1 » Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer did not spend much time praising his team after its 62-3 blowout victory over the Florida International Golden Panthers on Saturday. Instead, he turned his attention to the Florida State Seminoles, declaring, “It’s rivalry week. We’ve been here before. So, let’s get started.” Meyer does not hide his affection for taking down the so-called “School Out West.” “It’s the world,” he said. “It’s what makes this job the best in college football. It’s what makes this stadium the best in college football. This is going to be a special week. It’s started already.”

2 » If Meyer sounded pumped up for Florida State, his team appeared ready to take them on right after FIU left the field. “It’s a lot of hatred,” junior safety Ahmad Black said. “It started even before us. It goes way back to the earlier days. We’ve won five straight. We don’t want to be the team that loses the streak.” Junior guard Mike Pouncey didn’t even question the result of the game. “It’s five [in a row]? So, it will be six,” he said. “They’re always good and it’s a rivalry game, so everybody’s going to play a little harder. Linebacker Ryan Stamper, one of the seniors who will play their last game in The Swamp on Saturday, believes his class has a mission to accomplish. “I grew up watching the Florida-Florida State rivalry since I was little. Going out with them not beating us once would be a great thing.”

3 » While taking down the Seminoles is just another “mission” for the Gators, it could be a season-defining victory for Florida State. FSU did extend its bowl streak to 28 years with a victory over the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday, but head coach Bobby Bowden said taking a win from Florida this week would be among the most memorable victories of his career. “It probably would,” he said. “In other words, this thing has got to turn around. And I would say if you [beat the Gators], it’s around. You’re betting good if you can beat them, I’ll tell you what. What a task. What a task.” Whether or not Bowden can pull of a victory may not even matter, because if the Seminoles’ boosters get there way, this season could be his last in garnet and gold.

4 » Limping off the field with an injured medial-collateral ligament on Saturday, redshirt junior starting linebacker A.J. Jones needed to be replaced. Meyer immediately sent junior Brandon Hicks into the game, and the team did not lose a step. Why? Because Hicks started the final five games of the 2008 season – including the BCS National Championship game against the Oklahoma Sooners – when Jones went down with his previous knee injury. “Here we go,” Meyer told him before he stepped on the field. “You’ve been here before.” Hicks’ performance last year earned him a reputation as one of the best defenders on the team, though an ankle injury kept him from starting in 2009. On a side note, Meyer said Jones’ injury is “nonsurgical,” meaning there is a possibility he could be ready for the team’s bowl game.

Tags: A.J. Jones, Ahmad Black, BCS, Bobby Bowden, Brandon Hicks, Florida International Golden Panthers, Florida State Seminoles, Mike Pouncey, National Championship, Oklahoma Sooners, Ryan Stamper, School Out West, The Swamp, Urban Meyer

No. 1 Florida Gators have clinched the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division title and earned a spot in the SEC Championship game after a 41-17 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs Saturday afternoon and a 31-13 win by the Tennessee Volunteers against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the evening.

This will be the Gators third SEC title game appearance in the last four years. Florida won the last two contests and earned berths to the BCS National Championship games in those respective seasons (2006 vs. Arkansas and 2008 vs. Alabama). The 2009 game will be played on Dec. 5 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA.

Tags: BCS, Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Dome, National Championship, SEC, SEC Championship, South Carolina Gamecocks, Tennessee Volunteers

1 » While concerns about the passing offense seem to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue, Bruce Feldman of ESPN contends that the Florida Gators number one priority for the remainder of the season should be protecting senior quarterback Tim Tebow – and not just because of his concussion three weeks ago. Florida will be facing big-time pass rushers in the South Carolina Gamecocks and Alabama Crimson Tide soon.

2 » Some of those that cover the Gators (or are simply fans of the team) were outraged Sunday to learn that Florida had dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 Poll after WINNING their game against the Arkansas Razorbacks (losing 30 first-place votes in the process). Steve Eubanks of FOX Sports says the AP voters were justified in changing their votes. Fact of the matter is this: it does not matter who is No. 1 or No. 2 because both teams will meet in the SEC Championship in Atlanta, GA, on Dec. 5 at the Georgia Dome to determine who goes to the BCS National Championship.

Tags: Alabama Crimson Tide, Arkansas Razorbacks, BCS, Georgia Dome, National Championship, SEC Championship, South Carolina Gamecocks, Tim Tebow

1 » Florida Gators kicker Caleb Sturgis has been named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after going 3-4 on field goal attempts Saturday against the Arkansas Razorbacks including a game-winner with 0:09 left on the clock. [UPDATE:] Sturgis was also named one of the Lou Groza National Collegiate Placekicker Award’s “Stars of the Week.” Sturgis missed his initial 37-yard attempt but went on to hit, consecutively, from 30 yards, 51 yards and 27 yards. Sturgis’ final kick earned him a spot in Florida football lore, potentially saving the Gators’ season and chances at a third National Championship in four years.

2 » Astoundingly, Florida fell to No. 2 in this week’s AP Top 25 Poll with the Alabama Crimson Tide jumping into the No. 1 spot. Apparently the Gators’ 23-20 last-second victory was not enough for the voters, who dropped Florida in a 30-vote swing. It is not so much being No. 2 that bothers me; it is that there was such a heavy swing of votes following a hard fought victory by one team (UF) to another team (Alabama) that only won 20-6 at home, scoring their only offensive touchdown late in the fourth quarter. At least it doesn’t bother the players. Regardless, the Gators were ranked ahead of the Crimson Tide in the first BCS Rankings released Sunday.

3 » Moving on. This Saturday night will be the first time head coach Urban Meyer and his former offensive coordinator Dan Mullen go face-to-face across the gridiron. Mullen, now head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, has his new team off to a 3-4 (1-2 SEC) start including a close home loss to the then-No. 7 LSU Tigers at home at Scott Field. Mullen remains close friends with Meyer and worked with him from 1999 until last season, where he helmed the offense that won the Gators two National Championships in 2006 and 2008. He also remains close with Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.

Continue Reading » FOUR BITS: Sturgis honored, UF No. 2 in AP, Mullen meeting, Marsh’s return

Tags: Alabama Crimson Tide, AP, Arkansas Razorbacks, BCS, Caleb Sturgis, Dan Mullen, Lawrence Marsh, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Scott Field, Tim Tebow