Outback Bowl 2010: 10 Things You Need to Know About Florida Vs. Penn State
The Florida Gators have taken a mighty fall since the 2009 season. They find themselves in the 2010 Outback Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions.
It looks a lot different now for the Gators than it did in the past two seasons playing in BCS bowl games. This was to be expected since Tim Tebow's departure occurred.
The Gators left the door open for John Brantley to receive the keys to Urban Meyer's complex offense. No offense to Brantley, but no one can run that offense like Tebow.
Their opponents, the Penn State Nittany Lions, have also had a rebuilding year. Joe Paterno, who will be 84 years young by the time this game is played, is looking to finish the season strong. A victory over the Gators would be an impressive end to a season where a true freshman started the opener.
This is only the third meeting between these two teams with the Gators winning the previous two.
These two teams were mirror images of one another in 2010. They were both in unfamiliar "rebuilding" territory and went 7-5, finishing in the middle of their respective conferences.
That being said, here are 10 things to look forward to in this New Year's Day battle between these SEC and Big Ten schools.
The Gators' Complex Offense Even Confuses Them
1 of 10
At time this season, the Gators offense has confused their opponents. Unfortunately though, these moments were far and few between. Rather, the Gators were causing confusion amongst themselves on offense throughout the season.
In particular, poor penalties, terrible clock management and even snaps were the key things that the Gators gaffed on in 2010. Michael Pouncey had a lot of trouble centering the ball earlier in the season, which is unnecessary.
The Gators had one of their worst seasons under Urban Meyer, but it was a "retooling" year. But this is Gator Country, where winning is what counts.
The play-calling has been suspect at times this season for Florida. The trickery is not working the same way anymore in the SEC. The Gators must use this season as a learning tool and apply it to the future.
On a positive note, the Gators are the only team in the nation that can put THREE quarterbacks onto the field for the same play and make it work. That's pretty impressive in and of itself.
Penn State's Matt McGloin Is a Leader at QB
2 of 10
In a major turn of events, the Nittany Lions switched quarterbacks midseason. In going from true freshman Rob Bolden to sophomore Matt McGloin, Joe Paterno showed little faith in his youngster.
Paterno faced some criticism for not sticking with his freshman Bolden and naming McGloin the starter. Even though Bolden was injured, Paterno should've gone back to him when he was able to return, though this was hard to support because of McGloin's play.
Either way, McGloin was able to transform into a proven leader and starter for the Nittany Lions. Since his emergence in late October, McGloin has been very consistent and thrown 13 TDs with four INTs. These numbers don't lie, as McGloin has performed this season and is 3-2 as Penn State's starter.
McGloin is a lot different than Bolden in terms of how he runs the offense. While McGloin is a more traditional drop-back passer, Bolden is a bigger, more athletic quarterback.
Who's on the Field for Florida?
3 of 10
Despite the Gators' so-so season, they still boast loads of talent across the board. On offense, they have three quarterbacks (Brantley, Trey Burton, Jordan Reed) who all get onto the field as a part of their complex offense.
Also, they have a plethora of running backs (Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps, etc.) that have gotten the ball plenty this season. They average about 165 yards per game on the ground, which is a down year for Meyer's offense.
As he was in other games this season, Burton must be the X-factor for the Gators. His ability to run the ball will be needed for the Gators to win this game. He's part of the trickery that is the Gator offense; he will need to work his magic no matter where he's lined up on the field.
The question with Burton is, if he lines up under center in shotgun so often, why doesn't he ever throw the ball?
The Gators can beat a team in so many ways when they're clicking. They will most certainly need to start clicking in order to beat the Nittany Lions on New Year's Day.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
The Big Ten Can't Beat the SEC
4 of 10
As we've seen in the past, the Big Ten has struggled mightily against the SEC. The Gators were a prime example of this in their 2007 BCS title game mashing of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Through the 2009 bowl season, the SEC boasts a 67-48-2 record all-time against the Big Ten. This record pretty much speaks for itself. It's been proven that the SEC is historically superior to the Big Ten and again looks to be this bowl season.
"Speed kills!" That may be a major reason that the SEC dominates the Big Ten. SEC teams often run wild on the field against opposing conferences come bowl time. They collectively have the highest winning percentage of any conference throughout bowl game history.
