NEWS
By Bud L. Ellis
It appears Urban Meyer will coach Florida after all when the Gators take on Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl. And the meeting at the Louisiana Superdome on New Year’s night won’t necessarily be Meyer’s finale as Gators’ coach.
One day after announcing he was stepping down due to health reasons, Meyer told media members Sunday in New Orleans that he’s instead taking an extended lead of absence after the Sugar Bowl. Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will assume interim duties while the 45-year-old Meyer steps away to focus on his health.
Meyer was hospitalized for dehydration after the Gators’ 22-game winning streak ended with a 32-13 loss to Alabama at the SEC Championship Game Dec. 5 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. But published reports since have instead claimed Meyer suffered from chest pains after the loss to the Crimson Tide, and chest pains have been a common occurrence for the coach who in five years has led the Gators to two national championships and a sparkling 56-10 record.
As if the Gators weren’t motivated enough for their meeting with the Bearcats, after missing out on a shot at a third national title in four years by losing to Alabama, comes this: the realization that Meyer’s leave of absence is indefinite, and there is no guarantee he’ll be on the sidelines after Friday.
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Sunday, December 27, 2009 at 9:51 pm by bud
Tags: Alabama, Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia Dome, Louisiana Superdome, Steve Addazio, Sugar Bowl, Urban Meyer
By Bud L. Ellis
When the Florida Gators take on Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Night, they’ll do so without their leader in all-purpose yardage.
Kick returner Brandon James, who left the Gators’ SEC title game loss against Alabama with a broken bone in his right foot Dec. 5, will not play when the Gators take on the Bearcats at the Louisiana Superdome.
James has had surgery on the foot and has been ruled out of the game.
The senior has enjoyed a stellar season for the 12-1 Gators, ranked No. 5 in the nation. James finishes his season with 1,324 total yards and two touchdowns. His biggest impact came returning kicks for Florida, where he gained 756 yards and scored one touchdown. James also caught a touchdown pass this season, finishing with 215 yards receiving, 244 yards on punt returns and 109 yards rushing.
Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps and Joe Haden will take over on special teams in James’ absence.
The loss of James takes away a playmaker who caused coverage teams fits with his breakaway speed this season.
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 7:25 pm by bud
Tags: Alabama, Brandon James, Chris Rainey, Cincinnati, Florida, Jeff Demps, Joe Haden, Louisiana Superdome, SEC championship, Sugar Bowl
By Bud L. Ellis
Carlos Dunlap made a big mistake the week of the SEC championship game. But the Florida defensive end’s behavior in his three years at the school has led school officials to clear him to play in the Sugar Bowl.
Dunlap, who was arrested and charged with driving under the influence four days before the Gators’ 32-13 loss to Alabama in the SEC title game at the Georgia Dome, will play for Florida in the Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1 against Cincinnati at the Louisiana Superdome.
Dunlap is regarded as a first-round draft pick, and the Sugar Bowl likely will be his final game in a Florida uniform. But on Friday, Florida coach Urban Meyer told reporters the fact Dunlap has never been in trouble before this transgression led school officials to believe it OK for Dunlap to return to active duty
The return of Dunlap bolsters a Florida defensive front that was ripped apart by the Crimson Tide in the SEC title contest. Dunlap, who won the defensive MVP honors in last year’s BCS championship game, has recorded seven sacks this season.
Florida, 12-1 on the season, can end Cincinnati’s dream of an undefeated season in the Sugar Bowl. It’s possible the winner of this game finishes the season ranked No. 2 in the nation.
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Friday, December 18, 2009 at 11:51 pm by bud
Tags: Alabama, Carlos Dunlap, Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia Dome, Louisiana Superdome, SEC, Urban Meyer
By Bud L. Ellis
When Florida and Cincinnati collide in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s night, the game won’t lack for storylines:
How will the Gators, winners of two of the past three national championships, bounce back after their first loss in 22 games?
How will the Bearcats, winners of 12 straight games and two consecutive Big East championships, respond with a perfect season on the line?
How will Florida quarterback Tim Tebow play in the final game of his brilliant college career?
Will Brian Kelly be coaching his final game at Cincinnati?
On the surface, a matchup between two teams ranked in the top five – Cincinnati is No. 4; Florida No. 5 – with a combined record of 24-1 would attract tons of interest. But because this is Florida and Cincinnati, and because it’s the Sugar Bowl, there is even more buzz.
