Florida Gators say close games have made them tough
By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Monday, November 16, 2009
Tim Tebow, getting sacked by South Carolina’s Chris Culliver, says the Gators have shown resiliency. “Every game we’ve had to fight and we had to play hard,” Tebow says.
GAINESVILLE — As it turns out, all the close calls the No. 1 Gators have faced this season may actually be a benefit. At least that's the way coach Urban Meyer felt after a 24-14 win over South Carolina on Saturday.
Although UF (10-0) has been criticized for an inability to blow teams out offensively, Meyer said that because the Gators have been tested often throughout this season, they are much better equipped to handle adversity.
"To be battle tested and to find a way to win the game, as opposed to finding a way to not win, (is important)," Meyer said. "In 2007, we found ways to lose several of those games. In '08, we found a way to win them, and it looks like in '09 we've found a way to win a couple."
Because of the competitive nature of the games, particularly the SEC games, when things have gone wrong the team hasn't panicked, players said.
"I think that's the great thing about our team; it's something we've done all year, from LSU to Arkansas," Florida QB Tim Tebow said. "We play the next play, we have confidence in each other. I think when you're at Florida and you're defending national titles, you're going to get everybody's best game. And I think we've done that. And that's one of the things we take pride in. Every game we've had to fight and we had to play hard because every team shows up and they play really well against us.
"We love that challenge, and I think we've rose to the occasion every time. And that's something I'm very proud of our defense, offense, special teams — everybody. Because there's been so many times this year we could have panicked: We haven't done this; we haven't done this. But that's never happened."
Still focused: After playing SEC opponents eight of the past nine weeks, the Gators play a nonconference game against FIU this week. But talking to the Gator players Sunday night, it's as if another conference opponent is on the schedule.
"We've got about three games left until we get back to the promise land — the BCS national title game," sophomore S Will Hill said. "But right now, we're not talking about that. We're just worried about FIU. If you look past somebody, you end up with an upset."
The Gators said Alabama and Florida State have not come up in any conversation — and won't until those teams are next on the schedule.
"We never breathe easy," S Ahmad Black said. "Anything can happen."
Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com.
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