Small Town Gator's Blog

Settling the Argument: Who's #1?

Small Town Gator — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:36:19 GMT

The University of Florida won its third national championship on Thursday night by beating Oklahoma 24-14 in Miami. With the win, they claimed the BCS title and were also voted champions by the AP the following day, but still the debate remains: Are they the best team in the country.

A few teams had gripes about UF's coronation- namely Utah, USC and Texas.

Texas was left out of the Big 12 and BCS title games in favor of Oklahoma, who both they and UF beat. They each beat OU on a neutral field by 10 points. Texas' lone loss came at Texas Tech on a last second TD.

You don't win your division or your conference, and you cannot be in the conversation. Find a Georgia fan and commiserate with him.

Were they wronged? A case can certainly be made, but in my opinion, OU was still a better team than Texas. They were not better on that particular day in Dallas, but they were at the end of the season. UT fans may scream foul, but I also feel that the Longhorns were a better team than Texas Tech, even though they lost to them in Lubbock.

How does that make sense?

I will tell you a little secret that makes college football really exciting: Sometimes the best team doesn't win. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Occasionally, there are upsets (like the one OSU almost pulled on you in Glendale).

OU was a better team who got upset by an inferior Texas squad. The voters agreed. Deal with it, Longhorns. You'll have your shot next year.

So what about USC?

They began the year as they always do: unbeatable, and applying to become the 5th member of the AFC West. They were already making plans for the title game in Florida. They beat down an outclassed OSU team, and were basicly crowned Greatest Team of All Time by every sportswriter in America.

But then a funny thing happened on the way to Miami.... they got shredded by Oregon State and Jaquizz Rodgers in Corvallis. This is the same Oregon State team that were later beaten by Utah.

Of course, USC fans will point out that they lost their game on the road, while UF lost at home to Ole Miss, but who would you rather play- the Ole Miss Team that smoked Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl, or the Oregon State team that eeked out a 3-0 win against Pitt?

USC's resume for games that it DID win is also far inferior to UF. USC beat #5 OSU*, #23 Oregon, #21 Cal, and #8 PSU. 4 ranked teams, 1 top 5 team. A good season, but not as good as UF.

The Gators beat #4 LSU, #6 UGA, #25 South Carolina, #20 FSU, #1 Alabama, #1 Oklahoma. 6 ranked teams, 3 top 5, and beat #1 two games in a row.

I think the resumes speak for themselves.

*I used the rankings at the time of the game because it is reflective of how good that team was deemed at the given time. Whether a team was dubbed "overrated" can sometimes be attributed to the fact that they got housed by a really good team and later lost their confidence... ala South Carolina and LSU.

Utah has the strongest case out of anyone. They went undefeated. They beat the team that beat USC (Oregon St), and also beat Alabama. Rick Reilly likes them.

They had a great season, no doubt about it- but their case can be dismissed quite simply:

If Florida played their schedule, UF would also be undefeated. I don't think that there is a person on earth who could argue with that.

Now flip the tables- Do you really think that Utah would be undefeated if they played UF's schedule?

Not a chance.

Yes, they beat an unmotivated Alabama team who was without their best player. Don't get me wrong.... they beat them soundly, but anyone who watched that game saw how lethargic the Tide were. That was not the same team that UF slugged it out with in Atlanta in December.

Let's be realistic: OU would smoke Utah. So would FSU, LSU, UGA, and probably Miami. It is easy to get up for one game and slug it out with the big boys, but it is another thing to do it week after week for a whole year. The MWC is a good up and coming conference, but don't pretend that it is the gauntlet that is the SEC.

I would love to see a plus-one system that could put an end to some of this speculation. I would LOVE to see UF line up against one of these squads next week to prove their mettle, but that is not the system we play under. Everyone agreed to the rules before a single game was played, and UF came out on top.

Now quit yer whining, and start building momentum for next year. The Gators will be waiting for you in Pasadena :)

Once in a Lifetime

Small Town Gator — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 08:11:45 GMT

Love him or hate him, take a moment to appreciate Tim Tebow.

You may fall into the faction that finds Tim Tebow annoying and saccharin sweet. How dare he be great at football and be a model citizen? Who does he think he is winning a Heisman as a sophomore and donating his spring break to orphans in the Phillipines?

Let's face it: He is terrible and boring at interviews. He is always "yes sir" and "no sir" when talking to analyists. He always give credit to God (blah) and his teammates (bleh). He thanks his coaches for their gameplan (ralph) and his linemen for their blocking (wretch). Some have even said that he is a bit of a "wad".

Where are the arrest records? Where are the pictures of him being anything but a true gentleman?

Where is the drama?

Tebow has done nothing but maintain a 3.7 GPA while leading his team to a SEC title and a National Title game birth.

He already has a Heisman in his back pocket, and he has the balls to go for another? Seriously, who does this guy think he is?

He is Tim Tebow. He has never asked for acolades. He has never asked for praise, only given it to the man upstairs, his teammates and coaches.

Then he lost (technically, the team lost), and he issued a promise to play harder than any player in America.

Since that day he has led his team on an amazing ride. Led his team. The Gators haven't lost a game since, and have been rolling in their victories. The SEC title against Alabama was the cake, Oklahoma will be the icing.

