NEWS
By Bud L. Ellis
For the final showing of his stellar college career, Tim Tebow put on quite a show in the Sugar Bowl.
The Florida quarterback closed his collegiate days with a masterpiece, finishing with 533 yards of total offense and four touchdowns as the fifth-ranked Gators routed No. 4 Cincinnati 51-24 at the Louisiana Superdome on New Year’s night.
The win sends Tebow into the NFL draft and sends Florida coach Urban Meyer into an indefinite leave of absence due to health problems. There wasn’t a better way for the duo to go out, as Tebow passed for 482 yards and three touchdowns on 31-of-35 passing.
Add in the 51 yards rushing and another touchdown, and it’s easy to see why Tebow was the story.
Florida destroyed Cincinnati’s dream of a perfect season, racing to a 30-3 halftime advantage over the overmatched Bearcats. Tebow finished the first two quarters with 320 yards passing.
Riley Cooper hauled in seven passes for 181 yards. Aaron Hernandez added nine catches for 111 yards. Defensively, the Gators made life miserable for Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike, picking off four passes to spark the rout.
—30—
Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 9:33 pm by bud
Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Cincinnati, Florida, Louisiana Superdome, Riley Cooper, Sugar Bowl, Tim Tebow, Tony Pike, Urban Meyer
By Bud L. Ellis
The whirlwind surrounding the coaching future of Urban Meyer has succeeded in doing what should be nearly impossible:
Overshadow Tim Tebow.
When you consider that most people consider Florida’s senior quarterback to be one of the greatest college football players ever – and plenty will argue all day that Tebow is the best to ever grace the collegiate gridiron – the fact that there is so little buzz about his final college game just 72 hours shy of kickoff is amazing.
But when Meyer dropped the bombshell this weekend that he was stepping down due to health reasons, then recanted to a certain extent a day later to say he’s taking a leave of absence after Florida faces Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl on Friday at the Louisiana Superdome, the subsequent discussion and analysis has all but blocked out the fact that Tebow will author the final chapter of his remarkable Florida career against the Bearcats.
The numbers may not be as gaudy as they were two seasons ago, when Tebow won the Heisman Trophy, or last season, when he directed the Gators to their second national championship in his three seasons in Gainesville. But still, just take a look at the stat sheet, and even the most ardent Gator-hater has to tip his or her cap in the direction of the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder.
Tebow has passed for 2,413 yards this season, including 18 touchdowns. Far below the
32 TDs he fired in 2007 and the 30 he hit for last season, and the yardage trails his ’07 total by more than 800 yards. For his career, Tebow has passed for a remarkable 8.803 yards and 85 touchdowns. On the ground, Tebow – who very well may make his money in the NFL as a halfback – has rushed for 859 yards this season, just 36 behind his 2007 total.
It won’t end with a national title, and it even won’t be the most compelling storyline coming out of New Orleans Friday night. But even with Meyer grabbing all the headlines, the final game of Tebow’s college career is worth plenty of attention.
—30—
Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 7:53 pm by bud
Tags: Cincinnati, Florida, Louisiana Superdome, Sugar Bowl, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer
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.
—30—
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.
—30—
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
Go ahead and book it: Butch Jones will be the next head football coach at Notre Dame.
All joking aside, it’s easy to say that. After all, Jones followed Brian Kelly at Central Michigan when Kelly left to take over at Cincinnati. And now that Kelly has left the Bearcats to take the Notre Dame job, Jones has been hired as Kelly’s replacement.
Jeff Quinn still will coach unbeaten Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl, New Year’s Night against Florida in the Louisiana Superdome. But the speculation over who would assume the reins of the rising Cincinnati program following Kelly’s departure is finished.
After succeeding Kelly at Central Michigan, Jones went 26-13 in three season. In 2009, he directed the Chippewas to an 11-2 record and an invite to the GMAC Bowl.
In getting Jones, Cincinnati keeps the same offensive philosophy that Kelly made so successful for the Bearcats – the spread offense. Under the wide-open attack, the Bearcats have thrived, winning all 12 games this season and rising to No. 4 in the polls following the regular season.
—30—
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 10:45 pm by bud
Tags: Brian Kelly, Butch Jones, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Florida, GMAC Bowl, Jeff Quinn, Louisiana Superdome, Notre Dame, Sugar Bowl
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.
—30—
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.
—30—
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.
—30—
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 9:56 pm by bud
Tags: Alabama, Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia Dome, Louisiana Superdome, Sugar Bowl, TCU, Utah
