Breaking News: Meyer To Step Down

According to ESPN, Florida's Urban Meyer is stepping down as the school's head football coach. Meyer is in his fifth season as the Gators' head man, with a record of 56-10 during that span. He has led Florida to a pair of BCS and SEC Championships as well.

In a release, this is what Meyer had to say about his decision:

“I have ignored my health for years, but recent developments have forced me to re-evaluate my priorities of faith and family. After consulting with my family, Dr. Machen (Florida President), Jeremy Foley (Florida Athletic Director)and my doctors, I believe it’s in my best interest to step aside and focus on my health and family. I’m proud to be a part of the Gainesville community and the Gator Nation and I plan to remain in Gainesville and involved with the University of Florida.”

Meyer has been coaching for 24 years, the last nine as a head coach, including two years at Utah before he arrived in Gainesville and two seasons at Bowling Green before that. Overall, Meyer has a record of 95-18 for a winning percentage of .841, the best among active coaches who have been coaching at least five years. He also tied former Alabama head coach Frank Thomas, as the fastest to reach 50 wins in SEC play (it took them both 59 games).

At this point it is unclear whether or not Meyer will coach the Gators in the Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati on January 1 (8:30 on FOX). The Bearcats are already without their head coach Brian Kelly who left the Big East school to take the head coaching job at the University of Notre Dame, a job that had been mentioned as a potential landing spot Meyer on multiple occasions.

Photo Courtesy of the SEC

Weis’ Dismissal A Matter Of Wins & Losses

By Mark J. Zavodnyik

When Charlie Weis arrived at Notre Dame, he found a program severely lacking in talent, facilities, and direction.

The university and its fans expected the team to compete for national championships, but there was no infrastructure in place to accomplish that goal.

Under Weis, the talent level at Notre Dame has been significantly upgraded. Weis brought a cache that resonated with recruits and made the school a factor in the decision-making process of many of the country’s top players. Weis’ recruiting classes were consistently rated among the top ten by national recruiting services.

Today, the Notre Dame football program is a well-run, modern machine. The talent and facilities have been upgraded. The administration, admissions department and the football program are now on the same page and communicate effectively.

Weis was able to accomplish all of this while running a clean program that finished first in graduation success rate this year.

But in the end, it’s about wins and losses. And nobody knows this more than Weis.

Weis’ first two seasons at Notre Dame were successful. The Irish went 19-6 during that period and played in BCS games following the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Since that time, however, Weis has guided Notre Dame to paltry 16-21 record.

The numbers get worse. Weis was 1-25 against teams finishing in the top 25 of any major poll. In 2007 Weis became the first Notre Dame coach to lose to Navy since 1961. He did not once, but twice.

His 10-15 record from 2007-2008 is the worst two-year period in Notre Dame football history. And the most significant stat: Weis’ record against Southern Cal: 0-5.

After weeks of speculation, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick announced on Monday that Weis had been fired.

"We have great expectations for our football program, and we have not been able to meet those expectations," Swarbrick said. "As an alumnus, Charlie understands those goals and expectations better than most, and he's as disappointed as anyone that we have not achieved the desired results."

With that, a nation of fans begins to continuously refresh message boards, blogs and websites hoping that a kernel of news will spill out of the rumor mill indicating that the next Notre Dame head coach will bring inspiration to the masses. Urban Meyer, Bob Stoops, Bruce Springsteen.

As the next days unfold, and F5 buttons are worn down, a multitude of candidates will be whispered as the savior of Notre Dame football.

“So-and-So just bought a house in South Bend.” Or, “I just heard from my cousin that the Notre Dame plane was spotted on a runway a few miles from Gainesville.”

Whether the next coach is Stoops, Brian Kelly, or Mike Ditka, he will be expected to win quickly. The pieces are in place. Weis put them there.

At his introductory news conference in 2004, Weis said: "You are what you are, folks…and right now you're a 6-5 football team. And guess what? That's just not good enough. That's not good enough for you, and it's certainly not going to be good enough for me."

The record of 6-5 was not good enough when he arrived, and 6-6 is not good enough as he leaves.

Photos Courtesy of Notre Dame Sports Information

CFI Countdown: #1 Florida Gators

2008 Record: 13-1 (SEC: 7-1)
Bowl Game: Won BCS Championship Game vs. Oklahoma 24-12
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Stadium: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548)
Head Coach: Urban Meyer
Overall: 83-17 (9th season)
@ Florida: 44-9 (5th season)
Link to UF Football Page

The last time the Gators and Urban Meyer tried to repeat as BCS Champs, they ended up with a four-loss season. Don’t count on a repeat. Tim Tebow was there in 2007, but he has grown as a leader and they didn’t have all 11 starters back on defense two years ago either. Florida is pretty much the consensus number one team in the country, making them the popular pick to repeat. They fully deserve the accolades.

When the Gators Have the Ball

Offensive Coordinator: Steve Addazio (1st season)
Scheme: Spread Option
Starters Returning: Six
Key Losses: WR Percy Harvin, WR Luis Murphy, TE Cornelius Ingram, OT Jason Watkins, OT Phil Trautwein

According to inside sources, the Gators have constructive a set of plays in which Tim Tebow throws to…himself. Just kidding (obviously), but Tebow’s importance to the Gators’ offense cannot be overstated. What’s more important? Is it his passing skills, his leadership, or his will to win? Or could it be his ability to lower his shoulder and run over a defense? It’s tough to choose because Tebow can do it all. There are reports that he will see more time under center, which could help his stock as a pro prospect, but it’s unclear if it will benefit the Gators. Something that clearly would help the team is finding a legitimate number one tailback, something Meyer has yet to do as the Gator headman. Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps are explosive home run hitters, dangerous runners that must be accounted for…but neither brings the size to carry the load. In the passing game, they replace speedsters Percy Harvin and Luis Murphy with Riley Cooper and Davis Nelson, who provide more size but less big play potential than their predecessors. The man expected to take on the duties of Harvin was supposed to be true freshman Andre Debose, but he could miss significant time with a hamstring injury that may require surgery. Tight end Aaron Hernandez is an emerging weapon who has the knack of finding himself open when the Gators need him most. He is especially effective in the red zone. Other than Tebow, the strength of the offense is on the interior of the offensive line where all three starters return led by the Pouncey brothers—Maurkice handles the center duties and Mike is at one guard spot. However, they must replace both tackles from last season’s championship run, which is a major concern.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) QB Tim Tebow (SR), 2) TE Aaron Hernandez (JR), 3) C Maurkice Pouncey (JR)

When the Other Team Has the Ball

Defensive Coordinator: Charlie Strong (7th season)
Scheme: 4-3
Starters Returning: Eleven
Key Losses: None

Where do we start? The best secondary in the nation, the All-American middle linebacker, or the bookend pass rushing demons? Let’s start in the defensive backfield and work our way up. In junior Joe Hayden and sophomore Janoris Jenkins—a pair of future first-round picks—they have not one, but two lockdown corners. Backing them up are stellar safeties Major Wright and Ahmad Black, a pair of juniors. Wright has speed and is a ferocious hitter, while Black is among the most instinctive defenders in the game. Senior corners Wondy Pierre-Louis and Markihe Anderson were once starters and provide experienced depth. At safety, sophomore Will Hill is simply too talented not to push for playing time. The leader of the entire defense is Brandon Spikes. What Tebow is for the offense, Spikes is to the defense, which is why his return to Gainesville for one more season was almost as significant as Tebow’s. Spikes’ understanding of the game continues to grow each season and he is a solid tackler with the speed to cover ground sideline-to-sideline. Their outside linebackers are good, not great, but they do have four players who can get the job done. Up front, the defensive ends are special. Junior Carlos Dunlap, who checks in at 6’ 6” and 290 pounds, is a man-child who can just as easily run over offensive linemen as use his quickness to jet around them—he simply cannot be blocked one-on-one. Opposite him is senior Jermaine Cunningham, an impressive athlete and accomplished pass rusher in his own right. They are not as set at tackle, although junior Lawrence Marsh has the ability to be a force. Inconsistency in the middle of the line is their lone vulnerability.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) DE Carlos Dunlap (JR), CB Janoris Jenkins (SO), 3) LB Brandon Spikes (SR)

The Schedule

The out of conference schedule is not intimidating, especially early on when they play Charleston Southern and Troy, although it should be noted that Troy does have some players and had the LSU Tigers on the ropes last season before falling short. One match-up that could provide a challenge is their season finale against Florida St. It’s a home game, but this could be a better Seminoles team than the Gators have seen in a couple of years. The game everyone is anticipating is their week three contest with the Tennessee Vols. Florida gets that one at home and it should be a heated affair. That’s the sexy match-up, but the two biggest games come in October with a trip to Baton Rouge and the neutral site tug-of-war with the Georgia Bulldogs.

