Gators’ title march rolls on

Posted Nov 28, 2009 by Tom McEwen

Updated Nov 30, 2009 at 05:41 PM

It was just about right, that result Saturday when the Florida Gators just beat the hound out of the Florida State Seminoles in the sold out Swamp in Gainesville Saturday.

If the game were played today and tomorrow and the next day, the results would generally be the same. The place would be sold out, the electricity would be turned on and Florida would prove themselves that much better, at least that much better, at least 37 to 10 better, which was the final.

When Florida was ahead 10 to 0, it was over. Seminoles have a future with the players on the field Saturday, but not this year. Hopefully for the sake of the Seminoles, they can be rounded into shape by next season, Coach Bobby Bowden’s last as now reported. I don’t think he will leave the coaching job at Florida State - it is not his way and he isn’t a loser.

But, that’s enough about how poorly Florida State played. Let’s concentrate on the Gators and how well they played and how well they are expected to play against Alabama next weekend in Atlanta and how they conducted themselves with the leadership of the wonderful Tim Tebow Saturday.

Tebow is a model athlete, his pursuit of his place in his religious beliefs are genuine. He is no phony baloney and his presence is remarkable in Gainesville. He, in a statement after the game, said he loves Gainesville and the fans and his laps around Florida Field emphasized that. He shook as many hands as he could on his laps and he waved to the big crowd, who showed their romance with him by standing and applauding throughout.

There have been few athletes at Florida so effective and so sincere. Tebow remains in the hunt for the Heisman Trophy and I will vote for him but I have no idea how he will fare. This great win Saturday could help.

But back to the game itself. It was over soon after it began. Florida seldom has fielded a team that was this much better than the team on the other side of the ball. It is a good thing that Coach Bowden has declared — though it may change — he intends to leave that for next year. I certainly don’t think he wants to go out a loser and I hope he does not. He is too good a man, too good a coach, and he deserves the best. I think he has the basis for another good team if that quarterback of his can be rounded into the shape of most of the best ones at Florida State.   

Florida will have plenty to do about its team before next year. Coach Urban Meyer appears to have a quarterback in John Brantley, brother to the former linebacker Scot, who apparently has dibbs on the job next year. He is qualified and finished the game against Florida State Saturday. Myers reportedly has recruited well and is laying claim to top players this year. He certainly has plenty to sell at Florida now.

The Gators, I don’t think, have ever been in this position. They are undefeated — my gosh, they are undefeated and may be about to win another national championship if they can win against Alabama. Gators everywhere have never basked in such glory as these recent championship teams have caused to be shone on them. As Leon Denton would say, “Ain’t it a blessin!”

Babaloo!