They call it “God’s Play.”
That is not the official title in the Florida Gators’ playbook, but it is the nickname of one of their most popular calls. In last week’s win over LSU, No. 4 Florida used “God’s play” on running back Mike Gillislee’s go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter.
The formation involves sending in two extra tackles to form essentially a seven-man wall, then the original tackle and guard run to the opposite side when the ball is snapped.
On Gillislee’s first touchdown, with an extra tackle on each side of the line, left tackle Xavier Nixon and left guard James Wilson pulled to the right to create a spacious running lane. Gillislee raced untouched for a 12-yard score.
"When you look at that one time, there's seven guys there that are probably 300-plus pounds," Gators offensive coordinator Brent Pease said. "What's your math on that? Seven times three is what, 2,100 pounds coming at you? I don't know that I would want that falling on me."
Coach Will Muschamp initially said the formation was called Chief or Sumo, though Pease said it is not. Pease refused to disclose how Florida (5-0, 4-0 in the SEC) refers to it.
The Gators have used the play throughout this season, and players said it was in the playbook the previous two years as well. They likely will run it against Vanderbilt when the two teams meet Saturday in Nashville (6 p.m., ESPNU).
Later in the LSU game, Florida used a variation of its heavy formation to score Gillislee’s other touchdown. The extra tackles both lined up on the left side to give the impression that Florida would run left, but Gillislee ran off the right side of the line for an unimpeded touchdown.
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