AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack
Dan Mullen, Florida coach, revealed that the team had 20-30 flu-like symptoms before Saturday's loss to South Carolina 40-17.
Several of our guys didn't even make it onto the field with the bus. While I do not want to excuse those guys, I do want to credit our guys for fighting through adversity. There were many men who had to deal with sickness. To keep everyone separated, we had to fly some men separately from the team. They went out with those guys. Despite the fact that there were many guys who missed practice, our training staff still managed to find a few. They tried to IV-ed a lot of them today to get them ready for their performance. That's what I love. I believe our men compete. They're going work hard, they're willing to fight, and they'll give everything they have.
"Coaches have to do a better job of putting them in the right positions to reward them for their efforts and to make them successful."
Mullen was under pressure to improve the Gators' (4-5) performance. Florida's five losses is already an all-time high during Mullen's four years at the school.
Mullen's worst loss was to South Carolina. The Gamecocks had only one SEC win entering the weekend, a one point victory over Vanderbilt. Shane Beamer's group ran all across Florida, accumulating 284 yards of ground. ZaQuandre and Kevin Harris both crossed the 100-yard line.
South Carolina scored on five of its first possessions and never lost the game after taking a 10-7 lead in the first quarter.
Gators are currently 2-5 in the SEC, but they should be back on track Saturday against Samford, an FCS team.
