By now you’ve probably already read all of the analysis of the game. Tim Tebow hardly had to do anything. The running backs stole the show. The defense looked good. So on and so forth. Here’s how it went down from where I was sitting.
It was one of the strangest games I’ve ever attended at Florida Field. It began with a quick but persistent and cold rain shower from one of the outer bands of Gustav. That right there negated any and all climatological advantages related to the heat and humidity associated with Gainesville. From there it was relatively cool and breezy, and it probably felt a lot like the islands do this time of year.
Because of the rain, the marching band was not allowed on the field. Sometime after the time I was in the band a few years ago, someone in the athletic department decided that marching bands destroy wet turf, and that policy has held ever since.
The band played only the national anthem, the alma mater, and “Orange and Blue” from the visitor sideline before retreating to the stands. It also played its halftime show, the music of The Who, from the stands as well.
The first quarter was entirely frustrating. The offense got only one complete possession, and it ended because of the Gators mucking it up more than anything Hawai’i did. Almost all of the rest of the quarter was taken up by the Warriors controlling the ball and the clock, thanks to shovel pass screen plays and Florida’s inability to line up onsides.
By the end of the quarter, a lot of people around me were wondering if this was an “I can’t believe this is happening” game, as flashbacks of last year’s defense swirled in everyone’s minds. But less than four-and-a-half minutes into the second quarter, the Gators were up 14-0 and seemed to be in complete control.
The points kept coming and the offense spent a lot of time off the field. That’s what an interception return and a punt return touchdown will do for you. It wasn’t even the real offense because it seemed like the coaches were making a point to make it a running back-driven day. Urban Meyer’s comments after the game confirmed that was exactly the plan.
After halftime, it seemed for stretches like the Gators were losing interest. It’s difficult to say that when they posted another four touchdowns, but if you were watching (and especially if you were there), you know what I'm talking about.
By the time it was 48-0, the coaching staff really took its foot off the gas, and the team basically coasted from there on out.
As I was talking to friends before the game, I came up with the idea that the biggest statement Florida could make was shutting out Hawai’i. For all intents and purposes they did, with the Warriors’ two scores coming in garbage time with both teams roughly playing street ball.
There was never any real doubt about who was the better team, and ultimately this game didn’t prove anything with the score. The most important thing I saw was fundamentally sound one-on-one tackling by the defensive backs. That is something we never saw last season.
I don’t dismiss teams lightly, because if I think there is any chance of UF losing, I don’t want to jinx anything. I know that made some people upset, but we saw on Saturday the size of the gulf between Florida and a WAC team that lost everyone important.
As we now turn to Miami, I feel good about our chances from what I saw. I’m guessing the defense was just eager to make a statement, and hopefully it will not start a trend of racking up tons of flags in first quarters of games.
Go Gators!
29 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Thomas 10 months ago
i thought it was a good game overall. Nice report David, nice to hear what ppl who were there had to say.
Edit Comment Cancel
J. Michael Morris 10 months ago
Well written, being at a football game is a unique perspective.
Edit Comment Cancel
Nick The Only 10 months ago
I was there too and the rain was very strange. It just poured cold rain the entire time I was walking to the stadium and waiting in line at the gate. Then it stopped and it was very muggy for a while, but then cloudy and relatively cool the rest of the day.
As for the offense - I think it was very vanilla. There were no trick players (other than Henry's run on the fake punt for a first down, which I think was an audible due to Hawaii's coverage). The running backs looked impressive (except for Moody). SEC teams will have to worry when Harvin, Rainey, Demps, and James are all getting touches. That is just so much agility and speed at Meyer's disposal.
As far as the defense goes, I was really impressed with the secondary. Joe Haden was all over the field. He had a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, half a sack, and some key tackles. Major Wright hit a few guys who got up slowly afterwards and he made a great read on the Hawaii QB for a pick six. Ahman Black had a great tackle to stop Hawaii from getting a third down. He really read the QB well. Black also had two "gimme" picks (one for an 80 yard TD) by just being in position and tracking badly thrown balls. Backup CB Rickerson had a very athletic pick on an underthrown ball.
