Florida-LSU pregame scuffles only show Gators' desperate search for motivation

If there was ever a need to dig deep for motivation this season for the Florida Gators, they’ve desperately done everything they can before their game against LSU kicked off on Saturday. According to reporters, there were at least two pregame scuffles between the two teams, in which they had to be separated.  

It’s the type of fire, if you're Billy Napier, that you can’t really be mad at. His team seems to have more fight than him as they realize how important this game and the next three will be if they want to make the most of this season. Fighting doesn’t solve anything, but for the Gators, they’re showing that they’re not backing down. 

Florida was knocked out of the AP top 25 poll after a shocking home loss to South Florida last week. They need everything they can to go their way to turn this season around. This is quickly trending toward another disappointing season for Florida and if fighting pregame is what will give them the edge to not back down against LSU then it might just be worth it. 

Pregame scuffle between Florida-LSU show how important this game is for Florida

The Gators’ College Football Playoff aspirations are hanging on by a thread. Not necessarily because they already have a loss and not because they don’t have enough chances to strengthen their resume, but because their season is already teetering on the edge. If they feel they have to stoop as low as to create pregame drama, that goes to show how important this game is for their season. 

Since the loss last week, the Gators have felt the disrespect. Everyone is out on their coach, Billy Napier, and it’s clear that if things don’t turn around, a lot of changes will be made. DJ Lagway feels the heat as much as Napier for looking disappointing in a game he should have torched the Bulls in. 

This team feels the heat more than ever right now, and fighting pregame isn’t going to make things better. In fact, it will quite literally make it worse if players either get kicked out of the game or get hit with personal foul penalties before the game even starts, the team starts behind the eight-ball. 

Rivalry games bring the most out of both teams and it could give Florida an edge on the road

The fact that Florida is creating all these pre-game antics highlights just why rivalry games are fun. Especially with how important this game is for Florida more so than LSU, they are setting the tone early that while their backs may be against the wall, they aren’t backing down. As the road team, bringing the aggression early could be what plays to their advantage. 

Though it’s desperate, they are showing LSU they aren’t going to be pushed around. This game is way too important for Florida for them to lay an egg like they did last week. If it works, then maybe it was worth trying to get in LSU’s head. If it doesn’t though, not only does it look bad, but it shows they’re not only undisciplined, but they’re not as good of a football as we thought they’d be this year.