Last year, Tebow was the first sophomore to win the Heisman. He accounted for a boatload of TDs and yards, but failed to win a title.

This year, he may flip that outcome. His numbers are no longer gaudy, but he is leaps and bounds better as a leader of his team. Maybe that is what makes him so special.

He pleads with Urban Meyer to let him be on special teams, he gets in the face of LB Brandon Spikes to fire up the defense, and more than anything, he instills a beleif in his teammates that he will NOT fail them.

More important than anything else, he has brought a title back to Gainesville, and has one more on the horizon. Win or lose against Oklahoma, he will probably be back again next year. He is living his childhood dream.

He is living the dream of every college football fan in America. Tebow grew up a Gator fan. He considered Alabama, but his heart wouldn't let him go there. He had to don the orange and blue.

Do you remember when you were a kid and you used to toss the ball around in the back yard? Who were you tossing TDs for? That pine tree was Aubrey Hill. The oak tree was Jack Jackson. If I managed to hit the elm, it was a TD to Doering.

Tebow hit those same trees.

Remember that kid who took the team's every loss really, really hard? What if that guy grew into a 240 pound QB with a laser arm but didn't lose an ounce of passion? That guy would be Tim Tebow.

Now imagine he played for your team.

Still hate him?

He is a once in a lifetime athlete that we should all celebrate, no matter what team you follow.

Gators rout UGA 49-10

Small Town Gator — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:20:50 GMT

Bradley Nowell of Sublime sang it best:

"They say that payback's a mother f***kin' b*tch....."

Yes it was.

49-10.

The Gators beat the Dawgs like they owed them money. They beat them Spurrier-style.

49-10.

This is a Georgia team that was supposed to have the first pick in the NFL draft playing QB (he was 18 of 33 with 0 TDs and 3 INTs), and the best back in the SEC (17 carries for 65 yards, 1 fumble).

Last year, this same Georgia team won 42-30, but this was NOT the same Florida team.

Remember when your little brother finally beat you at Madden? He mastered a few plays, and got all the breaks in his upset of Big Bro?

Remember how mercilously you thrashed him the next time you played?

Yeah, it was that bad.

By the time UGA scored it's first touchdown, only the UF faithful (the UGA side was empty) celebrated... in mockery.

The Dawgs didn't sniff the endzone until Florida emptied its bench with 3:09 left.

Brandon Spikes set the tone early by blasting Knowshon Moreno in the backfield, and Georgia played catch-up all afternoon.

Stafford's first INT was returned to the UGA 1 yard line, ad Tebow made it 21-3 shortly after that. On the day, Tebow ran for 3 TDs (and passed Emmitt Smith on the the UF career rushing TD list) and threw for 2 more.

The Gator defense made sure that there would be no celebrating this year. They stonewalled Georgia for 57 minutes- only finally relenting the endzone to a lot of players who hadn't seen the field much this year.

Senior Gator RB Accepts New Role

Small Town Gator — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:05:59 GMT

Kestahn Moore.

The name brings a wince to the faces of many Gator fans.

The senior RB had key fumbles in UF's losses to both Georgia and LSU last year. In Baton Rouge, he put the ball on the ground with Florida driving for what would have been a back-breaking TD late in the game. Against UGA, he lost a fumble on the opening drive, mishandled a snap in the red zone later, and ran into the ball carrier on a late 4^th down attempt.

Moore has never electrified the crowd by breaking a long run. The longest run of his UF career is 32 yards. He has never even gone over 100 yards rushing in a game. On an offense stockpiled with playmakers and weapons, he is usually the last one folks get excited about.

So why does Urban Meyer keep putting him on the field?

In short, one word: effort. Moore is the type of player that every coach loves to have on their team. He outworks everyone, even if he isn't as talented. He makes everyone around him better by leading by example. Talent is wasted if it is not pushed.

Another reason Meyer loves him is because he is the ultimate team player. He is a terrific blocker, and has never complained about a lack of carries. He could have whined when UF brought in Emmanuel Moody to take his place this season. Instead he threw down the gauntlet: Let's see if he can outwork me for the position.

Most fans know that both Moody and speedster Chris Rainey have more talent than Moore. Each broke off big gains in the spring game and caused a clamor amongst the crowd with their playmaking abilities, but they also know that they cannot get complacent, because Moore is right there.

He has pushed Rainey to gain 15 pounds of muscle in the off season, and Moody to focus on his own ball security. They know that they can't slip up, because he is right behind them, ready to take over.

Moore has also accepted the challenge to play some FB this season. His lead blocking for Brandon James on kickoff returns has impressed coaches so much that they want him to do the same on offense. Anything to help out the team.

With the injury to senior TE Cornelius Ingram, Moore will have to step into another role: Senior Leader. He is one of the few seniors on offense. His leadership will be key for the Gators in 2008, something they were lacking in 2007.

If he steps into that role, he may make his biggest contribution to the Gators yet.... Even if it doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

Favre's Clever Ruse?

Small Town Gator — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:39:32 GMT

Am I the only one who thinks that Favre to Minnesota isn't dead?

