Game Fourteen: Florida vs. Oklahoma; BCS National Championship Game

by mlmintampa on Jan 8, 2009 7:15 PM EST in Florida Football

Florida Gators at Oklahoma Sooners, Jan 8, 2009 8:17 PM EST

VS.

For the Gators, the march to Miami began on January 1, 2008. Their defense was embarrassed and the Heisman winning quarterback could not lead UF past Michigan and their lame duck coach. Florida finished the season 9-4, third place in the SEC East. At that time, the Gators looked to be a few years away from competing again for a National Championship.

While the Gators loss was crushing to the Orange and Blue, Oklahoma's loss on January 2, 2008 to West Virginia was a nightmare. For the second consecutive season, the Sooners finished with an embarassing loss in the Fiesta Bowl, losing to West Virginia and their interim coach 48-28. They were out-coached, out-played and out-classed. Once OU got smacked in the mouth, they stayed on the mat and counted to 10.

Now both teams look like world beaters. While USC, Utah and Texas wait in the wings, only Florida and Oklahoma control their own destiny tonight, and that is all you can ask for in college football.

Destiny and fate are fickle things, but they seem to be hanging over this ballgame. Florida fans think Tim Tebow can't lose. Oklahoma fans think they can't lose a fifth consecutive BCS bowl game. With destiny and fate, the men on each sideline become icons. Urban Meyer and Bob Stoops would win their second BCS titles, something no other coach has. Stoops would make a place in Oklahoma's history books. Meyer would top the man who built Florida, Steve Spurrier. Sam Bradford could leave school with a ring, Heisman and the overall number one draft pick. Tim Tebow could become the most decorated college football player of all time. As much as this game will be determined by those four men, and the other coaches and players surrounding them, destiny and fate will have their say too.

I will be in Dolphin Stadium tonight, our first Gator championship not in Gainesville (except when I was a kid in 1996). As a big believer in destiny, fate, karma, good luck and prayers to St. Anthony, I always think the Gators have the best chance to win. We'll see if for the fourth time in three years I'll be right and the University of Florida can add another sign on the marquees off University Avenue.

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I can hear the clock ticking and my heart beating. I can see individual pixels of the TV picture. I can hear the caution in the opponent's voice. I can smell the fear in the sweat of the opponent's fans. I can taste...

THE CHAMPIONSHIP. I AM IN CHAMPIONSHIP MODE.

Clutch: A measurement of how much better or worse a player does in high leverage situations than he would have done in a context neutral environment. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/glossary/

by bdalebs on Jan 8, 2009 7:27 PM EST reply actions

Also, now my sig.

Most likely won’t change unless I lose a bet.

I can hear the clock ticking and my heart beating. I can see individual pixels of the TV picture. I can hear the caution in the opponent's voice. I can smell the fear in the sweat of the opponent's fans. I can taste...
THE CHAMPIONSHIP. I AM IN CHAMPIONSHIP MODE.

by bdalebs on Jan 8, 2009 7:29 PM EST up reply actions

hey nice to see a Bears fan here!

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 8, 2009 8:03 PM EST up reply actions

Go gators!

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 8, 2009 8:03 PM EST reply actions

i think ill hang out

with you guys tonight..

When you are an Alabama fan you are expected to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because I want to.

by bammer on Jan 8, 2009 8:09 PM EST reply actions

eh, might not have that much company

Sorry about your team sucking it up in the two games that really mattered

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 8, 2009 8:11 PM EST up reply actions

riiiggghhhhttt.....

When you are an Alabama fan you are expected to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because I want to.

by bammer on Jan 8, 2009 8:14 PM EST up reply actions

And considering i post here quite often

you’re the guest not me, so show some respect!

When you are an Alabama fan you are expected to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because I want to.

by bammer on Jan 8, 2009 8:15 PM EST up reply actions

hey not trying to piss you off or anything,

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 8, 2009 8:16 PM EST up reply actions

I think my post was misunderstood

I got tons of Alabama fans. It was a good game between the Tide and Gators. I was rooting for ya against Utah…

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 8, 2009 8:18 PM EST up reply actions

sorry for my over reaticion

we (bama fans) are getting a lot of smart ass comments these days…

When you are an Alabama fan you are expected to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because I want to.

by bammer on Jan 8, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions

hah, wouldn't doubt it

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 8, 2009 8:29 PM EST up reply actions

you know what never mind..

ill be puling for OU anyway…

When you are an Alabama fan you are expected to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because I want to.

by bammer on Jan 8, 2009 8:16 PM EST reply actions

Looks like Percy isn't hurt

good catch and run there!

