Latest coaching news for the Florida Gators and FSU talk: Podcast

GatorCountry brings you a new podcast as we continue to talk about the Florida Gators coaching search and what we’re hearing as the latest news.

Andrew Spivey and Nick de la Torre break that down, plus start to talk about the Gators vs. Seminoles game on Saturday afternoon in Gainesville.

Andrew and Nick also talk about the Gators basketball team and how they’re off to a fast start.

TRANSCRIPT: 

Andrew:                 What’s up, Gator Country? Your man, Andrew Spivey, here with Nicholas de la Torre. Nicholas, been away for a couple days, but it’s not like we haven’t been working. The coaching search was in full blast on Sunday. That kind of took away our time for the most part. Apologies there.

Nick:                         If you’ve been on the site, you haven’t been missing anything.

Andrew:                 Correct. If you haven’t been on the site, we have a cool little Black Friday deal that’s running right now. I would advise everyone to take advantage of that. It’s a great deal. It’s something that we do every year, and it’s usually a very big success. Come check it out. It’s pretty good timing, Nick, if I have to say so.

Nick:                         Got coaching search news going on, and once you get the head coach, then you’re hanging on for assistants and recruiting. You sign up on the Black Friday special, and that leads you a couple months later, not even a couple months later, early signing period this year. A couple weeks later, you’ve got the early signing period, and that leads you right up to National Signing Day.

Andrew:                 I said this to someone on the message board. They were talking about Chip Kelly, if he’s the guy, what will it do for recruiting. I said, “Listen, Chip Kelly is going to have no problem recruiting offensive players for the University of Florida.” That should be the furthest thing from your mind is offensive recruits coming to Chip Kelly’s offense.

Nick:                         My question, I was talking about it, I think, with Baileigh, when we were in the press box last Saturday, is the Oregon offense from ’09-’12, is that starting to get a little far removed for the recruits? It was a question I didn’t really have an answer to, so I wanted to ask you.

Andrew:                 No, I don’t think so.

Nick:                         These kids were like 10, 11 years old when Chip Kelly was at Oregon.

Andrew:                 Yeah, but they still know him from the 2010 Auburn game, and a lot of these kids grew up rooting for Oregon, because that was the cool thing, because of all the cool uniforms. That’s something, I think, has got these kids attention a little bit. We talked to Damien Pierce, and he said, “I’m going to do cartwheels if Chip Kelly goes to Florida, because not only would I get to go to Florida, but I would also get to play for Chip Kelly, who I grew up rooting for.” I don’t think so, Nick. I think when you start to talk about Tebow, that’s when you’re starting to get to where these kids don’t really remember.

Nick:                         We’re getting old, Bro.

Andrew:                 Yeah. We’re getting old, man. I think that’s where you get into that situation. As far as the Oregon thing, I think you’re still okay. I guess, Nick, we should just lead into that, what we’re hearing on the coaching search.

Nick:                         Okay.

Andrew:                 You want me to start, or you want to start?

Nick:                         Have at it.

Andrew:                 We know that six members flew on the UAA plane to New Hampshire on Sunday night. We know that. We know that happened. Strickland came back, and had some media show up, and I would say take him a little bit by surprise. We know that happened.

What we have conflicting things is what happened in New Hampshire on Sunday night. Some people are saying the deal has been signed. Some people say the deal’s done, just needs signature. Only thing Nick and I can tell you guys right now, and I say that, I’m not going to speak for Nick. Only thing I can tell you right now is that I believe that the deal is done, as far as agreed upon. I personally have a hard time believing ink’s hit paper yet, but I could be wrong. Like I say, I do believe that the deal has been agreed upon and is done for the most part.

There are several reasons as to why it might not be out. You have the theory that they didn’t want to interrupt Randy Shannon in the Florida State game. I think that’s bullshit. I’m sorry to say it like that. I think it’s bullshit. I think this season is a wash anyway. If anything, the guys are probably a little more fired up. The Swamp’s definitely more fired up if Chip Kelly’s going to be the coach, and you could have recruits come in. I don’t buy that theory.

