Florida vs. Alabama

[Hal Bennett]

Florida is Tebow is Florida, and whereas the type team they became last year after the Tebow Speech was a surprise -- something new and different -- this year EVERYONE has had time to study this phenomenon and get ready for it. There are assistant coaches all over the league who have been assigned the Florida game, and this means notebooks and computer files full of "what it takes to beat this Florida team."

That leave Tebow in relief, and the question is, is he really The Miracle Man, or is he human?

Alabama has come up against Great Teams before and won -- beat 'em fair and square, when we weren't supposed to beat 'em. It is just as much a part of the Bama Mystique to win the Big Game, against "Impossible Odds," as it is part of the Tebow Mystique to WIN. Bama is about winning, TOO. It happened against Miami in January '93, against Nebraska in January, '66 and '67, against Washington in January '26 and Stanford in January '35. It's part of the Bama tradition to do this sort of thing.

And we've got the Coach to do it. Just like we did 1958-1982. This man, if he improves this Bama team like he improved it last year over the previous year, is going to show us and everybody else what he can do with the talent he has been bringing in.

In Major League Baseball, a new hitter comes into the league and he sets the woods on fire. Then the pitchers around the league start talking to one another and comparing notes. Jeff Francouer was a perfect example. When he broke in, he couldn't get up to bat without poling the ball over the left center field fence. Then the pitchers found out he would swing at a pitch if it was two feet off the plate, and the result? Francouer to the Mets. You KNOW these coaches around the league are comparing notes on how to stop Tebow.

 

[derek4tide]

Hmm, not sure what you're saying here. He's won four division titles in the last 7 years, and that is what my post referred to...

Actually, Richt has won 1 in 2002 (his 2nd year), 1 in 2003 (3 way tie w/UT and UF, but they got the tie-breaker), 1 in 2005 and tied with UT in 2006 (UT won the tie-breaker) for a grand total of 3 SEC Eastern Divisional Championships, not 4. Richt is judged (just like Donnan before him) by his fanbase/alumni on his record versus UF, which is an abysmal 2-6.

 

[JDCrimson]

I think if we went back to the SECCG I think most would say, and I am giving my opinion now, that at the beginning of the 4th quarter we got away from our gameplan. We were literally gashing them with big runs throughout the 3rd quarter and they had no answer. Yes, we were having difficulty stopping them but all of their drives were having to go the length of the field. We didnt give up the lead until about 1/3 of the way into the 4th quarter when we decided to open up passing with possession shallow in our territory. We had 3 incomplete passes with the last being a long one to Julio that was out of bounds. We punt and they get a good return and have decent field position for the go ahead score. We still had opportunities to stop them especially if DH had not been called for a horse collar tackle that basically gave them a 1st down deep in our territory.

The bottom line is if we can assemble a running attack similar to last years and again play similar defense and maintain that philosophy in the late part of the game. We will beat everyone we play including Florida. Mark it down. McElroy will be more than effective if we can develop our OL to generate the same output we had last year.

Someone earlier was right, FL really doesnt have to improve much of anything on their team - just hold serve. No wait, I take that back, FL has to breakin a new OC - you cant tell me that wont have some effect on their performance. Likewise, they will be tinkering with their offense to get Tebow ready for the NFL and showcasing his passing abilities. In my view, we only have one facet to improve, OL, to be competitive with them. By the end of the year, our OL will be more than experienced enough to deal with anything they show us. We have no change in critical coaching staff, no change in offensive philosophy, we dont have to showcase any prima donnas (aka Tebow).

Given all the above, I like our team better than theirs.

 

[GreatDanish]

Actually, Richt has won 1 in 2002 (his 2nd year), 1 in 2003 (3 way tie w/UT and UF, but they got the tie-breaker), 1 in 2005 and tied with UT in 2006 (UT won the tie-breaker) for a grand total of 3 SEC Eastern Divisional Championships, not 4. Richt is judged (just like Donnan before him) by his fanbase/alumni on his record versus UF, which is an abysmal 2-6.

You are right. My point stands, though. I said Georgia has a chance to win the SEC East. It was then said that Richt is not a championship coach, as though he cannot win the East for this reason. I should have just said, "Well he has won the East almost every other year since he arrived in Athens."

So, I see nothing in Richt's past that indicates that he cannot win the East with this team. And I am one of the biggest backers for the 2009 Florida team. I am just saying that I think people are overlooking Georgia.

And the fact that Richt has not won a national championship, or that he has only won the East three times in the last seven years does nothing to indicate that he cannot win the East this year.

 

[BamaFanTraeInGeorgia]

Richt may win an SECCG every once in a while but he doesn't have "it". Saban has "it", Meyer has "it", Miles may even have "it", Richt doesn't.

Richt reminds me of the old adage of "always a bridesmaid but never the bride."

Remember UGA's motto...

"Wait till next year!!!!"

 

[CaliforniaTide]

Someone earlier was right, FL really doesnt have to improve much of anything on their team - just hold serve. No wait, I take that back, FL has to breakin a new OC - you cant tell me that wont have some effect on their performance. Likewise, they will be tinkering with their offense to get Tebow ready for the NFL and showcasing his passing abilities. In my view, we only have one facet to improve, OL, to be competitive with them. By the end of the year, our OL will be more than experienced enough to deal with anything they show us. We have no change in critical coaching staff, no change in offensive philosophy, we dont have to showcase any prima donnas (aka Tebow).

First bold - UF may be breaking in a new OC, but this is Meyer's offense. I'm thinking that Meyer will be just as involved in the gameplanning as he has been before.

Second bold - IMO, Tebow isn't a prima donna, and I don't blame Meyer trying to center his offense with new wrinkles to better improve Tebow's stock. However, this possibly Meyer's best chance to improve his own "stock" as a guy that can send not only skill players and defensive guys to the NFL, but also QBs that will not bust.

 

[GrayTide]

UF's new OC has been with Meyer a number of years and has been the OL coach since Meyer arrived in Gainesville in 2005. Nothing new here. OC and OL coach is Steve Adazzio
has been with Meyer since 2005, don't see any drop off.