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Gators Make Statement

By MICK ELLIOTT

melliott@tampatrib.com

Published: October 13, 2008

GAINESVILLE - So intense and totally together were the Florida Gators on Saturday night for their battle with LSU, that when linebacker Brandon Spikes returned his second pass interception of the night 52 yards for a early fourth-quarter touchdown and celebrated by kicking the football into the south stands, no one hardly blinked.

Typically, Florida coach Urban Meyer, a stickler for doing everything by the letter, frowns angrily on senseless penalties, none more than unnecessary celebrations.

Spikes insisted later it was the first time in his football life he had done anything of that nature. "The passion of the game just took over," he said.

The realization that Meyer was waiting on the sideline came next - right before officials began stepping off the 15-yard penalty before the kickoff.

So what did the coach say? Spikes laughed. "He told me, 'You kinda shanked it.'"

Nothing about Florida's 51-21 dismantling of the previously undefeated and fourth-ranked LSU Tigers was going to upset Meyer.

The performance was as complete, well-balanced and daunting as the Gators have looked since their 2006 national championship game wipeout of Ohio State.

After hearing weeks of doubt about underachievement, the Gators gained 475 yards total offense against 321 for LSU. Against the nation's eighth-rated rush defense that was giving up an average of 69 yards per game, the Gators ran for 256 - freshman Jeffrey Demps getting 129 on 10 carries, one a 42-yard touchdown.

"Our team came out here with a little chip on our shoulder - and some passion and enthusiasm," quarterback Tim Tebow said. "We played the way we should have."

Added Meyer: "That might be one of our best defensive performances in recent history."

After a week off, the Gators - who jumped from 11th to fifth in the AP poll - return to action Oct. 25 against Kentucky for homecoming.

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