Gators Tough Enough to Outlast Tide

As promised three weeks ago, there are plenty of articles about the SEC Championship. Here are some nice excerpts from Mike Lopresti of the Garnett News Service. Thank you for the kind words, Mike.

12/6/2008 9:58 PM
By Mike
Lopresti, Gannett News Service

ATLANTA — ....You know the faces by now. Tim Tebow at the controls. Urban
Meyer on the headphones. Plus a cast of roadrunners fast enough to start at the
40 when you flip out the light, and be in the end zone before it gets dark.

It's been so hard to beat them, and it's getting harder.

...The SEC conference championship turned into a grim matter of survive and
advance. No gimmee putts or free lunches. You brought your A game each play — or
you got run over.

Here were two teams who together had trailed only 39 minutes all season, so what did they know about rallies? But both came from behind. Twice. Florida happened to do it last.

It was an instructive classic at that, because we learned so much about the
Florida Gators. Now we know they are tough enough to scratch out a close win,
after 11 walkover victories by at least 23 points.

Now we know they have the muscle to weather a dogfight, on a day when Tebow
delivered three touchdown passes but was not allowed to roam freely and wild.
This was not the Gators putting up video game offensive numbers with a fancy
spread attack, but having to out-execute and out-grit Alabama.

Now we know they are deep enough to beat a 12-0, top-ranked opponent even
with their most explosive weapon — Percy Harvin — standing on the sideline with
a bad ankle.

Now we know Tebow means what he says. After the shocking loss at home to
Mississippi in September, he vowed no one would ever outwork or outwill Florida
or him the rest of the season.

We found that out in the fourth quarter Saturday. Alabama leading 20-17. Time
for Florida to put up or shut up. Time for Tebow to get it done, or not.

Then came two showcase touchdown drives, the first 62 yards in 11 plays, the
next 65 in eight. Tebow went 5-for-5, the passes precise enough to go through
the space in one of the A's in Alabama.