It was, once again, not the prettiest of wins, but it was a decisive one. Vandy played hard and picked up a few yards, but never got a shot at more than 3 points.

While the offense showed some of the same drive-killing tendencies it has all year, and the 375 combined yards Tebow & Co. put up was rather a low total against a team of Vandy’s caliber, Tebow’s stats are surprisingly good. Little Timmy completed 15 of 20 for 208 yards and 1 TD, plus ran for another 27 and a rushing TD. His rushing totals would be much higher if he hadn’t been sacked four times. Florida’s pass protection, plus Tebow’s willingness to hold onto the ball for many seconds after it should be launched downfield, were both contributing factors.

Still, UF converted only 4 of 13 3rd downs, and shot themselves in the foot with 9 penalties for a loss of 68 yards. Tebow’s lone TD pass sanguinely bounced off of Riley Cooper’s hands and into David Nelson’s open arms in the end zone — last time that occurred, the Bulldogs of Mississippi State ran it back for six. But hey, we’ll take it.

Let’s sum up the questions with which Gator Nation is tormenting itself:

1) “Why isn’t this offense playing better when we have All-World players?”

2) “Why is Tim Tebow holding on to the ball so long, and looking so hesitant in the pocket?”

3) “If Florida can’t wipe inferior squads off the map, how will they beat teams like Alabama or Texas?”

4) “Why does a 9-0 record and a 19-game school-record winning streak feel so ‘bleah’?”

Now, take the first three of those questions, scrunch them up into a tight little ball of paper, and throw that negativity blob into the trash.

Yes, the offense has issues, and yes, we’d all like to see this unit ring up pinball scores like they did in years past.

Will this offense suddenly explode at this point? Unlikely. What we see is basically what we’ve got. Offensive line play rarely shows dramatic improvement throughout a season, and that’s probably the weakest link on this unit — not the receiver corps. No, I fully expect Florida to continue grinding out close wins against good competition, and slowly pull away from weaker teams like Vandy.

So, I’ve got a suggestion for you: forget about it. Because the answer to 1-3 is: “It doesn’t matter.” Because our defense is that good. Because Caleb Sturgis is starting to fulfill the promise and potential he brought to the Gators’ kicking game. Because we still have the best player in the history of college football lining up under center. Because we have a tough, physical, grind-you-to-dust rushing attack. Because our players expect to own the 4th quarter, and have excelled each and every time the crowd stops swaying to ‘We Are the Boys’. Because we have the best coaches in the business, coaches who have already adjusted our scheme and gameplanning to accentuate Florida’s strengths and minimize its weaknesses.

Because, at the end of the day, Florida is still the best team in the country, warts and all. Which team has clearly proven that they deserve #1 instead of Florida? I’d be happy to acknowledge it if it were true. But if you think Florida’s offensive woes are troubling, it’s far worse at ‘Bama. Texas? Sure, they’re good, and Colt McCoy is a great quarterback, but the college football institution learned a lesson about the value of wins against Big 12 defenses vs. their SEC counterparts at the conclusion of the 2008 season.

Florida is undefeated in the nation’s toughest conference, has survived everything from flu, to off-field distractions, to on-field distractions, and has secured a berth in Atlanta.

There’s a lot to be happy about, folks.

We have to let this offensive ennui we’ve collectively endured reach its nadir and then disappear. This is our team. Our team is not perfect. Our team will not reach the offensive heights they did in ‘08. If you’ll recall, our ‘06 team is one of the greatest in Florida history, and that was a team that was far more troubled offensively than this one. Defense wins championships, ladies and gentlemen.

By playing tough. By playing with discipline. By squeezing the life out of our opponents. This is how our team wins games. And I fully expect them to win five more.

The answer to the fourth question? “It’s all in your mind.” So get your mind right, Gator Nation.

Florida has weathered the first two-thirds of the season, and regardless of margin, is now 8-0. Players and coaches talk about how the goal is to get to Atlanta every year, and thanks in part to Tennessee upsetting South Carolina, mission accomplished. Now, the remaining slate features two yawners and three home games.

This is an opportunity to fine-tune the issues on offense, especially against a likely bowl-bound South Carolina team and a Florida State team with a potentially dangerous QB in Christian Ponder.

There’s not too much else to say. Might we see a little of John Brantley?

Final: Gators 82, Vandy 68 in a game that the ‘Dores never really had a chance to win. On Saturday in the O-Dome, Florida got off to a fast start and never looked back. Vanderbilt couldn’t cut into Florida’s double-digit lead, which was taken just 9 minutes into the first half and held to the bitter end.

You know something? I like this victory. Vandy owns a couple of decent SEC wins (most notably over the Patterson-less Kentucky Wildcats) and came into today’s matchup having won 3 of their last 4 games. The Gators were favored on their home court, but nothing can be taken for granted in this year’s conference. The boys came out and did what they had to do, playing with notable defensive intensity and a nicely-oiled offense.