The theory I do buy is that there is some money that could be lost with Chip Kelly coaching at Florida before their season ends. Sunday will end Florida’s regular season, or will end Florida’s season. They’re not going to a bowl game. That’s where I stand, Nick. I feel like the deal’s done as far as agreed upon. I don’t feel like it’s done as far as signed yet. That’s where I’m at.

Nick:                         I would be in the party that says it’s definitely not signed yet, and I think there would be some Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans that would caution you as to Chip Kelly agreeing. I think when he was fired in Philly everyone thought he was going to be the next Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach, and I remember reading stories about that in the Tampa Bay Times, about this is going to be Chip Kelly. Imagine what he can do here. Yada, yada, yada. Then, all of a sudden, he’s in San Francisco. He’s an interesting guy. To me, it’s until you’ve got ink to paper, and that ink’s dry, I think anything can happen.

Andrew:                 Yeah.

Nick:                         I do know this, and I can say this. Internally, from people in the UAA, from boosters, people around the program, they believe that Chip Kelly will be the next head coach at Florida, as we talk about this on Tuesday, with this podcast going up Wednesday. I can say that people around Florida feel good about him being the next coach at Florida.

Andrew:                 That’s what I was going to say. When I say I don’t believe the deal has ink to it, I could be completely wrong, and I’ll be the first to admit, if somebody can show me that the deal was signed on Sunday. I’ll be the first to admit. I will say this as well. There’s several people on our end that are telling Nick and I that the deal has been signed. If you’re listening to this podcast, Nick and I are not doubting your sources at all, by any means whatsoever. Nick and I, and I say Nick and I, I’m not going to speak for Nick. Myself, I don’t have enough proof to say that the deal has been signed.

I feel like the deal is agreed upon, and as far as working out all the details is done. I do believe that part. I am believing that there is something in the contract that he would lose some money for that, and I also think it kind of lines up to work out well for Scott Strickland.

Also, this is another thing that I have heard that makes me also kind of believe that this could be done and just waiting on next week. That is that they said Chip Kelly would love to just bring his staff and say, “Listen, I’m bringing these guys with me.” It might not be the whole staff. It may just be five guys. “Me and my five guys are hitting the road next week to recruit.” Is that true? I don’t know. All I know is that people around have told me that Chip Kelly has his coaching staff lined up. Who that is, we have a few names, don’t have all the names. Is that another reason for a holdup? Possibly.

Nick:                         The other thing that I haven’t been able to confirm, haven’t been able to figure out, is had Scott Strickland and Chip Kelly ever met in person? Before Sunday, I didn’t have any concrete answer as to yes. There is no way a contract was offered by Scott Strickland, or by anyone, before they met. No way that Scott Strickland is going to give somebody a contract without meeting them. That’s someone that he has to work with every day, and you saw what happened. He had to work with Jim McElwain every day, and that didn’t last long.

He can be a great fit for the program, or he can win you a bunch of football games and still make life miserable for people that he has to work with. To me, you have to make sure not only is it a good fit for the program in terms of winning games and being successful, but you’ve got to be able to work with the people that are in the office, that are going to be around there every day.

Andrew:                 That’s true.

Nick:                         You’re not going to offer somebody a contract if you’ve only talked to their representatives, or have only talked to people around them, people that know them. You’ve got to sit down face to face and figure out, is this somebody that I want to attach my name to? You can’t forget. This is Scott Strickland’s first time hiring a football coach. This is a big deal for him.

Andrew:                 I guess, Nick, that’s kind of where you and I have had some disagreements, and it’s nothing major. I have people telling me that they did meet. Like Nick said, he hasn’t been able to confirm that yet.