4 interceptions (2 for scores) and 2 fumble recoveries are a welcome sight from a defense that struggled to come up with big plays last year.
Edit Comment Cancel
David Wunderlich 10 months ago
Henry has the option to fake whenever he thinks he can, although Meyer apparently wasn't happy about that one, saying it's be his last snap at Florida if he missed it.
It definitely was a welcome sight to see the defense get some turnovers, though a lot of them were just plain bad execution by Hawai'i.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 10 months ago
Go Gators...if you can get the running game going, then all is well. The talent in the back field is sick. I liked what I saw...I'm happy! :)
Edit Comment Cancel
Nick The Only 10 months ago
Florida had 200 yards rushing per game last season. 23rd nationally and 3rd in the SEC.
Edit Comment Cancel
Brian Hood 10 months ago
I think she was referring to the tailbacks being productive not Tebow and Harvin ( To maintain both of their health)
Edit Comment Cancel
Beach GaBulldog 10 months ago
You didn't even score in the first quarter. At least we played them when they had a good team last year. No Colt Brennan for you guys.
I heard that your CLASSLESS CRYBABY COACH is going to run up the score on Miami if they get way ahead to show Randy Shannon who the baddest school in Florida is. Typical Gator crap.
Go Dawgs!
Edit Comment Cancel
David Arreola 10 months ago
Typical classless Georgia fan. That was one of the most hypocritical statements ever. Calling us classless? How about your classless coach telling your entire team to get penalized for over celebration against Florida last year? And how your entire team stormed the field. Sorry, that was one of the most unsportsman like things i have ever witnessed in my life. Therefore, you have no right to call anybody "classless"
Edit Comment Cancel
David Wunderlich 10 months ago
A) Calm down.
B) If Miami can't stop the Florida offense and its backups, that's Miami's problem.
Edit Comment Cancel
Joseph Morgan 10 months ago
Neal, you sure have a big mouth. I told you off on a previous article of mine and you couldn't even muster a sensible comeback to that. This isn't the place to claim how "classless" you supposedly think Florida is. Take your act to some message board.
By the way, good article, David. Thanks for giving us your insight on Florida football. I find that you're always very accurate. Go Gators!
Edit Comment Cancel
David Arreola 10 months ago
We ran the ball cause we didn't want to show too much before the Tennessee game.
Our running game is going to actually be good this year. Good first win.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 10 months ago
David-
You didn't want to show too much? (That's a poor excuse.) There's this magic thing called game film.
Edit Comment Cancel
Robert 10 months ago
Quick! Somebody write down the date!
A Gator article that only had Tebow's name in it ONCE!
WOW!
Edit Comment Cancel
David Wunderlich 10 months ago
My last one didn't have his name at all.
Edit Comment Cancel
Robert 10 months ago
You have to admit it was pretty funny, David?
No?
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 10 months ago
David-
As someone who has 25% Hawai'ian in me, you get major props for spelling Hawai'i the correct way. Mahalo!
Edit Comment Cancel
David Wunderlich 10 months ago
Mahalo! Sometimes editors around here will actually remove the apostrophe, but I try to catch it and put it back.
Edit Comment Cancel
Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago
Good one David, I always like to hear about what's going on in Canesville and at least hear that someone can get excited about beating a depleted team which was a defensive train wreck to begin with who had one of the longest road trips probably in NCAA history.
I like your enthusiasm for you team and it really gives your stuff a different perspective; I watched the game on TV and to be honest from here in Chicago the most exciting part was when they had the guy from Chik-Fil-A on and he said it's free chicken strips all day today. Then I realized they don't even have chik-fil-a here in Chi-Town and I think the closest one is near Purdue in West Lafeyette. I'm just not up for the two hour trip for a chicken strip no matter how good this guy made them sound. I've had chicken strips before though I'm just not big on the whole fried food thing too often.
