GAINESVILLE — Even at age 54 and all these years later, Billy Gonzales still calls Urban Meyer, “Coach.”
Gonzales hopes he — and the Gators — can make Meyer proud when Tennessee comes to town on Saturday night (7:30 p.m., ABC).
The iconic 61-year-old will be honored prior to Saturday’s showdown ahead of his Dec. 9 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Meyer coached Gonzales as a Colorado State receiver and was his boss at three stops, including five at UF (2005-09) when the Gators won the 2006 and 2008 national titles.
Florida’s interim coach will be inspired to lead UF past the No. 20 Vols (7-3, 3-3 SEC) — a team Meyer beat each of his six seasons at UF.
“I think of him as a mentor, obviously, and as a coach,” Gonzales said. “I don’t call him Urban, I call him coach if I see him — he’s always my coach. There’s tons of respect there.”
Florida (3-7, 2-5) looks to end a three-game skid and earn a little respect as 4 1/2-point home underdogs against a Tennessee program seeking its first win in the Swamp since 2003.
The first of 10 straight losses was a 16-7 decision in 2005 during the Gators’ first season under Meyer, with Gonzales coaching receivers. Two of them, Andre Caldwell and Jemalle Cornelius, will also be on hand, with Cornelius serving as the honorary pregame “Mr. Two Bits.”
The former Gators, now in their early 40s, helped revive a struggling program with the 41-year-old Meyer in the early stages of a legendary career including a 187-32 record (85.4%) and three national titles, including in 2014 at Ohio State.
Gonzales strives to usher the program during difficult times again as UF conducts a coaching search, with Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin the top target.
Florida interim head coach Billy Gonzales of looks on during the Gators’ 34-24 loss at Ole Miss Nov. 15 in Oxford. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
A win against rival Tennessee would be cause for celebration as a disappointing season winds down.
UF’s players will push for their best, despite being short-handed. Edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. and promising sophomore nose tackle Michai Boireau join a growing list unavailable players.
“This year is not going the way we wanted to,” receiver J. Michael Sturdivant said. “It’s been tough. But this team has stuck together very well, and we’re just continuing to be competitive.”
Second-half struggles have doomed UF, including scoreless fourth quarters in losses at Kentucky Nov. 8 and Ole Miss last Saturday.
Gonzales strives to keep the Gators on track.
“I just want the players to play extremely hard,” he said. “That’s the most important piece. It’s always been about the players. It will be about the players this weekend.
“What a great opportunity to have a chance to honor Coach and everything that he accomplished here.”
Sturdivant, 23, is too young to recall Meyer’s career, but knows what he means in Gainesville.
“He’s a legend in this city,” Sturdivant said. “It’s gonna be an honor to be able to play in front of him.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com