Following Florida’s crushing 18-16 loss to USF last Saturday night, redshirt senior edge rusher Tyreak Sapp spoke to the players in the locker room before any of the coaches had showed up.
His message was simple: One loss doesn’t define our season.
“The journey doesn’t end now,” Sapp said on his message to his teammates. “What happened on Saturday doesn’t reflect who we are, because who we are isn’t what we have done once. It’s what we do consistently.”
The Gators weren’t dominate on either side of the football vs USF. Florida’s offense managed just one touchdown and three field goals while the defense and special teams units had mishaps of their own.
“I just wanted to get that message out to them and let them know that that wasn’t enough, that wasn’t it, that wasn’t the standard and that wasn’t our best,” Sapp said. “I just wanted to relay that message out to them and let them know that I’m not settling for that, even if we did win that game and things kind of got turned in our direction, I was letting them know that I wasn’t settling for that even if we did win.”
Head coach Billy Napier and several players asserted that Florida had a great Wednesday practice session, seemingly responding well to the harsh reality of Sapp’s postgame message.
“I just wanted to let them know and be honest with them and be transparent, because that’s the only way you can get better,” Sapp said. “Just letting them know that’s not us and we’re going to be better than that, and we’re going to come out better. I think the guys took advantage of it and they heard me and they were just excited to get back at it for the most part.”
Sapp has been at UF through two head coaches, four defensive coordinators, three defensive line coaches, and has played multiple positions for the Gators. He’s one of the more experienced players on the roster and a leader that teammates look up to. Sapp is well respected in the locker room for the energy and effort he gives on the football field.
“Whenever you hear him speak, you know, it’s inspiring guys who are just as competitive and passionate as he is,” redshirt senior offensive lineman Jake Slaughter said on Sapp.
“Honestly want to play through Tyreak, because he’s like the motor of our team and all the effort he put in, just don’t want to let that guy down,” junior linebacker Jaden Robinson added.
The Gators must respond the right way vs No.3 LSU this weekend. With the toughest stretch in Florida football history on deck, the Gators have to piece together some wins before it’s too late.
“When you face adversity there’s a couple different choices you can make. You can shrink back, you can find a soft place and lay down, or you can elevate and you can take it to a different level, you can stand up, and I think we’ve got a group that’s ready to stand up,” Napier said. “I’ve seen them elevate, and [Tyreak] Sapp is obviously the leader of the pack.”