I know that the Packers won't trade him there, but who is to say that the Bucs won't?

John Gruden is pretty happy with his menagerie of QBs, but Favre would be an upgrade. Tampa will probably make the playoffs with Garcia, and they know that Garcia still has at least 2 seasons in the tank. If they can get Favre for 2 picks, and then trade him to Minnesota for something better, what is stopping them?

They know that Favre wants to go to Minnesota. They know that Minnesota wants Favre, but can't get him from Green Bay.

Tampa will almost certainly get a great deal on Favre because Green Bay now simply wants him gone. Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson have acted like spoiled children who need to get their way or they will cry. They ahve lied several times throughout the process, and now they are gonna pay for it. The Bucs can set their offering price, and then get started on the next trade with the Vikings.

If Green Bay doesn't come to terms, Favre can file a grievance because they aren't letting him practice, forcing them to either take the trade or cut him. They do not want him on the same field as Aaron Rodgers. Fans are already booing him.

As long as Favre is willing to push the envelope, he can still get what he wants.

Preseason Heisman Watch

Small Town Gator — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:59:30 GMT

Yep, I know what you are thinking.. and yes, it IS way too early. That being said, you are obviously looking for someone's take by reading this, and I am willing to offer mine.

Welcome to my flock.

The Heisman is the most coveted individual award in all of sports, but no one is supposed to want it. You are supposed to think of your team first, and individual accolades second. That is why it is often award to QBs whose team is undefeated, even though they may not be the "most outstanding" player in the land (see Troy Smith, Jason White, Eric Crouch, Chris Weinke, Gino Torretta, etc).

Few people actually pay attention to the wording for the award. It simply says: Most Outstanding College Football Player. It doesn't say that the player has to be a QB or RB, but those positions have won the award all but 6 times in history. (One defensive player has won it, and 5 WRs. Three linemen have finished 2nd, but never taken home the trophy.)

The question then arises as to what makes an outstanding college football player? Is it a player with monster stats, or a team player on a great (possibly undefeated) team? Maybe the stats were against inferior competition. Maybe the wins were too.

Not every player is playing against the same level of competition. Not every player is playing within the same system. Should Player A be penalized because his stats weren't as good as Player B's if he played against a far superior schedule? Maybe Player B is in a system where he throws it 70 times a game, should he be penalized for his coach's offensive philosophy? Also, maybe one player is a RB with a gazillion (technical term) yards rushing (against quality competition) and a bajillion (technical term) TDs, but his team has lost 5 games. Should he be penalized because his team has an awful defense?

More often than not, QBs are held to this standard, but RBs are not. For most QBs, 3-4 losses can boot you from the conversation... no matter the circumstances. The debate could be endless when trying to compare schedule strength vs offensive system vs how-many-losses-are-acceptable-depending-on-your-position vs team prestige vs TV time vs............ I think you get my point.

I can propose a much easier system when it comes to choosing the 2008 Heisman winner.

(Everyone please nudge the sleeping Heisman voter to your left)

All you have to do is answer one simple question: Who would you want playing for you?

Or, conversely: Who would you NOT want to play against?

That solves all of the debates about schedules and systems, etc. You simply pick the guy that you think is the best football player in the land. That guy may be a dominating offensive or defensive lineman (unlikely, but possible), or he may be some gunslinging QB who went to a smaller school, or he may be the starting QB of an undefeated team. He may even be (GASP!) a Freshman or Sophomore.

Opinions will still vary, but at least everyone will be choosing under the same criteria. With the ground rules firmly in place, I give you my preseason list of Heisman Candidates.

* Tim Tebow QB, Florida - Who wouldn't want a QB who can run over LBs, and was also 2nd in the nation in passing efficiency? The road for Tebow will be tougher this season for a few reasons: 1. He won it last year. A lot of old fuddy-duddies will not vote for him because they don't want another two time winner. It is one of those "sacred" college football traditions... much like Sophomores winning the award. 2. His stats won't compare. Anything short of last season's accomplishments may be viewd as a sub-par year. He can off-set this by guiding UF to the SEC or National Title. 3. Percy Harvin. He is sharing the field with another candidate. Even with the factors against him, I think it is Tebow's trophy to lose. He will need to become more of a leader, and produce a "Heisman" moment to do it... but it is his award to lose.

* Beanie Wells RB, Ohio St. - He is the sexy pick for most. A super-talented RB who will get a ton of exposure on national TV. He will need HUGE games and some highlight runs in order to get it done. The negatives are that the Big 10 is catching up with OSU, and USC has a nasty defense. I can't see him putting up numbers like McFadden (300+ yds). 1-2 sub-par games, and he may be out of the race.

* Chase Daniel QB, Missouri - A gutsy QB who has an unbelievable ability to make plays. The negatives are that Missou isn't going to sneak up on anyone this year.

* Graham Harrell QB, Texas Tech - He will put up mind-numbing numbers this season without a doubt, but can he beat the big boys?

* Percy Harvin WR/RB, Florida - Simply electrifying. I would take him in space over anyone in the NCAA... but can he stay healthy?

* Micheal Crabtree WR, Texas Tech - An athletic freak who put up great numbers a year ago, but if Harrell spreads the ball around more, will it be considered a "sub-par" year?

