I can pretty much give this same report about any Georgia-Florida game, save two, since Spurrier left. Georgia had its chances, but could never grab the game's momentum. An early red zone opportunity ended with two strange play calls and a missed field goal. A chance for a huge early turnover was nullified by a familiar penalty. A risky try for an onside kick failed miserably and gave the Gators a short field.
When the Dawgs found themselves back in the red zone before the half, it became a comedy of errors. A Knowshon run was perfectly diagnosed by the UF defense. Stafford and a wide open Tripp Chandler couldn't connect. On third down, the play went to a double covered Knowshon Moreno who saw the ball bounce off his chest and out of bounds. Blair Walsh's third attempt hit the upright so square that it sounded like a bell. A bell that tolled for the red and the black.
When the Dawgs found themselves back in the red zone before the half, it became a comedy of errors. A Knowshon run was perfectly diagnosed by the UF defense. Stafford and a wide open Tripp Chandler couldn't connect. On third down, the play went to a double covered Knowshon Moreno who saw the ball bounce off his chest and out of bounds. Blair Walsh's third attempt hit the upright so square that it sounded like a bell. A bell that tolled for the red and the black.
The second half started with promise, but after getting a Gator punt and driving into Florida territory, Stafford threw a crippling interception that was returned to the Georgia one. Tebow crashed in for the subsequent score. The game was over. The confidence and swagger of Georgia, so evident last year, remained stuck in last year. The game completely fell apart for the Dawgs after that.
Meanwhile, Florida scored. A bunch. Touchdowns, not field goals. Nevermind that Hayden grabbed A.J. Green to get position on the interception. Nevermind that Louis Murphy tugged Asher Allen's jersey to get open for a touchdown. The SEC and the BCS voters aren't going to remember the specifics. They are going to remember this: 49-10. The largest margin of defeat in the Richt era by a wide measure.
It's hard to overstate the disappointment of 2008, even if we win out. It's a season that will result without an appearance in the SEC Championship Game, much less the BCS Championship Game. This was to be a season for the ages from a team of extrodinary promise. Now the best possible outcome appears to be the Capital One Bowl against a nondiscript Big 10 team. Orlando seems a hollow consilation prize.
Quinton
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