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Last Season's Loss Keeps UF Focused

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By ANDY STAPLES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 28, 2007

GAINESVILLE - As the University of Florida football team came unglued in the visitor's locker room last year at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium, an assistant suggested to Coach Urban Meyer that he step in and calm his players. Meyer looked at the players, some crying, some screaming at one another, and made a decision.

'I said, 'no, let it go.' We let it go for about 15 minutes,' Meyer said Monday. 'I wanted to watch, and I wanted to clear the air. Every good family has had that.'

The 27-17 loss at Auburn allowed the Gators to stage their own intervention; they got their house in order and rolled to the national title. This week, that loss - and the memories it conjures - will serve another purpose. It will keep Florida focused for what should be a classic trap game.

When the Gators take Florida Field tonight at 8, they won't see the Tigers as the team that lost at home to USF and Mississippi State in consecutive weeks this month. They'll see the team that dominated the eventual national champion for a half and nearly derailed a dream season. That memory alone should keep Florida players' minds off their matchup at No. 2 LSU next week.

Auburn gave some of the Gators' biggest contributors their only taste of defeat in college. Quarterback Tim Tebow, receiver Percy Harvin, kick returner Brandon James, cornerback Wondy Pierre-Louis and all three of Florida's starting linebackers haven't lost to anyone else, and they'd be just fine if they never had to feel the way they felt at Auburn again.

'I don't know if it's better to win or it's worse to lose,' Tebow said. 'Losing is tough. ... It's heartbreaking.'

Florida also may get an emotional boost from a preseason comment by Auburn defensive end Quentin Groves, who earned the right to trash talk the Gators when he forced the Chris Leak fumble that allowed Auburn to seal the win last year. At Southeastern Conference media days in July, Groves said he'd like to meet Tebow 'face to face or back to face.' Given a chance Tuesday during a teleconference to clarify that comment, Groves - who likely knows that Tebow has thrown for 1,096 yards, run for 358 and accounted for 17 touchdowns this season - said he was only being sarcastic.

Sarcasm or not, Florida probably didn't need another motivator. The sting of last season's loss should suffice.

'They're the last team to beat us,' defensive tackle Clint McMillan said. 'Everybody's going to be focused.'

AUBURN (2-2, 0-1 SEC) AT NO. 4 FLORIDA (4-0, 2-0)

KICKOFF: 8 p.m., Florida Field

TV/RADIO: ESPN/WFLA, 970 AM; Sirius Ch. 114, 181

THE LINE: Florida by 1761/27

KEEP ON EYE ON
Auburn - Florida fans should remember DE Quentin Groves as the pass rusher who forced the Chris Leak fumble - Florida fans still call it an incomplete pass - that turned last year's game in Auburn in the Tigers' favor. Groves, a senior, needs only one more sack to tie Gerald Robinson's school record (26).
Florida - The players charged with stopping Groves are OTs Jason Watkins and Carlton Medder. Florida's offensive line has protected QB Tim Tebow well this season, allowing only two sacks in four games.

KEY STAT
Auburn - The Tigers rank No. 112 in the nation with 13 turnovers lost, including five in losses to USF and Mississippi State. Of Auburn's 115 points, 91 have been scored by underclassmen.
Florida - The Gators rank No. 117 out of 119 Division I-A teams in penalty yardage. Florida averages 10.5 penalties and 87 penalty yards a game. After last week's win against Ole Miss, Gators coach Urban Meyer estimated that after adding the yardage gained in plays wiped out by penalties, Florida lost more than 200 yards.

INJURY UPDATE
Auburn - G Mike Berry (shoulder), OT King Dunlap (wrist), LB Tray Blackmon (ankle) and RB Tristan Davis (toe) are questionable. LB Merrill Johnson (shoulder) is out.
Florida - S Bryan Thomas (knee) and DT Brandon Antwine (elbow) are probable. CB Markihe Anderson (knee) and CB Markus Manson (ankle) are questionable. WR Percy Harvin (hip) and WR Andre Caldwell (knee) are doubtful.

AT STAKE
Auburn - Beating Florida would give the Tigers a signature win in a season already written off as a disappointment. Of course, no Auburn season should be written off as long as there is a chance to beat Alabama.
Florida - Florida needs to win every game to stay in the national title picture. The Gators will play their toughest game of the season next week at LSU, but they can't get caught looking ahead.

KEY MATCHUPS
When Auburn has the ball - The Tigers are trying to duplicate Florida's 2006 success with a two-quarterback system. Senior Brandon Cox plays the Chris Leak role, while freshman Kodi Burns plays the Tim Tebow role. The pair hasn't had the success of the Florida tandem, though. Expect Auburn to test Florida deep after watching Ole Miss's receivers run past Florida's secondary on several occasions last week.
When Florida has the ball - The Gators can neutralize Groves by running the ball effectively. With Harvin potentially out, Florida may opt for a more traditional running game using TB Kestahn Moore. WR Riley Cooper should return from an ankle injury this week, giving Florida a deep threat on the outside. Auburn has given up only three touchdown passes this season.

PREDICTION
Florida players haven't forgotten which team handed them their only loss during their national title season. The memory of last season's loss in Auburn should keep the Gators from looking ahead to next week's game at LSU. Auburn's Tommy Tuberville always has been a good big-game coach, but he may not have the players to stay competitive tonight.
Score: Florida 32, Auburn 10
- Andy Staples

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

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