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SEC Notebook: Underdog Status Not A Concern For Tide

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Glen Coffee leads a rugged ground game for top-ranked Alabama.

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By MICK ELLIOTT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 4, 2008

Updated: 12/04/2008 01:22 am

Alabama goes 12-0 and climbs to the nation's No. 1 ranking.

And its reward is being made 10-point underdogs?

Sounds like disrespect.

"I guess you could say that, but it's nothing that we've really given much thought about or looked at too much," Alabama QB John Parker Wilson said. "Whatever the prediction of the game is really has no bearing on the outcome of the game. We're going to play just like we've played in any other game. Being an underdog or whatever makes no difference to us."

Florida DB Joe Haden think Wilson and the Tide are taking the slight a lot better than the Gators would. He sees a motivational tool.

"If I was Alabama I definitely would, all the talk about us being in the national championship game," Haden said. "They're still the undefeated team, still have not lost a game yet. If I was them, I would definitely use that as fuel."

"Everybody like offense and points," CBS college football analyst and former NFL quarterback Gary Danielson said "It's always that way. That's a reason I don't like the voting in the BCS and the computers because there is a fascination with offense.

"Now, that said, of the two squads that are marquee in this - the Alabama defense and the Florida offense - the Florida offense is more impressive because, to be honest about the SEC this year, its defenses are much superior to its offenses. So what Florida has done against SEC defenses is more impressive that what Alabama has done with SEC defenses."

OH, THAT BIG GAME

What was Florida's most important game of this year - the upset by Ole Miss that seemed to turn the team around, the revenge win against Georgia, the Rain Bowl win against FSU?

No, no, no.

It was the Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl in which Michigan manhandled the Gators.

"Getting embarrassed in the last bowl game was one of the best things that ever happened to Florida football," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "It's hard to say that, but last year's team was an entitled, selfish group. ... They got slapped on New Year's Day. That was the best thing I think that ever happened to them.

"They realized you better get to work. Most of you guys really had nothing to do with that '06 team, so let's leave it alone and try to create your own here. They've done that so far."

BIG CHALLENGE

The biggest, if not the most important, task facing any of the Florida Gators on Saturday may belong to C Maurkice Pouncey.

Lining up against him will be Alabama NT Terrence Cody, a 6-foot-5, 365-pounder who has controlled the middle all season.

"I mean, he's going to be a big guy to move in there," said Pouncey, at 6-5, 312 not exactly a wilting violet.

"He's a great player," Pouncey said. "We've watched him on film. You've just got to go out there and play hard and physical.

YOU ASKING ME WHAT?

A big game means big publicity, so the SEC office scheduled national media conference calls with both coaches.

The only trouble with that was Saturday's game against Alabama wasn't the only thing Florida coach Urban Meyer was asked about.

Q: Do you think NFL teams will try to adapt the spread offense or try to align the run once it gets in the NFL either this year or next year?

Meyer: "I don't know. We play Alabama here in a few days. I don't know all that stuff. I could care less."

Mick Elliott

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