Message from Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant hits home with Gators
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In honor of Veterans Day, Florida is recognizing members of the armed forces, veterans and local first responders this week as part of the program’s annual ‘Saluting Those Who Serve’ game on Saturday against South Carolina.
Gators coach Billy Napier and his staff have several done initiatives throughout the week, including inviting different speakers to address the team.
Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Trey James spoke to the players Tuesday, followed by Captain Tom Rich from the Air Force on Wednesday.
“Let me tell you, we’ve had some really unique opportunities here in the last couple of days to invite some really important people,” Napier said. “Both came and spoke to the team to try to create a perspective for the players and a certain level of gratitude. These people chose a career path.
“They serve, they protect our freedoms and I think sometimes we take those for granted. I think there’s a lot that we can learn from these special people. It’s been pretty awesome to hear from them. I know it’s impacting our players and staff in a positive way.”
James talked to the Gators about teamwork, brotherhood and accountability, drawing comparisons to how the Marines train for combat and how the players prepare for games.
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“Those enemies foreign and domestic, that’s my enemy. And I’m going to do everything that I can to make sure when the time comes, when we gotta meet on that field, I’m coming back to the house with the W,” James said in the video below. “It’s gotta be the same concept for y’all. When we meet on that field, I’m coming back to the house with the W. Make sense?”
James’ message to the team hit home with Florida defensive end Justus Boone.
“He hit it hard about brotherhood and accountability,” Boone said of James’ speech. “One of the references he used is that we both do kind of the same thing. They train and we practice, and we all practice and train for that one exact moment. That one moment where they gotta go overseas to do what they gotta do, and that one Saturday we gotta go out there and chop somebody’s head off.”
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In other Florida football news
- Ja’Quavion Fraziars won’t play against South Carolina after sustaining a significant injury.
- The Gators’ updated Week 11 depth chart and injury report for the South Carolina game.
- The Gators will recognize 18 seniors in the team’s final home game of the regular season.
- A handful of Gators with eligibility left will take part in the Senior Day ceremony Saturday.
UF recruiting roundup
- Five-star cornerback Desmond Ricks sets another unofficial visit to check out the Gators.
- Top-30 overall recruit and four-star defensive lineman Jordan Hall locks in UF official visit.
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