Pivotal Point

More is less when it comes to Tebow, and we’re not talking about the media backlash Tebow spoke about when he fell short of his second Heisman. Think of it more in an on-the-field, football sense. Let’s take a look at the raw numbers. In 2007, Tebow threw the ball 350 times and ran it 210 times. Those numbers dropped to 298 pass attempts and 176 carries in 2008, which saw his passing yards drop by 540 yards, his rushing yards by 222 yards, and his total touchdowns fall from 55 as a sophomore in his Heisman season to 42 in his National Championship season. Do you get the picture? (Yes, improved defense played a major role). It should come as no surprise that as the offense became more balanced (they threw for 739 more yards than they ran in 2007, in 2008 they ran for 240 more yards) and they spread the ball around more (Tebow accounted for 34 percent of the rushing yards in 2007, 21 percent in 2008), they became a better team.

CFI Final Analysis

Repeating as BCS Champs is no easy task. We saw powerhouse squads just as stocked with talent as Florida is go down when the Miami Hurricanes fell to Ohio St. in overtime and the USC Trojans saw Vince Young skate into the end zone in the waning seconds of their loss to Texas. Florida has the team to repeat, but it is easier said then done as each season brings new challenges. Who knew they would fall to Ole Miss last season? Who knows if they will repeat? One thing we do know is that Meyer will have his team in the middle of the race for the National Championship, and the Gators deserve to start that race on the inside post, atop the rankings.

College Football Insiders Top 25 Countdown:
The Next 25 (26-50) Plus 18 Bowl Teams
#25 West Virginia Mounainteers
#24 Tennessee Volunteers
#23 Clemson Tigers
#22 Pittsburgh Panthers
#21 Michigan St. Spartans
#20 Utah Utes
#19 Oregon Ducks
#18 Florida St. Seminoles
#17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
#16 Boise St. Broncos
#15 North Carolina Tar Heels
#14 Penn St. Nittany Lions
#13 Mississippi Rebels
#12 Oklahoma St. Cowboys
#11 California Golden Bears
#10 Iowa Hawkeyes
#9 Virginia Tech Hokies
#8 Georgia Bulldogs
#7 USC Trojans
#6 LSU Tigers
#5 Ohio St. Buckeyes
#4 Alabama Crimson Tide
#3 Texas Longhorns
#2 Oklahoma Sooners
Photos Courtesy of SEC Sports Media

FedEx BCS National Championship Game Oklahoma vs. Florida

By RALPH MANCINI

January 8, 2009 * 8:15 * FOX

Coach Bob Stoops and his Oklahoma Sooners will be marching into Miami’s Dolphin Stadium to capture the program’s eighth national championship, but to do so they must rein in a high-powered Florida squad known as the “fastest team in America.” Both offenses can light up the scoreboard in the blink of an eye. While Urban Meyer’s crew leads the Southeastern Conference in scoring (45.2 ppg) and total offense (442.4 ypg), the Sam Bradford-led Sooners are a point-a-minute machine that has produced 18 scoring drives of 60 seconds or less during the regular season and is riding a five-game streak in which their offense has scored 60 or more points.

When Boomer Sooner Has the Ball

Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford has the perfect blend of size, arm strength, accuracy and on-field intelligence. The 6’4” signal caller completed 68 percent of his passes in 2008 for 4,464 yards with a ridiculous 48-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. But for all his throwing skills, Bradford’s ability to move in the pocket and side step pressure make him nearly impossible to contain. The 21-year-old’s job is made that much easier by his fearsome group of bodyguards led by mammoth left tackle Phil Loadholt. The 6’8”, 338-pounder regularly engulfs defenders with his long arms and powerful hands that also allow him to steamroll all those who dare cross his path. Playing alongside Loadholt is guard Duke Robinson, who at 6’5, 335 lbs. is a road grater in the running game, but is also versatile enough to move over to tackle if necessary. Robinson’s athleticism as a pull blocker and the quickness with which he fires off the line make him arguably the best player at his position. Center Jon Cooper may not be as big as his gargantuan line-mates, but the Colorado native always plays with a high motor and has tremendous foot speed, which allows him to perform as an effective drive blocker. Oklahoma’s 1,000-yard rushing duo of DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown was instrumental in supporting Bradford this season with consistent production that took some pressure off the quarterback. Brown may not be as flashy as his backfield partner, but he often uses his balance and good feet to get around tacklers and run to daylight. Despite his lack of bulk, the 190-lb. back is very reliable as a short-yardage runner. The fast and agile Murray, on the other hand, won’t be seeing any action versus Florida due to a partially ruptured hamstring that will reportedly take months to heal. All purpose back Mossis Madu will be filling in for the hobbled star. The unheralded backup showed his wares by rushing for 115 yards and three scores in the Big 12 Championship game versus Missouri. In addition to being able to make people miss, Madu is an excellent receiver that can also line up in the slot, as well as return kicks. Juaquin Iglesias, Manuel Johnson, Ryan Broyles and Quentin Chaney make up OU’s top-notch receiving corps. Iglesias, in particular, is especially quick off the line of scrimmage. The senior wide out combines his silky-smooth route running with the willingness to make catches in traffic. Defensive backs often fall prey to Iglesias’ head nods and quick double moves. Tight end Jermaine Gresham’s size, speed and penchant for hauling in spectacular catches make covering the 6’6” tight end a Herculean task.

Florida’s cohesive all-for-one and one-for-all defense uses a straight-up 4-3 scheme that primarily relies on individuals winning one-on-one match-ups up front. While there’s no one standout along the defensive line, the 6’6” Carlos Dunlap is a freakish competitor with long arms and 4.7 speed that he uses to disengage from blockers and run down plays from the backside. A bit of consistency is all that’s preventing Dunlap from being one of the elite defensive ends in college football. Playing opposite the sophomore is defensive end Jermaine Cunningham, who also gets off the line very quickly and confounds blockers by changing directions very well. Some added bulk to his 250-lb. frame should help this pass rusher overpower offensive linemen, not just outmaneuver them. Interior linemen Terron Sanders and the much-improved Lawrence Marsh have helped hold down the fort versus the run despite injury to the front four. Middle linebacker Brandon Spikes sets the tone for the Gator defense with his toughness and instincts, which often put him in the right position to disrupt the opposition. While the 6’3”, 245-lb. Spikes is a bigger linebacker that can drop back into coverage, it’s his ability to inspire his teammates and urge them to work harder that makes him a special athlete. Brandon Hicks is a hard-hitting linebacker with blazing speed. The workout warrior took over for the injured A.J. Jones in mid-November and forced South Carolina into two first-quarter interceptions during Florida’s 56-6 whitewash of Steve Spurrier’s group. Red-shirt junior Ryan Stamper is versatile enough to play all three linebacker positions and is an all-out hustler. Backup Dustin Doe keeps Stamper on his toes with his athleticism and aggressive pursuit of ball carriers. Strong safety Ahmad Black is a whiz at reading quarterbacks, as evidenced by his six interceptions. Free safety Major Wright is a heat-seeking missile, always ready to deliver the knockout blow, while over at corner, freshman Janoris Jenkins is a confident, if not cocky, impact player with superior anticipatory skills.