So do you think the chik-fil-a strip matches up with Chicago pizza? I mean i'm a block from Pizano's and Oprah that's Oprah's favorite (though it's mine too but I never see her there), a stones throw from Gino's Eat, There's at least 5 Giordano's I can order from, Lou Malnatti is my homeboy, The original Uno's is like 5 blocks away but then my wife has to pass Nordstrom on the way (like she needs another pair of shoes?), Edwardo is all natural and I mean we can spend a day talking about this stuff.
Gator football is really exciting ;)
Edit Comment Cancel
David Wunderlich 10 months ago
I'll take Chick-fil-A over Uno's (the only "real" Chicago pizza I've had) just because I don't like chunks of tomato in my pizza sauce.
Edit Comment Cancel
Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago
Fair enough, I'm not a big fan of Uno's either. If you ever get a chance Pizano is the bomb, even if you don't see Oprah there.
Can't wait for your pregame stuff this week.
Edit Comment Cancel
Danny Herron 10 months ago
It is going to be a rough season for Florida if Tebow goes down. Maybe if they had put that score up against a Div I team I might have been impressed. Sorry Hawaii, but there are about 20 Div II schools that could have handed it to ya the same way. All in all, what happened is exactly what should have happened. Just wasn't impressive.
Edit Comment Cancel
David Wunderlich 10 months ago
Same as it was last year.
The point wasn't to impress, but to get the team ready for future games. In that sense, the game was a success because the running backs got a lot of confidence and proved themselves to the coaches. That position produced over 200 yards rushing on the day after having about 750 last season.
Edit Comment Cancel
Nick The Only 10 months ago
Danny:
1. Hawaii is Division 1 team. They were 12-1 last year and still had formidable front 7 on defense. Hawaii had basically the same front 7 as they had against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Georgia had 159 yards rushing against Hawaii. Florida had 255 yards rushing against the same defensive front.
Don't believe me? Hawaii's defensive line and linebackers were both rated the top units in the WAC.
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=837143
2. Georgia averaged 4.0 yards per rush versus the Hawaii defense. Florida averaged 6.7 yards per rush.
Edit Comment Cancel
Gray Ghost 10 months ago
David,
Da Gators looked good yesterday, and showed that Tebow is going to direct a balanced attack this year. For some reason people over-look his passing ability. He has an excellent arm.
My beef is that the DAWGS handled a Colt Brennan team and destroyed them, and I think that Florida has received more credit for beating a team that is less talented. No knock on what yall did on the field at all.
If Georgia runs the table they will prove they belong. Thats always tough in the SEC.
One last thing: Do you know what fast-food I really crave out here in Idaho? Krystals! Is that crazy?
I have 6 kids, so we would pull up to a drive-thru and order 60 Krystals and there would be silence at the window. They were in shock. I hope they come to Idaho!
Anyhow, Good read.
Edit Comment Cancel
David Wunderlich 10 months ago
I know it was tough for y'all last year to destroy Hawai'i and have everyone come away saying "Yawn. You were supposed to beat them."
I think the difference is that the Sugar Bowl played out exactly the way everyone thought. This season, two of the biggest questions everyone was asking was whether UF had running backs and whether UF had a secondary. We came away from that game Saturday think both answers are yes, so that's where the extra attention comes from. Not necessarily fair, I just think that's why people are saying what they're saying.
Is it even called Krystal out there? I know it's called White Castle in most of the country, kind of like how Checkers is also Rally's outside the south.
Edit Comment Cancel
Gray Ghost 10 months ago
Good point David. This is going to be an interesting season to see how things turn out. The injuries are what concerns me.
We don't even have White Castle here. Every time I am back in Georgia, I grab a few Krystals to quench the cravings!
Edit Comment Cancel
Tim Cary 10 months ago
Good article - I figured Florida would flex its muscle Saturday, but the margin surprised me a little bit. Thanks for the eyewitness view.
Edit Comment Cancel
Robert 10 months ago
I will say that the Gators D looked stout against Hawai'i. Lots of picks for TD's. Nice Special Teams.
Maybe that's what it would have been like if Colt Brennan actually had time to throw the ball last year in the Sugar Bowl. I guess we'll never know...
Good game Gators.
SEC! SEC! SEC!
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.