𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥’𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐱 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐜𝐤-𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚

The Florida Gators football program has always been known for its innovation, but this summer, one of their boldest ideas grabbed national attention. Reports surfaced that the coaching staff briefly considered involving Olivier Rioux—the world’s tallest college basketball player at 7-foot-9—in a special football role: blocking field goals and extra points.

The Concept Behind the Plan

The logic seemed simple. In football, blocking a kick often comes down to timing and reach. At 7-foot-9, Rioux towers over every other athlete on campus and would stand nearly ten feet tall with his arms extended. By placing him at the line of scrimmage during an opponent’s field goal attempt, coaches believed he could disrupt the kicking trajectory and potentially change games with his size alone.

It was an imaginative idea—one that played into the growing trend of cross-sport experimentation in college athletics. Programs often borrow athletes for specific roles, but the thought of a basketball center neutralizing opposing kickers was unprecedented.

Why the Plan Fell Short

Despite the intrigue, the experiment never went beyond initial discussions. The main challenge was Rioux’s vertical mobility. While his sheer height gave him a natural advantage, blocking a football requires not just reach but also timing, agility, and explosiveness. Analysts pointed out that Rioux, though skilled in basketball, does not have the foot speed or jumping ability necessary to make the plan practical at the Division I football level.

There were also concerns about injury risk. Rioux is a valuable piece of Florida’s basketball program, and exposing him to the physical collisions of football—even in limited situations—posed a risk that outweighed the potential reward.

Public Reaction

The story sparked wide conversation among fans and media. Some praised the creativity of Florida’s staff, applauding them for “thinking outside the box.” Others saw it as a publicity stunt, suggesting it was unlikely to have ever been effective.

Regardless, the experiment highlighted Florida’s willingness to innovate in a competitive SEC environment. As college football programs search for every possible edge, even unconventional strategies like this one show the extent to which teams are willing to explore new territory.

Looking Ahead

For now, Rioux remains focused on basketball, where his size continues to draw national attention. Florida football, meanwhile, enters the new season with more traditional strategies, but this brief crossover idea will likely be remembered as one of the most fascinating “what if” experiments in recent years.