When the Gators Have the Ball

Florida’s athleticism at multiple positions gives them the upper hand over most defenses, and it all starts with quarterback Tim Tebow--the perfect fit for Urban Meyer’s spread-option attack. The sturdy passer is a dual threat who can pound the ball between the tackles like a fullback, or put the ball in the hands of one of his many playmakers. Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey and Percy Harvin are all blessed with mesmerizing speed and all three can catch the ball, as well as run it out of a variety of formations. Freshman running backs Demps and Rainey, in particular, have been the driving force behind Florida, averaging 263.6 rushing yards per game and 6.6 yards per carry. Harvin is technically a wide out, but he can also be seen lining up at quarterback. The 5’11” speed merchant is a dynamic weapon who specializes in making defenders miss, and is very dangerous in the red-zone. Louis Murphy is Robin to Harvin’s Batman at wide receiver with his ability to use his own speed on both downfield routes and shallow gadget plays. Complementary wide out Deonte Thompson can also flash track-star velocity when given the opportunity and his acceleration off the ball is hard to contain. One component who’s frequently overlooked is Bristol, Connecticut’s own Aaron Hernandez, who ranked third on the team in receptions with 29 this season. The solid tight end combines an aggressive demeanor with the ability to produce big yardage after the catch. The Gator offensive line features the superb run blocking of the Pouncey twins, Maurkice and Michael, at center and guard. Maurkice is a drive-blocking center who explodes out of his breaks. He usually takes his defender out of the play when he keeps a solid base and keeps his feet moving. Maurkice’s brother, Mike, also packs a punch by moving his adversaries off the ball. New Jersey native Phil Trautwein is an excellent technician at left tackle.

Oklahoma’s strategy on defense will be to create pre-snap confusion and force Tebow to throw more often than he wants to. In order to accomplish that feat, the Sooners will need to apply constant pressure with similarly-built defensive ends Frank Alexander and Jeremy Beal. Alexander has proven to be lethal at times off the edge, while the 6’3”, 253-lb. Beal is the team sack leader (8.5), who defensive coordinator Brent Venables often employs as a chess piece by lining him up in a three-point stance, as well as dropping him in underneath coverage. End Auston English should also be active in this year’s title game with numerous reports indicating that he has fully recovered from a mid-season knee injury. English is arguably OU’s fastest lineman. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is the glue of the unit with the way he ties up blockers and frees up teammates. The sophomore combines with nose tackle Adrian Taylor to push the pocket and disrupt offenses all game long. McCoy is always drawing comparisons to former Sooner interior lineman Tommie Harris, who was probably the best, if not quickest, OU player of all time at his position. Oklahoma’s linebackers may not be as big as they’ve been in the past, but they more then compensate for that with quickness and playmaking ability. Austin Box has done yeoman’s work in his replacement of injured middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds. The former quarterback is smart enough to read the play in front of him, and quick enough to cover plenty of ground defending the run. Box sprained his knee late in the season, but is expected to play. If he doesn’t, the hard-hitting 250-lb. Mike Balogun will take his place. Weakside linebacker Travis Lewis is the most athletic OU performer at the position. The 235-lb. former running back is extremely quick to the ball, a fundamentally sound tackler, and reliable in pass coverage. The 6’3” Nic Harris headlines the secondary due to his hitting prowess and on-field smarts which allow him to constantly be around the ball. Corner Dominique Franks joins the senior safety as being a difference-making performer. The sophomore has shutdown or contained some of the best receivers in the country this year. OU’s ability to generate pressure with its front four has also played a role in preventing the Sooner secondary from getting torched too often.

Final Analysis

In a battle of high-flying offenses, Florida’s firepower will prove to be too much for OU to keep under wraps. With a healthy Harvin in the fold, the 65th ranked Sooner defense is no match for Urban Meyer’s spread-option attack. OU has allowed 5.06 yards a play and a total of 42 touchdowns to the opposition this season and will be hard pressed to hold the Gators to under 40 points. In addition, Florida holds a sizable edge in the special teams department as top-ten team in punt returns and net punting. Combine all of that with the supernatural powers of Tebow, and the Blue and Orange will bring home their second national title in three seasons.

Prediction: Florida 48 Oklahoma 33

Photo Credit: College Press Box, OU Athletics Department, SEC Sports Media

NINE FINALISTS NAMED FOR 2008 EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD

DALLAS (FWAA) - The Football Writers Association of America has announced nine finalists for the 2008 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award to be voted upon by the entire membership.

With the 2008 regular season completed, the FWAA, in conjunction with the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, has tabbed the following finalists: Texas' Mack Brown, USC's Pete Carroll, Texas Tech's Mike Leach, Florida's Urban Meyer, Penn State's Joe Paterno, Boise State's Chris Petersen, Alabama's Nick Saban, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and Utah's Kyle Whittingham.

The finalists will be placed on a ballot which will be sent to the entire FWAA membership.

Two of the finalists, Boise State's Petersen and Utah's Whittingham, have directed their teams to unbeaten regular seasons, while seven of the nine coaches have led their teams to Bowl Championship Series games.

Of the nine finalists, four have previously been named the FWAA's National Coach of the Year, led by Penn State's Joe Paterno, who has been honored by the FWAA three times (1978, '82 and '86). Paterno has been a finalist on two other occasions (1997 and 2005). Florida's Urban Meyer (2004), Alabama's Nick Saban (2003) and Oklahoma's Bob Stoops (2000) are the other previous winners. Saban is trying to become the second coach to win the honor at two different schools after earning the award at LSU five seasons ago.

While USC's Pete Carroll has never won the award, he has been a finalist three times in three consecutive years (2003-05). This also is the third time Texas' Mack Brown has been named a finalist, the second time at Texas (2005). In 1997, he was a finalist for the award at North Carolina. Boise State's Petersen is a finalist for the second time in three years, while Texas Tech's Leach and Utah's Whittingham are the only two first-time finalists. The FWAA began naming its coaching award in honor of the late Robinson, the legendary Grambling State University coach, in 1997.

The winner of the FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award will be announced and honored at a reception on Jan. 6 in Miami sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and presented in conjunction with the FedEx BCS Championship Game.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game day operations, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

For more information on the Eddie Robinson Award, visit eddierobinsonaward.com.

LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE AND ARCHIE MANNING ANNOUNCE 2008 LIBERTY MUTUAL COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS

College Football Fans Invited to Vote for Winners at www.CoachoftheYear.com Dec. 12 - Dec. 22

NEW YORK (December 9, 2008) - Today Liberty Mutual Insurance and Archie Manning, chair of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, announced the 25 finalists for the 2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. The finalists represent standout college football coaches across the four NCAA divisions who best exemplify excellence in coaching - on and off the field - as determined by a combination of hundreds of thousands of fan votes at www.CoachoftheYear.com and an objective scoring model endorsed by the College Football Hall of Fame.

Each Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year finalist will have an opportunity to receive recognition in the permanent College Football Hall of Fame display in South Bend, Ind., $50,000 to support personal civic and charitable activities, and a $20,000 scholarship donation for his alumni association. After this season, the total Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year charitable and scholarship contributions will reach $680,000. The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award was introduced in 2006.

"I've had the opportunity to observe these coaches and their teams throughout the season and this lineup of finalists tells me that fans embraced what is unique about this award by voting for their favorite coach," said Manning who helped Liberty Mutual announce the finalists at the National Football Foundation Annual Awards press conference in New York City. "Being a successful college football coach is a balancing act that requires the ability to inspire a team to win on the field while developing responsible student-athletes off the field."

2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award Finalists The 25 award finalists represent 10 coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) and five coaches each from the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), Division II and Division III. To qualify as a finalist, a coach had to be among the top 25 fan vote getters in his division at www.CoachoftheYear.com and then be scored by an objective model that considers, among other criteria: wins, team penalties, on-field comportment, academic achievement by the student-athletes, and civic and philanthropic commitments.

The Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) finalists are, in alphabetical order: Mack Brown, University of Texas; Brady Hoke, Ball State University; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern University; Urban Meyer, University of Florida; Joe Paterno, Pennsylvania State University; Chris Petersen, Boise State University; Nick Saban, University of Alabama; Bob Stoops, University of Oklahoma; Jim Tressel, Ohio State University; and Kyle Whittingham, University of Utah.

The Football Championship Subdivision (Division I- AA) finalists are, in alphabetical order: Mike Ayers, Wofford College; Henry Frazier III, Prairie View A&M University; Mickey Matthews, James Madison University, Jerry Moore, Appalachian State University; and Danny Rocco, Liberty University.

The Division II finalists are, in alphabetical order: Chuck Broyles, Pittsburg State University; David Dean, Valdosta State University; Danny Hale, Bloomsburg University; Chuck Martin, Grand Valley State University; and Bill O'Boyle, Chadron State College.

The Division III finalists are, in alphabetical order: Greg Debeljak, Case Western Reserve University; John Gagliardi, St. John's University; Larry Kehres, Mount Union College; Dan MacNeill; SUNY Cortland; and Mark Speckman, Willamette University.

"These finalists represent what is great about college football," said Greg Gordon, Liberty Mutual senior vice president of Consumer Marketing. "Today we recognize 25 coaches who understand that how you win is every bit as important as winning itself, and who are revered by their fans for exhibiting characteristics of sportsmanship, integrity and responsibility."

2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Winner Selection Between Dec.12 and Dec. 22 college football fans are once again invited back to www.CoachoftheYear.com to cast their vote for the winner. On the site, fans have the opportunity to review bios and fan testimonials supporting each finalist before they make their selection and enjoy episodes of "Coach's Corner" which offer Archie Manning and Kirk Herbstreit's perspectives on the latest topics in college football.

To ensure candidates are evaluated fairly and measured against the specific values of responsibility and integrity, a Selection Committee composed of College Football Hall of Fame players and coaches and the national media will also cast votes for the winners. Fan votes account for 20 percent of each coach's final score while the College Football Hall of Famers and national college football media account for 55 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

The 2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award winners will be announced on ESPN during halftime of the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

Game of the Week: #20 South Carolina @ #5 Florida

By RALPH MANCINI - CFI SENIOR WRITER

The Steve Spurrier-led Gamecocks head into Gainesville this week with upset on their minds. South Carolina is one of the hottest teams around coming off four victories in their last five SEC games. This will be a huge test for the Gators, who have national-title aspirations. Staving off their bowl-hungry rival will be no small feat despite the fact that the Gamecocks haven’t won in the Swamp in their previous 11 tries.

When the ‘Cocks Have the Ball

STEVE SPURRIER IS four years into his tenure at USC but has yet to build that powerhouse offense everyone expected from him. In fact, after ranking 20th overall in 2006, this unit has been going backwards, ranking 77th last season and 86th this year. One of the primary reasons for this is the lack of an established field general – the two-headed monster of Chris Smelley and Stephen Garcia has failed to add any consistency to South Carolina’s passing attack. The former is an error-prone game manager who can put some mustard behind some of his throws while Garcia, the more talented and athletic of the two, struggles with reading defenses. The two quarterbacks are both guilty of staring down their receiving targets at times. Those targets are often 6’0” senior Kenny McKinley and standout tight end Jared Cook. McKinley has been hindered by a hamstring injury that cost him three games this year, but when healthy, he is an outstanding route-runner who fluidly comes in and out of his cuts with excellent burst. The 6’ 5”, 240-pound Cook, on the other hand, is a converted wide out with 4.5 speed and amazing leaping ability. This former basketball player is a match-up nightmare and leads his team with 33 receptions for 542 yards. Running back Mike Davis’ 3.5 yards-per-carry have been a major disappointment. He’s been sluggish this year and has failed to top 100 yards since this first week of the season, although much of that can be attributed to a deficiency of large bodies along the interior of the offensive line. Injuries have also played a role with left guard Lemuel Jeanpierre, knocked out for the season with a knee injury suffered during the Tennessee game. The Gamecocks other starting guard, Heath Batchelor, was suspended indefinitely after three games. Current guards, Hutch Eckerson and Terrence Campbell, are both under 300 pounds.

LED BY THEIR imposing middle linebacker, Brandon Spikes, Florida boasts a much-improved defense with a revamped secondary and interior defensive line. But it all starts with Spikes. Whether he’s crushing ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage or making plays in pass coverage, the 6’3’, 245-pound ring leader always seems to be in the right position to make a play. The Gators will look to stay aggressive by dialing up a variety of blitzes. Outside linebacker A.J. Jones will be one of those who’ll be featured in blitz packages thanks to his good feet and ability to elude blockers. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap is another player South Carolina’s quarterbacks need to look out for. With five sacks under his belt, the freakish 6’ 7”, 290-pound lineman is blessed with extraordinary closing speed off the edge and a pair of long arms that give him the upper hand when disengaging from blockers. Fellow end, Jermaine Cunningham, is Dunlap’s partner in crime when it comes to wreaking havoc in the offensive backfield. Cunnigham’s lethal first step often makes him too hot to handle for opposing offensive lines. Strong safety Ahmad Black is masterful at reading quarterbacks and has five interceptions so far, while free safety Major Wright is hard-hitting and tenacious. Freshman Janoris Jenkins has tremendous anticipatory skills and plays with a confidence that borders on cockiness. The first-year defensive back has made an immediate impact by playing a big role in Florida’s win over Tennessee and recorded his first sack versus LSU.

When the Gators Have the Ball

THE VARIETY OF looks Florida’s offense can throw at you on a weekly basis is quite daunting. Quarterback Tim Tebow is the engine of Urban Meyer’s offense with the many ways he can penetrate a defense. The Heisman Trophy winner can frustrate the opposition by running through or around defenders, as well as by unleashing his powerful arm on downfield throws — he’s nearly unstoppable when he’s on his game. Meyer will also throw a change-up every now and then by lining Tebow up at wide receiver and letting jack-of-all-trades wide out Percy Harvin take a few snaps to keep opponents off balance. Harvin has the speed and elusiveness to make defenders miss from a number of different positions. Tag-team partner Louis Murphy is bigger than his 5’ 11” counterpart and nearly matches his speed on both downfield plays and shorter gadget routes. Red-shirt freshman Deonte Thompson has also shown signs of becoming a premier playmaker this season. His acceleration and overall competitiveness compensate for his occasional drops. How Gator receivers match up with South Carolina’s fourth-ranked pass defense should be fun to watch. Florida’s hodgepodge of weapons at running back is also quite impressive with Emmanuel Moody, Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps all averaging over six yards per tote. Rainey is a shifty back who baffles would-be tacklers with his ability to start and stop on a dime. He’ll often use his balance to break free on long runs. Demps is a pure speed merchant that defenses always have to account for. Bristol, Connecticut native Aaron Hernandez offers enough size to outmuscle linebackers at tight end with the quickness and agility to give most safeties a hard time. Phil Trautwein is a resident Jersey boy who’s been known to make several pancake blocks in the running game.

