GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – The Gators football team is headed to Death Valley to redeem themselves after a close loss against Arkansas.
Florida is coming off two back-to-back losses and now preparing themselves for a challenge playing in Tiger Stadium. Head coach Billy Napier acknowledged Death Valley as one of the tougher atmospheres to play in.
The last time the two faced off in October of 2022, the Gators lost 35-45. They are tied 33-33 in the all-time series.
Napier said taking adversity and turning it into their advantage is key for his team. He also mentioned that he admires the courage his players show each week, regardless of the outcome.
“One of the great things about this game is that it requires hard work, sacrifice, investment, [and] courage to go to the stadium every week and put yourself out there,” Napier said in a press conference. “There’s no guarantee the result that you want.”
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He said that the team has turned the page and is ready for Saturday’s game.
“It’s going to be a challenge, we know that. But I’m excited about what I see, and we look forward to it,” said Napier.
The Tigers are also coming off a loss against Alabama. LSU head coach Brian Kelly said that despite their loss, there’s still something to work toward.
“When people say there’s not a lot to play for, there’s a lot to play for. It’s another step towards, you know, building the foundation for this football team, towards consistency and performance, ” said Kelly in a press conference this week. “I know there’s not a national championship at the end of this, but there’s consistency and performance for this football team.”
For his team, that means finishing off the season strong.
The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET. You can catch it on the SEC Network.