South Eastern Conference
Championship Game
University of Alabama vs University of Florida
Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA -DEC 06
CBS TV 4:00 EST
By Terry Pellman
Alabama fans find themselves in a familiar place, but in an unexpected setting this Saturday when the Tide face off against the Gators for the 2008 SEC Championship title. It's something fan base hasn't enjoyed recently but have special memories from being in this position many times in the past and enjoying winning 21 SEC Titles since the birth of the South Eastern Conference.
Depending on who you speak with, the outcome of this game from one fan to the other can easily be polar opposites. That disparity is even found in the national media, even found within the same studio. While Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN's Gameday has had Florida as one of the teams he's expected all year long to compete for the BCS National Championship, ESPN's Mark Schlabach says, "The Gators won't beat the Tide."
The term "classic match-up" seems to be a misnomer. But, if you look back you have had a chance to witness a game that featured an offense that loved to spread the ball around in a quick scoring fashion versus a team that ran the ball predominantly and relied on strong defensive and offensive lines. No, I'm not referring to past SEC Championships games between Florida and Alabama, although I could, but I'm thinking more along the lines of No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams facing each other.
Ironically, that year did feature Florida and Alabama in the top of the national rankings. That year also had these two teams facing each other in Atlanta for the SEC title. But that year, and specifically the game I'm referring to, had a No. 2 ranked Florida team facing a fundamental Nebraska team in the Fiesta Bowl: 1996 the year.
I'm sure, to a person within the Florida fan base (and a certain coach now in Columbia, South Carolina,) they would rather forget that game.
Forget that game? A feeling shared with another SEC teams' fan base this week as the Tiger faithful would rather forget running into, and then being run over, by the Crimson Tide this past weekend.
Are the Florida Gators in 2008 the college football version of the "Greatest Show on Turf" the NFL witnessed starting in the 1999 football season? Gator fans probably like the description, but don't want a thing to do with the Gator team that played in the Georgia Dome in 1999.
Is this Alabama team in 2008 fundamentally like that 1996 Nebraska team as a unit that will win the battle in the trenches, run the ball successfully while playing very disciplined football? Alabama fans probably like the description and wouldn't mind being a team like that when facing Florida this weekend.
Here on the Bleacher Report, we'll break this game down bit by bit over the next two days looking at different aspects of this match up.
Could it be done all at once? Sure. But, do you want to read a book today, or just a few chapters spread out of the next few days.
Coming tomorrow:
* UA's and UF's Special Team Preview and Breakdown.
* UA's Defense vs UF's Offense.
Coming Thursday:
* UA's Offense vs UF's Defense.
* Nick Saban vs Urban Meyer.
* Projected 2008 SEC Champion.
8 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
SECBlitzer 7 months ago
Can't wait for part two...looking forward to it!
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David Wunderlich 7 months ago
What does 1996 Nebraska have to do with Florida? Did you mean the 1995 Nebraska team?
And it is a "classic" matchup at least by SEC Championship Game standards as the Florida-Alabama pairing has happened 5 times before, more than any other. No other pairing has occurred more than twice.
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CrimsonTusks.com 7 months ago
David,
Thanks for the comments.
The game I have referenced here was played January 2nd, 1996. It the National Championship game for the seasons Nebraska and Florida had in 1995, yes. That why I specifically worded the sentence, "But that year, and specifically the game I'm referring to, had a No. 2 ranked Florida team facing a fundamental Nebraska team in the Fiesta Bowl: 1996 the year."
As to your "classic matchup" comment and the reference to the five times Florida and Bama have played, you'll see I've covered that as well. In those games in the 90's we didn't see a #1 and #2 team face each other and I did mention I could have dwelt on those games, but they weren't the game that came to mind while putting this together.
"No, I'm not referring to past SEC Championships games between Florida and Alabama, **although I could,** but I'm thinking more along the lines of No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams facing each other."
Do you see how I phrased that as well?
I look forward to your comments tomorrow as well. Although, you may not find them agreeing with your outlook on the game. :-)
Terry
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Nick The Only 7 months ago
Be sure to note that Florida is the more dominant team physically with the bigger offensive line and the better running game.
Also be sure to note that Florida has played the tougher schedule and that Florida has run for 300 yards in 3 straight games.
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CrimsonTusks.com 7 months ago
Hey Nick, I've already got the piece written for tomorrow morning and I do talk about Florida's running attack and how we'll defend that running attack.
Now, as to your first sentence...more dominant than whom? This years Bama squad?
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Nick The Only 7 months ago
Yes. Florida has been a more dominant team.
Florida outperforms Bama along the offensive and defensive line: Florida has more sacks, has allowed less sacks, and rushes for more yards. Bama's defensive line does allow less yards against the run, but Florida is stout.
Also, a large reason that Florida has 23 interceptions compared to Bama's 15 interceptions is because Florida really gets after the passer.
And just ask Charles Scott which defense stops the run better.
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Snu 7 months ago
Nick, I hate to break the news, but Florida's offensive line and defensive line is in no way more dominant and DEFINITELY not more physical than Alabama's lines.
"Florida outperforms Bama along the offensive and defensive line: Florida has more sacks, has allowed less sacks..."
Sir, you are selectively acknowledging stats in Florida's favor. I'll offer up some different stats as a rebuttal:
OFFENSE
Number of sacks allowed by Florida: 15
Number of sacks allowed by Alabama: 16
Conclusion: One sack doesn't make Florida's offensive line better or any more physical than Bama's. At best, they are equal in this category. Also, Tebow is a beast (tough to bring down) and much better at scrambling than JPW, so the credit really goes to Tebow, not Florida's "more dominant offensive line."
Tackles for loss allowed by Florida: 52
Tackles for loss allowed by Alabama: 48
Conclusion: 4 less tackles for a loss allowed by Alabama's offensive line, and Bama has had 43 more rushing attempts than Florida on the year.
DEFENSE
Average rushing yards allowed by Florida: 103 yards per game
Average rushing yards allowed by Alabama: 74 yards per game (3rd best in the country)
Conclusion: I think you pointed this one out, but the margin of yards allowed between the two is quite significant.
Number of sacks by Florida defense: 31
Number of sacks by Alabama defense: 23
Conclusion: If you really paid attention to the games this year you'd have noticed that almost all of Florida's sacks were via corner and safety blitzes (Florida Def. Coor. Charlie Strong loves to blitz). Look up the individual player stats and you'll see just how few of Florida's D-linemen have sacks this year.
Aside from these few statistics (straight from the NCAA itself), anyone who watched both Florida and Alabama play this year can easily spot the bigger, more physical, and more dominant offensive and defensive lines. Sorry bud, Florida may be better than Alabama in some areas, but the line of scrimmage is not one of them!
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Snu 7 months ago
Good stuff... this should be an awesome SEC championship game and definitely one for the record books. Saturday cannot get here fast enough!
Looking forward to reading the next few articles!
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