SOUTH CAROLINA’S BIGGEST strength lies in its shutdown defense. In addition, to the Gamecocks leading the SEC in total defense, this ultra-fast and hard-hitting unit has yet to allow any of their opponents to score more than 24 points. Teams usually don’t run the ball against this defense either as Spurrier’s bunch has prevented all backs from averaging four yards per carry. SC’s linebackers play an integral role in that regard. Junior Eric Norwood, in particular, is a ferocious pass rusher who can line up at both inside and outside linebacker. Last year’s All-SEC pick has been unstoppable at times this year, displaying uncommon athleticism for a man who tips the scales at 253 pounds. Norwood has five sacks in his last two games. Jasper Brinkley is a 269-pound roadblock at middle linebacker, who often prevents blockers from gaining any ground for their running backs. While the king-sized run stuffer delivers some devastating blows to ball carriers, his lack of sideline-to-sideline range may be a problem in pursuing Tebow and company. Strong safety Emanuel Cook is also a force against the run. He not only leads the team in tackles, but truly has a nose for the football and frequently scoops up fumbles as a result. This playmaking junior is also good at putting the clamps on opposing tight ends in coverage. Ladi Ajiboye is the Gamecocks’ best lineman with his quick first step and his ability to knife through offensive lines and harass quarterbacks. Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn was a preseason first-team All- SEC pick, who makes his presence felt with his aggressive and physical style of play.

Final Analysis

WHILE SOUTH CAROLINA may somewhat contain the Gators’ high-octane arsenal, quarterback Tim Tebow will find ways to get the ball into the hands of his playmakers, who can outrun just about any defense. The fact that the Gamecocks are a turnover-prone squad also works against them versus a gifted front seven that will capitalize on their mistakes. SC’s quarterbacks lead the conference in interceptions with 17.

Prediction: Florida 31, South Carolina 19

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

Game of the Week: Georgia vs. Florida

THERE’LL BE NO love lost between these two bitter rivals this Saturday, as Florida will try to avenge a humiliating defeat to the Bulldogs last year in which several Gators took exception to what they considered to be a contentious touchdown celebration on the part of Georgia. If that weren’t enough to spice up this SEC showdown, this game will also likely decide the winner of the conference’s Eastern Division while also having national championship implications.

When the Gators Have the Ball

COMING OFF YET another stellar performance in Florida’s whitewash of Kentucky last week, quarterback Tim Tebow is tailor made for coach Urban Meyer’s offense. Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner orchestrates the spread-option like a true maestro, giving defenses fits with his ability to score both with his arm and his feet. Tebow’s 6’3” frame belies his elusiveness as a runner. The junior has a good arm, but doesn’t always throw the most catchable ball. Florida’s cadre of talented receivers is also the source of quite a few sleepless nights for opposing defensive coordinators, starting with Percy Harvin. Despite being hampered by a heel injury during the past two seasons, the 5’11” speedster is a home run threat every time he touches the ball at both the running back and wide out positions. This open-field dynamo combines 4.3 speed with a dose of wiggle ability that makes many defenders miss. Louis Murphy is no slouch either, in fact, after a slow start to his collegiate career, the 6’2” playmaker has developed into a force that is toasting cornerbacks on downfield routes. Murphy’s 18 receptions for 292 yards and four touchdowns this season would be significantly higher across the board in a more pass-oriented attack. Florida’s running backs are weapons in their own right. The undersized, but speedy Jeffrey Demps and Chris Rainey are cut from the same cloth. Rainey can start and stop on a dime, and then explode as he runs downfield with exceptional balance and vision. Demps’ unmatched pure speed makes him a dangerous chess piece that can be used in a variety of ways. The freshman will become even better once he improves his patience and change-of-direction tendencies. Tight end Aaron Hernandez has filled in admirably for the injured Cornelius Ingram. Left tackle Phil Trautwein is a strong run blocker with excellent technique.

GEORGIA OPERATES A DEFENSE that’s strong versus the run despite the absence of standout defensive tackle Jeff Owens, who’s recovering from a season-ending ACL injury. This linebacker-driven unit has a plethora of difference makers at the position, including Darryl Gamble, who filled in for Dannell Ellerbe last week and played a key role in his team’s dismantling of LSU. Gamble returned two interceptions for touchdowns and recorded a career-high 13 tackles. Outside linebacker Rennie Curran is another key component who uses his remarkable lateral quickness to close in on opposing ball carriers and thwarts any hopes of a big running play. This sideline-to-sideline enforcer leads the Bulldogs with 69 tackles and three sacks. Justin Houston and Demarcus Dobbs are a pair of promising defensive ends who both chipped in with one sack each last Saturday. Dobbs in particular, has displayed flashes of greatness, with the mobility and all-out intensity that makes him an invaluable member of this defense. Corey Irvin and Geno Atkins do all the run-stuffing dirty work at defensive tackle. Irvin is second on the team with six tackles for a loss. Georgia’s secondary isn’t quite up to par, as evidenced by the fact that they’ve allowed 13 touchdowns passes and have only eight pickoffs even though they haven’t faced any top-level quarterbacks to date. In last week’s game, the Bulldogs allowed four passes of 20 yards or more. Cornerback Asher Allen is the headliner of this defensive backfield. The 5’10” junior is a complete player adept at forcing fumbles, blitzing quarterbacks, and also providing tight coverage.

When the Dawgs Have the Ball

BLESSED WITH AN immense throwing arm, quarterback Matthew Stafford is perhaps the best pure passer in the nation, but his production hasn’t always been at the same level as his skill set. Stafford’s pedestrian statistics are due in large part to coach Mark Richt’s conservative game planning. But against Florida this week, the future pro will probably be called upon to throw quite a few deep outs to keep pace with Florida’s high-octane scoring machine. What’s been most notable about Stafford lately is how he’s improved as a pocket passer by keeping his eyes downfield despite being surrounded by a chaotic mass of pass rushers. The reason for that hellacious pass rush is due to Georgia’s young offensive line that’s been plagued by injury. In the past two games, however, this makeshift unit has come together, allowing only one sack of Stafford. In the past two weeks, that same offensive line, led by true freshman center Ben Jones, has paved the way for the spectacular exploits of Knowshon Moreno. The sophomore has gained 335 yards on only 44 carries during that stretch. The New Jersey native’s 4.4 speed, vision, instincts and relentlessness have made him an unstoppable weapon that continues to get better as the season wears on. At wide receiver, A.J. Green has provided the Bulldog attack with a playmaking component they’ve lacked at the position in recent years. The 6’4” freshman may still be undisciplined in his route running at times. He more than makes up for that with his one-of-a-kind agility and body control, which along with his excellent hands, allow him to come down with a number of long receptions along the sidelines. Mohamed Massaquoi is more of the possession type with at least one catch in 29 straight games. Tight end Aron White has loads of potential and finally showed signs of his physical gifts by making a 48-yard grab last week.

THE UNQUESTIONED LEADER of Florida’s defense is middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, who sets the tone with his toughness and instincts, which allow him to quickly flow to the ball carrier and drop back in coverage. While he may not be as fast as some other top players at his position, Spikes has a knack of always putting himself in the best position to make a play. His partner in crime, A.J. Jones, is an aggressive outside linebacker who makes plays all over the field and is one superb hitter. Jones is physical at the point of attack and has good feet and agility to get around blockers. The real star of this defense, however, is Florida’s intense defensive end Jermaine Cunningham. His quick first step and feline quickness off the edge make him a load to contain as a pass rusher. But for all his skill in pressuring quarterbacks, the junior must improve in playing the run. Fellow end Carlos Dunlap is a freakish 6’7”, 290-pound defender with 4.7 speed. Dunlap’s long arms help him disengage from blockers and his noteworthy quickness enables him to run down plays from the backside. Talented cornerback Janoris Jenkins remains probable to start in this week’s contest. The Gator coaching staff hopes to have his unique anticipatory skills and exceptional closing speed at its disposal as they try to contain Matthew Stafford and company. Heat seeking missile Major Wright excels at knocking down passes and laying the wood from his safety position.

Final Analysis

LOOK FOR FLORIDA to put up some quick points in this ball game and force the Bulldogs to play catch up. Georgia’s 80th ranked offense will put up a valiant effort, but won’t be able to muster enough points to have a chance in this SEC battle. Tim Tebow is primed for yet another masterful performance.

