GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida has a new coach, a new offense, a new defense and plenty of new starters.
The Gators also have some new motivation. It stems from relatively low expectations.
For the first time in eight years, maybe even longer, Florida has little preseason hype. No Heisman Trophy hopefuls. No players on the All-Southeastern Conference first team. And the Gators are widely picked to finish third in the Eastern Division.
First-year head coach Will Muschamp, the former coach-in-waiting at Texas, says the lack of attention might be a good thing. His players, though, insist they will use it as motivation as they prepare for the Sept. 3 season opener against Florida Atlantic.
The Gators open fall practice Saturday.
