Florida’s destiny must run through Kiffin

Posted Sep 12, 2009 by Tom McEwen

Updated Sep 14, 2009 at 04:30 PM

We could all see it coming.

We knew these early Saturdays of this college football season were going to be special to this part of the world.

That special rival of Florida - those Tennessee Vols - are coming to the wonderful football stage of Gainesville’s Swamp next Saturday.

The game would be charged enough as is, but then Tennessee, no favorite of the Gators, hired a young coaching whiz, Lane Kiffin, to take over the storied Tennessee program and added more intrigue. Lane Kiffin was not just the son of popular former Buccaneers defensive master and admired guru of the sport, Monte Kiffin, but he was married to Lala Reaves, beauteous daughter of former Florida Gator quarterback, John Reaves, of Tampa. Then, Lane Kiffin, once in Tampa, asked his dad to join him at the University of Tennessee.

The 2-0 Gators of head coach Urban Meyer and the entire State of Florida now will face the Tennessee of all the Kiffins, and their in-laws, and their legions of Vol fans in Florida, next Saturday for so very much booty.  The single bonus, for Florida “is that the Volunteers and all their Orange will have to come to Gainesville,’’ said former All-World Gator running back, Larry Smith, at the 220 Restaurant on Davis Islands the other night, and that “our quarterback, Tim Tebow could be the difference. He is so tough, so tough, so resourceful.’’

Tebow was surely that Saturday in the domination he led the Gators over Troy at Florida. He was masterful. He passed for four touchdowns and ran for another one. He is absolutely the best college football player around, and one whale of a decent man. Not only that, he has only one class to take during his final year at Florida, before heading to the Orient, I guess, on more Christian missions.

None of us know of any Tebow fault, and least of all, sin. He is a hard-nosed saint.

This Saturday game between Florida and Tennessee, between Meyer and the Kiffins, will need no further buildup.

None of this was predicted, nor could it have been predicted. Florida vs. Tennessee was enough. Now we have the extras, including the National Championship implications. Florida is Number One in the Land. That is a gift, a bonus for the Vols. Florida has made this possible, The Kiffins have made this destiny. Young Lane, and Monte, have ridden the circumstances into the forefront as well.

For the Gators, the pitfalls ahead remain.  A win over the Vols won’t be enough, but will be a giant boost. Remember, Georgia remains on the Gators’ schedule, as do those Florida State Seminoles, despite their loss to Miami.

This is one fine Florida football team, the defending national rulers.

And, they have Tim Tebow.

Don’t underestimate theses athletes and their leaders and their support.

Know how long these fine days have been coming?

Plenty do, and I am one of them.