Prediction: Florida 41 Georgia 27

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

CFI RANKINGS: #8 FLORIDA GATORS

2007 RECORD: 9-4; SEC: 5-3
Lost Capitol One Bowl vs. Michigan 41-35
LOCATION: Gainesville, Florida
STADIUM: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548)
HEAD COACH: Urban Meyer
OVERALL: 70-16 (7 seasons)
AT FLORIDA: 31-8 (3 seasons)

Lost in the aura of Tim Tebow and the amazing numbers he put up was the fact the Gators opened the season ranked No. 3 in the Coaches Poll (CFI Preseason No. 18) and finished ranked 16th. The Gators put a whuppin’ on several opponents—seven of their nine wins coming by at least 20 points—but were only 1-4 against their five opponents that finished the season ranked. On the flip side, they were breaking in nine new starters on defense, as well as a new quarterback in what was a pretty darn good rebuilding season.

WHEN THE GATORS HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dan Mullen (4th Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 7
KEY LOSSES: Andre Caldwell, Carlton Medder, Drew Miller, Cornelius Ingram (Injured)

Tim Tebow had a season for the ages, shattering the glass ceiling for sophomores when it comes to the Heisman Trophy. What can he do for an encore? Hopefully for the Gators they won’t need Tebow to do as much. He is such a unique runner, reminiscent of an old school fullback with defenders bouncing off of him. He also has a big arm and made strides as a passer in his first season as the starter—his duel threat ability makes him the ultimate weapon in the spread offense. If he isn’t, Percy Harvin might be, whether it be catching the football or lining up in the backfield and running with the pigskin. If the Gators want to stretch the field, Luis Murphy and his 4.3 speed is the way to go. They suffered a major loss when WR/TE hybrid Cornelius Ingram went down, but do have a solid fill in with sophomore Aaron Hernandez. There is talent along the offensive line and at tailback, but both groups were inconsistent in ’07. The line must play better as a group and they are relying on heavily on the Pouncey brothers, a pair of sophomores. At tailback, Kestahn Moore returns, but expect either USC transfer Emmanuel Moody or electric freshman Chris Rainey to emerge.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) WR Percy Harvin (JR), 2) QB Tim Tebow (JR)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Charlie Strong (4th Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 8
KEY LOSSES: Derrick Harvey, Tony Joiner

A lot of young players were thrust into major roles on defense last season and the hope in Gainesville is that the ’08 edition of the Florida Gators will be better for it. MIKE Brandon Spikes stepped to the forefront as their leading tackler and top playmaker—a big reason the Gators led the SEC in rush defense. He is the leader of the defense, but others must step up. They need more production from their outside linebackers, as well as from the defensive tackle spot, where several freshmen and sophomores are competing for playing time. They must also replace premiere pass rusher Derrick Harvey, with ends Jermaine Cunningham and Carlos Dunlap possessing vast potential. Their biggest problem last season came in the secondary. Florida’s pass defense was dead last in the SEC as corners Joe Haden and Wondy Pierre-Louis were burned early and often, but there is hope for the duo, particularly Haden who made 12 starts as a true freshman. The most exciting player in the defensive backfield is another true sophomore, FS Major Wright, who only needs to play with more discipline to fulfill his potential.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) MLB Brandon Spikes (JR), 2) FS Major Wright (SO)

THE SCHEDULE

Out of conference they take on Miami at home early and Florida St. in Tallahassee late…these match-ups are great for college football, but not nearly as difficult as they would have been in the past. Their opener versus Hawaii is far easier than it would have been a year ago, but don’t worry—playing in the SEC is going to be as tough as ever. They open up conference play with a trip to Knoxville and play host to defending SEC and national champion LSU, as well as SEC East sleeper South Carolina. The game circled on everyone’s schedule is in Jacksonville, home of the “the world’s largest end zone celebration”. You can bet the Gators are chomping at the bit to square off with the ‘Dawgs.

PIVOTAL POINT

Finish vs. the Big Boys: The 2007 Gators were bullies to some extent. They beat up on the little guys on their schedule—Western Kentucky, Troy and Florida Atlantic—as expected. They also took it to some of the powers that be in college football, trouncing Tennessee 59-20 and laying a 45-12 beat down of Florida St. In both of those games, their rivals were quick to hang their heads and didn’t put up much of a fight. However, that wasn’t the case with their toughest opponents. Not only did Florida lose to four of the five teams they played that finished ranked, they were 1-3 in games decided by less than a touchdown, with their lone win coming against a 3-9 Ole Miss team. They did not overcome a fourth quarter deficit all season.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

The 2007 Gators were far more glamorous than the 2006 edition, but in their championship run, Florida was 5-0 in games decided by seven points or less, including a pair of late fourth quarter comebacks against Tennessee and South Carolina. What will the 2008 Gators deliver? The talent is there to contend for a National Championship, but they must do a better job closing out games against the other contenders in the SEC or they could just as easily find themselves in third place in the East just as they were a season ago.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

Banged-up secondary a big concern for No. 12 Florida against FSU

By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida's inexperienced secondary has been the team's biggest weakness all season.

It might get exploited against rival Florida State.

The 12th-ranked Gators (8-3) could be without starting cornerbacks Joe Haden (ankle) and Markihe Anderson (knee) against the Seminoles (7-4) on Saturday, leaving the defending national champions with a precarious matchup against wide receivers Greg Carr, De'Cody Fagg and Preston Parker.

``It's as big a concern as we have,'' Florida coach Urban Meyer said. ``We're just thinned out right now back there.''

Haden sprained his right ankle last Saturday against Florida Atlantic and Anderson tweaked a knee injury that has slowed him all season.

Both players missed practice time this week, leaving sophomore Wondy Pierre-Louis and redshirt freshman Jacques Rickerson to step into starting spots. Pierre-Louis has struggled much of the year in place of Anderson, and Rickerson has played sparingly.

Another option could be Moses Jenkins, a freshman who has played mostly on special teams.

Regardless of who's on the field, the matchup could be favorable for the Seminoles, who have lost three in a row in the series.

Carr, Fagg and Parker have combined to catch 130 passes for 1,976 yards and 11 touchdowns. Florida State hasn't been shy about throwing balls up for the 6-foot-6 Carr and the 6-3 Fagg, especially against undersized cornerbacks.

``I really respect their corners,'' FSU quarterback Drew Weatherford said. ``They're very talented guys. They're obviously young, but they have a lot of experience under their belt having played a whole season. They've definitely improved as the season as gone on.''

Maybe so, but the Gators gave up 311 yards in the first half last week against Florida Atlantic.

``That is about as bad as I have seen us play on defense,'' Meyer said.

The defense turned things around in the second half, but how much of that will carry over to Saturday's game?

The Gators, already playing without defensive tackle Javier Estopinan, also could be without defensive tackle Mike Pouncey (knee) and defensive end Lawrence Marsh (toe). And linebacker Brandon Spikes has been bothered by knee tendinitis.

``We are dealing with some significant injuries on defense,'' Meyer said.

But the more significant problem has been in the secondary, where Florida has been burned by big plays and soft coverages.

``They play in the SEC and they play against a lot of great teams that throw the ball extremely well, so they have a lot of experience and have been tested a lot,'' Weatherford said. ``I've see a great improvement in the film that I've watched.''

The Gators hope an effective pass rush will help take pressure off the secondary. Florida State has allowed 19 sacks, including 14 on Weatherford.

``We think we can get to him,'' said Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey, who has 6 1/2 of the team's 23 sacks. ``We definitely need to.''

Source: ncaafootball; Photo Credit: SECSportsmeda

No. 20 Georgia upends No. 9 Florida, 42-30

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- The Georgia Bulldogs celebrated in the end zone early and on the sideline late.

They probably should have hoisted Knowshon Moreno and Matthew Stafford on their shoulders for both.

Moreno ran for a career-high 188 yards and three scores, Stafford threw three touchdown passes and No. 20 Georgia upset ninth-ranked Florida 42-30 on Saturday in a game filled with big plays and momentum shifts.

The Bulldogs (6-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) sacked Tim Tebow six times and contained the Gators' high-scoring offense most of the game. The result was a rare Bulldogs victory in one of the South's most heated rivalries.

