon

Florida Gators cornerback Kaiir Elam

Florida Gators defensive end Zachary Carter

Florida Gators safety Donovan McMillon

Florida Gators wide receiver Jacob Copeland

Florida Gators linebacker Diwun Black

Florida Gators tight end Kemore Gamble

Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson

Florida Gators fan asks quarterback Anthony Richardson for an autograph

Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson signs an autograph

Former Florida Gators basketball player Bradley Beal

Florida Gators, head coach Dan Mullen take the field

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban

Florida Gators tight end Kemore Gamble

Florida Gators safety Mordecai McDaniel

Florida Gators quarterback Jalen Kitna, safety Donovan McMillon, and linebacker Chief Borders

Florida Gators quarterback Emory Jones

Florida Gators tight end Kemore Gamble

Florida Gators wide receiver Jacob Copeland

Florida Gators wide receiver Trent Whittemore

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young

Florida Gators linebacker Jeremiah Moon and defensive tackle Gervon Dexter

Florida Gators linebacker Khris Bogle pressures Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young

Florida Gators defensive end Zachary Carter and linebacker Khris Bogle

Former Florida Gators linebacker Brandon Spikes and quarterback Tim Tebow

Former Florida Gators wide receiver Kadarius Toney

Florida Gators men's tennis players

Florida Gators defensive tackle Antonio Valentino

Florida Gators linebacker Jeremiah Moon and cornerback Kaiir Elam

Florida Gators quarterback Emory Jones

Florida Gators running back Malik Davis

Florida Gators linebacker Jeremiah Moon, cornerbacks Jason Marshall Jr. and Tre'Vez Johnson

Florida Gators defensive end Zachary Carter and linebacker Brenton Cox Jr.

Florida Gators linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. and defensive end Zachary Carter

Florida Gators running back Dameon Pierce

Florida Gators running back Dameon Pierce and offensive tackle Jean Delance

Florida Gators quarterback Emory Jones

Florida Gators wide receiver Xzavier Henderson

Florida Gators quarterback Emory Jones

Florida Gators safety Trey Dean III

Penalty flags were thrown an awful lot in Florida vs. Alabama

Florida Gators defensive linemen Zachary Carter and Daquan Newkirk

Florida Gators defensive end Zachary Carter and safety Rashard Torrence II

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Florida Gators linebacker Jeremiah Moon and safety Rashad Torrence II

Florida Gators running back Dameon Pierce and wide receiver Justin Shorter

Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen and quarterback Emory Jones

Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen

Florida Gators defensive tackle Gervon Dexter

Florida Gators quarterback Emory Jones

Florida Gators quarterbacks Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson

Against Alabama, Florida put on an impressive performance. After falling down 21-3 early in the contest and entering halftime, the Gators came out in the second half swinging, scoring 26 points, allowing just 10. The team would go on to lose the game by just two points.

It wasn't good enough, but there was certainly positive energy in the air, at least from some observers. Florida entered the contest as 15.5-point underdogs. They weren't expected to be in the game, at all. And yet, Florida found itself likely within a couple of minutes from upsetting the top team in the nation.

Still, the Gators, and head coach Dan Mullen aren't taking any moral victories from the contest. The team still lost, and there weren't very many smiles in the team meeting room just two days later.

"There wasn't much praise or happiness or smiles this morning in the team meeting, I can tell you that much because we didn't win the game, you know?" Mullen explained.

"So, as I said, there's some positive things that we can take out of it, and there's some things that we have to get corrected, and it's making sure we embrace that, you know, of, let's not lose what we did really well.

"You know, let's actually build off of what we did well and do it even better. And let's find a way to eliminate some of the errors and mistakes.'"

Certainly, Florida wasn't perfect against Alabama. There were too many mistakes, especially early, on defense that allowed the Crimson Tide to build an early lead. Offensively, the team couldn't seem to find a rhythm and an early interception from Emory Jones appeared to put Florida in a terrible position.

They rebounded from that, though, and were able to show the country that they do belong among the best. They'll have another opportunity to show that this week against the Volunteers.

Against a team that they're favored to beat by 20 points, more than what Alabama was expected to beat Florida by just last week, Florida will need to assert its dominance.

Perhaps, they will.

Stay tuned to AllGators for continuous coverage of Florida Gators football, basketball and recruiting. Follow along on social media at @SI_AllGators on Twitter and Florida Gators on Sports Illustrated on Facebook.

Published Sep 23, 2021

DEMETRIUS HARVEY

Demetrius Harvey is a beat writer covering the Florida Gators, including football, basketball and recruiting. He currently serves as the deputy editor of Sports Illustrated - AllGators. Demetrius also covers the Jacksonville Jaguars for Vox Media. Follow Demetrius on Twitter at @Demetrius82.