While presenting the Gators slow-developing, wide-margin (38-7) Florida smack-down of Arkansas from Fayetteville, Saturday, ABC and ESPN had asked if viewers thought the Gators could win the national championship despite the loss a week ago to Mississippi.

The result was 93% of those interested in replying said no, the television reporters said.  There are a couple of considerations. One, most Gators would, and others as well, would assume the proposition included assumption Florida would lose no more regular season games. Remember, a week ago after the Mississippi game, oldtime Gator alumni were already reviving their old battle cry, “wait’ll next year!’’ And two, it’s simply too early. Few conclusions can be made on the Florida college football teams yet, they are good and they are still in every title chase in which they are involved.

In truth, Florida fans, and especially alumni roll, lead the world in pessimists.

Florida is indeed going to be okay. In football, college and pro, unbeaten streaks of any length are so hard to achieve. The pros will kill for two, cash them in for four. The bigtime college boosters want almost as much. But, the Gators likely will not go undefeated from here on in. Look at those Southeastern Conference opponents ahead for the Gators. 

Also still on track, despite their single setbacks, are Florida State and the University of South Florida Bulls, who surely should not have lost Thursday night to Pittsburgh before such a great hometown crowd they lured Thursday night to Raymond James Stadium.

The Gators are going to be fine. The Bulls are going to be fine, if they put the Pitt game behind them, as Coach Jim Leavitt is assuring them this weekend to do. And, Florida State clearly better and certainly tougher than expected, will be fine as well. That wondrous win over Miami in a hurricane band at Dolphins Stadium should prove their worth to themselves and to their boosters.

Those Seminoles, and those who led them so effectively Saturday in Miami, get an A-plus from us all for their guts, their stamina, and their resourcefulness. My, what they experienced in one great win, a victory, an achievement of a career. Their quarterback, Christian Ponder, was a marvel.  He passed well. He ran as he had to, swiftly and productively, in and out and around.  Anyone with a Seminole drum would be beating it now. But, I think Ponder’s third down-play calling and execution was sterling. If he made a mistake on one play, he made up for it on the next.

The Seminole defense, despite the Miami final total of 39 points was as good as it had to be. The protection of Ponder in the pocket was praiseworthy. The punting was as good as it had to be, the place-kicking accurate, the kickoffs deep.

Miami, well, the Hurricanes need most to hang in there. There is nothing new about this kind of a game, or this kind of a result in such a rainstorm. It does not rain any harder, or any longer in Miami than it does in Tallahassee or Tampa.  And, the weather did not affect the outcome.

It was a wonderful college football game, one which Seminole young Robert Marve of Tampa did fine. Think about it. Breaking in, as he did as a rookie, against the Noles, in a storm. The game would have been a storm enough. Has solid career ahead of him.

As do the ‘Canes, the ‘Noles, the Gators, and the Bulls.

Only nervous ones now should be those teams who must face these Florida studnicks.