An Electric Atmosphere Just Part of UF-LSU Lore
Friday, October 8, 2010 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sometimes a simple answer says more than enough.
Florida senior defensive tackle Terron Sanders delivered a perfect response earlier this week when a reporter asked why the Florida-LSU game is one of his favorites.
“The atmosphere,'' Sanders said.
On Saturday night inside a sold-out Swamp, the Gators and Tigers meet for the 40th consecutive season. In many of those seasons, Florida and LSU played in the shadows of the SEC's elite.
Those days have gone the way of the leather helmet and horse carriage. Actually, they faded quite a while ago for anyone paying close attention.
Since 2001, no SEC team has won more than LSU, which has won two national titles (2003, 2007) over that span and 96 games. Meanwhile, over the past five seasons, no SEC team has more wins that Florida's 52 victories, the most meaningful ones earning the Gators national titles in 2006 and 2008.
Add that kind of success to the rowdy, charged-up atmosphere that Sanders mentioned, and no wonder the LSU-Florida game is considered one of the premiere matchups in the SEC nowadays.
“Since the start of the century, it's the two programs that have led the conference,'' LSU coach Les Miles said. “They have been historically very, very good, and very talented. Our guys really look forward to playing them.''
The memorable moments have started to pile up in recent seasons.
When the Gators won their first national title under head coach Urban Meyer in 2006, they beat LSU in The Swamp thanks to the first two touchdown passes of Tim Tebow's career, including his first jump-pass touchdown to former Gator Tate Casey.
When LSU won its first national title under Miles three years ago, the Tigers overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 28-24, the winning touchdown coming on a Jacob Hester 2-yard run that shook the earth under Tiger Stadium.
Back at The Swamp in 2008, former Gators linebacker Brandon Spikes had two interceptions – including a 52-yard return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter that caused an eruption that could be heard in High Springs – to help Florida crush LSU 51-21 on the way to a second national title in three seasons.
Based on recent history, you can see why the LSU game is one that players look forward to as much as any on the schedule.
“It's one of my No. 1 all-time favorite games because it's always a night game in primetime and every time we play them, it's a great game,'' Gators senior center Mike Pouncey said. “They are going to come ready to play and we are too.''
While neither team is ranked in the top five – the first time that's happened in this matchup since 2005 – both are in the mix to make it to Atlanta in December for the SEC Championship Game.
LSU (5-0, 3-0), ranked ninth in the USA Today Coaches' Poll and 12th in the AP Top 25, is atop the SEC West. Florida is ranked 12th in the coaches' poll and 14th in the AP poll, and despite losing at No. 1-ranked Alabama a week ago, the Gators are in the driver's seat in the SEC East if they can win out.
But first, they must defeat LSU for a third consecutive season. They know that's never an easy task.
“That's always been a big game,'' Florida senior linebacker Brandon Hicks said. “LSU is a great team. They've always been a great team to me. That is not a team that you should come in and take lightly.
“Basically, their players have been recruited by our coaches and we've been recruited by their coaches.''
Oh, and don't forget the “atmosphere'' that Sanders mentioned. That's an added attraction when these two programs face off.
When the Gators play in Baton Rouge, they have had bottles thrown at their team buses outside Tiger Stadium. When the Tigers visit The Swamp, they know that nobody is going to greet them with open arms.
“We recognize that we're going to have to go down there and play our best,'' Miles said. “It's a great place to play.''
What makes facing LSU different than any other team for the Gators?
“I know that every year-in and year-out that we're facing arguably the team with the team with the most talent in the conference,'' Meyer said. “And I've always thought that stadium is one of the hardest stadiums in the country to play in.
“What makes it different – and I don't want to short change anybody else – but when you see that team jog out of the tunnel, that's as good-looking a team as there is.''
Back in Baton Rouge, it's been a tough week for Miles, who has been openly criticized by LSU's rabid fan base for his clock management at the end of last week's 16-14 home win over Tennessee. The Tigers needed an untimed play on the game's final snap to win on Stevan Ridley's game-winning touchdown run.
The Tigers will try to block out all the distractions on Saturday and avoid losing their first game of the season for the third consecutive year to the Gators.
“I think this would definitely qualify as a big game,'' Tigers offensive lineman T-Bob Hebert said.
“I think this team is a pretty special team,'' Miles said. “Our players love LSU, they love representing this state, this city. I don't think there has ever been any question there. I only hope that there is no perimeter distraction involving the coach. I want our football team settle down and play like they are capable.''
The Gators have also faced some scrutiny this week following the second-worst loss of Meyer's tenure at UF. They talked like a team with something to prove this week.
“We've got LSU coming up,'' said linebacker Jon Bostic. “Coach didn't really have to get people too excited to go play LSU in The Swamp at 7:30.''
He certainly didn't have to say anything to Sanders. After all, this is LSU-Florida. In case you haven't noticed, this game has taken on a new life in recent years.
“I love this game,'' Sanders said. “Besides the Florida-Georgia game, this is probably one of my favorite games to play. LSU has always played us tough. They try to do something different to surprise us.''
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