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Florida gets key defensive end back for 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

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Gators now turn attention to Sugar Bowl

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

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