* Pat White QB, WVU - The best running QB in the game- hands down, but how will he adjust to life without Steve Slaton? Also, with a new coaching staff- will he finally develop as a passer? If he shows up with a big game against Auburn and his nemesis USF, he has a shot.

Dark Horses: CJ Spiller, Sam Bradford, Knowshon Moreno, Ian Johnson, PJ Hill, LeSean McCoy, Dan LeFevour

So there you have it, my Preseason Heisman list. These are the guys I think have the best shot at winning at the moment. They are not ranked in any fashion, because there is way too much football to be played. As the year progresses, I will update the list accordingly. Some will move up, some will be dropped from contention.

Preseason Top 25

Small Town Gator — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:55:54 GMT

What goes into making a Pre-season Top 25 list?

We haven't seen anyone play yet, and there are a myriad of new coaches and coordinators and freshmen with Heisman dreams.... Yet we feel the need to start off with some sort of order for the teams.

Some say that you guess the teams that are going to play for the national title, and you rank them based upon the odds. That makes sense to a degree, but it leaves for too much speculation. What if a star player has a sub-par season or someone goes down with an injury. Since it is college football, you also have to worry about players making the grade, or teenagers acting like teenagers and getting suspended for something.

You also have the flipside of the equation. Sometimes it takes a kid 2-3 years to fully adjust to college life. Once he has his priorities in order, he can focus on football and have a breakout year. He could propel his team to a big time upset of one of the favorites.

You have match-up issues to worry about. Last season, Florida absolutely housed Tennessee 59-20. The Vols then went out and took Georgia behind the woodshed 35-14. So UF should easily beat UGA, right? Wrong. The Dawgs got on a hot streak and whipped the Gators 42-30 in late October.

Hot streaks, cold streaks, injuries, suspensions, momentum, rivalries, breakups and make-ups.... There are just too many variables to accurately predict who will be in Miami this year for the title game at this point. Sure, you could guess, and you would have about a one in sixty chance of being right on both teams.

All we can do right now is to say which teams look the best right now. Schedules have no bearing, because if the teams successfully navigate the gauntlet laid before them, it doesn't matter how tough we thought it will be for them to do so in August.

As the games are played, some teams will weed each other out, and some teams will weed themselves out. Eventually we will end up with two teams playing for the title, and 117 wishing they were.

Here are the 25 that I feel are the best right now, and why.

1. UGA - They are loaded. Moreso than any other team. They have 2 Heisman candidates on offense, and return a lot form last year's nasty defense.

2. OSU - They also return a load of folks from last year's team that went to the title game, and added uber-recruit Terrell Pryor. Say what you want about their performance in the title games, but the Sweater Vest knows how to win in the regular season.

3. Florida - The offense was spectacular last year, and added even more weapons this year with Chris Rainey, Emmanuel Moody and lightning-in-a-bottle sprinter Jeffrey Demps. They also have more depth at DT (which hurt them last year), and the secondary has a year under their belts. The biggest concern is the lack of depth at safety. They are counting on Freshman Will Hill to help them out.

4. Oklahoma - Sam Bradford had a great freshman year, but can they find someone to run the ball?

5. USC - USC always has a nasty defense, but a lot of questions on offense. Sanchez is unproven, no one knows who the tailback will be, and none of the WRs have yet stepped up.

6. Missouri - Chase Daniel is back, as are most of his weapons. They also return 10 starters on defense. I am still not buying them as a true contender unless they go into Lincoln and take care of business.

7. LSU - they are stacked with athletes, but can they find that chemistry and toughness after losing almost all of their leaders from a year ago? Breaking in a new QB in the SEC will not be easy.

8. Auburn - The Tigers lost their defensive coordinator to Texas, and defense has been their hallmark for years under Tuberville. They also brought in the spread offense, but have yet to settle on a QB.

9. Wisconsin - They can run the ball, and will have a great defense, but will never be a contender until they develop a downfield passing game.

10. Clemson - Yeah, they are loaded on offense, but Tommy Bowden always finds a way for his team to underachieve. If they show me something against Alabama, I might buy in.

11. South Florida - they return a lot on offense, but lost their heart and soul on defense. Selvie will be a beast, and they are on the upswing... but not quite in the elite.

12. WVU - the losses of Steve Slaton, and Owen Schmidt are gonna hurt. The loss of Rich Rodriguez is gonna hurt a lot more. I am not sold on Bill Stewart who is 9-25 lifetime as a head coach.

13. Texas - Their defense was awful in 2007, so they went out and got Will Muschamp, but he is not a miracle worker. They also need to find a back to take some pressure off of their fragile QB.

14. Utah - plenty of talent coming back, and an opening day chance to prove that they belong. They could jump big time in the next few weeks.

15. Pitt - a ton of talent and one of the best backs in the nation return for the Panthers. If they are going to make a move in Wandstat's tenure, it has to be this year.

16. Michigan - folks are worried about Michigan due to the lack of a running QB, but they forget that Rich Rod threw it mercilessly while he was an OC at Tulane and Clemson. Still, there will be growing pains.

