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Ex-Gator Culpepper: Don't Overlook FSU

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 29, 2008

Former Florida defensive tackle Brad Culpepper (1988-91), now an attorney in the Tampa law firm of Culpepper and Kurland, talks about the Gators-Seminoles rivalry with staff writer Mick Elliott.

If you look at the two teams, I think Florida clearly has the better athletes, is better coached and has more to play for.

That all said, it makes me a little nervous that everybody seems to have this team in the national championship. Up at Tallahassee, you've got seniors who have never beaten the Gators. And they do have talent.

From a Gators perspective, I say we are faster than everybody else in the country, we're tougher, our defense is much better, and I think we have the most dynamic offense. Those are the most obvious things.

But you have the heart factor and the human factor. FSU is on a bit of an uptick. They are going into this game not wanting to be denied. They are putting all their eggs in this basket.

Still, quite frankly, I think Coach Urban Meyer does a fantastic job of preparing these guys every week not to have a letdown. Maybe it's Urban. Maybe it's Tim Tebow. Maybe it's the Ole Miss game that was a reality sandwich: Rolling out there with a Gators helmet does not mean you are going to win. Everybody is gunning for you. You have to be at your peak performance and play your best.

It seems like, since that game, whether it has been The Citadel, Kentucky, South Carolina or Georgia, it hasn't mattered.

They haven't taken anybody for granted, haven't taken any play for granted.

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