Gators wide receiver Frankie Hammond saw something odd when he cued up film of Louisville’s defense. It was not a bizarre coverage scheme or unusual blitz package. It was his former teammate and roommate Adrian Bushell playing cornerback.
Bushell left Florida after the 2009 season and resurfaced with the Cardinals after a year in junior college. He played for the Gators in the 2010 Sugar Bowl and now gets a chance to beat them in the same bowl Wednesday (8:30 p.m., ESPN).
“It was weird to see him,” Hammond said. “It’s crazy how things pan out.”
Bushell, a senior, has had a turbulent college career — including clashes with the coaching staff and academic issues at UF — but has straightened out nicely. He is a two-year starter for Louisville and has 11 pass break-ups this season, which Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel called “insane.”
His season at Coffeyville Community College made him realize how good life was at Florida. While some players leave for junior college and disappear, Bushell redirected his attitude and became a more mature, coachable player.
“It was like going from Beverly Hills to the projects,” he said of his journey from major college football to a two-year school in Kansas. “Millions of kids would have wanted the opportunity I lost at Florida. To have to go to a junior college was a little depressing.
“It made me way more appreciative. I took everything for granted when I was at Florida like it was owed to me. But it’s not. You’ve got to do your part.”
The fact that he ended up at Louisville is proof that he changed. Cardinals coach Charlie Strong was the defensive coordinator for Florida when Bushell was a Gator and was fully aware of his baggage.
“I was a little worried about it, but I had grown up enough for him to notice that I was a different guy,” Bushell said.
Gators healthy, behaving: Florida's time in New Orleans has been trouble-free, coach Will Muschamp said.
There were no absences at Monday morning’s practice. Muschamp said there have been no injuries or disciplinary issues, and he expected his players keep that streak alive despite spending New Year’s Eve in a city known for its ability to throw a party.
“We’ll be asleep,” he promised.
“Everyone’s been at everything they’re supposed to be at. I’m very pleased with them. They’ve acted like a mature football team.”
Ticket sales slow: Each school in the Sugar Bowl is required to purchase a ticket allotment of 17,500. A Florida spokesperson said Monday that the school had sold about 7,000 of those tickets.
Hamdan hired: Gators graduate assistant Bush Hamdan will leave the team after the bowl to work as Arkansas State's receivers coach.
When Florida receivers coach Aubrey Hill abruptly resigned in August, Muschamp gave Hamdan the job on an interim basis. He coached receivers and recruited all year.
“Really excited for him and really appreciate him,” Muschamp said. “It says a lot about the job he’s done for us.”
The Gators hired former Kentucky coach Joker Phillips as their new receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. He is with the team this week but will not coach in the game.
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