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Gators Feeling Defenseless

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By ANDY STAPLES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 2, 2008

Updated: 01/02/2008 12:12 am

ORLANDO - University of Michigan linebacker Shawn Crable called Tim Tebow "just a quarterback" Saturday. Late Tuesday afternoon, as Crable stood over Florida's reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Tebow - whose wobbly fourth-down pass had just bounded off the grass - looked like just another quarterback.

And as the Wolverines celebrated a 41-35 Capital One Bowl win that sent Coach Lloyd Carr into retirement on the shoulders of his grateful players, the Gators looked like any other losing team. They walked off the field looking less like a group that might begin next season as a national title favorite than a group wondering if it can improve enough in the off-season to live up to such lofty expectations.

If Tuesday's performance is any indication, Florida (9-4) will have to significantly upgrade its defense before it can become a serious national title contender. Michigan quarterback Chad Henne shredded the Gators for 373 yards and three touchdowns, including an 18-yard, fourth-quarter strike to senior Adrian Arrington with 4:12 remaining to give the Wolverines (9-4) the lead for good.

"The correlation," Florida coach Urban Meyer said, "between lack of pressure, lack of pass rush and loose coverage killed us."

Meanwhile, the Gators couldn't keep Michigan rushers out of Tebow's face as he tried to lead Florida to a potential game-winning score. The Gators had chances to retake the lead on two possessions in the final four minutes, but Tebow completed two of eight passes for 4 yards. He misfired on his final six attempts.

Minutes earlier, Florida had grabbed the lead and all the momentum. A converted fake punt - a pass from punter Chas Henry to tight end Aaron Hernandez - and a fourth-down pass from Tebow to Percy Harvin (242 total yards, two touchdowns) helped the Gators erase a 28-14 deficit. Then, defensive tackle Mike Pouncey's fourth-quarter interception led to a 10-yard Harvin touchdown run that gave the Gators their first lead of the second half at 35-31.

But on Michigan's next possession, Arrington reached around cornerback Markihe Anderson to snag a perfect Henne pass for a 37-yard gain. Two plays later, Arrington made his second touchdown catch to give the Wolverines a 38-35 lead.

The win was the first in a bowl game for Michigan's seniors - the Wolverines' last bowl win came against Florida in the 2003 Outback Bowl - and it also allowed one of their most decorated players to shrug off a potentially disastrous finale. Michigan tailback Mike Hart (129 yards, two touchdowns) entered Tuesday having not lost a fumble since his freshman season (1,005 touches). During one 10-carry span Tuesday, Hart lost two fumbles at the goal line.

But all of that was forgotten as Michigan players gathered around Carr, who retired after 13 seasons. All week, he told his players to win not for him but for the program.

"We kept telling him," Arrington said, "'No, we're doing it for you.'"

When Carr and Meyer met at midfield after the game, Carr shook Meyer's hand and left his younger counterpart with some hard-earned wisdom.

"Someday, you're going to retire," Meyer remembered Carr saying, "and your players are going to play as hard as my guys did."

Less than an hour later, Meyer sat in an aisle seat on the front row of a team bus. His daughter, Gigi, rested her head on his shoulder. Meyer's eyes remained locked on the stat sheet, cataloging all the ways the Gators must improve before they face Hawaii on Aug. 31.

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

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