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It’s no secret that the Gators have struggled on the road under football coach Billy Napier.
Since taking over in 2022, Napier’s Gators are 1-6 away from The Swamp, with the sole win coming against a Texas A&M team that finished the season 5-7. On Saturday, the Gators (4-2, 2-1 SEC) go into Columbia, S.C., looking to keep their season on the right path. The game is expected to start at 3:30 p.m. with coverage on the SEC Network and ESPN 98.1-FM/850-AM WRUF.
Road Changes
Gators wide receiver Ricky Pearsall said there is a renewed focus on sleep as a big change to their road woes.
Napier has mentioned sleep a couple times this week, hoping an emphasis on it Wednesday night will help with road games.
Billy Napier says Florida is placing an emphasis on sleep Wednesday night and plans to arrive at Williams-Brice Stadium earlier than usual for the matchup with South Carolina.
Some scheduling tweaks being made due to #Gators’ struggles on the road.
— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) October 9, 2023
Heated Environment
Facing off against a SEC opponent on the road always brings its challenges, and the Gators vs. Gamecocks (203, 1-2) rivalry is a tough environmen.
Add to that a South Carolina team looking for revenge for the 38-6 stomping handed to them in Gainesville last year, and there is no doubt the crowd at William-Brice Stadium will be active.
The Gators will be ready for the tenacious crowd, Pearsall said.
QB Connection
Florida quarterback Graham Mertz will help lead the way, Pearsall said.
The Pearsall-Mertz connection has been a bright spot for the Gators. Pearsall leads the team in receptions and yards and is on pace for a career year. When Mertz’s completion percentage is brought up, Pearsall can’t help but smile.
Special Teams Woes
Special teams problems has become a recurring trend for Florida. Whether it’s having too many men on the field, not enough men on the field, two players on the field with the same number or other costly mistakes, the Gators have constantly shot themselves in the foot, leading to a lot of fans questioning the unit’s leadership.
https://twitter.com/FloridaFootball/status/1710755489221337277
Pearsall acknowledged that the team is working to come together and fix this problem.
Off-field Ventures
Recently, Pearsall has ventured into the fashion market, releasing merchandise after his electric one-handed grab against Charlotte.
Ricky Pearsall launched a new line of merch featuring his catch of the year against Charlotte:https://t.co/ul5dD34Lys
— Hail Florida Hail (@HailFloridaHail) October 3, 2023
Pearsall is just taking advantage of the new opportunities athletes have.
Key To Victory
Pearsall and the Gators look to fix their road struggles Saturday, facing off against Gamecocks squad hungry for revenge.
Simply put, getting Pearsall involved early and often is a key to success for this Florida offense, and it’ll need a big-time performance from No. 1 come Saturday.
Ricky Pearsall catch of the year
— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) September 23, 2023
