GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators are turning to Steve Spurrier to assist repair the staff’s floundering offense.
Steve Spurrier Jr., anyway.
Interim coach Billy Gonzales mentioned Wednesday the youthful Spurrier, who was employed as an offensive analyst earlier this yr, shall be extra concerned with quarterback DJ Lagway when the Gators (3-4, 2-2 SEC) play No. 5 Georgia (6-1, 4-1) in Jacksonville on Nov. 1.
Gonzales may have tight ends coach/offensive coordinator Russ Callaway set up the offense alongside quarterbacks coach Ryan O’Hara within the sales space. O’Hara shall be on the headset calling performs to Lagway.
Spurrier, in the meantime, shall be on the sideline working immediately with the sophomore quarterback.
“What we’re attempting to do proper now could be tweak a pair issues so we will put our gamers in a greater scenario to exit and make performs and carry out at a better stage,” mentioned Gonzales, named the interim after Billy Napier was fired Sunday. “All of us perceive that’s what we have to do. In order that’s the No. 1 objective for us as a training workers proper now.”
Napier was dismissed, largely, as a result of he didn’t get Florida’s offense on monitor in his 4 seasons. The Gators totaled a mixed 50 factors in losses to South Florida, LSU, Miami and Texas A&M this fall, they usually rank fifteenth within the league in scoring.
Dealing with the Bulldogs with out Napier may present how a lot of a hindrance he was to an offense that believes it has sufficient expertise to compete within the SEC. Gonzales has made it clear he desires to open issues up extra and get the ball down the sphere to receivers.
Spurrier is part of the plan. The 54-year-old son of a Corridor of Fame participant and coach who’s a dwelling legend in Gainesville, Spurrier spent the previous two years at Tulsa. He additionally labored at Mississippi State (2020-22), Washington State (2018-19), Western Kentucky (2017) and Oklahoma (2016). Earlier than that, he spent a decade working beneath his well-known father at South Carolina (2005-15).
“Everytime you’re round one of many biggest offensive minds in historical past, it’s clearly going to rub off on you as effectively,” Gonzales mentioned. “He’s been concerned, however now he’s going to have extra of a task as a result of he’s going to be down there on the sphere with the quarterback trying in his eyes and getting an opportunity to speak to him and overview the movie that’s being relayed.
“It’s going to place us in an amazing scenario to assist DJ and the quarterbacks carry out on the soccer subject.”
Lagway has thrown for 1,513 yards, with 9 touchdowns and 9 interceptions, this season whereas taking part in behind a shaky offensive line. He has appeared higher of late as he strikes nearer to completely recovering from a derailed offseason that included core-muscle surgical procedure, nagging shoulder ache and a strained calf muscle.
“It’s been an extended journey, and I’m grateful for the nice and the dangerous,” Lagway mentioned. “God doesn’t make any errors. I’m simply excited to see the place my journey continues and the way I can proceed to get higher.”