Gators push to prevent rival FSU’s flag planting, sod stealing in the Swamp
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GAINESVILLE — Offensive tackle Austin Barber stood on the Florida sideline, injured and indignant as Florida State celebrated at the Gators’ expense in 2023.
FSU stars Jared Verse and Trey Benson meticulously cut a piece of sod from the south end zone at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field to bring back to the team’s Sod Cemetery. The gesture was the final salvo during a 24-11 home loss by the Gators to unbeaten FSU during another losing season in Gainesville.
“That was something that’s been ingrained in our minds for a long time,” Barber recalled this week.
Last season in Tallahassee, the Gators got their revenge 31-11 to leave FSU 2-10 and lead UF edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. to plant the team flag at midfield in Doak Campbell Stadium. FSU coach Mike Norvell raced to grab the Gators’ flag and toss it before he exchanged words with coach Billy Napier during the postgame handshake as a scuffle among players ensued.
The visitors locker room and adjacent hallway soon was shrouded in celebratory cigar smoke.
“It’s my least favorite team in all of college football,” Barber, a Jacksonville native, said.
What happens next in the heated rivalry in anyone’s guess when Florida and Florida State square off Saturday in the Swamp.
The Gators (3-8) enter on a four-game losing streak under interim coach Billy Gonzales, while the struggling Seminoles (5-6) must win to earn a bowl bid. Low stakes, to be sure, yet emotions will run high, especially when a winner emerges at the end.
With little left to play for, UF will do everything in its power to avoid a flag planting, sod cutting, postgame scuffle — or all of the above.
“We can’t let that happen this year,” defensive tackle Caleb Banks said.
Banks, back for his second game after missing two months after foot surgery, will spearhead a banged-up defense facing a Seminoles’ run game averaging 223.4 yards behind dual-threat quarterback Tommy Castellanos. The Boston College transfer has rushed for 480 yards and eight scores while leading the nation with an average of 15.5 yards per completion.
“He’s had a high success rate with what he’s done,” Gonzales said.
The Gators’ attack has struggled mightily in 2025, scoring just one touchdown in losses to USF, LSU, Miami, Kentucky and last Saturday against Tennessee.
Barber, Banks and Co. hope to summon their best on Senior Day to rise to the occasion against their longtime rival.
“It would mean everything … seriously, it would mean everything,” Barber said. “To play in a big rivalry game at home, last time I’ll ever put on the orange and blue and strap it up one last time with all the seniors. It’s special.
“We need the win.”
Banks knows the feeling, though he didn’t quite understand it when he arrived in 2023 from Louisville.
“When I was at Louisville, played against Florida State, it was like ‘this is Florida State,'” he recalled. “When I got here it was just like ‘Florida State, we hate them.’ I’m like ‘Oh OK, we hate them, alright.’ So it started slowly building up and building up and building up.
“I’m just like, ‘I don’t know why I hate them, I just hate them.'”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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