17. Texas Tech - I know that they will put up a bazillion yards, but until they play some defense and beat the top teams consistently, I don't buy it.

18. Wake Forest - Grobe will once again field a fiesty team of overachievers. If he ever starts getting top flight talent, they will dominate the ACC.

19. Illinois - losing a disgruntled Mendenhall will hurt, as will the loss of Lehman. They will upset someone, and then turn around and lose to some slapdick team. Book it.

20. Penn St - Joe Pa will have his boys respectable, but not enough to threaten OSU for the league title.

21. Kansas - they have Reesing coming back after a terrific season last year, but he lost a few of his big uglies up front. We will know if they are for real after they go to USF on September 12^th.

22. Va Tech - They lost their best RB, and several key members of their defense, but Frank Beamer won't let them slip too far.

23. Tennesee - a new offense, coordinator, and a new starting QB doesn't bode well for scoring, but they have arguably the best secondary player in the SEC to anchor their defense. Expect Fulmer to play very conservative ball (again) this season to stay afloat.

24. Oregon - They have a very talented secondary, but in the Pac 10 you gotta score. The Ducks will be breaking in a new QB and RB to replace Dixon and Stewart.

25. BYU - They have a great QB and leader in Max Hall, and their defense is anchored by DE Jan Jorgensen. This is another team that has a chance to jump big time in the month of September.

University of Florida History and Traditions

Small Town Gator — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:51:12 GMT

The University of Florida was founded in 1853, and moved to its current site in Gainesville in 1906.

With this move to a permanent campus, UF also fielded its first football squad in 1906. By 1932, the Gators joined the SEC, and had firmly established rivalries with many of the member schools.

Playing in the powerhouse SEC, the Gators enjoyed only moderate success until the 1960's. 1966 produced UF's first Heisman winner- QB Steve Spurrier- and the 1969 team finished 9-1-1 in coach Ray Graves' final season.

Another boost for UF during this period was the invention of Gatorade by UF researcher Dr. Robert Cade, through which UF still receives royalties to this day.

The 1970's once again saw the Gators falling behind the rest of the SEC, so in 1979 Charlie Pell was hired to turn the Gators around. He started building the Gator program into the national power that it is today. Sadly, his accomplishments were marred by NCAA violations in the 1980's, and led to UF being stripped of its 1984 SEC title, leaving UF still searching for it's first league crown.

In 1990, UF turned the SEC on its head by alumnus Steve Spurrier as its new head coach. In his first season, his Fun 'n Gun offense took the league by storm and led UF to the best record in the SEC. Once again, probation kept the Gators from claiming an official crown, but Gator fans everywhere knew that finally their time had come.

Under Spurrier's trademark visor, UF dominated the SEC. His record setting offenses led to a league wide change. Other teams were stuggling to keep up with their wishbones and triple options. Spurrier frequently used 4 and 5 wide reciever sets, and created mismatches all over the field, causing opponents headaches, and their fans heartaches.

One of the things that bugged opposing fans the most was that the Ol' Ball Coach was the world's biggest Gator fan. He repeatedly took shots at rival teams, and was abundantly confident (if not arrogant) about his offense (which many said would never work in the SEC).

A few of Spurriers best quips:

"You can't spell Citrus without UT." (after sending Peyton Manning's Volunteers to the Citrus bowl yet again)

"I guess FSU stands for Free Shoes University." (after FSU's Foot Locker scandal)

"God smiled upon the Gators today." (after beating FSU 52-20 in the Sugar Bowl for UF's first National Title.)

In all, Spurrier won 6 SEC titles, including 4 in a row (1993-1996) under 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel. He also led UF to a 12-0 season in 1995, and its first National Championship over rival FSU in 1996.

When Spurrier left after the 2001 season, UF endured a few subpar seasons under Ron Zook before hiring Urban Meyer to return them to glory.

Upon his hiring in 2005, Meyer installed the spread offense at UF. Once again, everyone said that it would never work in the SEC. In his second year, Meyer silenced the critcs by winning a National Title by drubbing heavily favored Ohio State 41-14. That 2006 team was led by Sr. QB Chris Leak and freakish freshman Tim Tebow.

The next season Tebow picked up where Leak left off, and took the offense to all new highs. The sophomore QB became the first person to ever rush for 20 TDs and throw for over 20 TDs a single season. He set the SEC single season record with 23 rushing TDs, and added another 32 through the air. The 55 TD effort helped to make him the first underclassman to ever win the Heisman Trophy.

Tebow's success has also led to many SEC teams following the Gators' lead and installing the spread offense. Once again, a Gator coach has proven everyone wrong and turned the league upside down.

The future is very bright for UF in 2008 with 18 returning starters, and the young Gator squad heads into the season with a number 5 ranking.

Traditions:

Gator Chomp

The Chomp is the most loved and recognized (mocked and reviled by opponents) tradition at UF. It is led by the band playing the theme song from Jaws, and done by Gator fans young and old after big plays and before kickoffs.

Gator Walk

A new tradition started by Urban Meyer has the Gators empty the team busses on University Avenue, and walk through the crowd of fans on their way to the stadium.

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE COME THE GATORS!!!!!!!!

90,000 fans lose their mind as the team is introduced by the stadium announcer.

