By Brett Hudson

A mix of anger and disappointment consumed the face of Florida head coach Will Muschamp when he was forced to recall the events of January 2nd, 2013: when the Louisville Cardinals scored 14 unanswered points in the first 15 minutes of the Allstate Sugar Bowl and beat the Gators 33-23.

“That was my fault,” Muschamp said matter-of-factly without a hint of hesitation. “I look back on it now and we needed to stick to our formula.”

The formula clearly worked from Muschamp’s first to second season with the Gators. Muschamp noted the team improved its turnover margin from -12 to +15 from 2011 to 2012 and found a way to win eight games by coming from behind.

“That’s the difference in playing in a BCS bowl game,” Muschamp said.

Now Muschamp is looking towards an even more critical difference: the gap between losing and winning that BCS bowl game, or College Football Playoff game in the near future.

“I thought we did that throughout the spring,” Muschamp said. “We have to limit the negative plays, whether it be sacks, tackles for a loss, self-inflicted wounds like penalties.”

Renewing a rivalry

For only the second time since 2004, the Gators will be facing the in-state rival Miami Hurricanes, with the game set for Sept. 7th in Miami Gardens, Fla.

“Again, I think Al Golden has done an outstanding job at Miami, a team that should’ve played for the ACC Championship last year,” Muschamp said. “I do think it’s important for the in-state schools to play each other if possible, if it’s good for everybody involved. I know that will be good for our state.

“I always tell guys, if you don’t come to Florida, go to an in-state school. That’s where I’d rather see them play anyway.”

“This is his team”

“A guy I thought attacked the offseason the way you’re supposed to,” Muschamp said as he continued to heap praise on his starting quarterback Jeff Driskel. “There’s no question, year two, I feel much more comfortable.”

Driskel, throwing for 1,646 yards with a 63.6 completion percentage as a sophomore, has put high hopes in his coach for the future.

“When the game slows down a little bit, you get a little more mental quickness of where to take the ball down the field, first progression read to the second, understand where the pressure comes from,” Muschamp said. “Jeff is extremely bright. He’ll learn from those situations.”

New blood on the staff

Many programs in recent years have had promising trajectories towards the top derailed, quickly, by the untimely departure of a few key assistant coaches, leaving to take head coaching jobs.

The Gators have been the beneficiary of the reverse phenomenon, as former Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips landed quickly as Florida’s wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.

“That’s something that I think gives you great ideas and benefit from a guy that has sat in the chair before,” Muschamp said. “Certainly when I was a defensive coordinator, having guys in the room that have called it before, they see the big picture.”