Dan Werner played a competent game, making all four of his shots (three of them treys) and grabbing four boards as well. It was helpful to my blood pressure to see Whiskers, as I affectionately call him, turn in a solid performance.
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27 points on 10-11 from the field, 7 3-pointers, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal, and no turnovers.

Saying anything else from here just doesn’t do it justice.

Look, it’s not sour grapes. Florida obviously defeated Vanderbilt by a wide margin and this blown call has no direct significance — this time — to the Gators.

But if you care about college football, you’ve got to be disturbed with the quality of officiating involved in this disaster.

1) Percy Harvin has a TD. This much is clear from the several good angles the officials had on the field, not to mention the replay angles later. The play is over before he hits the ground — or should have been.
2) If you subscribe to the notion that the ball did not clearly break the plane — it did, though — Percy Harvin was down. This is obvious to anyone, anywhere. Knees… hip… chest… ball is stripped out long afterward. It’s obvious to Bob Davie in the ESPN booth, and it’s obvious to you and me.
3) The ball, after it is “stripped” is spotted not at the 1-inch line, which is where the play ended, but at the Florida 20-yard line.
4) Stunningly, this call was reviewed, and not overturned.

How is this possible? What sort of incompetence, or crazy logic goes into this being anything other than a Florida touchdown?

Whether it’s for or against the good guys, I hate bad officiating. It cheapens the game. These refs deserve to sit out a game or three.

Florida 42, Vanderbilt 14. Wasn’t really a contest in Nashville. The Gators poked their toes in the dirt, threw the ball around and ran it a little, too. It added up to a perfect half of football; the Gators held the ‘Dores scoreless, blocked two punts, scored touchdowns on every possession, and were perfect in the redzone, with 6 TDs to match their 6 trips there.

Whazzat you say? It wasn’t perfect? The score was 35-0 at the half, not 42-0? Oh, you’re going by the official score. The refs and review crew managed to screw up an easy call when Percy Harvin leaned over the goal line with the ball and then fell down, followed by a Vandy player ripping the ball away. It was not a turnover by any standard; at worst the officials should have spotted the ball at the 1-inch line. However, the bumblers in black and white stole Harvin’s TD, and further eroded my confidence in their ability to competently officiate, and review, football games. It’s truly mysterious how so many blown calls are made by people who are actually paid to do this stuff, especially when the evidence is plain as day. Harvin was down, no ifs ands or buts, and also appeared to have a touchdown. It didn’t matter this time, but it was still infuriating to see a TD taken from Florida’s dynamic playmaker, and a fumble logged on his record. Don’t worry, Percy, we all know you had a touchdown.

Tebow’s line: 12/17 for 3 TDs, 11 carries/88 yards (8.0 YPC), 2 rushing TDs

Tons of Heisman praise from ESPN commentator Bob Davie, who kept saying Timmy was the best quarterback in the country. And if you happened to be watching the Texas Tech-Oklahoma State game, there was some Tebow-Heisman gushing there as well. Tebow is officially back in the Heisman conversation.

Florida logged a final score in the second half before sending in the second team. For those of you who criticize Meyer’s decision to leave his first string in as long as he usually does, you have your answer as to why. Once Meyer started substituting on defense in the 3rd quarter, the ‘Dores put a long, 15-play, 8:35 drive together which culminated with their first points of the night. John Brantley took the field with 1:04 remaining in the 3rd, completed a nice pass to Carl Moore, then promptly fumbled, recovered, then took a sack. Vandy replied with another long touchdown drive, this one 14-plays and 84 yards long, although Florida helped with a roughing-the-kicker penalty on 4th down.

On Brantley’s next series he promptly threw a completion to Moore — D.J. Moore, that is, a Vandy DB who returned the ball to Florida’s own 24-yard line. Luckily Florida’s defense held the ‘Dores on 4th-down, ensuring a 42-14 final.

Thank the football gods that Penn State lost so the need for impressive blowout victories and style points has been significantly reduced. None of these late game issues really had any impact at all in the big picture. I won’t be criticizing Meyer’s late-game subbing in blowout victories any longer.

Still, there are no negatives here except the performance of the second team, and they’re allowed to play poorly as they gain experience in these situations — hell, that’s why they’re playing. It was fruitful time, but ugly to watch. It’s clear that had Florida wanted to score 100 points on the hapless Commodores, they could have. So I have few complaints.

More on Penn State and the upcoming matchup with Alabama in the SEC CG in upcoming posts.

Let me start by saying something.

I like Vandy.