Nick:                         That is a big thing. A lot of stuff people are just going off what they hear on Twitter, and there’s really no consequences for somebody who’s not a journalist to throw something out on Twitter. If it’s right, awesome. If it’s not right, people will forget about it. You and I, through this entire process have had to make sure that we’re talking to different sources, that we’re not talking to the same people, because that’s not how we’re going to be able to confirm things and give you guys accurate information. We have to make sure we’re talking to different people.

If the person that Andrew’s talking to can confirm that, and the people that I’m talking to can’t confirm that, that’s something that Andrew can maybe confidently report, but I can’t. That’s what we, as journalists, have to have an extra level of vetting information and making sure information is right before we put it out there.

Andrew:                 That’s a good thing. We talked about you guys coming to Gator Country. That’s a good thing is Nick and I have some sources that are in common, then we have some sources that are separate from each other. That’s the good thing is we’ve been able to throw things back and forth and bounce things back and forth. The good thing is neither one of our sources have conflicting info, and that’s a good thing for us. Like I said, Nick and I believe everything that we’ve posted, and that is we believe Chip Kelly to be the coach at Florida soon. That’s what we got.

I personally, Nick, have nothing that makes me believe any different. I know the UCLA stuff is out there. I personally believe it’s a smokescreen. I’m going to say a couple names, and I mean this with the utmost respect when I say this, but guys like Pat Dooley, Andy Staples, Robby Andrews, those guys are getting their info from certain sources. Those certain sources very well could be giving that for smokescreens. They could very well be right. From what we’ve been told, it’s a smokescreen.

Nick:                         That the UCLA stuff is a smokescreen.

Andrew:                 Yes.

Nick:                         Yeah. I haven’t gotten any concrete information that there’s any basis in reality there.

Andrew:                 Right. Everything I’ve been able to read the last few days from UCLA people is they’re kind of moving on a little bit. Again, this isn’t going to be an easy process. Here’s the deal. Today, we’re taping this today, Tuesday, at 4:30. You’re looking at Sunday. Listen, if anybody tells you they ain’t making money off of a coaching search, they’re lying to you. UCLA people are trying to boost the Chip Kelly name up, because guess what? That’s clicks. It’s going to be a long few days. That’s all I can tell you. People are asking us, “Give us more information.” What we put out there is what we have, guys. That’s it. That is that we expect it to happen.

Nick:                         Here’s a conspiracy theory on my end.

Andrew:                 Okay. Give it to me.

Nick:                         The Chip Kelly UCLA stuff is coming out really just from national writers. Is that coming from Florida, from Florida internally? Then, when and if Florida signs and hires Chip Kelly, not only are you getting Chip Kelly, but now you beat out UCLA for him.

Andrew:                 I’m totally with you. Listen, Scott Strickland’s no dummy. Scott Strickland’s playing this very smart. He’s doing a good job of doing this. Let no mistake be out there that Scott Strickland isn’t playing this close to the vest. Here’s one thing else, Nick, and this is what I wanted to say too on that. Scott Strickland didn’t take that plane up to New Hampshire with President Fox and those other guys unless he felt pretty damn good things were about to happen.

Nick:                         Yeah.

Andrew:                 You know as well as I do.

Nick:                         It’s also Fox’s first time hiring a coach, so maybe he just wanted to be a part of the process.

Andrew:                 Yeah. Maybe. There’s so many conspiracy theories out there. Here’s the thing too, Nick. We have to remember this, and that is this is the first coaching search with Scott Strickland. Nobody knows how he handles a coaching search, because it hasn’t happened yet. Could he be a guy that shows his cards out on the table and goes to see Chip Kelly? Me personally, I don’t think so, because I don’t think it’s a smart move by any AD to show his cards just to show his cards out publicly, because then the next coach is going to feel like a second-tier guy. Also, let’s face it, Nick, if Chip Kelly’s not the coach at Florida, good luck with this fanbase, because this fanbase is going to execute him.

