Last season, Florida’s old coach lost to Georgia 42-7, and Florida’s new coach lost to Georgia 31-3.

So you know what new Gators head coach Dan Mullen thought was a good idea on National Signing Day? Firing some shots from Gainesville up north to Athens.

At a speaking appearance with boosters, alumni, and fans on Wednesday night, after all the National Signing Day mania had died down, Mullen received a question regarding how Florida would be able to keep pace with Georgia, which secured the No. 1 class in the nation on the heels of an SEC title and National Championship Game appearance.

“Listen, making it to one SEC Championship Game doesn’t make you a dominant program, you know what I’m saying?” Mullen said, pausing as the crowd started cheering. “I mean, two out of the last three years we’ve still been to the SEC Championship Game. So even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.”

That line drew “ooohs” from the crowd, as Mullen said, “Next question.”

If you say so, coach.

As Georgia fans know by now, the Bulldogs ran away with the top 2018 recruiting class in the country on Signing Day. Florida, on the other hand, finished all the way down at No. 14 in the 247Sports composite rankings. Georgia signed seven 5-star prospects while the Gators signed…zero.

Yes, prior to Georgia’s romp in Jacksonville in 2017, Florida has owned the rivalry. But it really seems like a stretch for Mullen to call the transformation Kirby Smart has made in Athens a one-year wonder.

Georgia secured the No. 3 class in the 2017 rankings, turned around its luck against Florida, won the SEC, won the Rose Bowl, was one overtime possession away from a national championship, and then secured the top 2018 class.

Florida went 4-7.

So while Mullen calls out one of his team’s rivals, Kirby Smart has all his energy focused on his program.