It’s officially ended, men. The championship season that wasn’t and the era of the hyped QB that was all came to an end. Some reflections on the Tebow/(Meyer?) Era:

*Florida is the first FBS/Division-1 school in history to post back-to-back 13 win seasons, and thus, the first to have three in four seasons. I’d say two out of three, while not ideal, certainly isn’t bad.

*Tim Tebow never missed a game in four years. Wow.

*Tebow ends with 145 total touchdowns, by far a school record, is fourth all-time in passing yardage with 9,285 (just three yards shy of beating Shane Matthews for third place), sixth all-time in rushing yardage with 2947, and tied for second (with his predecessor, Chris Leak) with 88 touchdown passes.

*Tebow had a career high in rushing yardage this season (yes, including ‘07)

*Coach, however you decide upon your future, for your sake and for our team’s, please, please, please do it as soon as reasonably possible. And I’m not just saying this because the coaching situation will hurt us in recruiting. We’ll still do fine.

He’s dehydrated. No, he’s sick. No, he’s… retiring! Holy fried Gator tail. No, he’s reconsidering. No, he’s coming back! Wait… no, he’s not coming back, he’s — well, he can’t come back because he never left, but he’s going to leave for awhile. How long? Not sure. Is he coaching the Sugar Bowl? No. Wait, yes, he is, and then he’s leaving, and the offensive coordinator will take over as head coach in the meantime, making him a head coach in waiting to be a head coach again.

Run that by me again?

It’s a fitting penultimate twist to the bottle cap of football weirdness. Yes, Florida still plays Cincinatti in the Sugar Bowl, a team whose head coach is most certainly gone in the final sense. Don’t ask me to give you a name on the Cincy coaching or player roster other than “Pike.”

In the last 24 hours, Lane Kiffin surely felt the highest of highs… only to wake up feeling the lowest of lows. No, the meanest sonofabitch in Cell Block E isn’t getting paroled, and the guards don’t give you soap on a rope in the prison showers. Nut up, Mouth.

I’m sure Mark Richt and Steve Spurrier also felt a fluttering lightness of being, but gravity being the real bitch she is, made the Flight of the Wallflowers a parabola.

In any event, if it’s not one thing this season, it’s another. Tell me that wasn’t the most joyless way to ride a 22-game win streak, hold #1 week in and week out for what seemed like an eternity, and grind out close, ugly win after close, ugly win you’ve ever endured. You can be honest, fellas. That was tense.

Flu, quarterback regression, Facemask-gate, Dunlap snoozing at the wheel, a class of juniors celebrating the NFL two games too early, chest pains, and then Meyer does his best Billy Donovan impression. Really, why do we do this at Florida? This must be rather unique — two coaches in two different high-profile sports, both with two national championship rings, depart and then cram their foot in the closing door just at the last second. Well, it’s a U of F tradition, now.

Of course, the reality is that Meyer is living a real life, not for the pundits or endless hordes of media or fans, and he did the best he could with a very difficult situation. I think Gator Nation is very understanding of the realities of what Meyer endured and this doesn’t even count as a blip on the radar in terms of our relationship with our head coach. The rest of the college football institution will probably be less forgiving, but that’s because this is all a big soap opera that plays out on TV to those folks, rather than happening to real, breathing human beings with complex thoughts, emotions and motivations. We are all imperfect, and Meyer deserves our full support and understanding.

I hope this is the right thing for the Coach and his family. His health and well-being comes first. I know it’s heresy to say it here in the south, but when you start fearing the job will kill you, it’s time for all of us to take a step back, take a deep breath and remind ourselves that this is a game played by college kids. A game.

There may be apathy in Gator Nation regarding both the venue and the opponent, but I for one think it will be fun to play a football game against a good football team with pride and a BCS bowl victory at stake. Hey, this is why we play.

And it’s worth saying: it’s great to be a Florida Gator.

Go Gators!

Walking out of Tiger Stadium with a 10-point victory — at night, no less — is a glorious thing. This fact cannot be understated. This was a fine victory and one of the more satisfying I’ve been witness to in the past few years of championship-level Gator football. No. 1 vs. No. 4… hot damn.

