The Gainesville football program has a chip on its shoulder.

Last year, former Hurricane Ian Scott took over as head coach following an 0-10 season in 2022.

GHS (1-9) struggled in 2023, with just a 49-21 win against Santa Fe (Alachua) to show on its resume.

“Last year was tough,” said senior offensive lineman Aidan Bell. “We made a lot of mistakes as a team. We kind of blamed it on one another but going into this year we’re all really excited, a brand-new team, just really, really excited for the year.”

The win against the Raiders snapped a 15-game losing streak, but GHS finished out the year with a 5-game losing streak. That has fueled the fire for 2024.

“We’re ready to win games, man,” said senior defensive back Tony Perryman. “We’re coming out to win games. Doubt us or whatever…everybody’s hungry. We aren’t playing no more.”

That confidence is based on the 2024 edition being a more disciplined team. There’s more leadership, which is something Scott has been working on improving. 

“The biggest thing that we’ve been trying to do as a team is just be a team, come together,” Scott said. “That’s probably the biggest change that we’ve had is guys coming together and really pulling for each other and believing in one another and being a team. It has taken us a while to get there but as long as we can continue to work together and do things together. We’re going to be more successful with that mindset.”

The addition of former Gator and Tampa Bay Bucs running back Earnest Graham as offensive coordinator will be a big boost for GHS.

“It’s a huge help, especially for me,” Scott said. “He’s been a head coach in this state for seven years, so he knows some things that I don’t know because I’m learning this spot too. He’s been a tremendous help in that and just being able to be there and be with the kids if I have to step away and do something, he can handle that stuff and run it. I’ve got to learn how to delegate more. That’s one of the things that I learned being the head coach. I can’t do everything, so that’s been huge.”

The offense should be much better than last year’s team, which averaged just 11.1 points per game.

“Coach Graham has a West Coast offense, and we like to share the ball around the field,” said P.K. Yonge transfer Calvin Thomas, who will play wide receiver and defensive back. “I feel like with that mentality, all of us on the same page, I feel like we’re going to have some explosive plays this season and have a very exciting season. I’m excited for it.”

Nelson Tambling transferred from Union County (Lake Butler) and will play quarterback for the Hurricanes.

“I think he has a good connection with everybody on the team,” Thomas said. “That’s important. As a leadership role, as a quarterback, you have to connect with everybody, and I feel like he’s done a good job coming in.”

Tambling (6’4, 240), who runs a 4.7, is a dual-threat quarterback.

“Nelson’s done a tremendous job coming in and being a presence for our team, a leadership voice in the locker room, and any successful team you need that,” Scott said. “I’ve been very pleased with what he has done in those areas, and we’re looking forward to being able to have him and Jaishawn (Sanford) working, getting better at that position, being a lot more solid from that spot than we were a year ago.”

The rising junior also has some skills.

“I have a lot of talent on the drop back, but I also have a lot of athleticism when it comes to making plays coming out of the pocket and obviously getting downhill when it comes to running,” said Tambling, who will also play defensive end. “That’s something to take account in our offense because of that X factor part of it. That quarterback run can really open a lot of things.”

Establishing a run game is essential for the Hurricanes, who have some key seniors returning on the offensive line in guards Taylor Richardson (6’1, 315) and Horace Johns (6’2, 270) and Bell (6’5, 271).

“We should have a pretty solid group,” Scott said. “They’ve been working really hard. We have a new young offensive line coach [Hayden Knighton] that helped out at Florida, played there, played for Coach Graham in West Florida and walked on at Florida so he’s got a lot of experience, a lot of passion. He’s been doing a really good job helping them out and we’re excited about the progress they’ve made so far.”

Defensively, Scott said the ‘Canes have some “really talented secondary guys” but are looking to improve in the trenches.

“Just trying to be aggressive up front and get the right guys in place,” he said. “We’ve got some young guys that played JV football last year that we think are going to be solid football players. We’ll see how it works out. When you get into the Friday night lights it’s a little different.”

Sophomore Trey Calhoun, senior Nick Tisher and Richardson will be counted on, and Scott really came away impressed with Galen Miller this past spring. 

“He stepped up and really played well in the spring game as a defensive end and gave us some physicality and a presence that we lacked at times last year,” Scott said. “Our linebacker group continuing to progress and get bigger is going to be key for us this year.”

An early challenge on the schedule will be a home game against Lecanto on Sept. 13 in the 4A-District 5 opener, plus league games against Leesburg and Vanguard (Ocala), a 3S state semifinalist last year.

“We’re trying to reestablish what GHS once was, a new culture of intention when we’re doing certain things,” Tambling said. “Every lift, every rep, has some intention to it. That’s why I think we’re going to do great this season. We’re really going to turn this thing around. Every game is a statement.”

Scott said just getting a win early in the season would be “huge” for his team.

“When you play with confidence, it’s always more freeing. Guys have a lot more fun,” he said. “That whole mentality [of playing together] and playing with confidence and understanding that all this work that you’ve put in and seeing the results. We’re not putting any pressure on our guys. We’re going to be a better football team. They believe that and I believe that. Going out and having the results is going to be a part of that process.”

GHS will open the season at home on Aug. 23 against Braden River (Bradenton).