It's September 28th and the big game against Alabama is just a couple days away. I'm thirsty for revenge, as are other Gator fans, but I just want a win. After Bama the Gators get LSU at home, at Auburn (ranked #3) a bye and then the Cocktail Party here in Jacksonville against the hated Georgia Bulldogs. This four game run will determine if the Gators are for real. If they are the national power I think they are. If they can beat Auburn and LSU, they can beat any team in the country. It is as simple as that.
But for the sake of completeness I will recap Florida's first four games of the season up to this point. First we will start with a dominating performance in the home opener against Southern Miss.
This game was on pay per view, even here in the heart of Gator country. So I didn't watch it live, had to catch the replay.
All world freshman Percy Harvin looked real good in his debut racking up over 90 total yards. Dallas Baker had a great day, picking up 123 yards from QB Chris Leak.
The Gators struggled some early, leading just 14-7 at halftime but shut the Golden Eagles down in the second half and adding three touchdowns to get the win 34-7 and put the team off on the right foot at 1-0.
Next up on the schedule was Central Florida, a bowl team from last year. The Gators drubbed Central Florida 42-0. Again, this game was on pay per view but I watched it at Cheers.
After another slow start the Gators exploded for 27 points in the second quarter. Chris Leak threw for 352 yards and four touchdowns. Freshman phenom Tim Tebow made his Florida debut passing for 89 yards and rushing for 62, which lead the team. Percy Harvin caught four balls for 99 yards and his first career score. The Gators amassed over 600 yards of offense and the defense held Central Florida to a measly 153 total yards.
Next up saw the first real test of the season for the Gators as they travelled to Knoxville, Tennessee to face the rival Volunteers. The Gators jumped out to a quick lead in front of the hostile crowd of 106,000 at Neyland stadium, but it was short lived. Tennessee scored on a trick play that added a field goal in the first quarter to lead 10-7. That would be the score at halftime.
Tennessee scored first after half time to take a commanding 17-7 lead. Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge could be seen mocking the Gator chomp on the sidelines.
Florida came back with an 8 play drive to punch in another touchdown, this one coming on a four yard reception by Dallas Baker from Chris Leak with under two minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Gators cut Tennessee's lead to 3, 17-14.
The Vols came back with a 10 play drive which ended in a field goal to give Tennessee a 20-17 lead. Chris Leak and the Gator offense came on the field on the ensuing possession and marched downfield in eight plays covering 65 yards which ended in another Dallas Baker touchdown catch from Chris Leak. The Gators made the extra point to complete the comeback and take the lead 21-20.
The Vols had one more chance but the Florida defense could not be moved and Erik Ainge was intercepted for the second time. The Gators were able to run out the clock and take the victory, their second straight against the Volunteers.
Just last weekend saw the Gators play a home prime time game against the Kentucky Wildcats broadcast on ESPN. Kentucky is an up and coming team, but still a team which had lost 19 straight against Florida coming into the game and had not won in the Swamp since 1979 when your's truly was just 3 years old.
The Wildcats fought and clawed with the Gators and the hostile enviroment for all of the first half and at one point took a 7-6 lead until Leak led the Gators on a touchdown drive in the final minutes of the first half, Florida missed the PAT but took a 12-7 lead into the second half.
In the second half the Gator defense crushed down on the Wildcats and would not allow them to score again. Leak and freshman Tim Tebow lead scoring drives. At one point Tebow ripped off four consecutive runs from the shot gun and racked up over 60 yards. The kid can play.
At the end of the night the Gators won 26-7 and began to prepare for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
But for the sake of completeness I will recap Florida's first four games of the season up to this point. First we will start with a dominating performance in the home opener against Southern Miss.
This game was on pay per view, even here in the heart of Gator country. So I didn't watch it live, had to catch the replay.
All world freshman Percy Harvin looked real good in his debut racking up over 90 total yards. Dallas Baker had a great day, picking up 123 yards from QB Chris Leak.
The Gators struggled some early, leading just 14-7 at halftime but shut the Golden Eagles down in the second half and adding three touchdowns to get the win 34-7 and put the team off on the right foot at 1-0.
Next up on the schedule was Central Florida, a bowl team from last year. The Gators drubbed Central Florida 42-0. Again, this game was on pay per view but I watched it at Cheers.
After another slow start the Gators exploded for 27 points in the second quarter. Chris Leak threw for 352 yards and four touchdowns. Freshman phenom Tim Tebow made his Florida debut passing for 89 yards and rushing for 62, which lead the team. Percy Harvin caught four balls for 99 yards and his first career score. The Gators amassed over 600 yards of offense and the defense held Central Florida to a measly 153 total yards.
Next up saw the first real test of the season for the Gators as they travelled to Knoxville, Tennessee to face the rival Volunteers. The Gators jumped out to a quick lead in front of the hostile crowd of 106,000 at Neyland stadium, but it was short lived. Tennessee scored on a trick play that added a field goal in the first quarter to lead 10-7. That would be the score at halftime.
Tennessee scored first after half time to take a commanding 17-7 lead. Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge could be seen mocking the Gator chomp on the sidelines.
Florida came back with an 8 play drive to punch in another touchdown, this one coming on a four yard reception by Dallas Baker from Chris Leak with under two minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Gators cut Tennessee's lead to 3, 17-14.
The Vols came back with a 10 play drive which ended in a field goal to give Tennessee a 20-17 lead. Chris Leak and the Gator offense came on the field on the ensuing possession and marched downfield in eight plays covering 65 yards which ended in another Dallas Baker touchdown catch from Chris Leak. The Gators made the extra point to complete the comeback and take the lead 21-20.
The Vols had one more chance but the Florida defense could not be moved and Erik Ainge was intercepted for the second time. The Gators were able to run out the clock and take the victory, their second straight against the Volunteers.
Just last weekend saw the Gators play a home prime time game against the Kentucky Wildcats broadcast on ESPN. Kentucky is an up and coming team, but still a team which had lost 19 straight against Florida coming into the game and had not won in the Swamp since 1979 when your's truly was just 3 years old.
The Wildcats fought and clawed with the Gators and the hostile enviroment for all of the first half and at one point took a 7-6 lead until Leak led the Gators on a touchdown drive in the final minutes of the first half, Florida missed the PAT but took a 12-7 lead into the second half.
In the second half the Gator defense crushed down on the Wildcats and would not allow them to score again. Leak and freshman Tim Tebow lead scoring drives. At one point Tebow ripped off four consecutive runs from the shot gun and racked up over 60 yards. The kid can play.
At the end of the night the Gators won 26-7 and began to prepare for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
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