Statistically, the Gators were dominant; the kind of dominance that directly translates into Ws if not, in this case, tons of points. Florida’s 327 yards nearly doubled LSU’s 162; the Gators were 5-12 on 3rd down versus the Tigers’ 1-9; time of possession dramatically favored the Gators, at 36:30 to 23:30. LSU was also held to a total of 44 yards in the second half. As we have come to expect from Charlie Strong’s defense, Florida’s half-time adjustments and defensive intensity led to 3rd and 4th quarter clampdowns that kept the Tigers from even contemplating attempting another field goal.

I believe it’s safe to assume several facts in evidence:

1) Florida fields the best defense in the nation, hands down. Holding LSU to 3 points? In Death Valley? At night? YGTBFKM. The best, yes. Not only is this true in a statistical sense, but man, this is a nasty stop squad. LSU’s biggest play, a 26 yard pass from QB Jordan Jefferson to WR Brandon LaFell (the LSU stadium announcer called him ‘Jojo’, by the way) only occurred thanks to a mismatch with sub Markihe Anderson. No way that pass is completed against Joe Haden, who had an awesome outing along with the rest of the defensive starters. The DBs were hitting hard and drawing accurate beads on their targets. It was clear that LSU receivers were hearing footsteps in the second half. It had to be frustrating for Jordan Jefferson to face such a stingy defense.
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From Gatorsports.com:

With Thompson out Saturday, the Gators had no down-field passing game to speak of. That was partly due to Tennessee’s zone coverages and partly to conservative play-calling by UF.

Meyer said in retrospect, maybe he should have opened things up a little bit more in the offense. But he said the Vols were making no effort to win the game and there was no reason to take any unnecessary risks.

“I didn’t feel like they were going after the win,” Meyer said. “They wanted to shorten the game. I think that was the plan. There are 10 minutes to go and they’re not in a no-huddle. It’s 23-6 and no urgency (on UT’s part).

“The way we lose a game there is throw an interception. Why put yourself in that position. Let’s find a way to win the game. We’re not trying to impress the pollsters, we’re trying to win the game. A lot of it had to do with the way they were playing. It made our life a little easier.”

This is a very telling quote. Not only do we have a very savvy coaching staff, but Kiffin was coaching for the moral victory from the opening kickoff.

Think about the difference between our fanbases: even in the Zook years, Gator Nation expected to win every game. Can you remember a time you were glad just to avoid the blowout? No? Me neither. You win them all. That is the goal. There is no secondary goal. There are no warm-fuzzies in losing. Unless you’re Lane Kiffin, head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers.

… we can start the season in earnest. Tennessee Hate Week begins.

Oh, wait, you want to talk the Fightin’ Trojans? Despite a slow first quarter, the Gators exploded in the second fifteen. Tebow notched 5 TDs, the 2s got some playing time, Deonte dropped another then started catching everything, Demps is gonna be a star this year if he can stay healthy, Phillips missed the uprights once, the Trojans only managed two field goals, and yes, 56 is a multiple of 7. Thank you, Troy, here’s your paycheck.

But that outcome was written months ago; it simply had yet to be transferred from the ink blotter to paper. There was little suspense after the first 15 minutes.

The best part of Saturday? Why, that was watching Lane Kiffin’s rooster strut transformed to nervous consternation… followed by grim resignation. The Mighty Bruins of UCLA waltzed into a raucous SEC stadium and, once again, took advantage of the Vols’ offensive ineptitude. Final: 19-15. For their prize, the victors took a chunk of Big Talker’s Hollywood-tanned hide back to his native land, the Republik of California.

UCLA, people. They had to fight against San Diego State last week (33-14) and won a total of 4 games last year. Give ‘em credit, two of their last five wins have come against the Vols… for what that’s worth. Again, I’m reiterating the fact that UCLA traveled across the country and whipped Kiffin and his ultra-high-paid staff in their new backyard.

Here’s the deal: Jonathan Crompton is a terrible quarterback. Sorry, he might be the greatest guy in the world, but he couldn’t run the scout team at Florida. Crompton should consider himself lucky that he finished his day 13/26 for 93 yards, 0 TDs and 3 INTs. In reality he threw five picks; one was dropped in the endzone, the other called back for an offsides penalty. Both were criminally bad reads. To add to the misery, his was the last hand to touch the football before it was fumbled on a bad snap and recovered by UCLA.

