Gators Return To Work With A Sense Of Determination
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Since officials ruled late Saturday night that LSU receiver Terrence Toliver got a foot down in the end zone with possession of the ball on his game-winning touchdown catch, the sun has risen both days thankfully.
Otherwise, there would be serious consequences for us all. But if you happen to turn on sports-talk radio or open your e-mail or take a peek at UF fan message boards lately, there's very little sunshine.
What's all the fuss about? Well, for only the second time in Urban Meyer's six seasons, the Gators have a losing streak.
Senior linebacker Brandon Hicks admits it's a different experience for the Gators.
“It's a stressful time,'' Hicks said Monday. “It's kind of a delicate situation -- I would say more for the older guys because it's been almost a complete two years since we lost an in-season game.''
Senior center Mike Pouncey echoed Hicks' thoughts, saying the past couple of days have been strange.
“I hope we can get it right because I hate losing games,'' Pouncey said. “I don't even know how to act after a loss.”
When the Gators stepped onto the field at Alabama on Oct. 2, they had lost only two of their previous 32 games. Then, in a matter of eight days, they lost twice, losing back-to-back games for the first time since the 2007 season.
The Gators host Mississippi State on Saturday night and the last thing they want to talk about is a three-game losing streak. As Meyer and several of his players spoke the media on Monday, you got the impression that Gator Nation is much more panicked than the Gators.
“You set a lot of goals at the beginning of the season,'' Hicks said. “Some things just don't fall the way you want them to. The good thing is that we still have that spark of light at the end of the tunnel. We can still succeed and reach some of the goals we set.''
To reach those goals – most notably a third consecutive trip to Atlanta to play in the SEC Championship Game – the Gators understand no one is going to give them a free ticket. They have to earn their way there, which starts with improving on the field.
Meyer stressed that what the Gators do in practice this week will determine how they do on the field Saturday against a Mississippi State team coached by former UF offensive coordinator Dan Mullen. He also is determined to make sure the team stays united as it works though the challenge blocking out all the noise and remaining focused in the second half of the season.
“One thing around here is that we win as teammates. We win championships as teammates and as a team,'' Meyer said Monday. “We fight through adversity as a team. I made that real clear to our guys. I just want to make sure we avoid the poison that affects a lot of college football teams across America.
“There's only one way to do that: get a little tighter, get a little closer and work a little harder.”
While a portion of the fan base has been louder than normal this week, the mood around the team appears to be one of determination. The Gators can still make it back to Atlanta if they win their final four SEC games, starting Saturday against the Bulldogs on Homecoming.
Pouncey says despite the two losses, the Gators are not that far from being where they need to be. He pointed out the way the Gators moved the ball at Alabama and at key times against LSU, including a 10-play, 80-yard drive in the fourth quarter that gave the Gators a 29-26 lead with 3:21 left.
“We're just not making plays when they are there to be made,'' Pouncey said. “Obviously everybody has to get better. Week in and week out, we just have to stay together as a team and keep fighting, because it's not over yet.
“I thought we played hard Saturday. Football is a team effort, so you don't want to ever point fingers at any position group or at any coach, because we're all here to do the same thing, to win games. I love this team so much and it's just hard to see us struggling right now.''
When the Gators lost back-to-back games in 2007, they quickly recovered to win five of their final six regular-season games. Hicks says he sees similarities between the 2007 team and this year's team, the biggest being a reliance on young players.
Senior offensive lineman Carl Johnson has somewhat of a different view of the two teams.
“I think it's different because the team we had in '07 was a lot different,'' Johnson said. “It was a lot younger guys that became Gator greats like Brandon Spikes, Tim Tebow, Joe Haden, players like that. We don't have those so-called elite status players yet. But just like it took them time to get to the level they were, it's going to take these guys time too.''
If some of the current group of young players such as Trey Burton, Andre Debose, Jordan Reed and Jelani Jenkins continue to improve, Pouncey and the seniors can still finish their careers in Atlanta.
“We knew that we weren't going to be perfect this year,'' Pouncey said. “As long as we get to the SEC Championship Game, we'll be happy.''