Speed has a whole lot to do with the SEC's dominance over the Big Ten and just about every other conference in inter-conference play.
Penn State's Evan Royster Is Looking to Finish His College Career Strong
5 of 10
Evan Royster has been a mainstay in the Penn State backfield over the past few seasons. He's enjoyed four great years in Happy Valley and now looks to end on a high note.
With a win over the Florida Gators, Royster will complete his career. He will have won three of four bowl games that he's competed in and back-to-back over the SEC.
Royster is currently sitting right around the 4,000-yard plateau and has 29 rushing TDs in his career. He now looks towards life after Penn State football and a possible NFL draft flier in the process.
Royster may have been better off leaving after his junior season but instead opted to stay and graduate. This could hurt his NFL draft status, as his stock dropped a bit after this season.
Florida Spreading the Ball
6 of 10
Somehow the Gators were just one game away from the SEC title game. This is remarkable considering their inconsistency. It proves that the power came from the West this season with a number of Top 25 teams there.
The Gators must continue to efficiently and effectively spread the football around to all of their weapons. In doing this, the Gators were able to win seven games this year. The opposite was apparent too though. When they failed to put their weapons on display, they often played miserably in their five defeats.
If Urban Meyer properly utilizes his skill players into the game plan, it could be a long day for JoePa and co. Skill players like Demps, Rainey and Burton will be ones to watch for.
Is the End Near for Joe Paterno?
7 of 10
Joe Paterno will apparently be back for a 46th season as head coach in 2011. This unprecedented mark is why Paterno is so revered in Happy Valley and across America. Who could ever really push JoePa out the door? Who even has the right or audacity to do such a thing?
Even at 83, Joe is still as sharp as a tack in my opinion. Naturally, he's lost a step or two in his coaching but remains one for the ages regardless.
Paterno is one of the most beloved figures in sports. He'll be anxiously awaiting that infamous pasta dinner if his team wins the Outback Bowl against the Florida Gators.
The question comes up each year around this time: When will it be enough for Paterno as Penn State's coach? Perhaps more importantly, when this day comes, who will he pass the torch to in the next generation?
Many believe that he will be coach for another year or two and seemingly hand the reins over to Temple's Al Golden. Golden's looking for a "big break" after leading Temple to consecutive winning seasons despite being snubbed for a bowl this year.
Big Name Coaches to Take Center Stage
8 of 10
The Florida Gators and Penn State Nittany Lions are not only two top programs, but they also both boast big-time coaches.
Joe Paterno is probably the most famous college football coach ever, while Florida's Urban Meyer is the top coaching enigma of this generation. He's one of the highest-paid coaches in the sport and has dominated in "rival games" while at Florida.
Both of these guys have a great respect for one another and look forward to facing off in the Outback Bowl. They now take their "big game" prowess to this low-key bowl game. Both of these guys are used to coaching in top-flight bowls but now will settle for this Outback Bowl to start 2011.
The national spotlight will shine on this game for many reasons. Though the coaching matchup isn't usually a reason, it will be here.
John Brantley Is Looking Ahead to 2011
9 of 10
After a poor first season as starter, John Brantley has to be looking for closure this season and picking up where he left off next. This Gator junior has all the tools to be a top-flight QB at Florida. Though the pressure has mounted this season, the need to finish strong is key for Brantley.
Brantley was the Gatorade Player of the Year in high school, so there's no doubt that he can play ball. He entered Florida as a high recruit and Tim Tebow's successor. He needs to prove himself in this Outback Bowl and also next season in his senior year as a Gator.
Brantley has battled through a lot this season and now looks to complete it at an 8-5 mark. He has a lot to look forward to in 2011 and can right the ship for the Gators. It all starts with a victory in the Outback Bowl.
The Defenses Must Be Better
10 of 10
Both defenses will be under the microscope in this 2011 Outback Bowl. The Nittany Lions were often gashed by Big Ten foes; ditto for Florida in the SEC. That being said, could this be a struggle of two slumping squads?
The defenses on both sides have been good but will need to be a lot better. The Gators have several playmakers on defense, but they weren't always making plays this season.
Their defenses that won titles thrived off their ability to change games. This doesn't happen in Gainesville anymore, at least not this season.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
