2023 Florida Football Postgame Notes
No. 5 Florida State 24, Florida 15
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field – Gainesville, Fla.
THE OPENING DRIVE
- With another sell-out crowd of 90,341, Florida finished the 2023 campaign with its highest-average
season attendance since 2015 (90,065).
OFFENSIVE NOTES - QB Max Brown made his first-career start and set career highs in completions (9), attempts (16) and
passing yards (86). - RB Trevor Etienne made his first-career start and finished with 43 yards rushing on 10 carries.
- RB Montrell Johnson Jr. scored his 27th-career rushing touchdown (15th at UF) to put Florida ahead,
7-0, in the first quarter. - Johnson Jr. rushed for 100-plus yards for the eighth time in his career and for the sixth time as a
Gator.
o He finished with 107 yards on 18 carries (5.9 YPC) and one touchdown. - WR Ricky Pearsall recorded a reception in his 40th-consecutive game, the sixth-longest streak in
the FBS. - Johnson Jr. and Etienne have combined for at least one touchdown in 19 of 25 games together,
scoring 32 total TDs.
o The duo has combined for 29 total rushing touchdowns. - The Gators have rushed for 100-plus yards in 20 of their last 25 games since 2022 including nine of 12
games this season.
● By totaling eight more yards than FSU, the Gators have out-gained their opponents in 13 of the last
25 games dating back to last season.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
● Florida limited Florida State to 85 total yards including 13 rushing yards and 9:18 possession time in
the first half.
o The Florida defense did not allow a first down in the first quarter while surrendering just
seven total yards.
● CB Jason Marshall Jr. registered his first-career sack and also moved his season total to a career-
high 10 pass breakups.
● Florida recorded a safety on FSU’s fourth drive on a split-sack by DE Princely Umanmielen and LB
Derek Wingo, signifying the team’s second of the season and first since Sept. 9, 2023 vs. McNeese
(Jamari Lyons TFL).
o Wingo led the Gators with five tackles and set a career high with 1.5 TFLs.
● DL Desmond Watson recorded the first-full sack of his career.
● CB Sharif Denson set career highs with two tackles and 0.5 TFL.
● CB Devin Moore notched a career high with two pass breakups.
● The Gators recorded three sacks in tonight’s game.
o Since the start of 2021, Florida has out-sacked its opponents by a plus-18 margin.
o Florida’s 201 sacks since 2018 season ranks second in the SEC and 11th nationally.
● Florida held the Seminoles to under 300 total yards of offense (XXX).
o This is the seventh time since the start of the 2022 season that the Gators have held an
opponent to 300 yards or fewer.
● Florida held its opponent to under 200 passing yards for the ninth time in the Napier era.
● The Gators allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards for the sixth time in the Napier era.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
● P Jeremy Crawshaw punted five times for an average of 56.4 yards including two inside the
opposing 20-yard line, three of 60-plus yards and a long kick of 68 yards – his longest since the 2021
campaign (69).
o Crawshaw has punted for 50-plus yards on 55 of 131 career punts.
● K Trey Smack finished 2-of-4 on field goal attempts, missing from 48 yards and 52 yards while
connecting on a 35-yarder and 37-yarder.
EXPLOSIVE PLAYS (8)
● Eugene Wilson III (from Max Brown): 16-yard reception, first quarter
● Eugene Wilson III (from Brown): 15-yard reception, first quarter
● Hayden Hansen (from Brown): 24-yard reception, first quarter
● Trevor Etienne: 14-yard rush, second quarter
● Montrell Johnson Jr.: 52-yard rush, second quarter
● Ricky Pearsall (from Brown): 17-yard reception, third quarter
● Montrell Johnson Jr.: 21-yard rush, third quarter
● Max Brown: 10-yard rush, third quarter
SERIES UPDATES
● Tonight’s game represented the 67th all-time meeting between Florida and Florida State including
the 36th in Gainesville.
● With tonight’s loss, the Gators fall to 37-28-2 (.567) in the all-time series vs. Florida State and 22-13-1
(.625) in Gainesville.
- HC Billy Napier dropped to 0-2 against Florida State HC Mike Norvell in their second meeting as
head coaches. - The Gators held the Noles to their lowest total yardage (224) in the series since 2016 (207).
o FSU’s 134 passing yards were the team’s lowest vs. UF since 2015 (134).
THE STREAK
● Florida has scored in 448-consecutive games — which is an NCAA record and 54 games longer
than any other college football team in history.
o The Gators broke Michigan’s record of 365-consecutive games (1984-2014) against LSU on
Oct. 7, 2017.
o The last time Florida was shut out was on Oct. 29, 1988 vs. Auburn (L, 16-0).
