We can finally stop writing and hearing about this.

Meyer turned back to the golfers and said, “I’m not going to Notre Dame. Ever. I’m going to be the coach at Florida for a long time, as long as they want me.”

Thank you, Coach.

When it comes to Saturday night’s epic matchup, the only logical place to start is Alabama.

I felt going in that Florida would win by multiple touchdowns. I nursed the opinion that Florida might embarrass the Tide based on common opponents and overall body of work.

I was wrong. The Crimson Tide under Nick Saban deserved their No. 1 ranking. Alabama was easily — easily — the best team Florida has played this season. We fans were treated to two of the best teams in the country playing great ball and slugging it out to determine who’s tougher, who’s better. There was no dirty play, ala FSU. There was no underhandedness, nothing close to resembling unsportsmanlike behavior. It came down to two teams, both tough as nails, both “old school” in so many ways. Both are honorable squads who fought clean, fought hard. And at the end, one clear victor emerged.

Ladies and gentlemen, there should be no argument: the Florida Gators are the best team in the SEC, and among the best in the nation. And they had to go through the second-best team to get there.
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Here we go.

1. Phil Fulmer is a class act and we wish the Big Fella all the best in his future travels. The Vols will be introducing Lane Kiffin as their new head coach on Monday — I have some inside information on the quality of this hire which O&B Hue readers will find interesting. Stay tuned.

2. Kentucky’s season ends in relative misery, but hey, they should be better next year. Randall Cobb could be the next good Kentucky quarterback and many starters return. Also note that the Wildcats are bowl eligible yet again, thanks to Rich Brooks’ tireless efforts.

3. There is an undercurrent of fear on the bayou that the days of Gerry Dinardo might be returning to LSU. On the surface, Les Miles’ national-championship defending Tigers appear to get a pass for losing four games; like Urban Meyer, Miles lost a rash of talented players. Unlike Meyer he dismissed his talented quarterback, Ryan Perilloux, for off-field issues — and that was to his credit. But aside from the poor quarterback play something is missing at LSU this year. The defense doesn’t play with ferocity; the receivers drop balls; and the discipline and focus of last year’s team seems to be gone. LSU struggled to get the wins they earned over teams who have not panned out to be great contenders this year. They were soundly whipped by Georgia and Florida. It took a miracle comeback to defeat Troy and the Tigers were DOA when facing both Mississippi and Arkansas. Losing to Arkansas was particularly disappointing; despite the Razorbacks’ gentle upward arc as the season has progressed the team simply shouldn’t have the talent to stay on the field with the Tigers, but pulled out the win. The bottom line? No one’s really sure what LSU will accomplish next year and there’s no excitement about the current crop of young quarterbacks. Boil it down to this: Les Miles might not be a very good coach. And we’ve been saying that for the last three years despite his awesome W-L record.
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In spite of a team averaging 35.5 points per game, an average that 99% of all BCS teams would kill for, Dan Mullen has emerged as a scapegoat for the Gators’ “lack of explosiveness” on offense.

But in spite of all the finger-pointing, bear some things in mind.

He was Urban Meyer’s offensive coordinator when his boss turned Bowling Green from a MAC doormat to one of the top programs in the conference. He was Meyer’s offensive coordinator when Utah went undefeated in 2004. He was Meyer’s offensive coordinator when Tim Tebow won the Heisman Trophy with record-breaking numbers last year.

And to those who moan that he can never make adjustments, he helped create a pro-style scheme for Chris Leak in 2006 - the same year that Florida won its second national championship in football and its second of three in the national title sandwich.

Dan Mullen didn’t suddenly become incompetent from one season to the next. Could he have handled certain situations better? Absolutely. Nobody is perfect.

He had good intentions with making Tebow a game manager and spreading the ball around more. The offense was supposed to be more explosive, and it can be. But there is more to Florida’s offensive troubles than meets the naked eye.

Remember, last season was the first time that Coach Meyer used the spread offense since his days at Utah. Heading into SEC competition, the only way that league teams could plan for the spread was:

A. Watch tapes of the ‘04 Utes to see how Meyer handled the spread and used quarterback Alex Smith, a dual-threat athlete similar to Tebow.