For Cincy, who capped the Big East title with a thrilling 45-44 victory over Pittsburgh last week – a game the Bearcats trailed 31-10 in the second quarter – the Sugar Bowl is a chance to silence the critics who have wondered all season if the Bearcats belong being mentioned in the same breath as the Floridas, Alabamas and Texas of the world.
It’s the second year in a row Cincy has made it to a BCS bowl game. Last season, the Bearcats lost 20-7 to Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Whether Kelly is around for a third straight run to the BCS is unknown, as he is the leading candidate for the Notre Dame job and is to interview there Thursday, according to published reports.
Florida coach Urban Meyer, who attended Cincinnati, already said he isn’t leaving Florida, the school he’s launched into the stratosphere since arriving from Utah. Two national titles in his first three years, sparked by Tebow, the leading touchdown scorer in NCAA Division I history and a Heisman Trophy winner.
But the Gators’ march to a potential third national crown in four years ended with a 32-13 loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game at the Georgia Dome last Saturday. How the Gators bounce back after seeing their 22-game winning streak and national title dreams end will be a big part of the buildup to the Sugar Bowl.
And of course, there will be plenty of other things to watch at the Louisiana Superdome in this one, as well.
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Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 9:04 pm by bud
Tags: Alabama, Brian Kelly, Cincinnati, Florida, Louisiana Superdome, Notre Dame, Orange Bowl, Pittsburgh, Sugar Bowl, Texas, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, Virginia Tech
By Bud L. Ellis
Now the Florida Gators find themselves in a place they didn’t want to be, but with that said, the Gators will dust off the loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game and set their sights on finishing a strong season in the Sugar Bowl.
With Florida’s loss to Alabama in the SEC title game Saturday at the Georgia Dome, it’s likely the Gators will end their season with an appearance in the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome. Florida, which is 12-1 on the season, brings quite an impressive squad to the Big Easy.
It starts, of course, with Tim Tebow, the quarterback who some consider the best college player to ever put on a pair of pads. Tebow didn’t play badly in the SEC title game, rushing for 63 yards on 10 carries and completing 20 of 35 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Gators came into Saturday ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense. But the Crimson Tide ripped through the Gators for 490 yards, more than 240 yards more than what Florida averaged allowing to opponents in games this season. Alabama’s 251 yards rushing is the most the Gators have allowed since Urban Meyer arrived in Gainesville.
Florida has appeared in the Sugar Bowl seven times, winning just twice. In their last trip to the Sugar Bowl, the Gators lost 37-20 to Miami on Jan. 2, 2001.
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Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 10:57 pm by bud
Tags: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana Superdome, Miami, SEC, Sugar Bowl, Tim Tebow
By Bud L. Ellis
No matter who ends up coming to the Sugar Bowl from the SEC, it will be one of the heavyweights of college football.
When Alabama and Florida square off in the Georgia Dome for the SEC championship on Saturday, both teams will hope they can win the conference title and the likely berth in the BCS title game.
The team that doesn’t win Saturday most likely will end up on Bourbon Street for the Sugar Bowl, which isn’t a bad way at all to end the season. But if it’s Alabama making the trip to the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, rest assured the Tide will be ready this time around.
After a narrow loss to Florida in last season’s SEC title contest, Alabama came to the Sugar Bowl smarting from coming so close to playing for the national title. It showed, as Utah blasted the Tide in a 31-17 victory that left the Utes as the nation’s only undefeated team.
No matter whether it’s Alabama or Florida, the SEC representative in the Sugar Bowl will be a team that spent all season at or near the top of the rankings. Both Florida and Alabama have been ranked No. 1 this season.
No matter whether it’s Alabama or Florida, the SEC representative will feature some of the top playmakers in the nation. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow already has won a Heisman Trophy. Alabama running back Mark Ingram is a darkhorse candidate to win the award.
And it’s likely whoever the SEC representative faces will bring plenty of intrigue. Cincinnati is the favorite to win the Big East and earn a BCS slot. TCU could end up in this game, particularly if Cincinnati loses.
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Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 9:56 pm by bud
Tags: Alabama, Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia Dome, Louisiana Superdome, Sugar Bowl, TCU, Utah