GAME DETAILS
● Florida Game Captains: #7 Trevor Etienne, #2 Montrell Johnson Jr., #20 Teradja Mitchell, #15 Derek
Wingo
● Coin Toss: Florida State won the toss and deferred; Florida received and Florida State defended
the south end zone.
● Attendance: 90,341 (largest vs. FSU since 2015)
University of Florida Football
Media Conference
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Gainesville, Florida, USA
Billy Napier
Press Conference
Florida State – 24, Florida – 15
BILLY NAPIER: Obviously a lot of seniors in there. Out of
respect for those guys, just want to make sure to spend
some significant time with them. Ultimately, I would tell
you it’s important that all parts of our organization, in
particular the players, and really emphasize that with our
other guys that we spent time telling those guys what
they’ve done for the program, their example, their
approach.
There’s some really special players in that group that have
not only been productive on the field. We also had a lot of
guys that worked their tail off throughout the week that
maybe never get to play. They contribute to our team in a
major way. So, yeah, that’s always a tough time.
I do want to compliment the crowd tonight. I thought our
fans were fantastic. We continue to sell out these games,
and certainly not only that, but their impact. I thought they
were a factor tonight, and we’re very thankful for that. No
doubt it was special in there tonight, over 90,000. We
continue to do that, and I think that speaks to the place.
This place is impacting a lot of people, and certainly we’re
thankful for them showing up tonight doing their part.
I think that, when we look back at the last couple weeks,
we had the lead in the fourth quarter multiple times. I think,
when you’re coaching a team that has the makeup of this
team this year, there’s got to be — we have to use this
experience. There’s a ton of players in that locker room
that are going to be back next year.
Look, we haven’t been able to finish. That’s the bottom
line. I think we’re learning how to do that. We’ve been in
position to do that. But ultimately I think, as we build a
team that’s made up of veterans, it’s going to be important
that we at some point — you know, the old adage you fall
down seven times, eventually the eighth time you get up
and finally get it done. I think at some point this group, the
experience they got this year will pay off.
They get to go into this off-season with that experience,
and that affects their entire attitude and approach to
training, to practice. Certainly as you build another team
dynamic, I’m hopeful that this group learns how to finish.
Once we do that, I think there will be a ton of momentum
opportunities that come with that.
I’m thankful for this team. Regardless of what anybody
else says, this team was a special team for a lot of
reasons. Their ability to continue the resiliency, the
toughness — and I’m not just talking about physical
toughness. This game requires mental toughness,
emotional toughness. It requires work. It requires
investment. It requires sacrifice.
I think this group has continued to show up with a really
good attitude and do their part to prepare, and then when
the ball’s put down, they play with effort, toughness.
We need to play with better detail. We need to execute
better, there’s no question about that. But I respect this
group, and there’s a lot of individuals in that locker room
that are made of the right stuff. I don’t want to lose sight of
that just because our record this year.
Ultimately, we’ve got to get up off the ground, and I think
we have to learn from failure. Growth comes through
struggle. I think this season presents that opportunity.
Look, we have work to do. Ultimately as a staff, we have
to evaluate where we’re at from top to bottom, every inch of
what we do, and we have to work hard to try to position the
players and do better. I think that’s what I’m consumed
with. That’s my purpose, and that’s the way I view my
platform opportunity.
The coaching profession is about the players and doing the
absolute best job we can do for the players to position
them for success. Certainly football, that is on the field, but
it’s also everything that you do throughout the off-season
and certainly how we can impact who they are as people
and as students.
We’ll have an opportunity here. Players will be off
tomorrow. Then we’ll begin kind of a process Monday to
Thursday as we kind of turn the page and move forward
here. What questions do we have?
Q. Some conservative decisions in the first half when
you had the lead. When you had a little bit of
momentum and you had the lead. How much of that
was a by-product of Max and the state of the offensive
line, or do you wish you could have taken more shots
at times?
BILLY NAPIER: There’s no question we’ll be able to look
back at this thing and say, hey, maybe we should have
taken a different approach, but at that point defensively we
were really humming. I think we held them to like 85 yards
in the first half. I’m not exactly sure what the numbers
were, but they were struggling to move it.
Obviously the environment was a factor. They’ve got a
young quarterback out there as well. Look, Max, I think he
did his part. There’s a handful of plays he’d like to have
back, and I can certainly do more to help the players.
I think, when we look back at it, there’s going to be —
whether it’s a sack in the red area or a holding penalty right
before the half that contributes to the outcome. So Florida
State’s got a really good defensive team, and they made
their plays, but we also contributed at times. There are
things that we can do better.