OR

B. Watch tapes of Florida games played earlier in the season.

Because nobody really knew the wrinkles that Meyer developed in his spread, and yes, there are different types of spread, it allowed Tebow to put up mind-boggling stats that season en route to the Heisman that year. Thus, it was no accident that Florida was able to put up 59 points against Tennessee, their SEC opening opponent.

Suffice it to say, had this year’s team played last year, we would be looking at very different results.

But in the SEC, as with any other conference, league teams have a way of getting very, very familiar with each other’s schemes and plans (Just ask USC). Heading into this season, Florida’s opponents not only have tapes of the spread offense last year, but they’ve also had close to nine months to adapt their defenses accordingly. Consequently, the coaching staff has had to adapt new ways to use the spread on the fly.

The results? Tebow’s completion percentage has dipped from 66.9% last year to just 60.8% after Ole Miss. He’s averaging less than 2.6 yards per rush, down from 4.3. Through four games, he’s been sacked six times. Through his first four games in 2007, he was only sacked twice. He was held without a rushing touchdown in his first three games until breaking through this year. His 146.7 passer rating, while still very good, seems pedestrian compared to his 172.5 mark last season.

And for Florida fans, the most visible one was the ill-fated 4th-down rush yesterday. The Rebels’ defensive line got enough of a timing edge after the snap count to push the offensive line back and stop Tebow short of the goal line.

And that’s why, if Meyer decides to ride Tebow for the entire rest of the season, the plan will only end badly. The offense will continue to sputter. And fans accustomed to three championships and a Heisman in two years will push for Mullen’s firing.

Offensive coordinator or not, it’s the ebb and flow of competition.

Beyond the excruciatingly long trip and jet lag that the Warriors must face, Hawaii and Miami actually pose some halfway decent tests for the Gators this year.

The Gator secondary has been priveledged (embarassed, maybe) to hone their skills against a spread offense that ranks amongst the best in the country. Warriors coach Greg McMackin was the defensive coordinator of the same last year, but there’s no telling if he’ll try the Run-n-Shoot offense that June Jones used.

If that is indeed the case, then Hawaii is more than just a cream puff getting a big check.

They’re the first real test of Florida’s secondary.

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Does Florida have the QB of the post-Tim Tebow era?

If we’re to believe Coach Urban Meyer, yes. After Friday Night Lights, a 2010 quarterback recruit committed to UF. Apparently, Mr. Burton converted from tailback and had an outstanding first-year campaign at Venice High School.

But wait, 2010? If Tebow left for the NFL after his junior season, that would only leave two quarterbacks on the roster, Cam Newton and John Brantley. The former has had his issues as a backup QB, while the latter is a pro-style QB and a relatively poor fit for the spread offense.

So the only logical explanation for signing a greenhorn QB and putting the 2009 season in jeopardy - was if Tebow stayed for his senior year and left Burton, Newton, and Brantley to themselves after he graduated. Conspiracy theories, anyone?

Nothing against Trey, but I’m not convinced that he’s the immediate answer to UF’s problems. Instead, signing and redshirting a 2009 prospect makes much more sense:

1. If Tebow were indeed to leave after his junior season, the Gators have a third QB on their roster. It’s a good insurance policy.

2. Adjusting to the college game takes time. Let the guy have a year to learn the ropes without feeling pressured to produce.

3. It’s easier to project seniors than juniors; they have more experience.

4. The guy can pick Tebow’s brain on being a starting SEC quarterback. Unfortunately, barring a Tebow redshirt, Burton won’t get that chance.

5. The guy can develop some good chemistry with the team.

6. In short, the guy will be flat out better prepared to take over when Tebow does leave.

Historically, quarterbacks will always look good in gimmicky offenses. Timmy Chung and Colt Brennan set NCAA records in Hawaii’s Run-N-Shoot. David Klingler put up huge numbers after Andre Ware left Houston. Even Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer benefited from USC’s pro-style system and Norm Chow’s tutelage. Heck, Danny Wuerffel went above and beyond Shane Matthew’s numbers under the OBC.

