Gators coach Jon Sumrall fires back at ESPN’s Orlovsky over pedicure controversy

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GAINESVILLE — Jon Sumrall didn’t back down after ESPN football analyst Dan Orlovsky questioned the Florida Gators’ coach for indulging in twice-a-month pedicures.

Sumrall, a former SEC linebacker who built hard-nosed football teams at Troy and Tulane, apparently has a softer side — and the feet to prove it.

During an interview with Olivia Eisenhauer of Gainesville’s WCJB TV20, Sumrall’s wife, Ginny, revealed her husband received a pedicure every two weeks during the football season.

“That’s his favorite extra thing to do,” Ginny Sumrall told Eisenhauer. “That’s just a fun little happy about him. He loves it.”

Orlovsky wasn’t impressed.

Appearing on Wednesday’s “Get Up” on ESPN, the former NFL quarterback declared, “I am completely against pedicures for dudes. You’re a dude, you’re not supposed to get pedicures.

“Id rather have awful feet than get pedicures.”

Sumrall quickly fired back on his X account while keeping Orlovsky on his toes.

Florida’s coach reposted a photo of Orlovsky in January 2024 holding and smelling the shoe of “First Take” host Molly Qerim during a live broadcast, adding only a thumbs-up emoji.

Sumrall, who has more than 121,000 followers on X, drew nearly 1.5 million views with his retort and generated national headlines.

The dog days of summer end Wednesday when Florida opens preseason camp ahead of Sumrall’s first season in Gainesville. Picked to finished ninth in the SEC, the Gators face an uphill climb in 2026 after going 4-8 in Billy Napier’s final season.

Whatever happens this season, one thing seems certain: Sumrall won’t be backing down and his Gators will be ready for kickoff.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com.

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