Q. The fourth quarter just kind of got away from you
guys a little bit with discipline and things like that.
What do you kind of point to —
BILLY NAPIER: Discipline? What specifically are we
referring to?
Q. Over 50 yards of penalties.
BILLY NAPIER: I agree.
Q. What do you kind of point to with that?
BILLY NAPIER: I think it’s a team that has — I think that
tonight it was a handful of decisions or a handful of
execution opportunities, missed plays. It’s been a little bit
different each week. I think a number of things contribute.
But the penalties obviously, those are things that we need
to address. There’s no excuse for those. I think some of
those were technical and some of those were
decision-making. So, yeah, I think a lot of things contribute
to the result.
But we’ve been in the fourth quarter with some really good
football teams the last couple weeks. We’ve got to learn to
finish those games, no question about it. We’ve got to
learn to coach better and play better.
Q. When you say evaluating every aspect, that’s a very
involved process, but where do you start with
something like that more or less?
BILLY NAPIER: We have a pretty exhaustive process that
we go through each year, whether we’re undefeated and
win championships or we’re sitting here where we’re at as
a program. We’re going to go through our process, and
there will be some things that come from that.
We do it each year independent of the result or the
outcome. We’re obviously trying to improve our systems
and do what we think is in the best interest of the players.
Ultimately that’s our job, so that’s what we’re going to do.
Q. The record from year two is worse than year one.
What do you see from your team or the people in your
program that there has been progress made and you’re
still heading in the right direction?
BILLY NAPIER: I think the youth in particular — and look, I
think it’s important that we all understand that we’ll have a
good nucleus of players coming back that have significant
experience next year whereas evaluate the roster going
into this year. I think that’s important.
Look at the teams across the country that are having
success. They have veteran football teams, right? They
have a number of players that have been in the program
for a number of years. We need to do that. We need to
retain players. We need to continue to add quality players.
Then we have to get better in house at teaching,
developing all parts of what we do. So that’s what we’re
going to do.
We already have players in that locker room that are
talking about getting to work. So I think that’s an indication
of a group that’s much like they’ve competed, to be quite
honest. I think they’ll take that attitude and approach into
the off-season.
Q. Billy, you said a couple minutes ago that the
defense was kind of humming in the first half. What
changed in the second half? Anything you guys did
differently, they did differently?
BILLY NAPIER: I think they had 200 and — total offense
224 yards, something like that. So I think ultimately they
got a touchdown on the first possession in the second half.
In the four-minute situation they popped a run and scored
the second touchdown. So I think we had opportunities to
get off the field on third down. We didn’t. I think in the first
half we did get off the field on third down. Made them play
a lot of third downs. They converted.
But ultimately, I think we did a lot of good things on
defense. When you hold a group to 224, I think there’s a
lot of positive.
Q. You talked about how your players are hurting.
How about you? How do you handle two seasons like
this in which you’ve had so many close calls, et cetera,
like that?
BILLY NAPIER: I think I view — ultimately what motivates
me is doing the best I can for our people, for the staff and
for the players. I would tell you that this was six years at
head coach. We’ve had varying levels of success and
failure. But ultimately that’s always the motivating factor for
me is doing my absolute best for the players and the staff.
Look, I think we anticipated this being a challenge. I think
that we felt like it was going to be a challenge going in, and
then when we got here, we realized we were in for a battle.
I think we’re in the middle of that process.
I have a tremendous amount of confidence ultimately
because of the people I’m around every day, that group of
players being at the core of that.
I think I maybe would feel different if we didn’t compete, if
we weren’t in contention, if we weren’t in the fight. We’re
playing into the fourth quarter with some of the better
teams in the country here down the stretch with a group
that we all understood going into the year didn’t have a ton
of experience.
We’re in the process of rebuilding the roster. We’re in the
process of learning how to make it work at the University of
Florida. We were brought here for a reason. There’s no
denying that we have work to do, but I think what gives me
confidence is what I see from the players, the growth I see,
their words, their actions, the way they work, the
selflessness, the sacrifice, their investment.
I think everybody likes to use the word buy-in, but I think
for me it’s more about action. I think I’ve seen a ton of
action from the players, not just how they compete on
game day, but also I’m with them every day. So regardless
of what anybody else says, I don’t really care because I
know the young men in that locker room and I have — I’ve
got confidence and belief in that group.
You fall down. Much like many of you have fallen down in
your career at times. Our young people, they came up
short. They’ve got to get up off the ground and learn and
adapt and evolve and grow, and it’s hard.
But ultimately I think we all can agree that a lot of the
growth and improvement that we’ve been through in life
came from some of the tougher times. I think it’s important
for me to set a good example for them because I think
ultimately that’s what our young people need.
