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A Day Of Good News, Bad News

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By ANDY STAPLES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 18, 2007

Updated: 11/18/2007 01:11 am

GAINESVILLE - Cornelius Ingram admitted Saturday afternoon that he and his University of Florida teammates stole glances at the out-of-town scores crawling across the boards atop the end zones at Florida Field. Maybe that's why, when the Gators came to their meeting room to discuss their 59-20 win against Florida Atlantic, they didn't seem 39-point win happy.

Shortly after the last Florida players and coaches trickled off the field and into the locker room, they got the word. Georgia 24, Kentucky 13. The Bulldogs' win eliminated the Gators from the Southeastern Conference title race and capped a good-news, bad-news afternoon.

The good news for Florida is this. In the process of throwing for a career-high 338 yards - with three passing touchdowns one rushing touchdown - quarterback Tim Tebow became the first player in NCAA Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) history to run for 20 touchdowns and throw for 20 touchdowns in a season. He also broke the SEC's single-season rushing touchdown record and further cemented his status as the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy.

Also, former Jefferson High star Andre Caldwell caught 13 passes for 164 yards and broke Carlos Alvarez's school record for career receptions. Meanwhile, Florida's offense continued to click even without playmaker Percy Harvin, who missed his second consecutive game because of a sinus infection and migraine headaches.

The bad news? Aside from their elimination from the conference race, the Gators (8-3) had five defensive players - cornerbacks Joe Haden (ankle) and Wondy Pierre-Louis (wrist), defensive tackles Mike Pouncey (knee) and Lawrence Marsh (foot) and linebacker Brandon Spikes (knee) - leave the game either permanently or temporarily because of injury. Florida also committed 12 penalties and allowed Owls quarterback Rusty Smith to throw for 247 yards in the first half.

"I'm very disappointed," Gators coach Urban Meyer said. "At times, we were a very sloppy outfit today."

Meyer and his players said they would have to correct those mistakes before Florida State arrives later this week. Tebow said the Seminoles won't allow the Gators to commit so many gaffes and still win.

"They'll play their best game," Tebow said.

But if Florida plays a better game, the Gators still might taste Orange or Sugar. If Kentucky beats Tennessee next week - which would send Georgia to the SEC title game - Florida would have an outside shot at earning an at-large bid to a Bowl Championship Series game.

In Saturday's second quarter, the Gators weren't worried about bowls, and they probably stopped looking at out-of-town scores for a few minutes. The numbers on the main section of the scoreboard looked too similar.

Florida raced to a 21-0 lead, but Smith carved up Florida's defense for 197 second-quarter passing yards, and FAU (5-5) trimmed the lead to 28-20 after Smith scored on a 1-yard run with 1:13 remaining in the first half.

The Gators' next drive epitomized their offensive day. Despite three penalties in a four-play stretch, Florida marched 63 yards, and Tebow capped the drive with a 26-yard touchdown pass to a leaping Ingram.

A quick touchdown to open the second half allowed the Gators to begin scoreboard watching again, but they couldn't send Kentucky enough positive vibes to inspire an upset. As Florida celebrated its win with its band, and as Marsh - the last Gator to fall in the cavalcade of injuries - hobbled into the locker room on crutches, Georgia's Brandon Coutu prepared to kick a field goal to seal a win and seal the Gators' SEC fate. Ingram, who has played in the SEC title game once in three seasons, was disappointed but not shocked.

"We have a lot to play for still," Ingram said. "We have a lot of young guys. It happened. You've just got to get over it."

And Ingram is correct. The Gators should have plenty of motivation because Saturday, they will face a rival they loathe with bragging rights, bowl placement and possibly the Heisman Trophy hanging in the balance.

Reporter Andy Staples can be reached at (352) 262-3719 or astaples@tampatrib.com.

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