For Tennessee, it’s not a question of if Nick Stephens starts… it’s when.

Lane Kiffin’s mouth has earned him an unsual type, and amount, of antipathy. The Vol fans themselves are decent people, the program has a storied tradition, and they’ve certainly suffered enough these past years. There’s no reason to wish them misery, at least not directly. But “Coach” Kiffin has purposefully, and without regret, stirred the emotions of Florida fans into a frenzy. Whereas this game could simply have been interesting to watch in the Swamp, it will now be a full-on assault by 92,000+ upon one man, his staff and his players. I have sent my letters in to the UF coaching staff pointing out Kiffin’s various misdeeds and that, on the face of it, no reasonable person could blame Urban Meyer for leaving his first team in for the entire game, no matter how bloody and horrific a scene ensues.

A quick run-through of what we’re dealing with in Mssr. Kiffin:

1) Intends to sing “Rocky Top” all night long in the Swamp at the conclusion of next weekend’s game.
2) Calls the best coach in college football, and one never sanctioned for any misdoing whatsoever, a “cheater”.
3) Did so while making up NCAA rules off the top of his head, earning an NCAA reprimand.
4) Tried to get witty with Steve Spurrier (never wise).
5) Believes that, starting next year, Tennessee will “always be in the pre-season top 5″ every year.
6) Says Tennessee “operates at a championship level in all that [they] do”. Could have fooled me, this afternoon.
7) Looks like a 10-year old kid that needs a paddling.

Kiffin’s arrival has brought a cheap, plastic-like feel to Tennessee football. It’s all talk, no walk. Phil Fulmer might have extended his career at Tennessee just a few seasons too long, and he was unfortunate enough to be on the backside of his coaching powers curve just when Urban Meyer arrived at the height of his own. But he was a good and decent man, who represented Tennessee with class, and earned the respect of friends and foes alike.

It seems unlikely that Kiffin will really change the true fabric of Tennessee football. That basic essence will outlast him, even if his stay in Knoxville is longer than I and many others outside of Tennessee imagine it will probably be. Maybe a humbling loss to the Vols’ arch divisional rival will help Kiffin mature into a true leader; a man with perspective, insight, and true charisma. But that can be quite a painful process for a man who possesses an ego of such massive proportions.

Remember, Coach… there are no aethiests in foxholes. Florida 62, Tennessee 6.

I whooped and hollered when I discovered that Meyer and co. were tinkering with a new I-formation set in spring practice. I love the idea of seeing Florida line up old-school on occasion, with a couple of TEs and a FB blocking for a guy like E-Moody. Love it.

Of course, there’s one trick to that idea; you take a team which is accustomed to the spread at all times, then ask them to line up and block in a way that’s relatively foreign to them now, and you might not get the results you wanted.

“I’m not sure how that I-package is going to be sticking around in here,” Meyer said after Monday’s practice. “We want to have it in, but once again I said this four years ago when we walked on this campus, we don’t really have an offense. It’s an offense based on what you have. We can run “I” all you want, but if your players aren’t very good or they’re struggling or they’re young and inexperienced then we’re not going to run that ragged. We’ll go to five-wide and you’ve seen us do that before.”

One issue Meyer’s team is having with the I-package is the youth at certain positions. UF has just two tight ends — junior Aaron Hernandez and freshman Desmond Parks — and no proven fullbacks.

Pridemore looks like a strong kid. Can’t he be taught to block in such a basic package? We’re not talking zone reads here, we’re talking hit the A, B or C gap and block.

Dear Urb,

Far be it from us to think ahead to the future. You know, the one that exists at some point in time after the BCS National Championship game. We know you’re dreaming of nothing other than new special teams wrinkles, offensive plays and schemes to whip our team into a frothing frenzy when they play the Sooners. Thanks for that.

But we can’t help but think about our boy, and the incredible significance of keeping him for another year. We’re talking about the best player in college football, hands down, and 25% of his career is on the line. Even more if you don’t count his freshman year, when he backed up Chris Leak.

And let’s be clear about something, Urb. We know that if the right opportunity is there, Timmy could and should take it. If he brings home a crystal football on January 8th, his job is complete. We, Gator Nation, release our favorite son to wherever his dreams may take him next. And we will support him wholeheartedly.