Q. Relative to that challenge and the rebuild process,
do you feel like you guys are maybe where you wanted
to be, where you expected to be through two years?
Are you hitting the benchmarks that you wanted to be
hitting by this point?
BILLY NAPIER: I think ultimately the record is what it is.
Listen, there are things that without question I think that we
can do better. I think we made some adjustments year one
to year two. We need to continue to make adjustments.
I don’t know that there’s an answer to that question, if that
makes sense. I think we’re fighting every single day.
We’re trying to get a little bit better each day. Look, I think
this is a very fluid dynamic relative to what we’re trying to
create and build here. I’ve got belief in the players, that’s
what I would say. I’ve got belief in what I’ve observed from
that group.
Ultimately we have a veteran team that takes complete
ownership. That’s ultimately when we’ll have the best
opportunity to field a contender and eventually a champion.
Q. When you spend the next few weeks evaluating
your program and your staff and any changes you
want to make, how do you have to weigh the youth that
you have on the roster and maybe some areas that
aren’t where you want it to be, injuries and stuff like
that, when you’re evaluating things with your staff?
BILLY NAPIER: I think you’ve got to remain as objective
as possible. I think ultimately — because, look, I think we
work together as a team each day, and I think we do have
good morale, chemistry, camaraderie, whatever you want
to say. It’s one of the reasons why our team plays the way
it does.
Bottom line, we have to produce. We have to develop.
We have to improve. And we all have responsibilities.
There’s all parts of the organization where you’re in a
leadership position, people have been entrusted to you,
roles have been entrusted to you, and this is a production
business.
I think you try to remain objective in terms of how you
evaluate that. Certainly youth does contribute to that, but
ultimately there’s a lot that goes into each and every
decision you make. We challenge our leadership, and
there will be some of that. There’s going to be some of
that.
I go back to the game’s about the players, and we owe it to
do the absolute best for the players, what’s in the best
interest of the players. The young people you’ve been
entrusted with, that’s the ultimate responsibility. So
creating an environment where they can grow and develop
as people, students, and players, and a lot of people
contribute to that. So that’s what we’re going to do.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
University of Florida Football
Media Conference
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Gainesville, Florida, USA
Max Brown
Press Conference
Florida State – 24, Florida – 15
Q. Max, obviously not the result you would want in
your first career start. Could you take us through the
emotions of the night, not only with the result, but just
to get a first career start out of the way.
MAX BROWN: Yeah, it was a crazy environment in there.
I just want to give credit to my team right there. My
defense and the offense, they battled the whole night.
They battled. We didn’t end how we wanted to, but I really
want to give credit to those group of guys that really battled
and competed.
Yeah, man, I think it just comes down to being able to put
points on the board in the red zone in our territory, man.
Make it easier on our defense. They played lights out. But
I think ultimately putting points on the board will make it
easier for our defense for sure.
Q. How much did, if at all, the few — the little bit of
playing time you got last week in Missouri, how much
did that help you heading into this game?
MAX BROWN: I think any time you get any experience in
any type of college, SEC game, it will ultimately help you
out. It got me somewhat prepared for this game, but yeah.
Q. In that first quarter, you guys go on that first drive
and get a field goal attempt, second drive you get a
touchdown. How much did that help your confidence a
little bit to start fast a little bit in the first quarter?
MAX BROWN: Yeah, we were driving. We were doing
what we needed to do offensively and defensively. But I
think just going out and getting six, seven points instead of
three ultimately changes the outcome of the game.
Q. You understandably seem very dejected. Just how
tough is it for the season to end like this tonight?
MAX BROWN: It’s tough, man. Any time you see a group
of guys, a group of seniors that have put their heart out the
whole year, balled out. I can’t give credit enough to the
group of senior leadership that we’ve had.
So I think having those group of guys, being able to watch
them and watch how they acted, how they played, it’s
tough, man. It’s tough going out on that note. Definitely
something our team will learn from in the future, but it’s
hard losing on that note and seeing those group of guys
and going out on that note.
Q. You’re kind of chasing points there and they’re able
to pin theirs a little bit. Just how tough was that down
the stretch with kind of keeping them at bay? You
were getting knocked around a good bit late in the
game.
MAX BROWN: I think we tried to go down there and put
the ball down there in the end zone and score points
towards the end, and it didn’t work out how we wanted to.
Q. The trick play attempt in the second quarter
seemed like it was a little slow developing. How much
did that and some other negative plays kind of impact
the offense? It seemed like there were a few.
Obviously the holding penalty late in the first half.
How tough was that for you guys ultimately to
overcome during the course of the game?