We Are the Boys

Fans wrap their arms around their neighbor and sway left to right while singing at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Mr. Two Bits

George Edmondson started this common gameday cheer in 1949, and has been doing it for almost 60 years. His age no longer allows him to attend EVERY Gator game as he once did, so Albert dons the Yellow Shirt and Gator tie in his absence. When George is in town, he gets the crowd going before the game, and even pops up around the stadium to get individual sections going.

Albert

Our beloved mascot has been going strong since 1911. His female counterpart is Alberta.

Orange and Blue

The official colors were adopted in 1910, and the stadium has been chanting them for years. Half of the stadium is designated "Orange", and half is "Blue". The roar reverberates around the bowl.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field

Named for UF benefactor Ben Hill Griffin Jr. in 1989, the stadium offically holds 88,000, but regularly hosts more than 90,000.

Nationally recognized as one of the loudest and toughest places in the country to play, The Swamp (as it was dubbed by Spurrier in 1991) has been a nightmare for opponents to play since 1990. The Gators are 94-11 at home since then, good for 2nd best winning percentage in the country in that time period.

The stadium is regularly listed among the Top 10 Sporting Venues in America by the likes of ESPN and SI.

Ring of Honor

The UF Ring of Honor was introduced by Coach Urban Meyer to honor former Gator legends.

To be considered for induction into the Ring of Honor, a person must have been removed from UF for five seasons, be in good standing with the University, and meet at least one of the following criteria:

Heisman Trophy Winners
Former UF All-Americans Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame for Accomplishments as Players
Former UF All-Americans Who Are NFL Career Category Leaders
Collegiate Career Category Leaders
Coaches with at least 1 National Championship
Coaches with at least 3 SEC Championships
Players with 2 or more consensus All-American honors (AP, Walter Camp, Sporting News, AFCA, FWAA, UPI) who have also been named National Offensive/Defensive Players of Year (AP, Walter Camp, Sporting News, ABC, AFCA, FWAA, UPI)

Current members are:

Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, Emmitt Smith, Jack Youngblood and Wilber Marshall.

*Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow also qualify, but will have to wait until they are 5 years removed from the program to be inducted.

Rivals

The Gators biggest annual rivals are FSU, Georgia, Tennessee, and LSU.

The Gators and Dawgs face off yearly in Jacksonville in "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party". (I refuse to call it anything else!) The stadium is split down the middle, and creates one of the greatest atmospheres in all of college sports.

Florida and FSU face off in the last game of the season each year in a heated battle that regularly has National Title implications.

Gators in the NFL

UF has regularly turned out NFL talent. In all, 295 Gaotrs have been drafted.

38 Gators have been drafted in the first round, and 29 in the last 25 years. They also have the second longest streak ever (1983-1991) of having at least one player selected in the first round of the draft.

UF alum Emmitt Smith holds the NFL career rushing yardage and rushing TD records, as well as a Super Bowl and NFL MVP award.

Former DE Jack Youngblood was recently inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

The Florida Gators have truly been blessed: Past, Present, and Future.

To Brett or not To Brett....

Small Town Gator — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:19:08 GMT

The cheese is about to hit the fan in Wisconsin. The Packers have spent all off-season telling everyone within shouting distance that Aaron Rodgers is their new starting QB. They are officially beginning the Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay. The made the point of emphasizing that by announcing that they will retire Brett Favre's number at the first home game on Sept 8th. In doing so they are making two statements: First and foremost, they are making the necessary bow of respect to an NFL legend. Secondly they are announcing that Brett Favre is offically "gone, but not forgotten... but definitely gone..... so go ahead and embrace Aaron Rodgers, because he is the QB of the future...... Because Brett is gone..... Look.... His number is up on the wall there with Starr and Lombardi.... Did we mention that Brett is gone?"

But then a funny thing happened on the way to the jersey raising. Brett got itchy. A little time away from football can do that to a man who knows how great he is at what he does. Brett just had one of the best seasons of his life, and his team has only gotten better in the offseason. He made it to the NFC title game last year... maybe this year they can go all the way.

Little thoughts about leading his team to glory one more time started creeping into his mind. Or maybe the thoughts were purely selfish. Maybe he just started to realize that if he walks away now, he will never again get the chance to lace up and compete with the best of the best, and there is nothing wrong with that either. He is 38 years old, and still one of the Top 5 in the league at his position, but will he even be a starter next year?

As far as Green Bay is concerned, he will not. Brett has been in contact with the Packers since late June expressing his desire to return. The Packers have spent that time giving the media the run around about what was happening behind the scenes, only continuing to state: Aaron Rodgers is our starter. When all parties concerned (Favre, his agent Bus Cook, Packers GM Thompson, and Head Coach McCarthy) finally all got together to clear the air, the Packers let Brett know that they were moving forward with Rodgers.

Favre responded by saying, "...give me my helmet, or give me my release."

He then had Cook draft a letter to Packers management asking for Favre to be released unconditionally, so that Favre could choose his next landing spot. The Pack declined the offer, and the staredown began.

So here we sit at the beginning of what could be a very messy divorce, and there is no solution where everyone wins.

