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Fun-Filled Victory For Gators

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By ANDY STAPLES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 16, 2007

Updated: 09/16/2007 01:11 am

GAINESVILLE - Yes, University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow noted the irony Saturday as he stood in the shotgun, needing to convert another fourth-quarter fourth-and-1 to keep a drive alive against Tennessee.

A year ago today in Knoxville, Tenn., Tebow needed a yard to sustain the Gators' Southeastern Conference and national title hopes. Saturday at Florida Field, Tebow's 1-yard gain to the Florida 36-yard line allowed the Gators to - to paraphrase a former Florida quarterback - hang half-a-hundred on the Volunteers.

'It was still a game there,' Tebow said, trying to keep a straight face.

The eventual national champion Gators learned something about themselves with their one-point, comeback win against Tennessee last year. Fifth-ranked Florida's 59-20 thumping of the 22nd-ranked Vols on Saturday taught everyone else what the Gators (3-0, 1-0 SEC) already knew. They may be young, but they belong on the short list of the nation's elite teams.

Years from now, Gator Nation may look back on Saturday as a watershed event. The highlights will play on mental loops - Brandon James' 83-yard punt return that gave Florida a 7-0 lead before the offense touched the field, safety Tony Joiner pecking roommate Tebow on the left cheek after a touchdown run, linebacker Dustin Doe's 18-yard return of an Arian Foster fumble for a touchdown, Harvin dodging certain tackles three times while jitterbugging for a 19-yard touchdown run.

Florida's 41-14 win against Ohio State in January's national title game, while dominant, was a triumph of SEC speed against a Big Ten plodder. The most lopsided Florida win in the Tennessee series seemed to signal a return to the Gators' most glorious years, when quality SEC teams came to The Swamp and left humbled.

After James gave Florida the lead, the Vols (1-2, 0-1) marched into the red zone and seemed ready to answer when cornerback Markihe Anderson ripped an Erik Ainge pass away from receiver Quentin Hancock on the 9-yard line. After two ugly possessions, Florida's offense found its groove with a three-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 30-yard Tebow TD pass to Riley Cooper.

Florida also reached the end zone on its next two possessions. After the Gators' third consecutive touchdown - a 20-yard toss from Tebow to Cornelius Ingram through a busted Vols coverage - Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer put his hands on his knees and hung his head.

'This offense is fun,' Harvin said. 'Just throw it, catch it and run.'

With 299 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 61 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, Tebow proved he can manage a game against an SEC opponent.

'He's crossing every bridge,' Gators coach Urban Meyer said.

But he isn't perfect. Vols cornerback Eric Berry returned Tebow's first interception of the season 96 yards for a touchdown that cut Florida's lead to 28-20 early in the third quarter. Meyer would say Cooper ran his route improperly, but Tebow refused to deflect blame.

Less than four minutes later, Florida's defense - which held Tennessee to 37 rushing yards and one offensive touchdown - returned the favor. The ball squirted from Foster's hands after a handoff, and Doe scooped up the fumble and ran for a touchdown as Florida Field rocked. Tebow and company handled the rest as Florida's offense broke 38 points for the fifth consecutive game.

When it was over, after the Gators joined the band to sing the alma mater and the fight song, Florida's student section remained packed. The students couldn't decide whether to chant 'Urb-an Mey-er!' 'Te-bow' or 'Per-cy Har-vin,' so they alternated among the three.

Tebow and Harvin took victory laps around the stadium, while Meyer headed directly for the locker room, where a host of blue-chip recruits waited to learn whether they might have a chance to join in the fun next year.

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

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