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GAINESVILLE – When Florida coach Dan Mullen was in Mississippi State, he referred to his rival Ole Miss as "the northern school".
His former boss of the Gators, Urban Meyer, nicknamed his rival Seminoles "The West School."
So, Mullen was asked on Monday, what does he call the state of Florida?
"Uh, the state of Florida?" Mullen said.
It looks like Mullen has learned that the name he gives to his rivals mattered little. All that matters is how many times he beats them.
His predecessors have not done enough. Will Muschamp went 1-3 on the Noles. Jim McElwain did not produce an offensive touch in his two losses to FSU (on a combined score of 58-15).
These failures are why the No. 13 UF will enter the Doak Campbell Stadium with five consecutive losses against the FSU – the longest defeat series of the Gators in a series dating back to 1958.
"Something you really should have in your head," Dang, "I'm tired of having myself …" said Gator, Lamical Perine, "It's either you're going to be a man and try to beat yourself, or you're just going to keep being beaten on the ground." What do you want to choose? "
Through 11 games this season, UF has chosen to fight. That's why the Gators have experienced one of the country's biggest turnarounds: they have doubled their total wins in 2017 from eight to eight, and have climbed to the top of a prestigious New Year's Ball Game Six.
Meanwhile, the former Soviet Union is still stammering in the first year under Willie Taggart; Unless the Noles upset the Gators, the FSU's record 36-year bowl series will end. The same goes for his series of 41 consecutive seasons.
If Willie Taggart turns #FSU Around, we could consider turning back British Columbia as a point of inflection. If nothing else, he gives the #Noles the confidence to come in #Gators Game. Https://t.co/e41NCCPH3c
– Matt Baker (@MBakerTBTimes) November 21, 2018
While Mullen and some Gators have said they want to slam the FSU tracks, they are more focused on what a victory for UF and a senior class that never defeats the Noles would mean.
"You're going there to win the state," said UF recipient Tyrie Cleveland.
And the state as a whole is up for grabs.
Since its 10-0 start last season, Miami has lost eight of its last 14 games before Saturday's game against Pitt. The Seminoles are trying to give up a second consecutive season 7-6. The only other state-ranked program is UCF – a potential opponent for the Gators, though both stand to advance to the Peach Bowl or Fiesta Bowl.
Even if the implications of a game in terms of recruitment are exaggerated, Mullen recognizes how important Saturday is for a hungry fan base and that the program is getting closer to its championship level.
"If you (do not) beat your rivals, while the rest of the year announces, it's" it's been a good year, but … "" said Mullen. "You do not lose to your rivals, so you can be like, it was a bad year, but …"
Regardless of what is happening in Tallahassee, the Mullen Gators had a good year.
They have already exceeded reasonable expectations before preseason. Although they lost a great deal against one rival (Georgia), they destroyed another (Tennessee, on the road) and ranked among the top 10 against LSU.
For this year to be a good year, all that Mullen has to do is end the series of defeats against this school from the west.
"We will not call them that," said Mullen. "We just want to beat them."
Contact Matt Baker at [email protected] Follow @MBakerTBTimes.
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