MAX BROWN: I think there’s a few plays in that first half
especially and in the second half that ultimately me, in
particular, have to be able to clean up. I think going and
watching the film and learning from it is huge. Being able
to see the mistakes you made and for future terms not
make the same mistakes.
Q. Max, obviously tough first outing. You were
sacked six times, a lot of QB hurries as well. You were
facing a really tough Florida State defensive front. So I
just want to get your take. How are you trying to
counter the pass rush? Do you think it started to get
to you as the game went on, just them barrelling at
you? Do you think that was just a tough mental block
to overcome?
MAX BROWN: Yeah, I think I need to do a better job
ultimately with protections and putting my center and my
O-line in a better situation to make plays.
I think ultimately that comes down to me and my
decision-making, seeing defenses, seeing the defensive
shell and the pressures. I think that that’s something that I
can definitely improve on.
But being able to see that and I think putting my guys in a
better situation, I think that’s definitely something there.
Q. Do you feel the sense of urgency to start work for
next year almost immediately? Like maybe take a day
or two off and then get going.
MAX BROWN: Yeah, I think any time that you have the
outcome that you don’t want, or even that you do want, as
a competitor, how do you want to respond? How do you
want to take on the next day? How do you want to take on
the next week, month, year of your life?
I think that ultimately decides how much of a competitor
you are. I think that’s what makes this game so interesting
and makes this whole process, it’s a part of the story.
Q. Do you feel this team is close?
MAX BROWN: Yes, absolutely. The guys that we have in
this locker room, I think — I can’t give credit enough to how
far we’ve come as a team. I think what matters most is the
group of guys in our locker room, and we’ve really
harnessed in on how important that is for us.
So I think going forward that’s definitely going to be a big
take going into this off-season.
Q. Fans or us on the outside will just see the record
from year one to year two, but inside the program, you
were one of the first commits and one of the first in the
class to sign. What do you see that shows you there
has been progress and that the program is heading in
the right direction?
MAX BROWN: I see competitiveness. I see a group of
guys that come to battle every day no matter the
circumstance. So I think that’s been a big tale of our
season, how tough you are. I know sometimes you don’t
get the outcome you want. Sometimes seeing it from the
outside-in, it’s not always what you want to see.
Especially as a fan base, I know it’s tough. They pour their
heart into this program, and I really want to give credit to
them too. They were crazy tonight. They played their role,
and they played a big part in the game.
I think just being able to go into this off-season and know
that it’s the group of guys in this program. It’s us. You
know what I’m saying?
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
University of Florida Football
Media Conference
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Gainesville, Florida, USA
Teradja Mitchell
Press Conference
Florida State – 24, Florida – 15
Q. What’s kind of the mood around the team
considering everything you guys went through this
season and where you’re at as a group?
TERADJA MITCHELL: Obviously we’re disappointed. We
didn’t have the season we wanted to have. We put in a lot
of work at times, and when it was needed, we didn’t
execute. That’s one thing I can say about this team. We
didn’t sugarcoat anything this season. We took it for what
it was, and we didn’t execute in the moments we needed
to.
But looking at the positive side, guys understand we have
to restore order. Florida is a prestigious program, and we
understand that we have to put a better product on the
field. That was my message to the younger guys right after
the game, that this next off-season, we’ve got to get things
going and restore order.
I would say the overall mood of the team is we’re
disappointed right now but we’re excited for the future.
Q. The defense obviously played at a very high level
until late in the first half. You held them scoreless.
What changed in the second half? What adjustments
did FSU make, or what was different about the second
half defensively for you guys, do you think?
TERADJA MITCHELL: I think second half they started to
establish the run and kind of get their offense going a little
bit. I think they had a little over 100 yards. I’m not sure.
We just didn’t execute in those moments when we needed
to. We didn’t fit our gaps right in that time and things of
that nature. That’s what led to the loss.
Q. Teradja, you’ve got a unique perspective. You
come from a program that had a lot of winning and
kind of a one-year thing here. You got to observe a
young team go through some struggles. From that
perspective, where do you see the building blocks?
Where do you see the positive signs for the future that
maybe the record wouldn’t indicate?
TERADJA MITCHELL: Like I said, I have a unique
perspective. I’ve seen both ends of the stick now, and I
would say this program is not too far off.
Coming from Ohio State, the things that Coach Napier
implemented for this program, the way the practices are,
the workouts are, this program is inevitable. I think it’s just
a matter of when, when this program is going to get back to
where it has been.
Like I said, I’m excited for the future, and I think the guys
are buying into what Coach Napier is putting forth. It’s
obviously a rebuilding process, and it’s going to to take
time, but also the guys understand there’s a sense of
urgency.
