Florida Lands Jon Sumrall: New Gators Coach Promises Championships

Normally the headline would read something like “Gators get their man” to announce the hire of a new head football coach, but is that even true with the arrival of Jon Sumrall from Tulane? Florida and its fans made no secret that they wanted Lane Kiffin, but it didn’t work out in the end, so here we go. One of the biggest Florida fans I know gave me a one word text about the hire of Sumrall, “disgusting”. Jon Sumrall has a message for him and all other Gators.

“The standard here is championships. That’s why I came. I’m built for this job. I was made for this job. Winners win. I’m a winner. We’re gonna win.”

Florida hires a coach that won immensely with a Group of 5 program from Louisiana. Tell me where you’ve heard that before (Billy Napier). Will this coach be any different? Only time can answer that question. Sumrall didn’t take this job though without consulting an old friend, perhaps even an insult to the Florida fans that wanted Lane Kiffin so badly.

“Lane Kiffin and I have been going through the same thing. We’ve talked a lot, and we were both in agreement that I was the right man for this job. He co-signed on that.”

The Sumrall plan is pretty simple. “We will always be on the hunt because that’s what gators do.” He says at his introductory press conference. He wants his offenses to look like those of the Gator past. “I think about stretching the field and threatening every blade of grass”. Sumrall will use the portal to supplement what the program has, and recruit kids from the state of Florida. “We don’t have to go very far to find what we need to win championships.”. The former Kentucky linebacker is also promising toughness with grit and says he won’t have a lot of patience.

“I respect that the Florida fan base is not very patient. They want to win right now too. You’ve got the right coach. I’m wired that way. I’m not comfortable having a plan to win in 8 years. I want to win tomorrow.”

First, he’ll coach Tulane in the American Athletic Championship games, then the playoffs if the Green Wave can get there. Once arriving in Gainesville permanently, he has an ask of Gator fans. “Judge me for who I am. Just give me a shot.”