Following the Gators’ stunning 29-16 victory against the No. 11 Volunteers on Saturday night, the Southeastern Conference punished three players from Florida and one from Tennessee for the first half of their next games for egregious unsportsmanlike behaviour.
Florida offensive lineman Damieon George Jr., Micah Mazzccua, and tight end Dante Zanders will be suspended for the first half of Saturday’s game against Charlotte, the SEC announced in a statement on Monday. Omarr Norman-Lott, a defensive lineman for Tennessee, will sit out the first half of the team’s game against UTSA on Saturday.
The Southeastern Conference Office, the University of Florida, and the University of Tennessee conferred and reviewed video before deciding on the suspensions, the league stated in a statement.
With seven seconds remaining and his team behind by thirteen points, Volunteers coach Josh Heupel called a timeout, which sparked an altercation. Graham Mertz, the quarterback for Florida, scrambled and attempted a kneel on fourth down, but Omari Thomas, a defensive lineman for Tennessee, raced into Mertz and knocked him down. After the benches cleared, Mazzccua struck Volunteers defensive back Kamal Hadden with a punch.
Officials punished Thomas for his targeting when George shoved him and received a warning for unsportsmanlike behaviour.
For the first three games, George and Mazzccua started at right tackle and right guard, respectively. This season, backup Zanders has made just one catch.
Norman-Lott, who has ten tackles, started the last two games for the Volunteers at defensive tackle.
Heupel justified his call for a timeout after the game.
We’re attempting to recover the ball in that particular sequence,” Heupel stated. “We’re attempting to aim for the end zone. I’m not sure if you’ll have enough time to get a shot back at an onside. You’re making an effort to compete fairly and finish strong.
“Mertz is twirling in the air. Are you in favour of targeting? Of course not, but since he’s dancing, you have to go tackle him as well. Should we maintain our composure in that circumstance as well as any others? Of course.”
The win versus Tennessee was Florida’s tenth consecutive at Gainesville’s Ben Hill Gryphon Stadium. At the Swamp, the Volunteers last prevailed in 2003.