Nick:                         Yeah. We’ve really gotten to that point where you could hire Bill Belichick. Bill Belichick could leave the Patriots and Florida hire him, and right now I think in the mind of fans, if you don’t get Chip Kelly, it’s just …

Andrew:                 Good luck.

Nick:                         Yeah. Good luck.

Andrew:                 Good luck. I say that. I mean, Nick, we say it for real. I know sometimes we joke about it, but good luck. Good luck, because it’s gotten to that point. Here’s the thing, too. I was talking to a couple of coaching friends out there, and they said, “Florida has always seemed to back away from hiring the big coach, besides Urban Meyer.” They said, “You could even question if at that time Urban …

Nick:                         Will Muschamp was the big coach at the time.

Andrew:                 Yeah, but you know what I mean.

Nick:                         At Texas under Mack Brown. He was the big name, but still young and unproven.

Andrew:                 Right. They were saying going out and hiring that proven coach, that guy that was, I don’t want to say a guaranteed win, but a guy that was a big name. Like when Alabama went out and hired Nick Saban. I’m not comparing that, by any means, to that, but they said, “Scott Strickland does that.” I’ll say this, Nick, and I mean this full-heartedly. When we talk about some of those sources a minute ago and their connections, people are telling me this is a changing of the tide for the University of Florida. Scott Strickland’s about to put his stamp on this place and say, “This is the University of Florida. My name’s Scott Strickland, and I’m the Athletic Director that runs this. It’s not Jeremy Foley no more.”

Nick:                         Yeah. I think he will listen to Jeremy, but ultimately this is Scott Strickland’s decision. He understands fully that his legacy, not only just at Florida, but as an athletic director, really starts here with his first hire. That’s not lost on him at all.

Andrew:                 Right. That’s the thing too. Here’s the thing, Nick. Do I believe Strickland and Foley have some mutual respect for each other? Yeah. I’m sure they’re friends and all that. Nick, you and I both know Scott Strickland wants to separate his name from Jeremy Foley as much as he can, because it’s tough following Jeremy Foley. Jeremy Foley will go down as one of the better athletic directors to ever sit in that desk in college football. He has to make his own way, make his own mark.

Nick:                         Agreed. 100%.

Andrew:                 Here’s the thing too, Nick. This is why I think people have to look deeply at this Chip Kelly stuff. This is just me. This is just me spitting fire here. There’s been no other names vetted, and we know that from big sources. Scott Strickland hasn’t denied this publicly. Chip Kelly hasn’t denied this publicly. If Chip Kelly was not interested in this Florida job, as people are throwing those conspiracy theories out, Chip Kelly would put that out there. He just would. Scott Strickland would have somebody put it out there for him. Some of these tactics that are out there, in my opinion, are, like you said, Nick, to make Scott Strickland look like he beat UCLA.

Nick:                         Yeah. If you’re the University of Florida, that’s a narrative you want out there, for sure.

Andrew:                 Yeah. Give me your final thoughts.

Nick:                         Right now, as we tape it, I still think it’s going to be Chip Kelly.

Andrew:                 Okay. How much confidence you putting on it?

Nick:                         Shoot, man. In a coaching search, I don’t know how much confidence I put it in. That’s where I stand today. By the time you’re listening to this on Wednesday, I could feel differently. That’s just the nature of a coaching search.

Andrew:                 Okay.

Nick:                         I’m ready for it to be over though. I will put 100% confidence in the statement that I am ready for this to be done with.

Andrew:                 Me too. The phones. I mean, it’s just that. Here’s one thing, Nick, I do want to say. There are some good people at the University of Florida and around the University of Florida, people that reach out to you and I with different information and stuff like that. Everyone always talks about that family that is at Florida and stuff like that. People, it’s true. Nick, I know you can say the same thing as well. There’s a lot of good people. The fanbase gets scrutinized some, but there’s a lot of good people at the University of Florida and around.

Nick:                         I agree.

Andrew:                 I guess let’s move on, because there is a football game on Saturday, Nick. Did you know that?

