As you are probably aware of, Florida has beaten Tennessee 11 straight times. Such a streak has apparently given Gator players the confidence to promise that number twelve is coming this weekend.
Cornerback Quincy Wilson made no bones about what he thought was going to happen on Saturday. “Have you ever seen a duck pull a truck?” Wilson asked reporters sarcastically before answering his own question. “A duck don’t pull a truck. Nobody’s ever seen a duck pull a truck before. The Florida Gators are going to win, simple as that.”
Wilson titled his prediction, “A Message From DBU” prior to elucidating it.
I love the kid’s confidence, and Tennessee basically has no response option other than to sit there and take it until they do break the streak. That said, I’d be a little careful if I were Wilson.
Florida’s defense was burned by Tennessee last year thanks to about thirty missed tackles, and even though the Gators won that game, the defense knows they didn’t do their part. The Gators surrendered 419 yards of total offense to the Vols, 254 of which were on the ground, and gave up a 55 yard touchdown on a throwback screen that they weren’t prepared for. And what most people forget is that between the miracle touchdown to Antonio Callaway and Aaron Medley’s narrowly missed field goal, Florida allowed Tennessee to drive deep into Gator territory to set up that field goal in the waning moments.
Then again, maybe Wilson said what he said to fire up and defense and challenge them to play well enough to ensure that his words come true. I hope you’re right, Quincy. And given that you know this defense as well as anyone, I trust that you are.