I like their academic emphasis. I like the fact that a small, private institution has found a way to be competitive in the extreme upper echelon of college football. I like their uniforms. I liked Jay Cutler, who in my opinion was the best SEC quarterback in his senior year. I like Bobby Johnson, a highly underrated coach who I think would be a very dangerous opponent at a “top-tier” university program like Tennessee or Auburn (God forbid.) I like their founder, who I respectfully refer to as “Corny V.”

Vanderbilt’s always a great story. They own upset victories over Georgia, Tennessee and Auburn over the past few seasons and have came terrifyingly close to defeating the Gators as recently as 2005 (remember the double-overtime 49-42 win in 2005? How about the gouge-your-eyes-out narrow 25-19 win in Florida’s championship season?) In 2007 the Gators rolled to a 49-22 victory, but obviously, 2 out of 3 have been way too close. And according to Urban Meyer, this is the best Vanderbilt team Florida has faced under his leadership.

Former and current players have always respected Vanderbilt. Go back to the ‘96 championship season and find the closest score on the Gators’ slate. Other than that loss to FSU which was so joyously avenged, Vandy was remembered as the toughest game of the year.

You want a pushover wallflower opponent for Homecoming? Corny V.’s kids would be happy to oblige. The ‘Dores would like to storm the dance, pee in the pineapple punch, punch you in the balls, take your girlfriend behind the gym for an unrespectable encounter and then impress her parents with their Cotillion-refined manners.
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Here’s a nice bonus: our RPI rank has skyrocketed to #43! Top 25, here we come.

You know, I have to look all the way back to the beginning of the season to find a game where the Gators didn’t pleasantly surprise me. In conference play, this team has exceeded expectations each and every time they take the court.

This was a game I felt we’d win by a couple of buckets. Stupid me. We blew them out, 86-64.

Get this: all five Gator starters scored in the double-digits. Walter Hodge had a game for the ages with 19 points, 7-14 from the field and 4-4 from the charity stripe. Nick Calathes flirted with a triple-double for the third time in his young career. Jai Lucas was again unconscious from beyond the arc, sinking 3 of 4 treys. And Dan Werner had what I felt to be possibly his best game yet in a Gator uniform. Not only did he keep doing all the dirty work as usual, he was effective in guarding 6′ 11″ A.J. Ogilvy, grabbed 9 rebounds and made 6 highlight reel assists… all while scoring 14 points.

It’s time to remove the qualifiers. This is a VERY good team which has the firepower to beat any team in the conference. Nick Calathes is the leading contender for SEC freshman of the year honors and should be first-team All-SEC. Marreese Speights has arrived. Three games in a row he’s shown us an aggressive, powerful presence in the low post. The switch has been flipped. Big Mo is now arguably the best big man in the SEC.

We’re 5-1, all alone at the head of the pack in the SEC East. This team can beat Vandy in Memorial Gym, Kentucky in Rupp, Georgia at home and split the series with the Vols. A 12-4 season — and even an SEC title — is looking more possible by the day.

This team is at the very beginning of a multi-year run. You almost have to feel some sympathy for the rest of the conference. These Gators are already scary good, and they’re barely shaving yet.

We’ll have a full post-mortem a bit later, but for now… HOW ‘BOUT THEM GATORS?

This one’s a big deal. If Florida emerges from the fracas with a victory, we’re 5-1 and our odds of winning the SEC go up significantly. Here’s the basic stats breakdown:

Precious few categories favor the Gators here. Vandy scores four more points per game, are better at the charity stripe and average 42% from 3-point land. We’re dead even in rebounds and blocks and Vandy gets an extra half-steal per game. Florida’s only real statistical advantage lies in fewer turnovers (and subsequently a better TO to assist ratio), and slightly better FG shooting.

However, if any team had a lighter pre-season schedule than Florida, it was Vandy. The Commodores made it to 15-0 and a Top 20 ranking by beating the likes of DePaul, Tennessee State, Iona, Austin Peay and Valparaiso. Vandy did beat Georgia Tech and Wake Forest, but both of those teams already have losing ACC records (although Georgia Tech did come within a whisker of upsetting UNC a couple of weeks ago). The purpose of pointing this out isn’t to denigrate Vandy for a weak non-con schedule, it’s to highlight the statistical disparity between their performances between the cupcakes and SEC teams.

Vanderbilt is 2-2 in conference play. Their two wins come over arguably the worst two teams in the SEC, South Carolina and LSU, while their losses came to the league’s best team (Tennessee) and Kentucky.

In those losses, Vandy was held to considerably less than their season average. Against Kentucky in Rupp, they shot 44.4% from the field and only made 16 of 25 free throws. Against Tennessee, it was worse. Vandy could only manage a shockingly poor 36.8% from the field and were killed on the defensive boards by the Vols. They also turned the ball over 21 times and big freshman center A.J. Ogilvy sank only 4 buckets. Tennessee is a much better team than Vandy, but Kentucky isn’t, at least not on paper, so the fact that the ‘Dores lost is very telling.
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