But Burton will entering a lion’s den when he arrives on campus. To make matters worse, he won’t have a stool and a whip to tame all the beasts heading his way. Expect the 2010 and 2011 seasons to be rebuilding years.

Sorry, guys, but I just don’t see the next Tim Tebow. Well, not yet.

For some strange reason, there seems to be a slight rift in the Gator Nation.  There are some Gator fans who feel betrayed by Steve Spurrier going to another SEC school to compete against Florida.  Then there are some fans who feel Spurrier is a God and cannot be questioned because of what he has done for the program.  There are also fans who feel Spurrier was wronged by the Athletic Department, driven away the first time and then spurned again when he tried to come back after Ron Zook in favor of Urban Meyer.  There are those fans who are so passionate about Urban Meyer that any mention about the Spurrier era makes them defensive. 

Luckily I am not either a Steve Spurrier nor Urban Meyer man.  I’m a straight Gator fan right down the middle and I am not forced to divide my loyalties between these two great coaches.  I am able to appreciate them both.  They both occupied their own unique eras with their own individual accomplishments and all that matters to me is what happened/happens on the field.
 
But when looking at these two coaches from a distance I am amazed at the similarities of their situations.  Among those coincidences that come to mind are as follows:

• 1.  Both Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer inherited a team that had gone 7-5 the previous season.  Galen Hall/Gary Darnell went 7-5 which included losing a bowl game in 1989.  Ron Zook/Charlie Strong went 7-5 with a bowl loss in 2004.
• 2.  The leading rushers of both the 1989 team (Emmit Smith) and 2004 team (Ciatrick Fason) left their teams as juniors for the NFL draft before each respective coach arrived.  Both players enjoyed their best seasons rushing for over 1200+ yards and 10+ touchdowns in the season prior to the new coaches arrival.
• 3.  Both coaches introduced new offenses to the SEC upon their arrival.  Spurrier brought with him the “Fun and Gun” passing offense while Meyer brought the spread offense.  Neither of these offenses had previously existed in the league and both caused other SEC schools to adapt and adopt.  In Spurriers era the SEC transformed into a much more pass heavy league in the 1990s while several SEC teams have adopted parts or all of the spread option philosophy since 2005.
• 4.  Both coaches won 9 games in their first years.  Spurrier when 9-2 in 1990 while Meyer went 9-3 in 2005.  Each enjoyed a pregame improvement from the previous season.
• 5.  In their second year each coach completed the regular season with a single loss.  Florida’s lone regular season loss was at Syracuse in the 3rd game of the season.  Florida’s only loss was on the road at Auburn in the 6th game of the year.  Both games included a special team’s touchdown for the Gators opponent.
• 6.  Both Urban Meyer and Steve Spurrier won SEC Titles in their second seasons.  The 1991 Gators went 7-0 in the SEC to win the league outright (pre-title game).  The 2006 Gators went 7-1 in conference, won the SEC Eastern Division and then won the SEC Championship Game over Arkansas.
• 7.  In their third seasons, both Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer put up a 9-4 record.  On a side note, despite having 8 common opponents neither coach lost to the same team in their 3rd seasons.  Spurrier’s losses were to Miss St, Tenn, FSU and Alabama while Meyer’s losses were to LSU, Auburn, Georgia and Michigan.
• 8.  Urban Meyer landed a number one ranked recruiting class in his second year at Florida which included such stars as Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Brandon Spikes, Dustin Doe, Riley Cooper, Jermaine Cunningham, Brandon James and Jacques Rickerson.  Steve Spurrier landed a number one ranked recruiting class in his 3rd season which included such stars as Danny Wuerffel, James Bates, Johnnie Church, Dexter Daniels, Reggie Green, Anthone Lott, Jeff Mitchell, Jason Odom, Lawrence Wright, and Donnie Young.

