What they're saying about the Florida-Tennessee game: Monday edition

Neither team is in the top 10. In fact, only one of them is ranked. There are no Heisman favorites playing. But make no mistake, Saturday’s Florida Gators-Tennessee Vols game at the Swamp is big. It always is.

A sellout crowd is expected.

Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe are coming.

From coast to coast, Gator Nation will be watching closely. So, of course, will Volunteers faithful and, yes, even the fans of Florida’s rivals.

With the game now just five days away, here’s what they’re saying about the upcoming showdown in the Swamp between the Gators and Vols:

-“First of all, (the Gators) always really athletic. They’re physical at the line of scrimmage. It’s a great environment at the end of the day in this game. And yesterday has nothing to do with today. The previous game, our previous play has nothing to do with what’s gonna happen on the next play. It’s about preparing the right way, practicing the right way that will lead to you playing the right way.” –Tennessee coach Josh Heupel

Is this the most important game Billy Napier has coached?

-“In Billy Napier’s case, this may be the most important game of his coaching career.

Let me start this off by re-stating the stance of both myself and all of us at HFH. We have full faith in what Billy Napier is doing, trust his vision, and believe that with a few more years of patience, he’ll have the Gators back where they belong.

Unfortunately, not everyone feels that way.

After last season where the Gators beat zero main rivals (Kentucky, Tennessee, UGA, FSU), Napier needs to take care of at least one of those if he doesn’t want there to be a lot of noise about his job security.

And it feels like Tennessee is the most important of those four I just listed.” — Hail Florida Hail

-“UT hasn’t beaten Florida in The Swamp since 2003, but (center Cooper Mays’) return could help snap that streak. Mays, a preseason All-SEC selection, has missed the first two games of the season after undergoing a medical procedure on Aug. 9. UT has not disclosed the nature of his injury. Last week, Heupel hinted that Mays might return against Florida. He was in uniform for the Austin Peay game but did not play.” — Knoxville News Sentinel

The Florida Gators have owned the Vols in the Swamp

-“Judging by recent Tennessee football history, where the Vols are playing this week is as significant as who they are playing.

Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is more commonly known by its nickname “The Swamp.” The name originated with former coach Steve Spurrier, who said: ‘The Swamp is a place where only Gators get out alive.’

Along with being loud, hot and humid, the place also seems haunted for any Vols visit. It would help for them to have their game in order but that’s not the case after a bewildering 30-13 struggle with Austin Peay, an opponent they were expected to rout.

Governors coach Scotty Walden said with some truth afterward that his plucky team came to a Swamp-like environment at Neyland Stadium last Saturday and took the fight to its supposedly superior foe.” — Chattanoogan

-“It’s early during Florida/Tennessee week, but it’s already evident that both sides understand the importance of this matchup. Not just because of historical aspect, but also because of what it means to both programs for the 2023 season. 

Florida is eager to make a statement under Napier. They want to show that they’re going to take a step forward in Napier’s second season. And beating Tennessee, especially after losing to the Vols last season, would certainly send a message that Florida is moving in the right direction under Napier. 

For Tennessee, the Florida game is the first real obstacle in their quest for a SEC East division title. With Georgia looking like a good bet to run the table until their late November matchup with the Vols, Tennessee knows that a loss to Florida on Saturday in the Swamp will make winning an SEC East title significantly tougher, if not nearly impossible.” — A to Z Sports

-Now for some Florida Gators-Tennessee Vols social media posts …

In honor of Tennessee @ Florida this weekend…

Tennessee has only won twice in the Swamp over the past 51 seasons (since 1971).

The Vols last win in Gainesville came in 2003. pic.twitter.com/VuW83v5qLN

— Saturday Down South (@SatDownSouth) September 11, 2023

October 13th, 1990

#9 Florida 3
#5 Tennessee 45

One of the greatest beat downs of the Johnny Majors era
pic.twitter.com/WIJrHo3J2y

— CHANNEL (@CHANNEL_TN_) September 11, 2023

Most Intriguing Games, Week 3 (it’s a rough one):

– Minnesota at UNC
– Tennessee at Florida
– Washington at Michigan State
– Pitt at West Virginia (the brawl!)
– Kansas State at Missouri
– Alabama at South Florida (…?)

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) September 11, 2023

IF Tennessee DESTROYS Florida in the Swamp, it’ll prove two things:

1.) The early game sloppiness has been at least SOMEWHAT intentional. (Hiding playbook, etc)
2.) Heupel is a mad genius.

If it’s close, I’ll have the same questions I do now: “Who are we really?”

— John Dunn (@JxhnDunn) September 11, 2023

I think it gets ugly real fast for Florida. I’m not convinced Tennessee just got bad over 1 game. Heup will change the guys ready, it’s Florida week, they know it. Can’t win the east not being able to win this game. I think Tennessee wins comfortably

— BigShotRob44 (@Mr_BigShot_Rob) September 11, 2023

another fun fact – Florida has played 5 football games on Sept 16 (Saturday will be the 6th) in program history. All 5 games were Gator wins, and of those 5 games, the last 4 were all against Tennessee.

— Sophie Goodwin (@Sophia_ITProTV) September 11, 2023