Let's start with what Packers fans want: the Packers hand the reigns back over to Favre. Seems easy enough. Everyone (fans, coaches, teammates) knows that Brett is a better QB right now than Rodgers, and gives the Packers the best chance to win right now. Give the old guy one more season to chase glory, and then hand the ball back to Rodgers. The problem is that they have already promised the job to Rodgers, and adjusted their offense accordingly. In taking Brett back, they would essentially be telling Rodgers that they lack confidence in him leading the team.

Also, maybe Brett plays one year... maybe 2 or 3. Rodgers' contract is up after 2009. Do you really think he will re-sign with the Packers is they renege on this? That will leave them with Brian Brohm and Matt (Damon) Flynn, who have never taken an NFL snap as their QBs of the future... possibly only one of them. Most teams only carry 3 QBs on a roster (except, of course the Bucs), so either one of the young guns has to go, or another valuable roster slot is taken up for 1-3 years.

If the Packers give in to Favre and release him, he will go to a team that is ready to win now; a virtual lock for the playoffs. Even if that team isn't the Vikings or Bears, there is the possibility that the Pack could see them in the playoffs (Bucs, Redskins, Panthers). You think Thompson wants to see Favre come into Lambeau (the house that he re-built), and out-duel Rodgers? He would be crucifed. Even moreso if Rodgers struggles this season, while Brett lights it up elsewhere.

If the Packers trade him, the same scenario as above still applies. They can control where he goes (preferrably an AFC team), but there is still the Rodgers/Favre comparison. Plus, they will likely get little to nothing in trade, because Favre still holds all of the cards. What is an acceptable trade for a Top 5 QB? A mid-round pick? Will teams even offer that much for someone that they might only get one year out of?

Thompson is playing hardball now, but Farve can greatly affect his trade value by making the statement that he will only play for teams X or Y. If the Pack trades him anyway, he can re-retire, ala Jake Plummer. Is that blackmail? Yes, but it is essentially the same thing Packers are doing to Favre right now.

The route that Thompson has decided to go is to continue their hardline statement that Aaron Rodgers is their starting QB. If Brett were to un-retire (which he has not yet officially done), they would welcome him back... as a backup. Thompson is trying to force Brett into staying retired. He has even sent officials from the Packers to Mississippi to try and talk Brett into staying retired. Do you think he wants to pay a backup QB $12 million?

Now the ball is in Favre's court. If he reports to the Packers' training camp as a backup, the real drama begins. Maybe Rodgers starts to feel the giant shadow standing over his shoulder, and has a few bad days in practice. Even a few displays of mediocrity would be enough to make a couple of veterans question him.

Imagine being Donald Driver, or Al Harris, or Charles Woodson. You only have a few trips left around the block. Do you want to concede a year or two of what little bit of career you have left waiting on Rodgers to be as good as the guy who is holding the clipboard? Also, if they are treating the legendary Brett Favre this way, how swift will they be to show you the door?

Three veteran starters are more than enough to tear a locker room apart. This is the type of stuff 5-11 seasons are made of. It would start with some whispers. "Brett would have made that throw.... Brett KNOWS I always run this route when we see this coverage...... Brett would have read that coverage... that is a rookie mistake." Rodgers is in his 4th year. Even though he hasn't started a single game, he is now expected to live up one of the greatest players of all time. That in itself will be a crushing weight to bear, but it will be exponentially so if that guy is on the sideline if and when you make a mistake.

Is that kind of criticism fair to Rodgers? No and yes. He is in the unfortunate situation of having to follow Brett, and that was before all of this happened. But he is trying to be the starting QB of an NFL team. Millions of little boys dream about that every day of their lives, and less than one in ten million ever get that chance. He hit the lottery, just not in the ideal situation. It is the most difficult position in all of sports. Only the strong survive. He knew what he was getting into when he chose his profession. If he shines, he will be remembered all the more fondly because of it. Look at Steve Young.

Imagine the boos that will rain down upon both Rodgers and McCarthy if he starts to have a bad game. "There's good ole Number 4 sitting on the sideline, holding a clipboard. He could bail us out, like he has countless times before... but this dumb SOB won't put him in."

Forcing Favre to be a backup could cost Thompson, McCarthy, and Rodgers all their jobs, and possibly their careers.

So, why is Brett doing this all now?

In short: Because he can... now.

He will turn 39 this season, and is still in great shape. A year from now, he will be approaching 40, and that carries a certain stigma to it when concerning a professional athlete. If he decided to wait a year, he would be a full year removed from competiton, and that also carries a pretty negative stigma. People (possibly even himself) would wonder if he still had it. Right now, they KNOW he still has it.

And he has every right to prove it to them.

Yes, Brett is being selfish and putting the Packers in a tough situation, but he has earned that right. He has played through pain and grief that would have crippled lesser men. He played the day after his father died, and had the game of a lifetime. He played when his wife had cancer. He has played through unbearable pain- without the aid of painkillers, and never missed a start. Yeah, the Packers paid him for playing, but can you put a price on what he has meant to that city and organization?

