Each week following the conclusion of a Florida Gators game, ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive will grade the team position-by-position on how it performed in that match-up. This week, we look at how the Gators fared against the LSU Tigers in Death Valley.

QUARTERBACK: A
Tim Tebow was asked to tone it down and be a game manager, something that is not necessarily in his nature. Nevertheless, knowing the significance of the injury he came back from and the wishes of the coaching and medical staff, he did exactly that. An inexplicable interception late was Tebow’s only flaw on the night, and the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback made good throws when they were called.

RUNNING BACKS: A
No huge game-breaking runs from the Gators attack Saturday, but that is not something you can expect against the Tigers. Running back Jeff Demps was a madman, gaining 86 tough yards on 16 carries while Emmanuel Moody took some of the power rushing load off Tebow with six carries for 42 yards of his own. Moody showed up when he was needed the most, and that is what counts.

Continue Reading » Grading the No. 1 Florida Gators game at LSU

Tags: A.J. Jones, Aaron Hernandez, Brandon James, Brandon Spikes, Caleb Sturgis, Carlos Dunlap, Charlie Strong, Deonte Thompson, Emmanuel Moody, grading, Jeff Demps, Joe Haden, Jordan Jefferson, LSU Tigers, Riley Cooper, Ryan Stamper, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer

1 » Tampa Tribune takes a look at the additional cost the Florida Gators incurred by sending two additional airplanes to Lexington for the Kentucky Wildcats game last week in order to separate ill players (including quarterback Tim Tebow and safety Major Wright) from the rest of the team. Only extra expense? Fuel.

2 » While Florida Gators fans worry about the impact Tebow’s injury may have on next Saturday’s game against the LSU Tigers, Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald believes the game is not necessarily a must-win, and a loss in Tiger Stadium would not spell the end for Florida’s chances at another national championship trophy.

3 » As a student at the University of Florida, I once played basketball against Super Bowl-champion Pittsburgh Steelers starting left tackle Max Starks. At 6’8” and almost 350 pounds, Starks (not surprisingly) thoroughly dominated me in the post like he now does to defensive linemen in the NFL. Monday night, Starks will take on all comers as he co-hosts WWE Monday Night Raw along with the rest of the Steelers’ offensive line and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (the main host).

4 » ESPN’s NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr. has released his latest “Big Board,” in which he names his top 25 NFL prospects, including two Florida Gators. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap has held steady at No. 5 while middle linebacker Brandon Spikes has moved up three spots to No. 21.

Continue Reading » SIX BITS: LSU not a must-win? Starks gets RAW. Kiper’s Big Board. Volleyball to be tested.

Tags: Brandon Spikes, Carlos Dunlap, Max Starks, Mike Peterson, Tim Tebow, volleyball