FLORIDA FOOTBALL: FOOD FOR A MAN'S SOUL
‘Scratching the Fine Surface of Domination’
59-20. BOOM!
Anyone see that coming? Yeah, me neither.
This most glorious of days was historic for many reasons.
1) It’s the most lopsided Vols loss in the series.
2) Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin’s Heisman campaigns were launched.
3) Florida will never again ‘rebuild.’ We reload.
The defense, comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores, was far better than anyone expected. The Vols were stuffed for 37 rushing yards (17 of which came against the second team in garbage minutes) and held to one offensive touchdown and two field goals. They were also held to multiple 3-and-outs, a 4th-down stop and made their footsteps felt by UT’s receivers.
The offense? Best we’ve seen since #7 last lined up under center.
Maybe — dare I say it — better.
Folks, this team isn’t about being ready for another title run next year. They’re about winning it again now.
The gulf between Tennessee and Florida is huge.
Tennessee’s junior defensive tackle, Demonte Bolden said it all after the game. From InsideTennessee.com:
“Our pride was left on that field,” said Bolden, who was visibly shaking. “My pride was hurt. My pride is hurt – period. I hate losing. I came to Tennessee to win. Coaches get me prepared to win. I came here to win, man. I want to win. I’m sorry. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
He stopped briefly, but couldn’t hold back.
“I hate (bleeping) losing, just to be real honest,” Bolden fumed. “I hate (bleeping) losing. I can’t lose no more.”
Ouch. My heart goes out to the kid. Sort of.
Anyway, I expect we’ll see similar disparities when Florida plays Georgia and South Carolina.
This team is good, folks, on both sides of the ball. Scary good.
We are just beginning to scratch the fine surface of domination, as Trev Alberts said. More breakdown of the game later.
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5 Comments so far
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What are you talking about? I put $500 on Florida in last weeks picks. That’s almost twice as much as my other four picks put COMBINED!!!
How could you not see how weak UT is? Do you think playing at Cal is tougher than playing in the swamp? That Cal has more playmakers than the Gators? That their defense is as athletic (because they are just as young)?
This is like my trying to tell you that the Auburn era is over. When I look on the field I see players that aren’t SEC caliber and not enough coaching to make up the difference. Although I think Cutcliffe and Chavis are two of the quality asst coaches in the SEC they are just stuck with HS caliber talent (especially on defense). This may be damning for AU but UT actually has better athletes than the Tigers.
UT is fighting for an 8 win season, Auburn for a 7 win.
By Keltic Gator on 09.16.07 1:12 pm
Yeah, I have to admit you might have nailed the call on Auburn. They’re really awful.
I think the challenge at UT, though, is coaching AND talent. They are a step slow and they don’t adjust.
Tennessee is in a really tough spot right now. Fulmer and staff are not capable of updating to the modern era of spread option offenses, fast d-linemen and speedy linebackers, and powerhouse quarterbacks. The writing is on the wall for the Vols — Fulmer will not be able to take them where they want to go. All that’s left is to see how long this will take to play out and how ugly it will get. It is a waiting game and nothing more. Is it this year? Next year? Three years from now?
On the flip side, Tuberville is a CEO-like coach. He hires and fires. He also has enough goodwill from the Auburn faithful to right the ship. (Besides, who would they get to replace him?) He has an opportunity to make some wholesale changes and maybe he will.
Both programs are in the fight for their life right now, but I’d pick Tuberville over Fulmer if I had to name one to successfully rebuild.
By GatorPilot on 09.16.07 2:52 pm
I don’t have any more faith in Tubberville rebuilding against a Saban led Alabama than Fulmer can while geographically surrounded by Spurrier, Richt, Saban and Butch Davis.
You might have hit a point though in who could Auburn get to replace Tubberville? Could the attract the type of coach needed to compete in the modern SEC? Maybe a Jimbo Fisher or Bo Peline?
By Keltic Gator on 09.16.07 4:01 pm
Wow.
Just wow. As they used to say in Mortal Kombat: “Flawless victory”.
By Truzenzuzex on 09.17.07 8:39 am
Cam Newton scared the shit out of me.
By BurritoBrosShits on 09.17.07 12:18 pm
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