Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun
Jon Sumrall won't allow his wife to cheer for her alma mater.
The Florida football team will open up SEC play against Auburn on Saturday in Alabama. It will represent Jon Sumrall’s first conference test since taking over in Gainesville.
He could have some close family members rooting against the Gators on the Plains this weekend. Those that do are no longer considered family, his wife included!
Sumrall’s wife, Ginny, is an Auburn grad. The coach’s extended family could very well be cheering on the Tigers in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday.
Sumrall will not allow his significant other to keep her AU affiliation. He threatened disownment should she honor her Auburn roots.
Jon Sumrall is a Florida Gator.
And he’ll force his family to join suit. Despite growing up in Alabama and receiving interest from the Tigers amid a coaching search, he chose another home in the SEC.
Ginny Sumrall is (was?) an Auburn Tiger. She, like Jon, grew up in Huntsville. Unlike her husband, she stayed close to home, making the three-hour trip south to attend school in the Yellowhammer State.
She must drop those ties, at least momentarily, when the Tigers face the Gators this weekend. Florida is paying his bills. Anyone rooting for Sumrall’s downfall is the enemy.
Jon Sumrall (who grew up in Huntsville, Alabama and married an Auburn grad) was asked today if any of his extended family are rooting against him:
“Florida pays my mortgage. Any family that is pulling against us, they ain’t my family. I don’t care what their last name is.” pic.twitter.com/tcHQR7Qyq6
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) September 14, 2026
“Florida pays my mortgage,” he said in a pregame press conference. “Any family that is pulling against us, they ain’t my family. I don’t care what their last name is.”
Sumrall was heavily involved in the coaching search at Auburn last offseason. He was one of two final candidates alongside Alex Golesh.
Ultimately, the Tigers chose the latter. Sumrall withdrew his name from the race while receiving interest from Florida.
Former Alabama signal caller Greg McElroy said the Tigers made a mistake.
“It would be Auburn’s fault, in my opinion, for waiting. That would be a big mistake. You’ve got a good guy, a good candidate who has an appeal towards Auburn. And the longer you drag your feet, the more likely other schools are going to be in the mix.”
-Greg McElroy
It’s unclear exactly what sparked that withdrawal. McElroy believes Auburn waited too long to pull the trigger while gauging other coaches’ interest. It gave Florida an opportunity to move through candidates and make Sumrall an offer.
There’s always the chance that Auburn preferred Golesh, which would only add fuel to Sumrall’s desire to beat his wife’s alma mater.
Regardless, Jon Sumrall will be coaching against the Tigers when his team takes the field on Saturday. Anyone that roots against him will be disowned.
Interestingly enough, the head coach will be asked to do the same when he plays his former team, Kentucky, later this year. His current employment outweighs past ties. You are not a welcomed member of the Sumrall family if you don’t follow suit.