Florida governor Ron DeSantis rips into Gators on social media after blowout loss to Tennessee
The Vols left the state of Florida’s top official thumbing out his frustration on Twitter (X) on Saturday night.
The Tennessee Volunteers came into the Sunshine State this weekend and laid an absolute beatdown on the Florida Gators, leading 31-0 at halftime before cruising to a 31-11 win. The win was, as most Vol fans know, the school’s first in Gainesville since 2003 and was the first time since 1992 that Tennessee won by three or more scores over its southern rivals.
The Gators’ poor showing did not sit well with one person in Florida – Ron DeSantis. Florida’s governor took to Twitter (X) after the game, and he had some strong words about the Gators’ performance against the Vols.
Ron DeSantis calls Florida getting blown out at home by Tennessee as ‘rock bottom’
“Getting blown out in the Swamp by Tennessee = rock bottom for the Gators,” DeSantis wrote from his personal account. “I remember the days when even someone like Peyton Manning didn’t have a chance against UF in Gainesville. Frustrating for the fan base.”
Well, Tennessee has had some days in Gainesville since Manning, where they had a chance, namely under Casey Clausen, who went 2-0 against the Gators in the Swamp in 2001 and 2003. Just for historical accuracy, there.
And Florida has had some extreme lows as a program. They had a winless season in 1979 at 0-10-1. They lost at home to Georgia Southern in 2013, with the Eagles not even completing a single pass.
But DeSantis’ point is fair. Florida is at a crossroads, parting with its fourth head coach this year (not including interim coaches) since Urban Meyer took them to their last national championship in 2008. And even so, getting taken apart at home by a Tennessee team that’s been typically less potent on the road under Josh Heupel is a very bad look, even with an interim coach in charge.
It will be interesting to watch as Florida continues its aggressive courtship of Lane Kiffin alongside LSU and Ole Miss. But for the time being, it’s fair to say that Tennessee’s destruction of the Gators on Saturday night indeed sunk the Gator football program to a low they haven’t hit in quite a while.
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With time winding down in the Swamp on Saturday night, it looked like two streaks were about to end. But Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel made sure that one important streak stayed alive. Tennessee ended their losing streak in Gainesville, beating Florida 31-11 for their first win in the Swamp since 2003. Vols quarterback […]