There’s just one thing, Urb. You know, and we know, that Timmy’s not ready to take that next leap. Not yet. And the opportunity isn’t right; not now, anyway. Despite being the greatest college quarterback in the last quarter century — and arguably among the greatest of all time — his skills don’t translate well to the NFL. He needs another year of prep so that he can get what he richly deserves: a first-round draft selection.
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DeMarco Murray won’t play in the BCS Title Game. Surgery. Hamstring tendon. Boo-yah.

Our official stance is that we never want to see a player hurt, we always want our opponent at full strength, yadda-yadda. But truth be told, this is actually pretty good news for the Gators, because Murray’s greatest strength is his ability to start the Sooners at their own 40. And if the Gators have one weakness this season, it’s kickoff coverage. So, yeah, this is good, insofar as “surgery” and “good” can go together. Hey, it’s not like he was injured in our game.

The Sooners have two other backs which should be able to pound out the tough yardage. Despite being his team’s second-leading rusher, Murray has been described as the ‘big play’ back, the guy who explodes for big gains on a regular basis. However, Florida certainly can’t count out Chris Brown and Mossis Madu, who have combined for 1600 yards and 26 touchdowns.

The other news — is it good or bad? — is that Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen will take time out of his busy schedule to call the plays in the title game.

“I think he’s going to coach. I talked to him yesterday and right now the plan is he’s going to come back right after Christmas,” Meyer said after practice Tuesday. “We’ve talked about it. And the goal is to win the game. I think right now, unless something changes, that’s what’s going to happen. He’s going to coach.”

Asked if Mullen should be able to do all the preparation for the national title contest, Meyer said if he wasn’t he wouldn’t be coaching in the game.

Mullen, we know you can’t wait to start ringing some cowbells, but don’t screw this up.

As of this writing we are a few short hours away from every SEC team’s object of desire — an SEC Championship. To get it, Florida will have to get past a determined Alabama squad.

A few short pre-game notes:

- I continue to hear nothing but good things about Percy’s potential participation in this game. Based on my sources and how well they cross-check, I would be very surprised if we don’t see Percy play early and often, and contribute significantly to another Florida championship. Update, 11:30AM: According to Urban Meyer via a quick interview this morning at the Gators’ hotel, it sounds like Percy won’t play after all. Could be mind games from Meyer, but I doubt it.

- Unrelated to the game at hand, I’m also hearing rumors from people close to Brandon Spikes that the middle linebacker will not go pro next year. My take: he may believe that now, but when the greenbacks are wagged in his face, he might change his mind… ? It will be a difficult decision, since he’s easily a first-round choice this season, but for now, rumor is he’s returning.

- There has been a little swing in momentum in Bama’s favor in terms of pundits believing the Tide can win this game. This is good for the Gators; the less hype for the orange and blue, the better. I woke up this morning and searched my soul: do I really believe the Gators can win this game by multiple touchdowns? The answer: yes, without hesitation. I’m sticking with my 42-17 final prediction. Alabama fans will tar and feather me if I’m wrong.
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Let’s open some discussion on the Gators’ biggest game of the year, and potentially their biggest challenge yet. In Atlanta, Saban’s Tide lie in wait, ready to prove Vegas and their double-digit lines wrong. Florida goes in as the prohibitive favorite — and this is generally to the underdog’s advantage.

1) Pounceys vs. Cody. The critical question on the line is: can the Pouncey twins contain Bama’s massive noseguard?

The Pounceys have gotten a bit of on-air love this year, mainly from our old friend Gary Danielson, who said the brothers were both future NFL 1st-rounders. It’s not easy for offensive linemen to get highlighted on a national telecast, so consider this a high compliment. The Pounceys have also been featured on instant replay, particularly when they streak downfield to pick up a block for one of Florida’s speedy running backs. No question, the twins are good. The question is, how much have they been challenged this year, considering that most of the SEC is shaping up to be a bust? We don’t know. Nor do we really know how much Cody has been challenged by the lines he’s faced, either. But I do know that I wouldn’t want anyone else leading Florida’s hogmollies other than Pounceys Maurkice and Michael.
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