Both Spurrier and Meyer managed to thrust Florida into the national attention.  While we can’t compare past the 3rd seasons there are some generalities.  Both Coaches brought the school a national title (Spurrier in 1996, Meyer in 2006), both had a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback (Wuerfell - Spurrier, Tebow - Meyer) and both have fired up the hatred factor from fellow SEC opponents.
 
The Spurrier era is over while the Meyer era has just begun but so far . . . the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The Gainesville Sun interviewed Meyer on the upcoming season. Interesting:

Q:Are you getting some positive feelings on the defense getting better?

A:Yeah, I like (middle linebacker) Brandon Spikes’ attitude. It all starts with that position. (Brandon) Siler kind of ran that defense (on the 2006 national championship team). Spikes was a sophomore (last season) and didn’t run the defense very well. He played well, but didn’t run it very well. (Safety) Major Wright was a true freshman. When we had Brandon Siler and (All-America safety) Reggie Nelson. … it’s like the baseball axiom, that you’ve got to be strong up the middle. Absolutely, you have to be. When we had Reggie Nelson and Brandon Siler, was there any better? Then you go to a sophomore and a true freshman and you’re kind of giving up plays. Those two players (Spikes and Wright) have to be a lot better for us to be good.

Excellent observation here; the mike linebacker runs the defense and you need a rangey, hard-hitting player that can play consistently well at the free safety slot. If the defensive line can pinch in the middle and free the ends up to attack the quarterback, you have the makings of an outstanding defense even if your corners and OLBs are questionable.
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Apparently, the latest from the college football rumor mill has Florida’s 20.5-year-old legend slated to take a cue from Joe Montana. It seems that Urban Meyer and Dan Mullen want the Teebster to improve in the two-minute drill. The move makes sense for a number of reasons:

*Admit it, Florida fans. As much as you want #15 to walk on water, heal the incurably sick, and lay down vigilante justice against FSU, you know he’s not perfect. He’s a human being who makes human mistakes, and working on the two-minute drill provides a good dose of perspective.

*A further investigation in UF’s losses reveals that in spite of Florida’s youth, atrocious secondary, and lack of a true runner, most of the Gators’ woes came from ineffective final scoring drives. Consider Tebow’s failed Hail Mary pass against LSU and the two turnovers on down against Michigan. So in theory, if the Gators become more effective at closing the deal, they become much tougher to beat. The better the quarterback is at the end, the more margin for error during the game itself.

* Tebow will have to run less and rely more on short West Coast-style passes. In other words, he’ll be doing the kinds of things that make draft scouts feel better about his chances in the pros.

Make no mistake about it. Tebow may have won a championship in his first year and a Heisman in his second, but his junior year will undoubtedly be his most important yet. From a career perspective, he’s beginning to prepare himself for his NFL career, should he choose to go that route. From an SEC point of view, he’s beginning his second year as a starter. And in the way of accolades, he can add to his trophy case and increase his hero status in Gainesville. But I’m getting off-topic.

Here’s an example of how a skilled two-minute QB can change a franchise: A perennial backup quarterback was selected as a compensatory pick in his particular NFL draft and only threw three passes in his rookie year. He initially spent time buried in the back of the depth chart, but he worked really hard at improving; the two-minute was an integral part of his preparation. When the original starter was injured and out for the season, the guy stepped in and helped his team win all of its playoff games and make the Super Bowl, albeit with a lot of grit and a little luck. In the big game, he kept it close against the most prolific NFL offense of its day. But it all came down to one final touchdown drive. And much to everyone’s surprise, he kept cool and led his team down the field for the game-winning score, netting him his first Super Bowl ring and MVP award.

The quarterback who went from zero to hero: Thomas Edward Brady, Jr. Turns out, he was a big Montana fan as a kid growing up in the Bay Area.

And in a twist of irony, his opposite in Super Bowl XLII would win the Super Bowl by beating him at his own game.

Okay, so the spring game is still five and half weeks away, and the first regular season football game isn’t until August 30. But it’s not too early to look at what made Florida a great sports school in the first place. Besides, everyone around here could use a short break from basketball and all of the nervous tension it entails.

Here is a breakdown of the team, position by position. Be warned, this might be a bit lengthy.

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