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“Ready to compete, I think they’re just ready,” Wilburn exclaimed.
Wilburn and the Gators are approaching the 2025 season with a different mindset.
“We try to take on the personality of just being tough men, whatever we are doing it’s going to be tough for someone to beat us at. If we’re playing checkers, we want to be a hard out, if we’re playing football we want to be a hard out, if we’re having a water balloon war we want to win it,” Wilburn said.
“Whatever we are gonna do as a team and as a group, I want our kids to compete relentlessly. We’ve taken on that mentality in a lot of ways and I think we are still growing and each week will give us the opportunity to be better in that aspect.”
That mindset started with the coaches challenging the team to get uncomfortable.
“Wherever that limit was we tried to figure out where it was in different aspects, whether it was mentally or physically. We pushed them past that to try to get them a little bit out of their comfort zone,” Wilburn said. “We did that with our coaching staff this offseason and we tried to kind of let that trickle down into the players and in the groups. The seniors really took the lead with it and embraced it.”
Having that ability to step outside the box allows the Gators to focus on what lies ahead.
“Try to live in the moment and be where our feet are, whether that’s lifting weights, practicing, watching film or going to class. Kind of take it day-by-day step-by-step and not in a boring way, but I think if you start looking out too far man you overlook opponents, you overlook the preparation required whatever that might be,” Wilburn stated. “As you kind of do that over a year your kids kind of take in that same mindset and that’s where we’re kind of at right now.”
One of the players buying in is senior Linebacker Briggs Savage.
“Coach has really meant a lot to me. I know it’s only his second year here but he’s pushed me and I’ve learned a lot from him, he’s helped me a lot. I know whenever I have questions about defense or a problem I can always talk to him and he just explains it to me you know, helps me do it,” Savage said.
Wilburn’s ability to bond with the team represents the attitude and approach the Gators have heading into week one.
“We want physicality, we embrace that and that’s how we want to play every week. The most exciting games for fans to watch are the ones that are that way you know they’re explosive and physical and we embrace that and that’s what we are looking forward to is just week to week getting the opportunity to do that,” Wilburn said.
Captain Shreve opens the season at Ouachita Parish on September 5.
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