THIS ARTICLE SAYS IT ALL!
THIS ARTICLE SAYS IT ALL!
Florida will be ready
By Pat Dooley
Sun sports writer
Published: Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 4:04 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 4:04 p.m.
The game had been over for an hour and Tim Tebow had been debriefed. He picked up on the theme of Saturday's 63-5 pasting of Kentucky ? great win, no comment on last year's Georgia game ? in his post-game interview session.
Finally I asked him how hard he took the loss in 2007 against Georgia considering the importance of the game and the fact he was playing in his hometown where he had watched so many Florida-Georgia games.
"Hard," he said.
Care to elaborate, Timmy?
"No comment."
There was really no need for Tebow to comment.
His eyes said it all.
I don't know which team will win Saturday. They are both talented, well-coached teams with special skill players and big-play defenders. There is no home-field advantage and both teams are coming off big victories. Both seem to have straightened things out since earlier losses that were embarrassing to both programs.
But here is what I do know ? Florida will have the best week of practice in the history of the Urban Meyer Era.
The Gators will be ready. Some may believe last year's end zone celebration by Georgia may have helped the Bulldogs win last year's game, but it could very well help Florida win this year's game.
My take on the celebration hasn't changed. I believe three things:
1. I understand why Mark Richt did what he did. I don't buy his explanation in Birmingham in July that he was as surprised as anyone, because I was there for his post-game explanation last October. But I get it. Under Richt, Georgia played too many games in the series way too tight. It loosened the Bulldogs up not only in the game but in practices leading up to the game.
2. It's not the reason Georgia won the game. Florida's response to the celebration was a two-play touchdown drive. The Gators led 17-14 with two minutes left in the half and were driving for the lead at the Georgia 25 in the fourth quarter. Florida lost the game because it couldn't tackle Knowshon Moreno or cover the Georgia receivers, and because Tebow was injured.
3. Those who called it a stroke of genius by Richt should be penalized 15 yards for lazy thinking. As we know, the play was reviewed and could have been ruled no touchdown and second-and-31. And if a fight had broken out, would anybody be calling Richt's move brilliant? I mean outside of Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Mark Bradley.
That said, I have been asked several times at Gator Clubs and through e-mails what Florida's response will be this year. A team-wide Gator chomp after the first score? Brandon Spikes pulling a miniature stuffed Bulldog out of his pants and punting it into the stands?
Here is what Florida should do after the first touchdown. (And I don't think I'm going way out on a limb assuming that the Gators will score a touchdown).
Whoever it is, whether it's Jeff Demps on a sprint or Tebow on a blast or Spikes on a pick, should hand the ball to the official and celebrate with his teammates. In other words, act like you've been there before.
Because there is only one answer to what happened last year.
One crystal clear way to deal with it.
Win the game.
It's that simple.
Win the game.
If you win the game, last year was a blip.
In the end, this game isn't about last year. It's about one thing and that one thing is the motto the Gators plan to carry with them throughout the week and into the teal stadium on Saturday.
Go play football.
There is no question that happened last year was like sticking defibrillator paddles on the chest of the rivalry. What happened Saturday made the game even tastier.
What happens this Saturday will say a lot about where these two programs are heading.
So go play football.
It's the only way for Florida to answer Georgia's shenanigans.
Win the game.