Florida coach Will Muschamp was at a loss for words to explain another penalty-filled performance from the Gators.
“That’s
something we have worked on and I addressed that with the team after
the game,” Muschamp said. “Believe me, we’ve exhausted every measure I
know. We’re going to continue to do so.”
The
Gators finished with 14 penalties for 106 yards in their 27-14 win over
Bowling Green. The penalties stalled drives on offense and aided both
of Bowling Green’s touchdown drives.
“We
gotta clean them up,” Florida senior receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. said.
“There were way too many penalties and that’s something we can control.
Offsides, whether it be holding, pass interference, all those things we
can control and that’s just being disciplined as a team.”
The discipline was lacking, particularly early. Florida had four penalties in the first quarter and 11 by halftime.
Two
false-start penalties stalled UF’s first offensive possession, which
ended with a punt. Tight ends Jordan Reed and Tevin Westbrook were each
whistled for the penalties.
“Penalties
are definitely momentum stoppers,” Florida sophomore quarterback Jeff
Driskel said. “They will kill drives. I think that if we didn’t have
those penalties we would have had a couple of more longer drives. I
gotta be louder on my cadences. I’ll take some of (the blame for) that.”
More
mental mistakes hurt the Gators throughout the game. On a
third-and-six, Florida senior Lerentee McCray was called for a roughing
the passer on Bowling Green quarterback Matt Schilz. The penalty tacked
15 yards onto a completion, moving the ball down to the UF 15-yard line.
Six plays later, Bowling Green scored a touchdown to tie the score at
7.
In
the third quarter, Florida receiver Andre Debose was called for a late
hit out of bounds after Bowling Green punter Brian Schmiedebusch
converted a first down on a run during a fake. The penalty moved the
ball down to the UF 27. Five plays later, Bowling Green scored a TD to
tie the score at 14.
The
Gators were the highest penalized team in the Southeastern Conference
last season and were among the most penalized the nation. The Gators
finished 2011 averaging 59.5 yards in penalties on 7.8 penalties per
game.
Muschamp said cleaning up penalties was a priority coming into his second season.
“We gotta look at the tape and obviously make some changes with guys that can’t stay onside,” Muschamp said.