Q. Teradja, what’s next for you?
TERADJA MITCHELL: I haven’t really thought much about
it, but the goal is to obviously start training and try out for
an NFL team and see what’s next. Just take it one day at a
time. I haven’t made any real decisions, but that’s my plan.
Q. Back to that note when you were answering Zach’s
question, is there anything that you can point to
specifically maybe that Florida does or has or anything
culture-wise that you think is similar or shows you
that, hey, this team is close, like you said, to what Ohio
State is?
TERADJA MITCHELL: Regardless of what the outside
people think, Florida practices are like big boy practices.
We practice physical. We’re hitting. We’re hitting, and
we’re going after it.
Like I said, just the mentality that Coach Napier is trying to
implement in the program, like being tough, playing tough.
When teams play us, they’re going to play a tough team. A
team that we aren’t going to quit. We’re going to keep
going forward. I see that.
As the guys keep buying into it, it’s going to eventually
show on the field for them.
Q. There was quite a handful of penalties that started
to rack up in the second half. Do you think there was
an increased amount of frustration from the team as
FSU started to get a rhythm going? How were you
guys trying to counter that?
TERADJA MITCHELL: I think that’s a great question. I
think it all comes down to, like I said, execution. We have
to execute. We have to be disciplined. At times we failed
to be disciplined. We failed to execute.
That goes back to what I was saying. We have to continue
to buy into what the coaches implement in practice, and we
have to execute in those moments.
Q. You kind of addressed it a little bit, but after the
safety, though, what was kind of the vibe going?
When did you feel it start slipping away?
TERADJA MITCHELL: Right after that safety, we
understood. We’ve been in those games before where we
were up and playing well, and then we dropped in that
performance. After that safety, the message for the team
was let’s keep going. Let’s try to get this win. Obviously
we didn’t come out with that, and that’s frustrating for us as
players.
That shows the resilience of this team. Even after we take
these losses, the team is still in a positive mindset,
understand that — see the bigger picture of everything.
Even obviously we didn’t do well this season, but the guys
are still ready and eager for next year.
Q. When you see some of the young guys contributing
on defense, what’s your vision for things this year and
beyond?
TERADJA MITCHELL: It’s exciting to see those guys.
They’re getting those reps. They’re scarring now. They’re
taking those losses as young players. Eventually as they
grow into the program, they’re not going to want to feel that
feeling anymore. They’re going to work a little bit harder,
watch a little bit more film.
Like I said, I’m excited to see these younger guys as they
grow into their college football careers.
Q. Obviously for FSU with Travis being out and
Rodemaker getting his first start of the season, is the
defense — what did you guys kind of expect that they
were going to show offensively? Did it kind of play out
that way during the game?
TERADJA MITCHELL: Like I said, we lost our quarterback
too. We knew that, for us, we have to rally around Max
and make sure the supporting pieces stepped up and
executed to help Max out.
We thought the same thing for Florida State, that they were
going to utilize their other key players, their receivers, their
tight ends, their running backs, and try to work the game
around the quarterback to help him. So we knew we were
going to get like quick, easy throws, and they were going to
try to get their quarterback in rhythm.
Q. Obviously Benson, their running back, got some
good runs in the second half. How tough — especially
in the first half you guys had the ball a lot of the half,
second half they got the ball a little bit more. How
tough was that to handle defensively as he got going?
TERADJA MITCHELL: It was definitely tough for us,
especially since our coaches put together adjustments for
us to make at halftime, and like I said, we didn’t execute
those adjustments. Like I said, that’s where the frustration
comes in. But we understand as a defense we’ve got to do
better. Simple as that, we’ve got to do better.
Q. 17-15, fourth quarter. There you got them, I think it
was a third and 15 situation, quarterback takes off.
Now it’s a race between the quarterback and the two
guys that are trying to keep him from getting a first
down. Of course they call the targeting call on that
one. I don’t know what your opinion on that particular
play was, but you see these guys working so hard, and
then of course it all evaporates with one play because
you lose a guy. How different did that become at that
particular moment?
TERADJA MITCHELL: It was definitely a tough moment. I
think it was a tough call. As a defensive player, you’re
fighting and you’re scratching to make sure the offensive
player doesn’t get the first down. It’s unfortunate that was
the call. Obviously that’s momentum that takes away from
us as a defense, but it was a tough call. Tough call.
Q. Do you have to play with a swivel because one
false move and the next thing you know the officials
are going to check to see if you were targeting
somebody?
