The Florida Gators were in a world of hurt last Saturday against Louisiana.
It was Homecoming at Florida Field and the Gators were trailing 20-13 with the clock dwindling down. Their star quarterback, Jeff Driskel, left with an injury in the third quarter and Will Muschamp had turned to backup Jacoby Brissett to pull the Gators’ fat out of the fire.
“Man down, man up. We’ve had it all season. Credit to him getting in there and making the throws and making the huge throw down to Jordan (Reed) in the middle there,” said Muschamp after the game. “I have all the confidence in him. It’s difficult to come in during the middle of a series for a quarterback and I think he did a fantastic job.”
The pass Muschamp was referring to was a 39-yard completion to Reed to the Louisiana 3-yard line with just under two minutes to play. On the next play, Brissett hit Quinton Dunbar for the touchdown to tie the game. That set up Loucheiz Purifoy’s block of a Louisiana punt on the Ragin’ Cajuns next possession, which was returned 36-yards for the game-winning touchdown by Jelani Jenkins with two seconds left.
Coaches preach that the backup quarterback has to be ready because he is always just an injury away from being in the game. There has never been a finer teaching point of that principle than what Brissett did last Saturday.
So what was Brissett thinking when he realized it was his time to shine?
“When I saw him go down, I kind of pulled my helmet on and got ready,” he said. “I knew it was real. I had to make sure I was ready. I had to make sure when I got my chance, I didn’t make a fool of myself. I came out and did what I had to do.
“I just want to make sure I go out there and do my part and make sure I stay composed and keep everybody together – just know that we’ll finish the game with a win.”
And afterward?
“Oh, it was great. That’s what you dream about. No matter who it’s against,” Brissett said.
Brissett, a 6-foot-4, 229-pound sophomore from West Palm Beach, finished the game 6 of 8 passing for 64 yards and one touchdown, but that came as no surprise to Muschamp.
“I’ve got all the confidence in him. We didn’t even blink as far as the different things we knew he would be able to do and the success he would have,” said the Gators coach. “I think it’s very difficult to come in in the middle of a series for a quarterback. We called a screen there. I think he did a fantastic job. I think he handled it very well.”
It looks as though Brissett will have another shot this weekend when the Gators play Jacksonville State.
“Jeff Driskel’s ankle is probably doubtful for this weekend based on the conversation I had today,” Muschamp said Monday. “We’ll try to get him out on the field on Wednesday. If he can’t go by then, certainly we’ll go with Jacoby. I’ve got all the confidence in the world that Jacoby will play well.
“You never know when you’re number’s going to be called, there is no question. I think that it’s a great example for us all and you know and when you’re number’s called you better be ready to perform and perform well,” he said.
“We’ve always talked about man down, man up and in that situation you have to man up and play and its different than other positions. The quarterback position affects the entire team and I’m certainly very proud of his effort and how he did when he went into the game.”
Driskel’s injury is a sprained ankle and he was in a walking boot on Monday.
“That is precautionary, that is what we always do with sprained ankles,” Muschamp said. “We will see how the swelling goes. Some guys recover quicker than others. We will see how the swelling goes. Some guys recover quicker than others.”
If Driskel can’t go, the Gators will adjust their offense slightly to fit Brissett.
“Obviously, that will change a little bit. We will run what we run and be who we are,” said Muschamp, who expressed confidence in his backup quarterback.
“I don’t think it was just Saturday. I have seen him for over a year-and-a-half that we have been here together. He is a guy that has prepared himself well and is very talented. He is going to have the opportunities to make good choices and decisions on the field, which he will do. I have a lot of confidence in him.
“I don’t think it is any one day you say this gives you confidence, I think it is over a period of time that builds confidence with you.”