Nick:                         Yeah. It’s on my birthday. That’s how I know it.

Andrew:                 Okay. Give us an injury update. Any new injuries? I mean, I’m sure there’s new injuries, because there’s always new injuries.

Nick:                         Yeah. No. A lot of day to day guys. Kylan Johnson is day to day with his hamstring. Kadarius Toney is day to day. Malik Davis is still day to day. We’ll talk to Randy Shannon on Tuesday, and we’ll have an update on the website Tuesday night. You’ll know it before you hear this, but we’ll know who’s playing after we’re done taping this.

Andrew:                 Okay. It’s back to Feleipe Franks. That’s your guy. That’s your quarterback. You got to pray that he doesn’t get hurt. Nick, tell me the stat that you came up with. I don’t even know. It’s crazy to think about it, but go ahead with that stat.

Nick:                         It’s strange times in the Florida-Florida State rivalry. This is Florida and Florida State come in both under 500. It is the first time that these two teams have played each other when they’re both under 500 since 1959. That was the second time the two teams had ever played.

Andrew:                 Wow. That’s just insane. When’s the last time neither team went to a bowl game?

Nick:                         Florida State took care of that. They’re going to go ahead, well, not took care of it, but they’re going to try to take care of it by playing a game next week. That’s so embarrassing to me. You’re playing on Championship Saturday, and who are you playing?

Andrew:                 Here’s my thing, Nick.

Nick:                         Not playing for a ring.

Andrew:                 If Florida beats Florida State on Saturday, why do you even play that game?

Nick:                         I mean, they’ll give you a bunch of reasons, but you’re going to play Louisiana Monroe at noon on Championship Saturday. If you’re 4-7 going into that game, that’s embarrassing. Then what if you lose? Then you go 4-8, and all those 4-8 jokes come swinging right back at you.

Andrew:                 Think about the crowd that’s going to be there.

Nick:                         I can’t imagine. Very close friends and family. That’s Senior Day? Did they already do their Senior Day stuff, or are they doing it that week?

Andrew:                 I don’t know. That’s a good question. I don’t know. Did they do that for the Delaware State game?

Nick:                         I don’t know.

Andrew:                 I don’t know either. By the way, just think about this. What about all the things that happened this season, and then Florida and Florida State look the best they do against the two teams they played this past weekend. Granted, let me just throw this out there. Delaware State’s not a very good football team. I stand by my statement that UAB is a pretty good football team. 77-6, or whatever it was, and then Florida’s pretty good handling of UAB, I mean, maybe we get a good football game.

Nick:                         Where’s your confidence on a good football game?

Andrew:                 Does it have to be positive?

Nick:                         I just don’t, these are really bad offenses.

Andrew:                 Really bad offenses, and both of them have overrated defenses.

Nick:                         Yeah.

Andrew:                 Overrated defenses, and both of them probably don’t have a defensive coordinator coming back, because I think Kelly’s gone from there, and we all know what’s going to happen to Randy Shannon, or at least smart people believe what’s going to happen to Randy Shannon.

Nick:                         What’s going to happen to Randy Shannon?

Andrew:                 Hopefully he’s looking for a new job somewhere way far away from the University of Florida.

Nick:                         How far? Maybe joining Jim McElwain at Oregon State?

Andrew:                 Alaska. Is that far enough?

Nick:                         I don’t think they play football there.

Andrew:                 Jim McElwain and Randy Shannon are never doing that again.

Nick:                         You don’t see a reuniting there?

Andrew:                 I don’t think so. Do you see it?

Nick:                         No. Well, I got some numbers keyed up for why I think this might be a bad and sloppy football game.

Andrew:                 Let’s roll with it. Let’s get some good old numbers, because numbers never lie.

Nick:                         The Gators have a better offense than Florida State in terms of yards per game. Florida is 109th in the country. FSU is 110th. What you’ve been seeing in games, and the 340 average that FSU has includes their week last week playing Delaware State.

