Billy Gonzales expects Gators’ emotion, energy to show up against rival Tennessee
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GAINESVILLE — Nobody loathed rivals more than Urban Meyer.
Billy Gonzales was definitely paying attention while he oversaw Meyer’s receivers for nearly a decade, including five seasons at Florida.
Now the Gators’ interim coach, Gonzales will look to summon energy and emotion, bordering on hate, from his players and salvage a disappointing season when Tennessee comes to town Saturday night.
“We’re willing to make it personal, it being a rivalry game,” sophomore linebacker Aaron Chiles said Monday.
The Gators and the Vols have met every season since 1990, with their clashes during the ’90s and early 2000s arguably the SEC’s premiere game. Florida held a 9-6 edge until 2004 but the balance of power shifted in the Gators’ favor after Meyer arrived in 2005.
Tennessee (6-3, 3-3) now looks to snap a 10-game skid in the Swamp against the Gators, who have lost three straight games including a 34-24 decision this past Saturday at Ole Miss.
“That’s the standard going into this week,” Chiles said. “I’m looking forward to staying to that standard and making it 11 straight.”
As if maintaining their stranglehold on the Vols was not enough incentive, Meyer will be on hand as the school honors him ahead of his induction into the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame class.
Few coaches have set a winning standard against rivals like the 61-year-old icon. Meyer’s Florida teams were 16-2 against Florida State, Georgia and Tennessee, going 6-0 against the Vols.
A win by the Gators (3-6, 2-5 SEC) against the No. 23 Vols (6-3, 3-3) would flip the script against rivals under former head coach Billy Napier. He was 2-7 against FSU, Tennessee and Georgia, not including a 24-20 loss Nov. 1 during Gonzales’ first game in the interim role.
Gonzales expects the Gators to be further energized in their return to the Swamp after three consecutive losses away from home.
“That’s the one thing you want to talk about, something that gets you fired up, the opportunity to come play back home in front of the Swamp in a night game,” Gonzales said. “Our players will be ready to play.”
Veteran defensive tackle Caleb Banks could be among them after missing all but one game this season with a foot injury.
After undergoing offseason foot surgery, the 6-foot-5 ¾, 330-pound redshirt senior suffered a setback in fall camp and re-injured his foot again during a Sept. 13 visit to LSU. Banks has been cleared to play this week and even warmed up at Ole Miss despite being listed as doubtful on the SEC availability report.
“As far as his attitude and willingness and eagerness to come back, he wants to come back immediately,” Gonzales said. “He wanted to play this past week.”
Banks entered 2025 a potential first-round NFL draft pick. If all goes well against Tennessee and during a Nov. 29 visit from Florida State, Banks — who turns 24 Dec. 20 — would leave school.
For now, he could elevate a defense that allowed Ole Miss to rush for 237 yards a week after Kentucky ran for 233 during a 38-7 Florida loss.
“He’s a very effective guy, so hopefully he can bring something,” edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. said.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
Tennessee (7-3, 3-3 SEC) at UF (3-7, 2-5)
When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday
Where:Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
TV: SEC Network
Favorite: Tennessee by 3.5 points
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