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Florida Gators to hire Duke’s Kurt Roper as offensive coordinator

By Patrick Schmidt

Nov 30, 2013; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterbacks Anthony Boone (7) and Brandon Connette (18) with quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper after the game. The Blue Devils defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 27-25 at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2013; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterbacks Anthony Boone (7) and Brandon Connette (18) with quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper after the game. The Blue Devils defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 27-25 at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kurt Roper
Nov 30, 2013; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterbacks Anthony Boone (7) and Brandon Connette (18) with quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper after the game. The Blue Devils defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 27-25 at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

ESPN is reporting that the Florida Gators are expected to hire Duke Blue Devils offensive coordinator, Kurt Roper to the same position with the Gators. Sources tell ESPN.com that the announcement will be made later this week.

Florida and Roper met yesterday and contract details are not yet known at this tie according to Edward Aschoff and Chris Low. Roper was a finalist for the Broyles Award given to the nation’s top assistant coach after Duke averaged 30.5 points per game and more than 400 yards of offense.

Florida fired Brent Pease after Florida finished with the No. 110 scoring offense with 18.7 points per game, finished No. 113 in total offense with 320.1 yards per game and finished No. 105 in passing offense with 175.4 yards per game with the trio of Jeff Driskel, Tyler Murphy and Skyler Mornhinweg.

Roper has SEC experience on his resume after serving under David Cutcliffe with the Ole Miss Rebels, helping in the development of Eli Manning and also had stints with the Kentucky Wildcats as their quarterbacks coach in 2005 and with the Tennessee Volunteers coaching the running backs.

It is expected that Florida will run a spread attack with an emphasis on a quicker tempo this season under Roper. Perhaps he’ll have as much success running the offense in Gainesville as another Duke coach to come to Florida did when Steve Spurrier lit up scoreboards during his tenure as head coach.

Patrick’s the managing editor for Death Valley Voice and news desk staffer for FanSided.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickASchmidt, @DeathValleyFS. Like our Facebook page and him to your Google network.

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