Alabama-Florida Matchup Should Be a Special Moment in Time

The Alabama Crimson Tide will once again compete with the Florida Gators at 4:00 PM EST Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Georgia Dome for the SEC championship.

This is the seventh time the two teams have met to compete for the conference crown since the inception of the two-division conference 17 years ago.

Each time the Crimson Tide has competed for the championship, the Gators have been the opponents. Alabama defeated Florida in the inaugural championship game in 1992 and again in 1999.

Losses occurred in 1993, 1994, 1996, and most recently, 2008. Florida has been a dominant team since the late 1980s. When the SEC split into eastern and western divisions, the Gators represented the east in the first five championship games. No other team has repeated that feat in either division.

Florida returned to the championship game in 1999, 2000, 2006, and 2008. The Gators tied for the east crown in 2003 but UGA won in a tiebreak and represented the eastern division in the title game.

This is the 10th division title for the Gators—they have won the championship game an unprecedented seven times. The two losses in the championship game came with Alabama as the western opponent.

2008 SEC Championship Recap

Last year's game was a competitive contest with evenly matched teams. Florida scored a touchdown on the first offensive possession of the game using four minutes and twenty-eight seconds to travel 59 yards in nine plays.

The Crimson Tide answered with a two-play 82-yard score. The two-play drive featured a remarkable pitch and catch for 18 yards from John Parker Wilson to Julio Jones, who then broke two tackles and galloped another 46 yards for a 64-yard gain.

On the next play, Glen Coffee ran off right tackle for 18 yards, fighting off defenders, and diving outstretched into the right corner of the end zone for the score. The teams fought to a 10-10 tie midway through the second quarter.

With just over eight minutes to go in the first half, Tim Tebow and the Gators mounted a nine-play 57-yard drive using nearly five minutes of the remaining time. The drive ended with a five-yard pass to David Nelson, giving the Gators a 17-10 halftime lead.

It was the first game of the year that Alabama trailed at the half. Alabama dominated the second half of the third quarter to take a 20-17 lead into the fourth quarter. Tebow was 0-5 when his team trailed in the second half. He rid himself of that statistical anomaly late in the fourth quarter.

With just over nine minutes to go in the game, Florida marched 62 yards in 11 plays for the go-ahead touchdown. The score was by Jeffery Demps on a two-yard scamper over fallen Alabama defenders. The drive used 5:47, putting the Gators up 24-20, a lead that would not be relinquished.

In fact, on the next offensive possession, Tebow led the Gators on a second fourth-quarter touchdown drive to secure the win. This win, like the loss to Ole Miss, defines Tim Tebow's career as a Florida Gator. The win put him and his team in the BCS National Title Game, a game that was essentially a "no contest" against the Oklahoma Sooners.

Florida in 2009

The Florida Gators have followed up the 2008 national championship campaign with the first undefeated regular season in the history of the UF football program. The schedule was peppered with patsy out-of-conference opponents, but the Gators did defeat worthy SEC opponents along the way.

UT, UK, UGA, Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State, Vandy, and South Carolina suffered defeat against the Gators in 2009. On average, the Gators won by a margin of 11.8 points; the closest margin was a three-point victory over the Razorbacks and the largest margin was 34 points against the Kentucky Wildcats.

The Kentucky game was also significant for the closed head injury suffered by the valuable Florida quarterback. Tebow recovered without impairment from the concussion. He was tested extensively by UK and UF physicians at the time of injury with follow-up by UF and private physicians. He is fine. He is back to his old form.

Against Arkansas, the Gators allowed the Razorbacks to jump out to a lead early in the second quarter. A one-yard run into the end zone by Razorback Broderick Green capped a drive that started late in the first quarter of play.

The offense for the Gators got no further than the Arkansas 12-yard line in the first half, settling for a 20-yard field goal. The Razorbacks added a field goal to go into the half with a 10-3 lead.

The third quarter was marked by a single touchdown and dueling field goals. The Gators were successful on a 51-yard field goal attempt at the 10-minute mark, inching closer to the Razorbacks 10-6.

With two minutes left in the quarter, the opportunistic Gator offense scored on a 77-yard touchdown pass from Tebow to Deonte Thompson. At 2:59 left in the third quarter, the Gators had their first lead of the game at 13-10.

Arkansas added a field goal as time expired in the third frame to knot the score at 13-13. Entering the fourth quarter, the Razorbacks were confident and intended to upset the defending national champions.

At the 9:40 mark, Greg Childs broke open in the Florida secondary and caught a pass from Hog Quarterback Ryan Mallett and completed a 75-yard touchdown jaunt. The ball was fumbled into the end zone and recovered by the athletic, alert receiver. The quick recovery secured the football and the score for the Razorbacks. 

Tim Tebow, true to form, then led the Gators on two fourth-quarter scoring drives, while the stout Florida defense held their ground. First, a touchdown on the next offensive possession tied the score at 20-20.

Although the game ended with some controversy, the Gators finished the scoring with a 27-yard field goal leaving only :09 on the clock. They had salvaged their season with late heroics against the 3-3 (1-3) Arkansas Razorbacks.

Alabama in 2009

Following the loss in the SEC championship game at the hands of the Gators, Alabama went on to lose the Sugar Bowl to a senior-laden Utah team that prepared well and then executed their game plan to perfection. The loss to the Utes was a painful exit to the college game for the 2008 Alabama senior class.