Andrew:                 Say that one more time. 109 and 110 in total offense?

Nick:                         Yes.

Andrew:                 Holy cow.

Nick:                         This week is 109 vs 110 offense.

Andrew:                 That is insane. Does Florida have a better offense or Florida State?

Nick:                         Florida does.

Andrew:                 Wow. Twitter, I need that. I needed that.

Nick:                         Florida is the 109th offense in the country. FSU is the 110th. FSU has not scored more than 28 points in any game this year, except for last week. Florida has only scored 30 points twice, UAB and Vanderbilt.

Andrew:                 I wonder if Texas ready for this. Texas A&M I mean.

Nick:                         Both teams also rank in the bottom 15th nationally in 3rd down conversions. Florida converts 31.9% of their 3rd downs, mostly because you’re running play action on 3rd and 15. FSU converts just 30.7% of their 3rd downs.

Andrew:                 Wow. Nick, we talk about all this, and this game might be bad, but I have to say something. What the hell is going on with the national media? First Johnny Townsend. Eddy Pineiro? How is Eddy Pineiro not the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week? Homeboy got it because of the wind.

Nick:                         I don’t like it. I mean, Eddy made five field goals, two of them 50 yards or more.

Andrew:                 Let’s talk about 50-yard field goals. They’re not easy.

Nick:                         It’s a long one.

Andrew:                 I’m just, I can’t believe some of these fellows, man. What is going on in the world? First of all, Johnny can’t get no respect, and he took out the respect on that poor UAB kid. Boy.

Nick:                         Yes, sir.

Andrew:                 I will say this. The only hit harder this weekend was Keanu Neal on the goal line. Good grief.

Nick:                         I didn’t watch your Falcons yesterday.

Andrew:                 It was nasty. Let’s get back on track here. Give me the keys to this game. I’m going to say turnovers. Whoever doesn’t commit turnovers on offense might end up playing well.

Nick:                         I got a stat for you there too.

Andrew:                 Here we go.

Nick:                         After being in negative turnover numbers all year long, Florida finally broke even in turnover margin on Saturday. Florida’s +5 in the past two games. Meanwhile, FSU, for the season, is -8 in turnover margin.

Andrew:                 -8.

Nick:                         Which means unless they go +8 against Florida Saturday, which would be a disaster, it’ll be the third time since 2012 the Seminoles have finished with a negative turnover margin.

Andrew:                 The third time? Wow.

Nick:                         Third time in six seasons.

Andrew:                 You would think it wouldn’t be that much.

Nick:                         That’s a national championship in there, in one of those seasons.

Andrew:                 Wow. Man. I don’t know. I mean, this game is going to surprise us all. This game is going to be a 55-54 game.

Nick:                         No.

Andrew:                 This game is going to surprise some people, Nick.

Nick:                         There will not be 55 points.

Andrew:                 Lordy. Give me keys then, real quick. I asked you, and you kind of went around it. Give me keys.

Nick:                         I don’t even know, man. I don’t even know.

Andrew:                 I’m sticking with the turnovers in the game. Whoever is not turning the ball over is probably going to be the team that walks out on top, because with offense being hard to come by in this game, if you’re allowing Florida to get in Pineiro range, or if allowing Florida State a short field, that’s there. Here’s another thing. We talk about these offenses. Both of these defenses have been overrated all year as well. Is it a chance that the defense does okay?

Nick:                         I think another thing that is playing possibly in Florida’s favor is the fact that they haven’t beat Florida State. There’s only four senior classes in Florida history that have gone winless against Florida State, as opposed to 11 on the Seminoles side. Guys like Duke Dawson, Brandon Powell, they’re 0-3. They’ve got a lot of pride. I get the sense the underclassmen really feel bad about the way this season has gone. They have more time to play. Guys like Powell and Dawson don’t have any more time. This is their last game in orange and blue, and I just think the younger guys feel bad the way their last season has gone, and that you’re going to see them play hard for the second week in a row, third week in a row.