Florida (5-3, 3-3) had dominated the series known as the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party since 1990, winning 15 of the last 17 meetings and eight of nine. Georgia turned it around Saturday, taking advantage of Tebow's bruised non-throwing shoulder and Florida's porous defense.

Bulldogs coach Mark Richt set the tone for before the game. Richt, who had been 1-5 against the Gators, uncharacteristically orchestrated an on-field celebration following his team's first touchdown.

``I told them if they didn't get a penalty for celebrating after the first score I would be mad at them,'' Richt told CBS Sports as he headed to the locker room.

The Bulldogs came through for their coach in a big way, when the entire team ran on the field and into the end zone to celebrate Moreno's first TD run. The Bulldogs bounced around and drew two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

Georgia was forced to kickoff from the 8-yard line and the brazen show of emotion drew the ire of Florida coach Urban Meyer.

Just two weeks ago, Richt chastised his players for jumping on Vanderbilt's midfield logo following a 20-17 victory.

Meyer huddled his players on the sideline and had them jumping up and down. The Gators may have felt dissed but that wasn't enough to make up for defense that's struggled all season.

The defending national champions were exposed in losses to LSU and Auburn, and Kentucky's Andre Woodson picked them apart in a close game last week.

Georgia was even better, gouging every aspect of Florida's defense.

Stafford was 11-of-18 for 217 yards with an interception by that was returned for a touchdown early.

Moreno did most of the damage on 33 carries, picking up yards inside and out, breaking tackles and outrunning defenders all over the field. Stafford took advantage, using play-action passes to make Florida's secondary look silly. The Gators' pass rush rarely got close to Stafford.

The Bulldogs sealed the victory when Tebow fumbled a snap with 2:23 remaining. The turnover started a raucous celebration on the Georgia sideline, then at midfield and again in the same end zone.

Georgia finished with its most points in the series since a 44-0 win in 1982.

Florida simply wasn't as effective as it had been on offense. Tebow injured his shoulder last week against the Wildcats and was clearly favoring it Saturday. He ran very little in the first half, and the Gators just weren't the same.

Tebow finished 14-of-22 for 236 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.

Percy Harvin picked up the slack, running for 97 yards and catching two passes for 41 yards. A fumble by Kestahn Moore and another fumbled snap by Moore helped Georgia build an early lead.

Stafford never let the Bulldogs relinquish it.

He connected with Mohamed Massaquoi for an 84-yard score that made it 14-7. He flipped a 1-yarder in the flat to Brannan Southerland to make it 28-17 early in the second half. Stafford's 53-yarder to Mikey Henderson was the topper, making it 35-24 with about 11 minutes remaining.

Florida also dropped to 7-1 in rivalry games under Meyer, losing its first game against Tennessee, Georgia or Florida State.

SOURCE: NCAAFOOTBALL; PHOTO CREDIT: SEC SPORTS MEDIA

Florida's Tebow injures non-throwing shoulder in win at Kentucky

By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida coach Urban Meyer has talked all season about trying to limit the number of carries for quarterback Tim Tebow.

Now, he might really have to do it.

Tebow has a bruised right shoulder, an injury sustained in the second half of Florida's 45-37 win at Kentucky on Saturday. Safety Major Wright (thumb) and offensive tackle Carlton Medder (heel) also were banged up in the game, maybe more serious than Tebow.

Tebow, a left-hander, played through the pain and sealed the victory with 2-yard touchdown run that followed a 40-yard pass to Percy Harvin.

Meyer said Tebow won't have any contact in practice this week as the ninth-ranked Gators (5-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) prepare for No. 20 Georgia.

``We have to be careful,'' Meyer said Sunday. ``We've got to continue to coach him up to manage the game. He's had so much success (running). He's the kind of persona that takes it. That's a concern.''

Meyer said there were several plays Saturday in which Tebow could have thrown the ball to an open receiver for short yardage, but instead tucked it and ran, taking the safer option but also taking unnecessary hits.

The Gators have tried to limit Tebow's touches, especially after he ran 27 times for a career-high 166 yards at Mississippi last month.

But Tebow has carried 19, 16 and 20 times in the three games since. He finished with 78 yards on 20 attempts against the Wildcats.

``He's getting about 20 carries a game, but a lot of those are him all of a sudden making a play,'' Meyer said. ``When you take that away from Tim Tebow - not that he's a normal quarterback - but he's not what Tim Tebow is to our offense.

``The thing we all have to understand is we can't get him hurt.''

That may have already happened.

Tebow, however, said he would be OK.

``It's just a little banged up,'' he said. ``It's fine.''

The Gators - who control their destiny in the SEC East with consecutive games against Georgia, Vanderbilt and South Carolina - sure hope so. After all, Tebow has accounted for 73 percent of their offense this season.

He has 125 carries for 578 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also leads the nation in passing efficiency (177.5), completing 66 percent of his passes for 1,711 yards with 17 touchdowns and three interceptions.

``You can see him changing,'' Meyer said. ``A year ago, he would have had many more carries because that's kind of who he is. Now, he's getting a lot of confidence in distributing the ball. That comes with experience and confidence in the people, the personnel, around him.''

But Florida would like to see him pass more often. Meyer said a typical game plan calls for no more than 10 runs by Tebow. Tebow's competitiveness and desire to make something happen lead to many more, too many more for Meyer.

Still, there's one thing Meyer doesn't want to take away from his star quarterback.

``We don't let him lose his edge, No. 1,'' he said.

Meyer said he would know more about Medder and Wright later Sunday. Wright's injury seems to be the most serious. He broke a thumb and might need surgery.

``They could cast it, which we all know a safety without a hand that can grasp and make a tackle and intercept a pass, that's awful difficult,'' Meyer said. ``We have some injury issues.''

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: SEC Sports

No. 14 Florida takes down No. 8 Kentucky, 45-37

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Tim Tebow threw for a career high four touchdowns and No. 14 Florida rebounded from back-to-back losses with a 45-37 victory over No. 8 Kentucky on Saturday. It was the Gators' 21st straight win against the Wildcats.

The victory puts the defending national champions back in the Southeastern Conference title hunt despite their recent losses to Auburn and LSU. The Gators (5-2, 3-2) are now tied with South Carolina and Georgia for first in the SEC East.

Kentucky (6-2, 2-2), which knocked off then-No. 1 LSU in triple overtime a week earlier, came into the game concerned Tebow's Gators presented a bigger threat because of his running. The Wildcats held him to 78 rushing yards, but the junior's left arm proved far more problematic.

Tebow connected on 18 of 26 passes for 256 yards. He nearly had a fifth TD pass, but Cornelius Ingram allowed the ball to slip through his fingers. Tebow's previous career-high of three TDs came earlier this year in games against Troy and Western Kentucky.

Although the Heisman candidate has long been heralded for his versatility because of his running ability, he showed Saturday he is also a versatile passer, able to connect both on long bombs and short lobs.

At the end of the first quarter, Tebow dissected Kentucky's double-coverage of Louis Murphy, hitting him stride as he ran through the defenders and completed a 66-yard scoring play.

Just before halftime, Tebow showed finesse. He started toward the line, stopped, and threw a jump pass to Aaron Hernandez for a 1-yard TD.

Florida led 21-10 at halftime, but the Wildcats made a comeback attempt behind their own Heisman candidate, Andre Woodson, who had his best game of the season with 415 yards and five TDs.

Dazzling scoring plays from two receivers kept the Wildcats in the game.

First, Jacob Tamme caught a pass 10 yards short of the end zone, spun to avoid running out of bounds and ran it in.

Then, Dicky Lyons Jr. caught a short pass and turned it into a 50-yarder, weaving through defenders in his path.

Florida answered with its longest run of the game, a 24-yard end-around that receiver Percy Harvin took in for a touchdown to put the Gators back up 38-24.

Another Kentucky drive cut the lead to one TD with under four minutes left as Woodson found Lyons again on a 7-yard slant.

