What Dan Mullen said after Florida's 34-10 win over Kentucky
Florida is one victory away from getting back to Atlanta. The Gators improved to 7-1 on Saturday with a 34-10 win over Kentucky. Since UF holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over 5-2 Georgia, Dan Mullen’s squad can clinch the SEC East with a victory against either Tennessee or LSU.
Mullen, however, told reporters he hasn’t given the SEC Championship Game, likely against No. 1 Alabama, any thought yet in his postgame press conference.
The third-year Gators head coach also discussed his defense’s improvements in the second half, the return of standout tight end Kyle Pitts, QB Kyle Trask’s Heisman candidacy and more.
Here are the highlights of Mullen’s press conference, as shared by Gator beat reporters on Twitter:
Mullen starts by congratulating Pat Dooley and Robbie Andreu, says they've been a part of Gator football and "major contributors to all the great memories people have of the Florida Gators."
Then says it's weird they're retiring right before UF has to go to snowy Knoxville.
— Nick de la Torre (@delatorre) November 28, 2020
"That was Gator defense." — Mullen on second half.
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) November 28, 2020
#Gators coach Dan Mullen on defensive effort. 'We didn’t come out and play very well. The game’s so much about adjustments. I think our guys came in and made great adjustments.'
— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) November 28, 2020
"When they left him one on one, Kyle Trask took advantage of those matchups." — Mullen on Trask finding Pitts
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) November 28, 2020
Mullen asked about his shouting match with Todd Grantham …. "I got home, we're neighbors, and he had his Christmas lights up before Thanksgiving. I told him you don't do that, he adamantly said, yes you do, and that's what it was about."
Called it
— Nick de la Torre (@delatorre) November 28, 2020
Of course, he said he wasn't happy about way defense played early in the game when asked a follow up. https://t.co/w6aUkPsMjk
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) November 28, 2020
"Overall, I thought it was a really good special teams day." — Mullen
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) November 28, 2020
Mullen says he "hasn't thought about" Atlanta and the SEC Championship yet.
— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) November 28, 2020
Mullen said he hasn't thought about being on the cusp of getting to Atlanta, "you can get to a point where wins become expected or assumed, I want to enjoy them."
— Nick de la Torre (@delatorre) November 28, 2020
'We haven't done anything yet. We're where we'd like to be … in first place. We control our destiny,' Dan Mullen said of #Gators closing in on SEC East title.
— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) November 28, 2020
"He's a great weapon." — Mullen on Pitts being back and difference in offense
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) November 28, 2020
Mullen says a lot of QBs in the country would jump up and down for the kind of day that Trask is having.
— Nick de la Torre (@delatorre) November 28, 2020
#Gators coach Dan Mullen: "I don't think we've played a complete game yet…We're not looking to peak in the middle of the season."
Adds UF "can't get bored of repetition" each week when it comes to improving.
— Graham Hall (@GrahamHall_) November 28, 2020
Gators coach Dan Mullen on UK defenders who reportedly trash talked Kyle Pitts: “if you’re going to trash talk, you better back it up.”
Adds that officials warned Pitts about his post-TD reactions.
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) November 28, 2020
"I think he checks a lot of those boxes right now, There's still a lot of football to be played,' Dan Mullen on Kyle Trask's Heisman pursuit.
— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) November 28, 2020
#Gators coach Dan Mullen referencing his "UT Chattanooga" comment from several years ago regarding MSU QB Nick Fitzgerald in comparison to Kyle Trask: "What were his offers?….he's an inspiring story for what makes college football so special."
— Graham Hall (@GrahamHall_) November 28, 2020
