With the heat of August beating down on players, the cool game nights of October might seem far away. But with a slate of Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia ahead for the Gators in a couple months, it’s not far from the players’ minds.
Quarterback John Brantley said this October stretch is the toughest since he’s been at Florida. After opening the month with a home game against the Crimson Tide, the Gators won’t be back in The Swamp until the first week of November. Consecutive road games against two different Tigers – LSU first, Auburn second – follow before a bye week. Florida ends the month with its game vs. Georgia in Jacksonville.
“I’m sure there’s been tougher, but that’s a tough month,” Brantley said. “Those are four great teams we got to face and that’s what we’re preparing for now. We’re preparing for that first game but right now, the tough camp, the hot days, that’s what we’re preparing for later on in the season when we’re starting to get beat up.”
As unfriendly is the October schedule is, the opening month is favorable for UF. It doesn’t have a road game until the final week of the month when it travels to Kentucky to face a team it has beat 25 years in a row. Florida’s first three games are against Florida Atlantic, UAB and Tennessee.
“Definitely being home those first three games are going to help us out,” said Brantley, “just to play against another team and get everything together, figure out what we can do best and go on from there.”
CB Moses Jenkins healthy for senior year
Cornerback Moses Jenkins received a fifth year of eligibility after suffering an elbow injury that kept him out much of last season. That came after the Coral Springs native missed much of 2009 with a concussion.
Heading into this season, though, Jenkins said he’s healthy.
“I came back a little rusty, but that’s part of the game. It’s all right.”
