New coach, new quarterback, same results for UF

Franks led the Gators to their only touchdown./CARMEN MANDATO

Sunday, 2 a.m.

New coach Randy Shannon? Next.

New quarterback Malik Zaire? Next.

New start for the Florida Gators? Nope.

The Florida Gators took it on the chin again Saturday, absorbing a 45-16 loss to Missouri and keeping the misery in its own season alive. In the last two weeks, Florida has dealt with Jim McElwain's talk of death threats, his refusal to give his bosses more details, a one-sided loss to Georgia, McElwain’s firing and now Randy Shannon's hollow debut.

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This was a game to make the Gators think that they might have acted to hastily in canning McElwain.

“Today’s game (didn’t) represent the University of Florida,” Shannon said. “To start off defensively, we couldn’t get any stops on the football field. They attacked our young guys in the secondary, threw a lot of deep passes. Earlier this season the guys were doing a great job, and those guys did a great job attacking the secondary in the passing game. Got some huge plays, got some momentum that way. Up front, we did a couple things nice, but we didn’t do things we needed to get done on the defensive line. Didn’t get a chance to hit (QB Drew) Lock down one time. Put pressure on him, didn’t get the sack. That’s not like us.

“Like I said before, I don’t make excuses, fellas. I don’t make excuses. If you’re a Florida Gator, you line up and you play the game you’re supposed to (play). We’ve got to coach them.”

Lock threw for three touchdowns in the Tigers' easy win. Missouri had been winless in the SEC coming in and had lost four games by 21.8 points per game.

Zaire started his first game for the Gators but hit only 13 of 19. Feleipe Franks led the Gators to their only touchdown (they kicked three field goals).

The Gators have now given up 87 points in the last two weeks.

Florida tries to break a four-game losing streak next week at South Carolina. To be bowl eligible, the 3-5 Gators would have to sweep South Carolina, UAB and FSU.