Nevertheless, the Alabama coaching staff used the loss to drill home several lessons on finishing a process laid out before them on coach Saban's arrival in January 2007, setting the tone for the season ahead. The 2009 Alabama football campaign began with a high profile game on a national stage.

The retooled offense and veteran defense of the Crimson Tide annihilated Virginia Tech in the same venue where their dreams were chomped away by the Florida Gators nine months earlier. Saban's intent is to settle into the Georgia Dome as a home away from home, dispensing all fears of a big game on a national stage.

On Sept. 5, the No. 8 ranked Tide hung 34 points on the No. 5 Hokies, launching their 2009 campaign. An effort that resulted in an historic undefeated finish; for the first time in 35 years, an SEC team completed consecutive regular-season schedules without a blemish.

SEC opponents defeated at the hand of the Crimson Tide included Arkansas, UK, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, LSU, MSU, and Auburn. The margin of victory against the SEC opponents was 15.3 points.

The narrowest margin of victory was a two-point win against the Tennessee Volunteers. The widest margin was two 28-point blowouts against the MSU Bulldogs and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

The Crimson Tide overcame adversity on several occasions during the season, the most memorable being a finish against Tennessee. After a turnover that resulted in a touchdown and subsequent UT recovery of an on-sides kick, the Tide defense held off the final charge of the Volunteer offense, ending the game with a blocked field goal.

The LSU and Auburn games provided obstacles for the Tide to overcome as well, and they did just that. Against the LSU Tigers, the Tide swapped blow after blow until the Tigers ran out of gas. Near the end of the fourth quarter, LSU players were being carted off the field for leg cramps, muscle strains, and broken collarbones.

The Auburn Tigers jumped to an early first quarter lead, but allowed the Tide to rebound in the second quarter, entering the half tied 14-14. Early in the third quarter, the War Eagle offense caught the 'Bama defense in a blown coverage and burned them for a quick-strike, 72-yard explosion down the right sideline for a go-ahead touchdown.

Methodically, the Tide chipped away at the lead. Two scoring drives resulting in made field goals moved the score to 21-20 in favor of the Plainsmen, but on the last offensive drive of the fourth quarter, McElroy led the Tide 79 yards, using just over five minutes, finishing with a four-yard touchdown pass to senior running back Roy Upchurch.

Both teams, Florida and Alabama, have improved from the 2008 season. Both teams bring offenses and defenses with very different philosophies, yet very similar statistics. This game should be one of the most competitive match ups of the 2009 season.

The 2009 Alabama-Florida SEC Championship game

This game headlines the conference championship weekend. Moreover, history is being made in the SEC championship match up, as well.

For the first time in college football, the returning national champion has completed an undefeated regular season. In fact, both teams roll in with undefeated regular season records. 

Last year, the Crimson Tide came to Atlanta as the No. 1 team in the nation pitted against the No. 2 Florida Gators. This is the first time that the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the nation will compete for the SEC championship in consecutive years. The winner of this game has an automatic bid to the National Title Game.

Both teams represent storied programs in the college football landscape. The Alabama Crimson Tide is a long-time traditional powerhouse with national championships dating from the 1920s to the modern era. The Capstone football program lays claim to 21 SEC championships and 12 national championships.

The last national championship for the Tide was in 1992.

The Florida Gators, while being a long-time, traditional program in the SEC, did not win a conference championship until 1991. The SEC dates back to 1933. Florida football dates back to 1903.

Since 1991, under the direction of Heisman-winner Steve Spurrier, the Gators gained national recognition as a powerhouse program. Since '91, the Gators have won eight SEC championships and three national championships (1996, 2006, 2008).

The Gators have never finished a season undefeated. This year is the first season that the team has completed the regular season with an untarnished record.

For the Florida program, this game is about continuing to dominate the SEC and the national landscape. For Alabama, the game is about a return to dominance and a sustained return to the national landscape, and finally, a shot at the national title after a 17-year hiatus.

Florida has achieved this status by developing a high-octane running and passing game with smaller, faster, athletic running backs and receivers. The linemen on offense are bulky, yet quick on their feet and able to deliver a timely downfield block to open up a running lane through the heart of the defense.

The Florida offense is Boise State on steroids. The quarterback is opportunistic and takes what the defense will offer in 5-7 yard chunks. The running back and receiver game is played on the edge of the field. If they beat you to the edge with the ball, they will take it all the way to the house.

Alabama has re-established the power running game. Three to five yards per down, enough to move the chains, and sustain a drive with the objective of wearing the opposition defense down by the third or fourth quarter. Mixed with an unpredictable and opportunistic passing scheme, they play the game of endurance.

Given the chance, the running back or receiver will take a short gain and turn it into a game-changer. Hitting a seam with perfect timing will open up opportunities for big plays.

The defenses of both teams are talented and aggressive. Defensively, the game is executed by speedy and punishing athletic giants manning the front seven positions. The secondaries are composed of intelligent, acrobatic talent with no regard for their body or the body of the opposition receiver.

What Is on the Line

Both universities have developed championship programs and should remain in the hunt for conference championships and potential shots at the national championship for years to come. They are the standard in the SEC and the envy of the nation.

This game should be something special because of the similar statistics when viewed on paper, yet there are distinct differences in the way they line up and attack the respective offenses and defenses of the opponent.

Without question, it's revamped old school (Alabama) versus new school (Florida) football philosophy put to the test. Smash-mouth power running game versus the high-octane spread-option.

The winner of this game may set the blueprint for established and developing programs for the next 20 years. Snap on your chinstraps and let's get in on, men. This is a special moment for the future of college football.