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UF Expecting A Tough Game

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 24, 2008

GAINESVILLE - A knack for starting fast is serving the Florida Gators well.

On the way to a 10-1 record, the Gators have outscored their opponents 146-7 in the first quarter and 276-32 in the first half.

But going to FSU on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff causes concern. The Seminoles are led by a defense that believes it can keep the Gators in check. What happens when Florida, so accustomed to being on top from the start, gets punched back and finds itself in a struggle?

"Very much a concern," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "I think the best thing we do is we make practices very difficult so they face adversity for sure on Tuesdays and a lot of times on Wednesdays. Then you hope you have some toughness and good character guys, which I think we do. That is a concern, though."

FOLLOW THE NUMBERS: Florida's offensive stat sheet tells conflicting stories.

The Gators are averaging 46.5 points per game. They are rolling up 444.6 yards of offense each game - 229.8 rushing and 214.8 passing.

Yet, after 11 games, Florida does not have a 600-yard rusher or a receiver with 60 receptions.

"It has been a bizarre year statistically," Meyer said. "Usually we have a guy with 70 catches or at least 60 catches. We don't have that.

"We are one of the best rushing teams in college football, but we don't have a guy with over 600 yards. We have four of them with good yardage."

HERE COME THE NOLES: With Florida facing a showdown with No. 1-ranked Alabama in two weeks for the SEC championship and, possibly a spot in the national championship game, the FSU Seminoles are in a perfect position to ruin their rival's season.

Gators QB Tim Tebow, however, insists there is no way his team can look past the regular-season finale.

"To me growing up, it was the biggest rivalry game because I'd say Florida and Florida State don't have a real good friendship," Tebow said. "It was always the biggest game among the three rivals, along with Tennessee and Georgia, growing up. So, it's a huge game to me."

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Everything. On the way to a 70-19 win against The Citadel, Florida played just about everybody, honored its senior class and made the season's final home game a special day.

WHAT WENT WRONG: DTs Lawrence Marsh and Matt Patchan both suffered knee injuries, sprained MCLs. Patchan's is the most severe and he will be lost against FSU. Marsh is questionable.

Mick Elliott

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