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 8, 2009 8:32 PM EST reply actions

INT, thats not good

although the offense was driving..

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 8, 2009 8:40 PM EST reply actions

Sam Bradford

that guy is pretty good

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 8, 2009 8:48 PM EST reply actions

come over to

team speed kills…..if you want to talk about the game

When you are an Alabama fan you are expected to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because I want to.

by bammer on Jan 8, 2009 8:56 PM EST reply actions

Oh man oh man oh man.

by Slica on Jan 8, 2009 9:04 PM EST reply actions

LOuIS MURPHY YES YES YES MARRY ME

by Slica on Jan 8, 2009 9:07 PM EST reply actions

That catch and pass.....amazing...

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 8, 2009 9:07 PM EST reply actions

well that was quick..

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 8, 2009 9:14 PM EST reply actions

eek!

not looking good!

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 8, 2009 9:25 PM EST reply actions

Great game so far

How about that Big XII and Sooners D! I hope the rest of the game is as good as the first half.

Miami bound...

by boomer1 on Jan 8, 2009 9:52 PM EST reply actions

Murphy down again

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 8, 2009 10:51 PM EST reply actions

WE WON

NATIONAL CHOMPIONS.

I. WANT. TO BE. A FLORRRRRIDA GATOR!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

As a Sonics fan, this makes it even sweeter for me. Nothing left to prove for us, we EARNED it.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MARRY ME EVERYONE*.

*except ugly people.

by Slica on Jan 8, 2009 11:53 PM EST reply actions

Yes!!!!!!

Gators are champs again!!! One more year please tim!!

Erm, well if we are going to call Milton Bradley nicknames, mine is Fischer Price: yes, you heard it here first..

by Chanman25 on Jan 9, 2009 12:06 AM EST reply actions

As a Texas fan, that was awesome

1. Florida 2. Utah 3. Texas 4. USC 5. OU

by acho81 on Jan 9, 2009 12:08 AM EST reply actions

Congratulations

to you guys.

Good game. I wasn’t rooting for you, but it was a good game. Too much Tebow, both on the field and from the announcers.

Your defense won that game, battle of the turnovers and the goal line stand in the first half. Never been an Urban Meyer fan, but he out-coached Stoops in the game. Too much time wasted at the line by OU’s playcalling.

Anyway, congrats again!

Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!

by Jon Johnston on Jan 9, 2009 12:16 AM EST reply actions

It really was a good game – OU was an excellent team, and it wasn’t until that last fourth down stop that I felt remotely comfortable. (I make a habit of not listening to announcers, of any game… the mute is the most valuable button on the remote.)

by peachy rex on Jan 9, 2009 12:19 AM EST up reply actions

My Heart...

was racing throughout that game, but Championship Mode is alive and well.
This is what we live for!

by GatorNat on Jan 9, 2009 12:34 AM EST reply actions

From all of us at Crimson and Cream Machine

Congrats. You guys played your guts out.

Thank you guys also for the month full of civil and actual discussion that took place between the blogs.

Again, Congrats.

Boomer Sooner!

Come check out FanIQ for your one stop spot for all sports

by Jubanator14 on Jan 9, 2009 12:50 AM EST reply actions

Great Game Gators!

You guys deserved the win tonight. Tim Tebow is the man.

Florida got stops when they needed them, and OU didn’t.

Great Championship game. Only I would have had more fun if the score were reversed.

Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple.
Barry Switzer

by Sooner Vince on Jan 9, 2009 12:50 AM EST reply actions

Thanks, guys – it really was an exciting game when the refs and production crew remembered to let it happen (I was nervous right down to the final fourth-down stop), and Oklahoma was a tremendous team, fully as formidable as advertised. Overall, I’d say your offence didn’t quite live up to expectations (whew), but your defence and special teams exceeded them.

Good luck next season.

by peachy rex on Jan 9, 2009 1:05 AM EST up reply actions