Former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops predicts winner of Tennessee Vols vs Florida Gators
The Tennessee Vols will face the Florida Gators in Gainesville this weekend.
Former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops has some experience in the rivalry between the Tennessee Vols and the Florida Gators.
Stoops served as Florida’s defensive coordinator from 1996 to 1998. He went 2-1 against the Volunteers during those three seasons.
After beating the Vols in 1997, Stoops talked a little trash about Tennessee’s loss to the Gators from the previous season.
Stoops took it personal that Tennessee’s players supposedly celebrated nearly coming back against Florida in 1996.
From Sports Illustrated: Stoops approached Tennessee as a professional and personal challenge. His pet blitz packages and bump-and-run coverages would be severely tested because Manning is such a gifted passer, with superb vision and a quick release. “We knew we had to get to him in three seconds or less, because he’s going to be effective if you don’t,” Stoops said after Saturday’s victory. On the personal level Stoops was angry that the Volunteers constantly talked about their “comeback” in last fall’s game against Florida, which Tennessee lost 35-29 after trailing 35-0. The Vols scored their last touchdown in that game with just 10 seconds to play. “It was silly,” Stoops said. “We backed out of our blitzes and made them use time to score. They picked their way up the field with short stuff. It didn’t even seem like they were trying to win.”
Bob Stoops predicts who will win this year’s matchup between Tennessee and Florida
Given his connection to the Gators, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Stoops is picking Florida to beat Tennessee on Saturday in the Swamp.
“I’m gonna go with the Gators,” said Stoops. “I was fortunate to beat Tennessee a couple of times down there in the Swamp. I think Florida will show up. They’re a prideful program. They’ve been bruised up and getting beat bad. A week or two ago, [Florida lost by 31 points to] Kentucky. They’ll have something to prove.”
Tennessee and Florida will kick off at 7:30 PM ET on Saturday night. The Vols’ last win in Gainesville came in 2003.
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