Stop by here from time to time, but haven't posted before. Obviously the whole back and forth has kept the UF/UT game a little more interesting, even post game.
A couple of observations I'd share as a Gator alum who has been to a number of UF/UT games, including seeing us get beat in Knoxville in '92 - still had a great time up there.
1) CLK has made the Vols more interesting and relevant, period.
2) The tone however of this series has become a lot less respectful by some, and I personally don't really enjoy that part of the rivalry.
3) We have some guys with the flu right now. I don't think we should have talked about it, but it was brought up and it is the truth. If 3 guys make that big of a difference in the score of the game, then the Gators don't have much depth. I don't think it was a huge factor in the game, and should have just been left alone. (although I don't think it's really an excuse after a win.)
4) the talent gap -- I think anyone familiar with this rivalry knows the gap is thin and both teams have had ups and downs. UF has had a nice run, and CLK has done a good job of getting some big recruits. Uf won the national title in 2006 and beat UT by 1. Anyone who thinks this game is ever a foregone conclusion is crazy. I knew that before this game.
5) Coach Kiffin would probably get a lot more compliments for this game if people liked him. Sorry, but did anyone really expect a lot of compliments for him? You gotta get used to that if he's your coach. (take it from us) But, neither side should think that every fan is a spitting image of your coach, with the same opinions and attitudes. I loved Spurrier, but I wasn't really that high some of his antics from time to time.
6) We're not afraid of Tennessee. We know they are capable of beating us, and the 3rd week in September is always huge, but afraid? We should quit the SEC if we're afraid of good teams, too many of them in this conference.
7) Tennessee has a great D. Monte just makes it better. I can't root for the guy all these years with the Bucs, including a Super Bowl win and all of a sudden say he's no good. Monte could be your biggest asset.
8) Hopefully next year the game will be about the game with some usual banter. The "this has to be a blowout factor" of this year's game was ridiculous. I don't go into any game thinking we've got to blow this team out. Vandy, Kentucky, Miss State, etc. Maybe the Troys and Charleston Southern games, but no way any legitimate opponent. We beat Vandy by a TD when we won the NC in '96, won two games by 1 point in 2006. I'm sure the Vols felt big time disrespected before the game on Saturday, and they played tough, partly because of it in my opinion.
9) feeling good about your coach and your team is half the battle, so it is good to see the fans believing in the Vols again up there. It's not our job to throw a bucket of water on that. So good luck the rest of the way and we'll see you next September.
for the UT debacle, and it was a debacle, we played like poo, on the fact that we hadn't faced any stiff competition the first two games. In the past few seasons, we've started pretty slow, again, I believe it's in part due to facing limp noodles in the beginning. I'd love to have a home-home with another BCS school. But I'm a fan of football and the Gators and I can't make the decisions. 