However, Tebow iced the game, using a 40-yard pass to give the Gators the ball on the 2, then running it in himself. It was the eighth straight game Tebow has scored a rushing TD.

A week after Kentucky's offensive line allowed no sacks against Glenn Dorsey and LSU's physical defensive front, the Gators got to Woodson six times, including back-to-back plays in the first half.

Those sacks translated into the first of several missed opportunities for Kentucky, as Lones Seiber was wide left on a 48-yard field goal attempt.

Kentucky had similar field position twice more in the first half, but coach Rich Brooks decided to go for it both times on fourth-and-long. The Wildcats converted on one and Seiber connected from 27 yards.

There were no turnovers in the game, attended by a Commonwealth Stadium record 71,024, and no penalties until Kentucky was whistled for a false start at the beginning of the second half.

Kentucky hasn't beaten Florida since 1986, the third-longest current streak in the nation between major opponents who have played every year without an interruption.

Source: ncaafootball; Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

VOLS SINK IN SWAMP

BY RAFAEL GARCIA
SEC INSIDER

Once again another Tennessee team goes to The Swamp and gets whipped.

This is where Vol players go to lose their season. It all started with a big punt return for a touchdown for the Gators and while the Vols responded with a big kickoff return if their own their drive came up empty. Tennessee put on challenge in the second half, but there came a point when the Vol nation just sat down and shut up. Life was drained not only from the team, but the fans as well.

At this point, at 1-2, the local media is full of shame and anger as well as shock. Let’s look at the facts:

Key Points:
1. Brandon James (pictured) 83-yard punt return for a TD.
2. Erik Ainge/Arian Foster fumble returned for a TD.
2. Tim Tebow 30-yard TD pass to Riley Cooper opened up lead.
3. Erik Ainge 15-yard TD pass to Chris Brown at the end of the half.
4. Eric Berry 96-yard interception return for a TD.

Big Hits:
1. Florida defense allows only 37 yards rushing for the game.
2. Eric Berry has solid game including a big third down hit that stopped a Florida drive.
3. Tennessee offensive line good pass protection in the first half.

That Yellow Flag:
1. Both teams combine for 16 penalties for 106 yards.
2. 1st quarter offsides by Florida on 4th and inches that gave Tennessee a first down.
3. Illegal formation in 2nd quarter cost UT first down they needed.

Aint That Special:
1. Brandon James 193 return yards.
2. LaMarcus Coker kickoff return for 74 yards.
3. Tennessee special teams a bit slow and missed tackles.

Low Ends:
1. Tennessee offensive line could not open holes for backs.
2. Tennessee was 5-17 on third down conversions.
3. Jonathan Hefney kept going for big instead of just tackling.

Into The Mind:
1. Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer goes for 4th and 7 with 12 minutes to go, yet on two 4th and one situations he opted to punt and kick a field goal. Do you think the message he sent his offense and Florida’s defense set the tone for the rest of the game?
2. Florida coach Urban Meyer proved he is light years ahead of Fulmer. He utilized his big play guys and let Tebow take control. With that he pumped up his defense and they fed off that. That’s coaching baby!

THE CFI TOP 25 COUNTDOWN: #18 FLORIDA GATORS

BY DANIEL MOGOLLON
CO-FOUNDER
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDERS



2006 RECORD: 13-1; SEC: 7-1
Won Fiesta Bowl vs. Ohio St. 41-14
LOCATION: Gainesville, Florida
STADIUM: Ben Hill Griffin (88,548)
HEAD COACH: Urban Meyer
OVERALL: 61-12 (6 seasons)
AT FLORIDA: 22-4 (2 seasons)

Before you call me stupid…just here me out. Last season, Florida survived many games, including one-point wins to both South Carolina and Tennessee, as well as a six-point win to a Jay Cutler-less Vanderbilt team, a game that would have ratcheted up the “Fire Zook” mantra a couple of seasons ago. They also avoided LSU in the Southeastern Conference Championship game. No one can take their BCS Championship away from them, they earned it, but their dominating performance against Ohio St. left an impression in many minds that they rolled through their schedule, which simply was not the case. Did I mention they lost nine starters on defense?

WHEN THE GATORS HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Dan Mullen (3rd Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 6
KEY LOSSES: Chris Leak, Dallas Baker, DeShawn Wynn, Jemalle Cornelius

The offense must carry the load, especially early on, as their young defense becomes acclimated to playing SEC football week in and week out. It all revolves around Tim Tebow and how he acclimates to being the man and not just a change of pace with special packages geared to his skills. He is better suited, with his ability to run, to lead Urban Meyer’s spread-option offense, however he is unproven as a passer, in particular how he handles situations when the opposing team knows he is throwing. If he does step up, there will be no shortage of weapons to throw to, the Gators strength could be their receivers, with Percy Harvin, Andre Caldwell and Luis Murphy all burners, and Cornelius Ingram, who is part tight end, someone who uses his size. The offensive line returns four starters with one of the most talented two deeps in the land and should be good enough to open some holes, that is of course if the Gators find someone to run through them, as Meyer’s search for a feature back continues.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Percy Harvin (SO), 2) Andre Caldwell (SR), 3) Cornelius Ingram (JR), 4) Carlton Medder (SR), 5) Drew Miller (SR), 6) Phillip Trautwein (SR), 7) Tim Tebow (SO)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Greg Mattison (3rd Season)/Charlie Strong (5th Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 2
KEY LOSSES: Reggie Nelson, Ray McDonald, Jarvis Moss, Brandon Siler, Earl Everett, Ryan Smith, Reggie Lewis

The Gators front seven is well stocked with four and five-star prospects, however Derrick Harvey is the only one who has much of a proven resume and they are thankful he did not join his mates in making the jump to the pro ranks. Harvey is a nice starting point, inasmuch as the athletic end could be the top pass rusher in the SEC. They are particularly raw at defensive tackle, even if the upperclassmen hold off the freshmen. A pair of sophomores, Brandon Spikes and Dustin Doe, provide hope on the second level of the defense after productive seasons in backup roles during their championship run. They are also unproven at corner, as they need safeties Tony Joiner and Kyle Jackson to pick up some slack, especially early on. Did I mention they lost nine starters from last season’s team on defense?

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Derrick Harvey (JR), 2) Brandon Spikes (SO), 3) Dustin Doe (SO), 4) Tony Joiner (SR), 5) Jermaine Cunningham (SO)

THE SCHEDULE

Payback…meaning teams will be on the lookout for them. Normally, the defending champ has a target on their chests, but at the Southeastern Conference media days, you got the sense several coaches were still grinding their teeth over heartbreaking losses to the Gators in 2006. Steve Spurrier saw his Gamecocks dropped when Florida blocked two field goals and an extra point in a one-point Florida win, which was the same margin of victory against Tennessee. LSU coughed up the game with five turnovers (and blocked punt), leading to a 23-10 win over the talented Tigers. They play Tennessee at home but have to make trips to South Carolina and LSU, not including their rivalry game in Jacksonville against the Georgia Bulldogs.

PIVOTAL POINT

Youth must be served if the Gators are to repeat as SEC Champs, let alone follow the lead of the hardwood hoopsters in Gainesville and win back-to-back National Championships. Tebow and Harvin are true sophomores and whoever the starting tailback is, he will be a first year starter. On defense, end Jermaine Cunningham, Spikes and Doe are three more second year players, while freshmen could see significant playing time at defensive tackle, SAM and corner back.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

Did I mention they lost nine starters on defense? Seriously, that is a lot to overcome, not to mention the fact they are turning the reins over to Tebow, a first year starter himself, without the benefit of a proven running game. Could they have top five or ten talent? Probably. Could they be better in 2008 than they were in 2006? Likely, however that has nothing to do with what happens on the field in 2007. Urban Meyer will earn his paycheck implementing 14 new starters and taking on a SEC schedule.

Check back tomorrow to see who is #17 in CFI’s Top 25 Countdown