WATCH: Florida Gators celebrate win over Texas A&M
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Winning football games isn’t easy and it’s even harder to go on the road and do it. The Florida Gators did just that Saturday, beating Texas A&M 41-24. It was Florida’s first SEC road victory since beating Tennessee on December 5, 2020, a span of five SEC road tilts.
Saturday’s win was cathartic for Florida. The team went through a tumultuous week that started with the dismissal of Brenton Cox, UF’s leader in tackles for a loss. Defensive back Kamar Wilcoxson quit the team on Thursday and there wasn’t much positivity surrounding the program.
Saturday’s win was just what the team that had faced adversity, some self-inflicted but adversity nonetheless, needed.
“One of the boys just told me we ain’t had an SEC win on the road since Tennessee 2020, so it was definitely felt good for that,” senior linebacker Ventrell Miller said after the game. “It’s always hard to win on the road, so going out there, I just like how everybody played the second half. We stood up, came out not flat-footed, and like I said we showed everybody how the defense can play.”
Watch the Gators celebrate a big SEC road win
Billy Napier on the Gators win
In a small concrete room adjacent to the the visitor’s locker room at Kyle Field the media sat waiting for Billy Napier. The concrete walls weren’t thick enough to muffle the cheers and excitement from the Gators.
“I think that you saw a good look in a lot of people’s eye. Relative to what they’ve been through. This is a group that just keeps showing up. They just keep doing work, right? They haven’t gotten frustrated or bored with trying to do the right thing, making good decisions when there’s been plenty opportunity to maybe go the other way. So, we’ve got a lot of work left to do. But I think the human element, I go back to it. You know, believe in that part of the game, I think we, there’s a lot of good going on in there right now.”
Gator Nation takes over Kyle Field
The Gators weren’t alone in the endeavor. The Gator Nation showed up and showed out in the great state of Texas. As the time ticked down to an inevitable Florida win, it was the fans in orange and blue that screamed loudest and last.
