A View From…Jacksonville 2025
Frank Frangie
Once again, we are honored to have the great Frank Frangie weigh in the Georgia-Florida game. Frank is a good friend and one of the most talented talk show hosts and play-by-play announcers in the business. He has a great football mind, and knows this game and this rivalry as well as anyone. Frank is the Voice of the Jacksonville Jaguars and hosts a wildly popular daily radio show on 1010XL in Jacksonville.
What does Florida need to do to win?
It would be awfully hard for Florida to win this one. The Gators just fired their coach, are playing under an interim coach, have struggled mightily offensively and now play one of the best teams in America. The Gator defense will keep them in it, but as we’ve seen that only lasts for so long. Last year, the Gators hung around for awhile in this one, but that was a Florida team with a bit of momentum. Not the case this year. Their best chance would be to run Jadan Baugh, to somehow sustain time-consuming drives, stay close into the second half and see what happens. And you never know if there is a renewed energy now that the question of whether Billy Napier would be fired has been answered. Maybe now they just relax and play. With nothing to lose. But it’s a long shot. The longest of long shots.
This era of college football, with the parity, are you seeing some similarities to the NFL?
Lots of similarities. More teams are able to procure players, pay players; players who aren’t happy or playing much can switch teams. It levels the playing fields. There aren’t great players on someone’s second team any more. In the past, Alabama’s second team could beat Vanderbilt. Nowadays, Alabama’s second team players leave and wind up on Vanderbilt’s team. The result is more teams that are good. And that is very much like the NFL.
What is your take on the Bulldogs?
As I’ve said all along, nobody has better talent top to bottom than the Dawgs, They are well-coached, deep, athletic. I know Bama got them at home, but part of that is that the Tide just seems to have Georgia’s number. I think Georgia will be in the CFP and make a deep run.
From a Florida fan’s standpoint, how is Kirby Smart viewed?
The defensive version of Steve Spurrier. Smart, quippy, detailed, demanding, fun. Just a terrific coach. And like Spurrier at Florida, just a Georgia guy through and through. Nobody in America has an outstanding coach that fits its school like Georgia. That is Kirby!
With all due respect to the three legendary Heisman QBs, will you help make my case that Wilbur Marshall is still the best Florida player I’ve ever seen?
Wilbur might have been the most talented Gator ever. Receiver Wes Chandler in the 70s, receiver Percy Harvin in the 2000s are on the ballot. All three legendary quarterbacks — Spurrier, Wuerffel and Tebow — along with Emmitt Smith, deserve to be called the Greatest Gators ever. But for sheer talent — Marshall, Chandler, Harvin might be the list.
Who will be Florida’s head coach next season?
Taking the chalk here, but I’m guessing Lane Kiffin. Just too many reasons not to believe it will happen. He has been enamoured with the job before; he patterned himself after Spurrier, has many family ties to the state and to the school. I think Jeff Brohm can get in play. Maybe Eli Drinkwitz. But in the end, I believe it will be Kiffin.
What is your score prediction?
Georgia 34, Florida 21. Gators will be hyped and hang around early. They usually do. But the Dawgs are better and have so much more to play for. Close for two and a half quarters perhaps. Not close at the end.