Nov. 6, 2015
Traveling on the road for the second week in a row, Vanderbilt’s football team (3-5 overall, 1-3 SEC) arrived in the Sunshine State Friday afternoon in preparation for its game at No. 11 Florida (7-1, 5-1) at 11 a.m. CT Saturday.
After loading the buses and departing campus at 12:45 p.m. Friday, the team was loaded on the plane and in the air a little after 1:30 p.m.
The flight lasted a little under one and half hours before touching down just before 3 p.m. in Ocala, Fla., where the team will stay Friday.
Ocala is located 45 minutes south of Gainesville and is a straight shot up I-75. The Commodores have been staying in Ocala for years. Known for its thoroughbred breeding farms, which it is home to more than 600 of, Ocala has produced six Kentucky Derby winners and 20 Breeders’ Cup champions. Affirmed, the last Triple Crown winner (1978) before American Pharoah this past year, is the most famous horse from Ocala.
Upon arrival at the team hotel, the Commodores received treatment from the training staff, before having team dinner at 5 p.m. CT and position meetings after. With an 11 a.m. start Saturday, it will make for an early morning with wake up scheduled for 6:15 a.m.
Vanderbilt is searching for its second straight victory in Gainesville. In 2013, the Commodores ended a 22-game losing streak at Florida by defeating the Gators, 34-17, for its first win at The Swamp since 1945.
The weather will be hot Saturday in The Swamp with the high expected to reach near 90 degrees. There is just a 10 percent chance of precipitation.
