Young Gators Have Strong Season

If I had predicted in the summer that the Florida Gators would finish the season with a 9-3 record, it would have been uttered through a wide smile on my face. 

With an unproven quarterback and no experience on defense at, the Gator Nation was a bit nervous heading into 2007. 

However, this season has turned out better than most Gator fans expected: 

Tim Tebow is a Heisman Trophy front-runner.  The offense—featuring Percy Harvin, Bubba Caldwell, and Cornelious Ingram—was one of the most dynamic in the nation.

The defense was depleted by injuries, but got better with every game.  The special-teams unit was one of the best in the nation, with Brandon James returning kicks, and freshman Chas Henry having an outstanding first year. 

Yet, I feel a little bitter. 

The Gators were so close to a 10-1 record.  But there was no Jarvis Moss this year to prevent a last-second field goal by Auburn in the Swamp.  And there was no one on defense to stop LSU on any of its five fourth-down attempts.

However, what’s done is done and Florida now stands with a 9-3 record, looking forward to our next opponent.   

With the LSU–Tennessee winner getting an automatic bid to the Sugar Bowl and Georgia ranked high in the BCS, it is doubtful the Gators will find themselves playing in a BCS bowl this year.  No conference has ever sent three teams to BCS bowl games. 

All signs point to Florida's 13th game being played in Orlando on January 1st. There is a chance the Mighty Gators could take on the Fightin’ Zookers of Illinois in the Capital One Bowl (formerly the Citrus Bowl). This would be one of the most intriguing matchups of the bowl season.  I’m sure that seeing Ron Zook outside the Outback Bowl would confuse Gator Nation.

While the Gators awaiting their New Year's bid, Tim Tebow must do the same with the Heisman voters.  Every commentator has Tebow penciled in as the Heisman front-runner.  However, I am not yet sold. 

Of course, he deserves the trophy—his 20 TDs running and throwing has never been equalled in FBS history—but as we learned from Rex Grossman's disappointment back in 2001, no sophomore has ever won. 

This years Heisman race has more been wide open than previous years'.  Darren McFadden, Chase Daniels, Colt Brennan, and Pat White are also serious contenders for the trophy.

With one game remaining, Gator-Nation is satisfied with a potential 10-3 record. While Florida's run of National Championships is over, with talent returning on all sides of the ball, next year should be the year the Gators reclaim the national title.