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Florida Football: Top 5 Moments from Gators’ 2018 Season

By Shelbie Warr

STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 29: Joshua Tse #27 of the Florida Gators runs with the ball as Leo Lewis #10 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs defends during the second half at Davis Wade Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 29: Joshua Tse #27 of the Florida Gators runs with the ball as Leo Lewis #10 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs defends during the second half at Davis Wade Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Coming off a disappointing season, Florida football had quite the return to national prominence in 2018. What moments stood out the most?

The Florida Gators were basically nobodies in the SEC East in 2017 and that is being nice. This team barely managed four wins a season ago, though there were quite a few heartbreakers mixed in there. Now they sit in the top 10 as a possible favorite to win the conference in 2019. That is quite the turnaround.

Here are five of the biggest moments that defined success for the Gators this season, starting back in November of 2017.

5. Hiring Dan Mullen

Historically, Florida is a good program. No one will dispute that. However, former coach Jim McElwain just wasn’t getting it done for the Gators. In 2017, his program finished 4-7. For a program that prides itself on being one of the top teams in the SEC East, that won’t fly. So, just after Thanksgiving in 2017, the Gators went out and got this guy from Mississippi State.

Hiring Dan Mullen, despite it happening in 2017, was absolutely a home run moment for the 2018 campaign. This program wouldn’t be the same if Jim McElwain was still at the helm and that isn’t just because of his attempt at decent dance moves that can be seen above, it is because Mullen is simply a better coach.

He was an assistant coach when Urban Meyer was the Gator head coach and won two national titles. Now, Mullen seems to be on his way to having another team compete for one before long.

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