Gators devour Buckeyes 41-14

 

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 1/10/2006 

Glendale , Arizona — For the seventh time in nine years, the underdog gets the BCS College Football’s biggest prize. The Florida Gators from the SEC, an eight-point underdog in the BCS National title game, dismantled the heavily favored, previously unbeaten Ohio State Buckeyes 41-14 to win the BCS National Championship before 74,628 fans at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale , Arizona .

 

BCS took on a new meaning Monday night. It stood for two things: Buckeyes Can’t Score, and Buckeyes Can’t Stop (Gators). Ohio State actually led this game 7-0 thanks to a brilliant play by Ted Ginn Jr., who took the game’s opening kickoff and raced 93 yards for a touchdown. Wow, what a start, right?

 

But the Buckeyes, winners of 19 straight games over two years and heavy favorites to win a second National title game in five years, were completely dominated, outplayed and out-coached by the hungry and focused Gators.

 

Florida had their way with the Buckeyes from the beginning; they were clearly ready to play, and they were much faster and more physical. Florida gained yards offensively on each of their first 16 plays to start the game. Taking advantage of great field position, they beat the Buckeyes to the punch on both sides of the ball, and they were much quicker and more aggressive.

 

The Gators were so dominant on defense that they did not allow the Buckeyes a single rushing yard in the first quarter. Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel got away from the running game, tried to pass too much, and came up empty.

 

He tried to light a fuse under his team late in the second quarter and take momentum away from the inspired Gators, who then led 24-14, by going for a critical 4th-and-1 at his own 29-yard line. The Gators stuffed running back Chris Wells for no gain, took possession on downs, and used the great field position to get a gift, another field goal, boosting their lead to 27-14.

 

On the next kickoff the Buckeyes buckled. Smith on first down, again trying to pass at his own 20-yard line, was hit by Derrick Harvey and fumbled. Harvey recovered at the five-yard line and the Gators scored again: 34-14. Ball game! 

 

If this was a fight, it would have been stopped at intermission, because Florida clearly had knocked Ohio State out. The Gators held Ohio State to just nine total yards on offense in the second half.

 

Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer offensively exposed the Buckeyes on defense by forcing them to try and defend space, like the flat areas and sideline to sideline. Quarterback Chris Leak was the catalyst — he was hot, completing his first nine passes for 99 yards. He executed the offensive plan with his feet and his ability to get outside the pocket, hitting receivers on the move. He connected on 25 of 36 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown.

 

He was selected the game’s outstanding player, clearly outplaying Ohio State ’s All-American Heisman Trophy-winning QB Troy Smith, who was awful in the spotlight. Smith appeared unsure and shaken at times. He missed several open receivers, and he never looked comfortable, completing only four passes for 35 yards during the game.

 

Ohio State had only 82 yards of total offense for the game, 73 of those yards in the first half. The Gators had 370 total yards.

 

The Buckeyes could not block the Gators on defense, particularly defensive end Derrick Harvey, who refused to be blocked; he was the dominant defensive player. The Gators kept heavy pressure on Smith all night. They were much more agile and hostile than the flat, over-rated Buckeyes. Florida scored on six of their seven first-half possessions, building a commanding 34-14 lead at half. 

 

The Buckeyes either missed tackles or were a step slow on defense. They simply could not keep up with the fleet-footed, determined Gators, who played like they had something to prove, like they had been disrespected.

 

And earn respect they did, finishing 13-1 as the clear-cut number-one team and BCS Champion, becoming the first school to win an NCAA basketball crown and BCS football championship in the same year. We’ve seen in the past that speed and power are a lethal combination.

 

 

 

NFL playoffs reach final eight

 

Nothing makes the palms of your hands sweat quite like the excitement of the NFL playoffs. Last year’s Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh did not even qualify for the post-season of 2007, which reminds us that NFL does stand for Not For Long.

 

The storylines for the playoffs are: Can Peyton Manning finally win the big one? Can Marty Shottenhiemier get San Diego to the Super Bowl?

 

The number-one seed in the playoffs and the favorite to win Super Bowl XLI in Miami February 4 are the San Diego Chargers (14-2). One thing is certain — whatever AFC team survives will be the clear favorite to win it. The AFC is 40-24 head-to-head versus the NFC.

 

The NFL’s highest scoring and hottest team, winner of 10 straight games, is the Chargers. They are supercharged with the great LaDainian Tomlinson, the league MVP and record-setting league scoring and rushing champion. Tomlinson scored 31 touchdowns, led the league in rushing with 1,815 yards and 2,323 all-purpose yards for the league’s highest scoring team (492 points, averaging 31 points a game). They will be tough to beat.

 

By contrast, the 13-3 Baltimore Ravens had the league’s second-best record, along with Chicago , and was the NFL’s number-one defensive team, allowing only 201 points in 16 games. That’s just over 12 points a game.

 

Steve McNair has played well at quarterback since coming over from Tennessee for Brian Billick. The Ravens are 3-0 against 2007 playoff teams with wins over San Diego , New Orleans and Kansas City . Watch out for the Ravens — Billick has won a Super Bowl before.

 

New England has won three of the last five Super Bowls and are 13-4; don’t count them out. Tom Brady is 11-1 in the playoffs, and the Patriots are 3-2 versus playoff teams. Remember, they beat the Chicago Bears. Former Gopher Laurence Maroney has been sensational out of the backfield for the Patriots. Bill Belichick is 12-2 in the playoffs with three Super Bowl titles.

 

Is this the year Tony Dungy kicks down the Super Bowl door? No Black NFL head coach has ever made it to the Super Bowl. The Indianapolis Colts started 9-0, remember, and finished 13-4.

 

Is this the year for Peyton Manning? This could be Dungy’s year. He’s 5-1 versus 2007 playoff teams and has coached his teams to the playoffs a remarkable eight straight years, second-best all-time.

 

Chicago (13-3) is the clear NFC favorite to get to Miami . They were an impressive 3-1 versus 2007 playoff teams. Lovie Smith, trying to become the first Black coach to get to the Super Bowl, has the home-field advantage.

 

Philadelphia (11-6) is riding high with Jeff Garcia at quarterback and talented Brian Westbrook at running back. Watch the Eagles — they have won six straight games, and Andy Reid has been to the Super Bowl before. Are they this year’s Pittsburgh ? The Eagles are a battle-tested 4-3 versus 2007 playoff teams.

 

New Orleans (10-6) — what a story for the ages, in the playoffs a year after Hurricane Katrina and the pain and suffering of a region. Sean Payton, NFL coach of the year; Drew Brees with a remarkable year, leading all NFL quarterbacks in passing yards; Reggie Bush in the playoffs… The Saints were 3-1 versus 2007 playoff teams.

 

Seattle (10-7) is the defending NFC Champion — don’t count them out. Mike Holmgren has won the big one before and led the Seahawks to the Super Bowl last year. The Seahawks were 1-3 versus 2007 playoff teams, a long-shot with experience. 

 

 

 

Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio, 89.9 FM, at 8:20 am, and Monday evenings 6-7 pm. He welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit www.
Larry-Fitzgerald.com.