Andrew:                 Yeah. Here’s the thing too. It’s just another opportunity. It’s kind of what I said on a couple of radio spots this week. As bad as Florida is, and as bad as Florida State is this year, there’s good players on both sides of the ball, for both teams. This is going to be a game that scouts are going to watch, and it’s going to be a game that when it comes time for GMs and coaches and everyone to kind of evaluate they’re going to look at this stuff. It’s another opportunity, and it’s a big game for guys like Taven Bryan, Cece, Tez, all those guys that are looking at probably leaving early.

Nick:                         Yeah. I’m thinking that it’s the last opportunity for those guys to get that film on tape.

Andrew:                 Exactly. Anything else? I do want to say something. Look at this basketball team, Nick. Rolling. #7 in the country now, after putting up triple digits two times last week. Mike White and his boys are ready to roll.

Nick:                         I think a good team, especially considering where they’re going and who they’re going to be playing. Good to have a game kind of where you don’t shoot well and have to grind one out against an inferior, lesser opponent. I think that’s good for the team overall.

Andrew:                 I agree. I agree with you. That was big for that to happen. Kind of makes you adjust a little bit. They’re going to face some good teams. They play Stanford on Thursday. I’m not familiar with how really good Stanford is this year. I know they’re a decent team, but they’re going to need that grind it out team. That’ll be interesting.

One other thing here on recruiting, some people have taken things the wrong way here. I want to clear this up real quick. Florida is not allowing official visits this weekend. They’re not going to allow official visits until a head coach has been hired, whether that be Sunday Chip Kelly or whenever that may be. That was a decision that Scott Strickland and Drew Hughes came together and made.

It was a decision that I think is right, Nick. You and I talked about this a little bit when Will Muschamp was being let go. You don’t want to bring in guys for the old coaching staff. I find it disrespectful to the new staff who’s coming in, because if you’re a guy like Matt Corral, and I’m just using Matt for an example, what do you get out of taking an official visit to meet with Randy Shannon? Nothing. You need to save that official visit for December, when you can meet with Kelly and whoever else, or whoever the coach may be.

Nick:                         Not much.

Andrew:                 Do you agree with that? People have said they’re barring all visits. That’s not it. They’re barring official visits.

Nick:                         Yes. Barring official visits. To me, there’s no point. Most of these coaches are going to be somewhere else next year.

Andrew:                 Right. No reason whatsoever. That’s all I got, Nick. You got anything you want to add before we bounce out of here and see everyone on Friday?

Nick:                         Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Enjoy it with your friends, your loved ones, your families. Be safe. Have fun. We’ll talk to you again on Friday for our prediction podcast.

Andrew:                 Maybe save some food for Saturday, so you can go into a little bit of a coma if this game gets too boring. Like I said earlier, we got that Black Friday special on. Not a better time to check us out, because we’ve got this coaching search, and then recruiting’s going to be hot. Basketball’s going to be hot. Then before you know it, softball and baseball are here. Things are always going. Nick, tell everybody where they can find us. We’ll get out. We’ll see everyone on Friday.

Nick:                         www.GatorCountry.com for all your Florida Gator news. Check out all of our coaching search updates, almost daily, there. Podcast is there in audio and transcript form. It’s also on iTunes. Search @GatorCountry. Subscribe. Leave a five-star rating. Do your whole social media thing. @GatorCountry on Facebook and Twitter. @TheGatorCountry on Instagram. I’m @NickdelaTorreGC, and he is @AndrewSpiveyGC.

Andrew:                 There you go. Guys, we appreciate it. We’ll see everyone on Friday for our prediction podcast. As Nick said, happy Thanksgiving to all you guys. We appreciate the support from everyone. As always, guys, chomp, chomp. Go Braves.

Nick:                         You stay classy, Gator Country.

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.