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 A Bitter TasteThe game is over, and it left a bitter taste in my mouth. I have been trying to figure out why this game bothered me more than any UF game since the 1994 Choke at Doak. I think it has to do with expectations. Coming into the game, I felt that Florida State had a superior team (I am no longer certain of that). I imagined three scenarios: UF plays very well and wins a close one, UF plays moderately well and loses a close one, or UF plays a game marred by turnovers, penalties, and red zone misfires and loses a blow out. I desperately wanted to avoid a blow out. The last FSU-UF blow out was the 1997 Sugar Bowl, a 52-20 UF win, and I was more than happy to remember that as the last blow out in the series. FSU hadn't blown out Florida since 1992. What I never expected was that Florida would play a game marred by turnovers, penalties, and red zone blow outs and win. And it just about happened. I had, I am embarassed to say, the R.C. Slocumb attitude going in: a close game is a win for us. Last year, when Slocumb's Texas A&M team played FSU in a preseason game, no one thought A&M had a chance. But the Aggies played it surprisingly close, and in retrospect, a win over FSU would have put the Aggies in the national championship picture late into the season. But Slocumb decided to punt from midfield rather than go for it on 4th down late in the game; to most viewers it looked for all the world like he was not willing to take a small chance at a win over a slightly larger chance that FSU would get the ball at midfield and make the game look like a blow out. But something happened to me watching the UF-FSU game: I began to believe we were better, and that we were playing better. FSU moved with ease on the first drive, using Chris Weinke, Peter Warrick, Dan Kendra, and Marcus Outzen at quarterback all on one drive (how's that for QB rotation?). It was inspired play calling, against a Gator D that wasn't ready to line up on any play. On the second FSU drive, looking to make it 14-0, the Gators defense stopped a more conservative offense, keeping the game close at 10-0. It was something we Gator fans have seen since 1994: FSU unwilling or afraid to go for the juggular, preferring to play ball control against a Florida team already exposed as possibly not able to stop the Seminoles offense when clicking. That conservatism, coupled with some good breaks, I thought, could turn the tide. But Florida also settled for field goals thanks to Jeff Chandler, who kicked a 50-yarder and a 40+. In the third quarter, UF continuing to struggle, Kelly said to me that the only way Florida was going to score was if they got an interception return. Two plays later, Bennie Alexander made Kelly look like a seer, taking an errant Weinke pass in for 6 points. That's when I really got to believe. But Florida miscues and stingy officials refusing to call blatant pass interference penalties kept us from breaking through. My Slocumb attitude was gone and I entered the Spurrier zone: why can't we beat these egg heads, I thought? They aren't really that good! They aren't as good as they were in 1997, and we beat them then! Why can't we line up? It is game 11 and we can't freaking line up! We can't get on the same page on audibles! What the hell is wrong with these ACC officials? We can't run our offense if our receivers are being held or bumped when the ball is in the air! And you know I'm going to take the loss hard, really, really hard, when I'm thinking like Spurrier. The Quarterbacks There are two myths I'd like to explode about the quarterback rotation system. One is that it didn't work. A second is that Jesse Palmer is better than Doug Johnson. A Seminole fan told me he was pleased to see the first half interview with Spurrier, who promised that Johnson would be back for the second half. My Seminole friend felt happy, because he thought Johnson couldn't beat the Seminoles. Well one, he did beat the Seminoles... a better incarnation of the Seminoles... in 1997. Second, it may be true that Johnson is error-prone, not as good as Danny Wuerffel or Chris Weinke for that matter, and whatever else, but what, in my Seminole friend's brain, made him afraid that Jesse Palmer would be any better? Spurrier was criticised by the on-air commentators, the newspapers, and fans I've talked to for using the two-quarterback system, because it "didn't work." That's an interesting interpretation. Not one I share. The Florida Gators, under Johnson, was a team that could only manage 250 yards on offense against Vanderbilt. The Florida Gators, under Palmer, was a team that could only manage 250 yards of offense against South Carolina. These are 2 of the 3 worst teams in the Southeastern Conference. To complain that the offense amassed 442 yards against the number one team in the country (they managed just 202 last year against the Seminoles with one quarterback, Johnson) is a disappointment, well, misses the facts, jack. The facts are, Florida was not a team that looked capable of a 400 yard performance against the Seminoles; what they did was a miracle. And on three drives in the second half, they moved the ball at will. Statistically, Johnson was better (20-34-214) than Palmer (9-18-166); like when Johnson threw the ball on many more plays than Noah Brindise in the 1997 game, the number of attempts for Johnson over Palmer indicates Spurrier's lack of confidence in Palmer. True, Johnson threw two interceptions, but Palmer's mistakes were more egregious. Johnson's first interception was worse than the second, a no-look dump to a running back that was easily picked off. The second was thrown on 3rd down from about the 20 yard line, but to me, a field goal there did nothing for UF, so the interception (giving FSU possesion on their own 2 yard line) may have been as good. But Palmer's mistake was very costly. At the 2 yard line, with UF about to score, Palmer changed a running play to a pass. He forgot to tell his offensive lineman. The center was flagged for being ineligible down field (he was run blocking); the penalty cost Florida a chance at 7 points in a critical part of the game. What bothered me about the two quarterback system was: in 1997, it was a gimmick that helped save us. This year, it was a necessity, but there was no gimmick to save us. There were no new formations, no wrinkle for Mickey Andrews to deal with. There was some good play calling, there was a good game plan, but there was nothing to beat FSU. A New Attitude I'm not sure when the sting of this loss will go away. Florida still has two big games left: Alabama in the SEC Championship is one. A win means Kansas State or Michigan in the Orange Bowl, a loss means Penn State, Michigan State, or Michigan in the Citrus. Maybe that will help. But part of my irritation and aggravation will stay for 365 days. I think one good thing came out of this. For the past three or four years, I have come to hate Tennessee more than anybody. But I am happy to say, all that is changing at last. I am ready again to proclaim Florida State as the most vile, undeserving, jackass team in college football. Starting to feel better already! |
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