It remains to be seen what No. 2 Alabama learned from its gut-check victory over Auburn Friday. Ditto for top-ranked Florida, which toyed with Florida State in its easy win Saturday.Regardless, this much is certain: Expect the pair to be prepared and poised for Saturday's 1-vs.-2 showdown for the SEC Championship. The Gators (12-0) are two wins from a third national championship in four years, while the Tide (12-0) last won a national title in 1992, when it beat UF in the inaugural SEC Championship game and Gino Torretta-led Miami in the Sugar Bowl.
"We've been looking forward to this day (SEC Championship game) since back in January, when we were grinding it out," UF linebacker Brandon Spikes said following the Gators' 37-10 win over FSU at The Swamp.
"We wanted to be here and are blessed to be 12-0. You can still see how hungry the guys are. You see it when they come out during the week. The coaches do a great job getting us ready. I am just going to embrace the moment."
In last year's SEC championship, roles were reversed.
Alabama entered undefeated and No. 1. UF was 11-1 and No. 2 -- with question marks. Could the Gators handle adversity? And could quarterback Tim Tebow lead his team to a come-from-behind win in the fourth quarter, something he had not done in his career to that point?
UF answered both. Tebow led the Gators on two clutch fourth-quarter touchdowns to propel UF past Alabama 31-20 and into the BCS title game, where it beat Oklahoma.
Alabama, meanwhile, exhibited clutch in its 26-21 comeback victory at Auburn two days ago. The Tide took 15 plays to go 79 yards in 7:03 in the face of hostile crowd with the game on the line.
Junior quarterback Greg McElroy threw an incompletion to start the march, then completed seven straight passes, including the game-winner to Roy Upchurch on a 4-yard play in the right flat with 1:24 left.
While Tide coach Nick Saban was proud of his team's resiliency, he was quick to point out his team must play better against the the Gators
"I think that sometimes when you don't play well and win, guys have to be smart enough to learn from that," Saban said.
"We didn't have a lot of emotion. We didn't play with a lot of passion. I can't really understand that. I am not sure if it is because of the short week, if we were tired or the distractions, but it was a difficult preparation."
The Tide will hold a light practice Sunday after Saban gave players Saturday off. He felt the quick reprieve was needed.
"I actually think the players need a little emotional break," Saban said.
"It was hard to get our players back last year after a very emotional game at the end of the season and then go into the SEC Championship Game for another big, emotional game. ... We'll try to give them some time to recover."
If Alabama took the time to watch UF's win over FSU, players watched the Gators gather much of their yardage in chunks, a trait that had been missing from the offense all season.
In addition to the big pass plays for touchdowns, the Gators got runs of 62 yards from Jeff Demps, 47 yards from Tebow, 45 yards from Chris Rainey and 27 yards from Mike Gillislee.
Not including his post-game victory lap on Senior Day, Tebow broke former Gator Chris Leak's SEC and UF total offensive yardage records, with his 311 yards (211 passing, 90 rushing) Saturday to bring his career total to 11,389.
Defensively, the Gators held the Seminoles scoreless and to only 55 yards in the first half. Following FSU's second possession of the second half, UF defensive coordinator Charlie Strong pulled his seniors and most of his starters.
The Gators still held their opponent to under 100 rushing yards (83) for the fourth straight game and ninth time this season. The most points scored against UF in a game was 20 by Arkansas.
It's also not surprising players from both Alabama and UF immediately turned their attention to each other.
"I think we're very confident. We had a chance to beat them last year and kind of fell short," Tide linebacker Eryk Anders said. "Everybody's really hungry this year. We'll come out guns blazin'. We'll be ready to play."
UF linebacker Ryan Stamper nodded in agreement a day later.
"It's a huge work week," Stamper said. "They are undefeated, just like us. It's going to be a great game, with a great atmosphere, and I am really excited for us."
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
It's hard to be so excited and nervous at the same time. The Tide have been out of the national championship spotlight for so long, and then last year they could smell it right around the corner. Only to lose a heart-breaker to their biggest (current) SEC rival. Then with heavy hearts they go on to underestimate a very good Utah team that completely embarassed Bama and the SEC in general. I wonder if Florida is still not the more complete team at this point of the season...6 more days till we find out. It's taken two full seasons for The Crimson Tide to rebuild a championship caliber team. A couple more top recruiting classes, and I see there being a dynasty in the making...just like the good ol' days. Tebow will be gone after this year (though his backup is a good one); I believe that Florida won't be as dominant under the leadership of another. Enjoy your winning ways while you can Gators...the TIDEs are turning in the SEC. ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
I don't care if you're a gator fan or a tide fan, this is what college football is all about. 2 hard nosed, well coached, talented and undefeated teams going at it. It doesn't get any better than this. It's going ot be a long week of waiting and trash talking.
Clay, you are absolutely right. This kind of football game is what you want to see, outside of the national title game.Best of luck to both teams.
Concur. Can't wait. Clearly, the two best -- how rare.
Clearly the 2 best in the SEC! TEXAS, hopefully, will be waiting to prove different on a National level a month later. (anybody can be beaten on any given or off day). All three Florida, Alabama and Texas had their close calls this season.
In January 2005 USC ran all over Oklahoma on their way to a National title. In January 2006 Texas did what Oklahoma could not, beat USC! In January 2009 Florida beat Oklahoma. Texas will be waiting to finish some business whether it be Florida or Alabama in January 2010 Rose Bowl. Do not under estimate TEXAS.....after all does not the SEC recruit heavily from the State of TEXAS for a reason!
