No doubt about it, I am a football fan. There are fans who can spout statistics by the ton, but I am not one of them. If you were to ask who won the national title in a particular year, chances are you would get an answer from me you may not like. Granted, I can tell you about the University of Florida Gators title years, 1996 and 2006, but that is supposed to happen.
In a post called Gator Football Looks Different, I mentioned how this year’s team does not have the same look as last year. I really can’t put my finger on it, but it just looks like the Gators are playing uninspired football. It’s as if they can’t seem to get out of second gear on a routine basis; yes, there are times when the Gators look like they are the ferocious beasts which roam the swamps of Florida, but those times are not very often.
As has been previously mentioned, we have a tough schedule, and that should not surprise anyone. There are a couple of games this year many would consider pure yawners, but when you battle SEC teams week after week, anything can happen. There are several teams in the Southeastern Conference which could potentially vie for the national title. That speaks volumes about how tough our schedule really is.
Here’s another observation you may find plenty of agreement with. From where I sit, it appears Tim Tebow has some shackles holding him back. Up to this point, he hasn’t shown up as the throwing and running machine he was last year, or even as a backup to Chris Leak. I believe what we Gator fans are watching is a purposeful attempt to keep their star quarterback/running back healthy. Would you please just him play football?
Saturday’s game with LSU will speak a lot about the Gators’ character, drive and skill as one of the top teams in the nation. After reading several reviews of the battle in The Swamp, I have come to the conclusion many sports writers give the Gators no chance at all. The consensus is that with the Gators playing with so little fire and making so many mistakes, there just isn’t enough in the tank to overcome LSU’s challenge.
Personally, I don’t quite agree with that assessment. It is difficult for me to imagine the Gators losing twice in a row at home in the Swamp. Secondly, I believe Tebow will have the other players fired up so they can effectively defend their turf. Thirdly, they just can’t afford another loss. Isn’t that simple? Now, all they have to do is show up and play the way they are supposed to, win the game and look forward to the next one. There’s an SEC championship to win, then another national title. That’s exactly what the Gators can do.
From Preacherpen's Desk 