Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel and Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier are taking very different approaches to their showdown in the Swamp this weekend. 

Napier is making an effort to "educate" everyone in Florida's facilities on the importance of the rivalry with Tennessee. And this isn't just a sign on the wall or something that's been mentioned during a team meeting. Napier has gone to great lengths since the summer to make sure that Florida's players/coaches understand the significance of the game against the Vols. 

"It's a big week, it's Tennessee week," said Napier earlier this week. "I think we've done a ton relative to educating our players about the rivalry."

"We did some work there relative to going back and really educating everyone on the history and the magnitude of the game" added Napier. "Do you understand that this was the game at one point in time in college football relative to the SEC, the eastern division, and certainly the national championship picture, right? And it happens early (in the season)….I think there's an element to it (Vols/Gators rivalry) that's a little different for sure."

Gators starting quarterback Graham Mertz shared similar comments while speaking with reporters this week. 

"I wish you guys could see the video they put up there," said Mertz. "It went back years. In a short little 30, 45-minute window, you got a quick rundown of every game that has been played. What you see when you watch those games is the passion and the love for this place. I think that's one thing that the current players, we saw that. You definitely want to embody that."

Heupel, meanwhile, has acknowledged that his players know about Tennessee's struggles against Florida in the past. But he's not making those struggles a focus for the Vols this week. 

"What happened last year, yet alone a decade ago, or what happens during the course of the game, the previous play, has nothing to do with what’s happening next," said Heupel during the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday. "Our guys are kind of taking on that mindset a little bit. Certainly they’re aware of that streak, but for us, it’s really about our preparation and our practice and finishing the week out the right way to go down there and play our best football.”

That's not just coach speak from Heupel, either. 

Comments that Vols wide receiver Bru McCoy made to On3's Andy Staples this week seems to confirm that while Tennessee respects the rivalry against Florida, they're not making the rivalry the main focus of the week. 

McCoy even mentioned to Staples that Tennessee fans on social media have probably done the most to educate him on the rivalry (McCoy grew up in California).

"Our fan base is so out there and they have such a huge voice, that a lot of it (education on UF/UT rivalry) came from social media," said McCoy. "A lot of it had to do with I would read tweets that people put out leading up to games."

It's not that Tennessee's ignoring the rivalry — McCoy noted that coaches and former players will mention the importance of the rivalry from time to time — it's just that the Vols aren't putting the rivalry above the actual game that will be played on Saturday night in Gainesville. 

So which approach is best? 

I don't think we can know that answer until we see the final score on Saturday night.

Former Florida HC Dan Mullen offers warning to Tennessee ahead of Vols’ trip to the Swamp

Former Florida Gators HC Dan Mullen offered a warning to Tennessee ahead of Vols’ trip to the Swamp

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