GAINESVILLE — Tim Tebow and the rest of Florida's seniors will finish their careers without ever losing to Tennessee.
With Saturday's 23-13 victory, Tebow is 4-0 against the Vols, 3-0 as a starter.
"It feels great," he said. "If you told me I could come to the University of Florida and go 4-0 against Tennessee, that would be a dream come true and it is. It's big to go undefeated against Tennessee. As ugly as it was, it's still fun and still something we're going to celebrate."
Tebow also picked up his 46th career rushing touchdown with 12:48 to play in the first half, and is tied with LSU's Kevin Faulk (1995-98) for No. 2 in SEC history.
"Actually it's pretty surreal, Herschel Walker (the leader with 49) and the guys who are up there, it's pretty cool, and that company is special," Tebow said. "So to just be mentioned with those guys is really cool."
The Gators have won five straight over Tennessee, and coach Urban Meyer has never lost to the Vols.
HEARTBREAKING TD: Coming in, Florida's defense hadn't allowed a touchdown. So when Tennessee scored on a 17-yard run by Montario Hardesty with 8:11 remaining, the Gator defense took it hard.
"I was heartbroken, I was so upset," said junior CB Joe Haden, who also had an interception. "We just had too many missed tackles."
INJURED, ILL: Senior Brandon Spikes missed much of the second half with tendinitis in his Achilles', and junior WR Deonte Thompson did not play because of a pulled hamstring. Several others were suffering from flu-like symptoms.
“Jeff Demps had a 101 (degree) fever today," Meyer said. "Aaron Hernandez on Friday, we had to put him in isolation because he had the flu. Jermaine Cunningham had two days of isolation with the stomach flu. But there are some tough guys on this team now. We kept (Demps) in (locker room) pregame until right at the end because of the heat. He played hard."
Meyer said Spikes struggled with the tendinitis in Wednesday's practice, and was refitted with orthotics on Thursday. "It's not a major deal; it's just a painful injury," Meyer said.
Thompson tried to run drills during pregame, and "he just couldn't do it," Meyer said.
ONE (MORE) FOR THE ROAD: All-American DB Eric Berry first began making a name for himself with a 96-yard interception return for a touchdown against Tebow in 2007. In their final meeting on Saturday, Berry picked off another Tebow pass with 8:04 left in the first half. It set up a UT field goal. Berry, who also had 11 tackles, has 13 career interceptions.
FAMILIAR FACES: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist was among the guests attending. Crist stood on the sideline early in the first quarter, with his wife, Carole, and UF Board of Trustees member Danny Ponce. The interesting thing? Crist had no security around him. Meyer, on the other hand, is accompanied by a UPD officer and UT coach Lane Kiffin was escorted on and off the field by four officers. … Former Gator basketball players Joakim Noah and Marreese Speights also attended.
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