TERADJA MITCHELL: Yeah, at the end of the day,
football is a game of inches. Small errors that we make
sometimes, and it’s unfortunate. But that’s the way the
game is, and I understand they’re trying to keep players
safe. But in those moments, it’s a game of inches.
Obviously you don’t want the offensive player to get the
first down, but targeting is targeting.
Opening statement…
“First off, so proud of our team. Talked about it all year, just the heart that this group has. They’re a
resilient group. We challenge them every day in everything that they do for nights like tonight. The
adversity was there. It was present. We experienced it. Did not start very well in that game, but our
guys battled. The touchdown before the first half, to be able to get that drive put together, coming
out, being able to get a good start there to start the second half. And then it was football. They
made some good plays. Rivalry game. All the emotion. Hostile environment for us. But our guys, there
was extreme confidence. Both sides of the ball. When the offense was struggling there a little bit
early, defensive guys were playing with poise. You just had a great sense. Continue to stay focused
on the things that we can control, that we put ourselves in a position to be able to win this game
here in the second half. Our guys did that. I told them there in the locker room, each opportunity that
shows up, they just answer the call. There were a lot of things that we’re going to get to correct. But
to finish the regular season 12-0, undefeated regular season, is big. Back-to-back state champions.
That’s huge. To be able to come here, on the road, with a new quarterback starting for the first time
this season, it was definitely an impressive rally for our football team. Just saw Jordan [Travis] there in
the locker room and I just told him how much I appreciated him, because he’s been a part of this as
much as anybody. For him, doing everything he could to be here tonight, to be a part of that. Our
team, we knew that we were going to have a fight on our hands and it was going to take 60
minutes. But, how much they care about each other, how hard they’re willing to push for each other,
I think that showed up. Just grateful for every one of those players. The staff did an awesome job, did
a good job with adjustments throughout the course of the game and what we were seeing. And
then the players rose up and made the plays when necessary. Just an awesome experience and
excited for the opportunity next week to go compete for an ACC Championship. We’ve answered
the call every week up ‘til this point and we’re going to have to get better next week and continue
to improve. Proud of our team. Proud of everybody associated with the program, because this is a
long time coming. We had a heck of a journey and the great thing about it is it’s not done yet.”
On the defense’s performance particularly in the second half…
“It was huge. The first two drives, you had the third downs, we’re getting off the field, had some
extended drives, obviously we had the penalty that was called, I’ve got strong feelings on how
terrible that was. But, that was their perspective and it is what it is. Our players were probably a lot
more calm than I was. It’s just one of those things that you got to respond and rise up above, and
that was their early touchdown. Our defense, even at times when they have bad field position to
start, they really just bowed their neck. They have some good players, offensively. A couple of NFL
running backs. A couple of receivers that have been very productive over the course of the year. I
was just really proud of our defense and the defensive staff for what they were able to do. Especially
there in the second half, it was incredible.”
On past experiences preparing the team for this moment…
“This is a year-long game. It’s 365 days of every experience building you for the moment. And I think
that’s what you see. I think you see a team that, we’ve had challenges, we’ve had adversity, we’ve
had success. And our response to it has been a daily approach to work, to continue to draw closer
together. I think you see a team that trusts each other. Trust is the hardest thing in the world to earn.
It’s the hardest thing in the world to be able to have, and you see that in good times and in bad,
right? Because of what they’ve been through. When you have a brotherhood, a family, that supports
each other in all moments, it’s what makes this team special… Go be themselves. Go put that on
display. Because I know the team that we have. All three phases. The punt return from Keon
[Coleman] that gave us the nice spark was big. It’s a heck of a team.”
On Tate Rodemaker’s toughness…
“If you are a part of this program you are going to be tough. We have tough individuals. I don’t care
what position you play, Quarterback, Kicker, Offensive Line, Defensive Line, all of them. It’s not just
what you do in the weight room and its not just what you do on the practice field. There is a mentality
in all things that get placed in front of us. How we are going to respond and what the standard is. We
push to be our best and when you find yourself in difficult and uncomfortable moments you get to
put that identity on display and obviously Tate [Rodemaker] was able to do that. Anybody can have
a good attitude and smile on their face when everything is working for them but when you find your
backs against the wall, what is your approach. This team earns it and we continue to push and
challenge and that’s not going to stop.”
On Jordan Travis this week…
“He told me Saturday night when I went to see him after the game ‘I am going to be in Gainesville’. I
just care about him. All the things that he is, the best player in all of football in my opinion. As a
person, he cares about his teammates. We do a video on gameday and he did the voiceover for it. I
thought that was pretty incredible. We came down last night and he was at our Friday meal. The
best thing about our team is you don’t have to give a speech. You feel his presence and impact. It is
because of all the actions he made over the last three years. Plenty of guys could have gotten up
and said some words. When he talks everybody listens. It’s just remarkable. I am so glad he could be
here and seeing him in that locker room after was pretty special.”
