Can sharks actually swim in swamps?
Long Island University (LIU) is gearing up for a monumental clash as they visit No. 15 Florida in Gainesville on August 30. It’s a big deal for the program, after all.
“You really have to go into this game with a chip on your shoulder,” said quarterback Ethan Greenwood after practice on Wednesday.
“We need a lot of heart. Everyone has to be aligned and execute their plays and assignments,” he continued.
Preparing physically for this showdown as they head into SEC territory feels like just one part of the challenge. It’s like a modern David vs. Goliath scenario.
Stadium Challenges
Head coach Ron Cooper has rounded up his team for the unique challenges posed by Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
“You can’t hear anything,” he remarked, having previously been an analyst under Alabama’s Nick Saban and a secondary coach at LSU and Texas A&M.
“It’s the first week back for the students. You know how they are during the day. By the time we arrive in the evening, it could get intense,” he added.
To prepare for the boisterous atmosphere, Cooper has been utilizing SEC Insight, training his team with loud crowd noise during morning practices at 6:30 a.m.
“We’ll crank up the speakers and blast it,” said Cooper.
“We may have pushed them a little harder than we should have initially… but they seem to be adapting now,” he noted.
Greenwood, a third-year quarterback who played at nearby Kellenberg Memorial High School and later transferred from Citadel to LIU, mentioned that Cooper even plays Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” to hype them up during critical moments of games.
“I definitely have it stuck in my head,” he joked. “It might be overwhelming, but I think we’ll be okay.”
Facing the Gators
LIU has been a Division I FCS program for five seasons but is well aware of the hurdles they face.
“I’m not underestimating this game at all,” said Cooper.
“They’re preparing to play Georgia soon too,” he added, expressing a baseline expectation that his team will stay healthy amidst the tough competition.
Cooper also acknowledges the sheer difference in scale, as Florida boasts over 43,000 students compared to LIU’s 15,000.
“It’s quite astonishing—just one player probably makes more than our entire budget,” he said, referring to the compensation for players in the current NIL landscape.
LIU officials confirmed Florida compensated them over $500,000 for this matchup.
Still, that doesn’t mean LIU isn’t ready to showcase what they can do. After all, last season, defensive coordinator Taycan Hammock’s brother, Thomas, led Northern Illinois to an unexpected victory against No. 5 Notre Dame.
“It’s just another game, really. Sure, they’re a bit faster and stronger,” Greenwood reflected.
“I plan to soak in every moment. If I manage to score a touchdown against Florida, that would be incredible,” he added.
Cooper described the game as a “preseason bowl game,” urging his squad to embrace such a unique opportunity.
“It’s going to be an unforgettable experience, something they wouldn’t normally see,” he mentioned.
“I reminded them, they only have to put 11 people out there, just like we do, so it really comes down to teamwork.”
