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Gators To Celebrate Senior Day Today
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Published: November 22, 2008
GAINESVILLE - Today the No. 3-ranked Florida Gators, 9-1, averaging 45 points per game and smack-dab in the middle of the national championship chase, host The Citadel Bulldogs, a small-school Southern Conference team with a 4-7 record.
Who would ever guess that it is Florida coach Urban Meyer who expects to be left in tears?
The 1:30 p.m. kickoff at The Swamp is Florida's final home game of the season, and senior day. The team's 11 seniors will be introduced for their final home appearance in a pregame ceremony.
"Our program goals are to graduate No. 1; to compete for championships No. 2; and, if blessed, go on to the NFL," Meyer said. "Check, check, check. Every one of these kids has accomplished their goals.
"They deserve 95,000 people there wiping their eyes because the head coach will be. I'll be a mess. Those guys are really good people."
Four members of the class - Javier Estopinan, Jim Smith, Phil Trautwein, Jonathan Phillips - already have graduated. Tate Casey, Jim Tartt, Cornelius Ingram, Louis Murphy will graduate in December while Trautwein will earn his masters. The entire senior class is scheduled to earn degrees by the end of this school year.
Also, the Florida seniors will be remembered as part of the 2006 national championship team and two-time SEC Eastern Division champions. They are 40-9 as Gators.
Meyer this week asked Florida fans attending the game to be in their seats 30 minutes early. Last year, it's easy to say, he wasn't as involved.
"I've never done this before," he said. "But there are times a senior class is worthy. Just because you are a senior does not make you worthy. I got blasted for saying that last year, which is fine, I don't care. But there are certain seniors that deserve recognition for their performances, for how they represented this great school."
There is every reason to expect a joyous celebration. The Gators are riding a six-game win streak and looking more explosive by the week as they prepare for their regular-season finale at Florida State next week followed by the SEC Championship Game against Alabama.
Meanwhile, The Citadel, a small military academy in Charleston, S.C., that plays in the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-AA, is finishing a season that includes losses to Furman, Samford and Wofford. In an early season step up in competition, the Bulldogs were a 45-17 loser against Clemson.
Citadel coach Kevin Higgins, whose son, Tim, is a former walk-on on the 2006 Florida national championship team, said the challenge is about setting realistic goals.
"I talk to our players about this being a 'mirror game,'" Higgins said. "You get up on Sunday morning and look in the mirror and you will be able to answer the question, 'Can I play at that level?'"
Instead of dreading the expected mismatch, Higgins wants the Bulldogs to relish the experience.
He is approaching the season-closing contest as his team's postseason after snapping a six-game losing streak Saturday in a 24-21 home win against Western Carolina.
"As I talk to our players, 'Hey guys, this is a bowl game,'" Higgins said. "Our regular season's over. We've got a chance to play a bowl game."
AT STAKE
Very little. Small-school Citadel is no match for Florida. No matter how large a victory margin by the Gators, nothing about this game is going to impress pollsters.
Any benefit for Florida will come in a chance to rest starters before heading toward Florida State next week and then Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, and giving reserves playing experience.
KEY MATCHUPS
The Citadel will try to establish a ground game against the Florida defense in an effort to keep the clock running.
"What we have to do is try to slow the game down as much as possible," Bulldogs coach Kevin Higgins said.
Another challenge for The Citadel will be its punt team facing a UF special teams that has five blocked punts this year.
"They do a great job of blocking punts," Higgins said. "We're going to have to punt quite a bit. So we have to make sure we are sound when we kick the football."
KEY STAT
Florida has trailed in just one of its 10 games this season. Overall, it has trailed for 15:38 of the 600 minutes of play. The biggest deficit Florida has faced this year is seven points.
KEEP AN EYE ON
THE CITADEL - Junior WR Andre Roberts is a team captain with track-team speed. He has 90 receptions this year for 1,268 yards and 14 TDs.
FLORIDA - Sophomore TB Emmanuel Moody, eclipsed this year by freshmen Jeff Demps and Chris Moody, is likely to have a big day. Also, QB John Brantley and WR David Nelson have shown good chemistry is limited playing time, so except to see that hookup often as reserves get much of the playing time.
INJURY REPORT
THE CITADEL - No significant injuries reported.
FLORIDA - No significant injuries reported.
PREDICTION
Florida 55, The Citadel 3
Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534.
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