The best thing for the Pack to do would to aquiesce and give Brett his release. The worst case scenario would be him going to the Vikings or Bears, because they would have to face him twice a year for the next year or two. Maybe he wins a game or so in Lambeau. Would that be so bad? Yeah, Thompson would catch flack about it, but the team would move on. Who knows, maybe Rodgers would even out-duel the legend, and get that moneky off of his back early? Personally, I would rather slug it out with bully man to man then worry about him jumping me from behind all the time. Either way, the Aaron Rodgers era would begin in earnest, and he would have the fighting chance to carve out his own legend that wouldn't be afforded to him if Brett were standing over his shoulder.

And Brett Favre would get to play football, which is all he really wants to do.

Upset Special (part 1)

Small Town Gator — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:37:34 GMT

Last year was the most amazing season in college football history, hands down. A sophomore won the Heisman, someone from the top 5 lost almost every week, and a 2 loss team won the National Title. The dominos all started to fall the first week of the season with the "upset heard 'round the world."

Little known Appalachian State went into the Big House and punched the Wolverines in the mouth. For four quarters, they went toe to toe with the winningest school in college football history (and picked by many to contend for a National Championship) and would not back down. They proved what every coach in America preaches to his team day in and day out: Believe in yourself, and you can accomplish anything.

Suddenly the little guys could play with the big boys. Stanford knocked off USC, Kentucky beat LSU.... as did Arkansas. USF beat Auburn at home and Illinois went to the Horshoe and won. #2 couldn't catch a break as Cal, UF, USF, and Pitt all let the ranking slip through their fingers with upset losses. Parity reigned supreme, and don't expect anything different this year.

The difference between the upper-echelon teams and their usual whipping boys has been marginalized in this age of Youtube. This season will not be as shocking as last year, but you can bet you will see some "tune up" teams swinging for the fences this year.

The following games are on upset watch:

Week 1

Appalachian St @ LSU

Why? Because not only is Appalachian St the 3 Time Defending National Champion, but because they did it last year. They know that they CAN play with the best of the bigs. They return 14 starters, including their QB. LSU lost the heart and soul of their defense (Steltz and Dorsey) as well as their offense (Hester, Flynn, Doucet), plus trouble child Ryan Perriloux.

Why Not? LSU won a title last year too, and Les Miles has recruited well. The Tigers can pretty much re-load and challenge for the SEC.

Probability: 25%. Everyone has been talking about it since last season, so LSU is tired of hearing about it. If LSU comes out ready to play, it will be over early- but if they let App St hang around.....

USC @ UVA

Why? The last road start for Mark Sanchez did not go so well for USC, and UVA's home crowd is a little more rowdy than Stanford's. Plus USC could be caught looking ahead to the Ohio State game.

Why Not? UVA lost the heart of their defense in Chris Long, and Pete Carroll has a stable full of backs he will feed the ball to.

Probability: 20%. A win could go a long way toward saving Al Groh's job.

Alabama @ Clemson

Why? It isn't really a home game for Clemson, and the Tigers tend to stumble out of the gates under Bowden. Plus Saban needs a signature win to ease his already warming seat.

Why Not? The Tide are still a year or two away from beating teams with Clemson's talent on a regular basis.

Probability: 50%. Never trust Tommy Bowden in a big game... unless it is against his dad or Spurrier.

Week 2

Central Michigan @ UGA

Why? The Dogs - the sexy pick to win the national title this year- follow this game up with a trip to Arizona State, and Central Michigan is no longer a team to be overlooked. They have a potent offense led by QB Dan LeFevour, and are capable of getting into a shootout with the dogs.

Why Not? The Chippewa defense is awful and Knowshon knows that.

Probability: 10%. The Dogs may get caught sleeping early, but they have the firepower to catch up- and then some.

Cincinnati @ Oklahoma

Why? Brian Kelly's team is hard-nosed and looking for a win to put them on the map. OU has been labeled as soft in recent bowl games. Look for them to take shots early and often in this game to stun the Sooners.

Why Not? Lack of firepower for Cincinatti. They need a few more playmakers before they take out a team that is this loaded.

Probability: 10%. Stoops' teams usually get out of the gate fast.

Troy @ LSU

Why? Troy's offense can score at will, and LSU is breaking in a new QB.

Why Not? Same as above. LSU still has a LOT of talent.

Probability: 20%

Miami @ UF

Why? Miami needs this game to climb back to their former glory. It's a rivalry game, and no one gives them a shot at winning, which will lead to one fired up squad. Also, UF has yet to prove itself on defense.

Why not? Miami has a new QB making his first road start in front of 90,000 fans in the Swamp. Florida has Heisman winner Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Corneilus Ingram, Chris Rainey... et all.

Probability: 25%. Most of UF's players weren't born the last time UF beat Miami. They don't understand the rivalry. If Miami can frustrate Tebow and hang close, it will be interesting. If Tebow distributes the ball amongst his weapons, it won't be close.

Other possibilities:

Tulane @ Alabama (15%) - If 'Bama doesn't find some offense, this one could be interesting.

Ole Miss @ Wake (30%) - How well does Wake adjust to being the favorite? Is Jevan Sneed all that Houston Nutt hopes he will be?

Miami OH @ Michigan (10%) - Game 1 of the Rich Rod era. Have players bought into the new system?