FCS foe Samford has historic first half vs. Florida, Dan Mullen
Does Samford want ‘Bama? The Bulldogs are doing something not even Alabama did against Florida this year.
Samford took a 42-35 lead over the Gators in the second quarter of Saturday’s game. Alabama didn’t do that. Neither did Tennessee. Kentucky didn’t either.
That means Samford’s ready to join the SEC, right? Is that how this works?
The Bulldogs already have 357 total yards of offense before halftime. They average 450.7 yards per game, so they’re going at their normal pace. But they’re doing it against an SEC school. Oh, and Florida had never given up 42 points in a half before Saturday.
Reminder: Samford plays in the FCS.
Quarterback Liam Welch is having a great day so far. He’s 18 for 28 for 298 yards and two touchdowns for Samford, which ended up taking a 42-28 lead with 3:17 left in the first half.
Now it’s really worth wondering: Just how hot is Dan Mullen’s seat at Florida after all this?
Bruce Feldman: Florida’s Dan Mullen is in real jeopardy
The Gators have turned into one of college football’s most disappointing teams over the past month. After starting 3-1 with a late loss to Alabama, Florida looked poised to fight for supremacy in the SEC East again. However, losses against Kentucky, LSU, Georgia and South Carolina have derailed the season quickly.
Now on a three-game losing streak, Mullen is under heavy criticism for everything from on-field coaching decisions to player management and recruiting, putting his job in jeopardy. He fired two long-time assistants this week – defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and offensive line coach John Hevesy – in a desperate move to regain momentum.
However, the pressure is still on in Gainesville, as FOX Sports analayst Bruce Feldman discussed on Saturday’s FOX Big Noon Kickoff show.
“Going forward, Dan Mullen is in real jeopardy there,” Feldman said. “He cannot afford any more losses if he has any hopes of coming back next year.”
The possibility of a 3-0 record to end the season and scrape by is certainly on the table. Florida plays Samford this week, faces Missouri on the road to wrap up SEC play, then faces a struggling Florida State team in a rivalry game.
The three wins would be enough to reach bowl eligibility with a 7-5 record. With New Year’s Six bowls out of reach, options like the Music City Bowl and Liberty Bowl appear more realistic at this point. While Feldman’s statement makes it unclear whether a bowl loss would factor into that equation, the competition in those bowls would offer a decent chance for victory.