On the team reaching 12-0…
“You can find moments of success. One of the hardest things to do is to be able to sustain it. Our
focus is just getting better. We haven’t played a perfect game. We have had ups and downs but we
have all embraced the work that is necessary to rise to the occasion. That’s what this team has done.
They have answered the bell and shown their heart. We came in with big expectations and
sometimes that can be a challenge. For a few years there we weren’t very good and you have to
balance the swing of building the confidence with what you can do and holding to the standards so
that not only you continue to have success but you continue to see growth. I think our team has
done that and I am really proud of them.”
On getting to the quarterback…
“Huge plays in the moment, especially there late. It was all phases. Whether it was the defensive
backs, Coach Fuller had a great pressure package to be able to attack them, and sometimes it was
a four-man rush that we were able to get home. They knew it was going to take explosive plays and
they answered the call.”
5 Jared Verse, Redshirt Junior Defensive Lineman
On the defensive line’s performance…
“We turned it up. We took a look around at everybody’s eyes, they all had that look in their eyes like,
‘if they don’t score, we win this game easily.’ It’s not even a competition. So, we went out with that
mindset. They got a field goal, they were feeling themselves, and we said ‘they don’t get to score
again.’ Offense started moving the ball, it was over for them.”
On Jordan Travis being present, what that meant to the team…
“It means a lot. The whole season, eleven games, he was there every step of the way. Even this
week, he was at practice. He was doing everything he could, even with working through his injury
and what he’s going through. It meant so much for us to go out there and put on for him. We gave
everything we had. I feel like everyone reached another mental gear, another physical gear… that’s
what we’re capable of, especially in that second half, and after the game we can look in his eyes
and say ‘We did that for you.’ And he can smile and feel genuine joy even though he wasn’t on the
field with us, he was still there.”
On winning this rivalry game in The Swamp…
“It means the world. Especially with what we’ve been through as a team mentally. Last week was not
the best week for us mentally, all week that was something we had to overlook, start mentally
preparing because this is a tough game, a tough place to play… so just to be able to come out
here, take over their field and dominate and do what we had to do, especially in the second half.”
55 Braden Fiske, Senior Defensive Lineman
On the thought process down 12-0…
“We were never worried. As soon as we got our first score, we were on the sideline laughing about it,
like alright, they messed up. They gave us an opportunity. Three points after the second half, that’s
who we are. We know we are a second half team; we know we prepped for. It’s what we prepared
for all spring, all summer, all fall. Here we are.”
On not letting emotions run too highly…
“It’s something we preached all week is being the strong team, being the better team mentally. And
when adversity strikes, that’s kind of what we are built on. When adversity strikes, be better, be the
better team, and you know we kind of welcome that, we welcome the adversity. You know it struck
us last week and it struck us that first half, so you know you got to respond and I think we did that
pretty well.”
On getting a win in The Swamp…
“Every time I stand up here I think I talk about it. It’s an awesome opportunity that I’m real thankful
for. That’s why I came here. I came here to play in bigger games like this and we are undefeated
now and I’ve never been… I don’t think either of us at this point in our lives, our careers, it’s
unbelievable. We just got to keep this rolling. It’s awesome. It’s unbelievable.”
18 Tate Rodemaker, Redshirt Junior Quarterback
On Jordan Travis’ support and video message to the team…
“They motivated us to go win for him. That was really cool.”
On the environment in The Swamp…
“Atmosphere was just how I expected it. I played here two years ago, so I kind of knew what it was
going to be. But I settled down. First completion I usually settle down, so it was really quick.”
On getting knocked out in the fourth and his determination to return…
“Man, I wanted to finish that game more than ever, for 13. That was huge.”
On having Jordan Travis around on crutches pregame…
“It’s awesome to have him out here, just with us pregame. That just gives us a little extra motivation.”
3 Trey Benson, Redshirt Junior Running Back
On the run game starting slow but eventually getting going…
“I knew the run game was going to come. We had to just continue to take the crumb. Get what we
can get. We knew one of them, well a couple of them was going to bust.”
On watching Tate Rodemaker go down and his toughness…
“Tate played relentless. Some of it might not show up in the stats, but that’s my dog. He works hard,
day-in, day-out. Just continuing to build our chemistry on the field together.”
On Jordan Travis’ support and video message to the team…
“Hearing that video, it gave me the chills. I almost cried. That’s my dog. That’s one of my best friends.
Seeing that video, it gave the team a little bit more motivation and just what we needed.”
