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Sports media unimpressed by Florida football’s loss at Utah

Adam Dubbin
·5 min read
26

It was not the start to the 2023 college football campaign that the Gator Nation was hoping for. In fact, Florida’s season-opening loss at the Utah Utes in Salt Lake City was rather embarrassing as the team opened the second year of the Billy Napier era completely out of sync, falling by a score of 24-11.

The offense left a lot to be desired despite quarterback Graham Mertz’s perfectly adequate play under center, especially with the running back corps getting stymied all game. The defense gave up a big score on Utah’s first play from scrimmage, and despite buckling down over the stretch, caused irreparable damage that the Gators could not recover from.

Not to mention the mental errors made that land on the shoulders of the coaching staff. The biggest mind-boggler was a procedural penalty that was called when two players on the field were both wearing No. 3. It was an all-around poor effort that does not bode well for the remainder of the season.

Take a look below at how the media reacted to Florida’s disappointing loss to Utah in what was a step back for the program in just the first game of the fall.

Florida DE posted this before the game. Gator defense promptly got cooked for a 70-yard TD on the opening play.

We just got Spurrier’d.

Florida’s worse on 3rd & 4th Down than I am at drawing circles.

Keep Florida fans in your thoughts and prayers; they have 11 more games with this team.

Netflix really released Swamp Kings just to give the Florida Gator fans something to help them cope with how terrible the current state of their football program is. Incredibly thoughtful on Netflix part. Very classy move.

Only one man can save Florida football

With Florida’s loss at Utah, Gators still have not won a true road non-conference game outside the state of Florida in 34 years since beating Memphis on Sept. 23, 1989. Of course, UF has only played two true road non-SEC games outside of Florida in last 34 years since the UM win.

Extremely sloppy performance from the Gators. Penalties were so costly but there were plenty of issues beyond that.

maybe florida’s trying to tank for caleb williams

I thought Anthony Richardson should’ve been the #1 pick, but after looking at Florida without him, it’s clear I underrated him

Florida has been outscored 54-6 in its last 7 quarters of football.

0-9 on 3rd down… 0-2 on 4th down… 0.7 yards per rush… Ummm Florida this game counts

The last time I could find a team being penalized for two players wearing the same number for a play: Maryland-Texas in 2017.

“I’ve never seen a more poorly coaches game in my life.”

Not everyone will like this tweet, but oh well. I’m gonna use Mike Norvell to defend Billy Napier (I know). Norvell started 8-13 at FSU — 0-4 in year 2 with a loss to JSU. FSU went 10-3 in year 3 and is starting year 4 in the top 10. It takes time. Give Billy time

It did not look like a well-coached team. Billy Napier must do better. Quickly.

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Story originally appeared on Gators Wire