Clearly the 2 best in the SEC! TEXAS, hopefully, will be waiting to prove different on a National level a month later. (anybody can be beaten on any given or off day). All three Florida, Alabama and Texas had their close calls this season.
In January 2005 USC ran all over Oklahoma on their way to a National title. In January 2006 Texas did what Oklahoma could not, beat USC! In January 2009 Florida beat Oklahoma. Texas will be waiting to finish some business whether it be Florida or Alabama in January 2010 Rose Bowl. Do NOT under estimate TEXAS, after all does not the SEC recruit heavily in the State of TEXAS!
i know it is only day 1 of sec championship week, but so far i am highly impressed with the way both schools are treating this game. (remembering this game has been officially decided for a month, and unofficially for 11) there has been no trash talk from either school, both teams are fired up to play each other. you will never see this big of a game handled with this level of class the week before, the level of mutual respect for each other will never be matched again. this being said, once the whistle blows and the ball kicks off, look for this to be a game full of hard hits, atleast 8 personal fouls (mostly being against either defense, maybe 1 for floridas nasty offensive line...best in the country this year), and an "after the whistle skirmish" on just about every play. this should go down as the greatest sec game ever played and show us why we love the sec so much.
however...the last few weeks florida is clicking, tebow has been getting emotional about how he leaves florida, and they will roll the tide more easy than expected. i acknowledge alabama as being the second most talented team in the country, and they deserve their credit, but there is a substantial margin from second most talented to first most talented.
Deitrade----, you and every one else will be surprised come this week end, alabama will show the country why they are really the number one team in the country! The team will earn the respect they deserve with their on the field domination (THEIR DEFENSE IS CLEARLY THE BEST IN THE NATION). I believe this will be the second best game of the year and alabama will meet and defeat Texas for the national championship in the best game of the year!!!!!!!!!!!Enjoy everyone--Roll Tide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Famous, I enjoy college football ( yes, Texas is my Team). All the undefeated Teams can win, they all can lose. Not enough time to talk about TCU, Boise or Cinci. If Bama controls Tebow's runs Bama wins, if not Florida wins. If Texas gets past Nebraska it will await the winner....UNLESS the loser is Florida! I can see the BCS having a National Championship with Alabama and Florida in that scenerio and that would be a rip off!
Once again, do NOT under estimate TEXAS! There is a reason the SEC raids the State of Texas for recruits every year. TEXAS has 105 of 110 home grown Texas boys. I have looked up Florida and Alabama's rosters, they have a lot of out of State boys.
FAMOUSE21 WHAT WORLD HAVE U BEEN LIVING IN?? ALABAMA NUMBER 1 DEFENCE?MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER AT UR HOUSE.GATORS BY 2 TOUCHDOWNS!!!
Going to the game, like last year, but hoping for a different result. ROLL TIDE ROLL
From a neutral perspective, I, like every college football fan, have been waiting for this game all year. Up until about three weeks ago, I thought Alabama would be strong enough to pull out a victory with their defense being too overwhelming for Florida's lack of a vertical game. However, Florida has been clicking offensively as of recent (despite playing way inferior opponents), and I Think Tebow can manage the game offensively and control the clock. Also, Florida's defense is unreal and maybe too quick for McElroy whose 1 or 2 picks might be the difference. Alabama will need to run the ball and use play action efficiently to stay in it. Florida by 7.
No doubt Texas is going to be a worthy adversary for the winner of the SEC championship game. I hope Texas is able to handle Nebraska so that they will indeed make it to the MNC game.
As for the SECCG, it's going to be one for the ages. Bama is a better team on both sides of the ball than they were last year. The Gators are better on defense than last year but their offense has fallen off a bit. I look for a close game being decided in the last few seconds by a field goal.
This is going to be an ugly low scoring game. 12-9 final or something like that. Florida's defense will hold bama under14 the question is can Tebow and the offence score on a top 5 defense? We still dont know LSU has been there toughest opponet. Lsu has been there only top 20 opponet.
Well, I count 5 Texans on Florida's roster,
70 Florida boys and 33 players from other states. I guess saying that the Florida roster is full of Texans must be some of that Texas math they teach over there. Not saying Texas doesn't play good ball, but give the Florida boys their due.
......so you think I have trouble with my math?? Where did you learn to read? I never said Florida was loaded with TEXAS boys. I said "the SEC raids the State of Texas for recruits." I said I looked at Florida and Alabama's rosters and they have a lot of "out of STATE boys."
My math is fine and I do respect the Florida Gators for they gave us Emmitt Smith but my point was and still is, "so NOT under estimate TEXAS!"
In truth, this is what is really turnig me off about Tebow and Florida. One National title under Tebow, a 34-5 record and a Heisman. Colt McCoy, 44-7 record, leading college career passer rating and Heisman runner-up yet all you hear is Tebow Tebow Tebow for Heisman this year. Playoffs, forget playoffs, I personally wish to see Tebow against McCoy. Not knocking Alabama,TCU,Boise St or Cinci. ALABAMA has there shot at knocking off Florida this week and if they do not, I want my LONGHORNS to get the shot they should have had last year.
The only good thing to come outta Texas is I-10..
Roll Tide!!!
HORDE what were you saying last January?? "ROLL OVER TIDE!!" I bet the only thing good to come out of Utah was a SPANKING huhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
I have not bad mouth Alabama one time.....all I have said is do NOT under estimate TEXAS!
I watched Texas get kicked around by Nebraska (a better team).. so I don't under estamate Texas, in fact I don't think about them at all. TCU would have been a better game.