Jon Sumrall is only in his first season at Florida, so it’s important he makes a strong first impression.
The 4-0 start in September surely did that with a demanding fan base, but then came October and 2 straight losses.
So, it was important that Sumrall get back to the business of winning and back to making that good first impression with everybody. Consider Saturday a huge step in the right direction, as Sumrall’s team went to Austin and stunned 7th-ranked Texas, 27-24, storming back from a double-digit deficit in the first half.
It was a glorious return to the win column for Sumrall and his Gators, who improved to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the SEC in what could be a massive season-saving victory before it’s all over. And before the afternoon was over in Austin, before Sumrall left the Lone Star State and returned to the Sunshine State, he wanted to look the part as a parting gift.
So, Jon Sumrall did what he had to do — he rocked a cowboy hat on his way out of the stadium, figuring that he conquered the Longhorns and so he deserved to look like a local.
The new Florida coach owned the day after those 2 straight losses, and so it was time to have some fun and look like this as he exited Memorial Stadium:
With Florida’s stunning win in Austin, the Gators can still think about contending for an SEC title this season. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the top odds to capture that conference trophy in December:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
