Showdown in the Swamp running diary
Photo illustration by Matt Rock; Photos by flickr/majorvols, flickr/fortes
It's mid-September and that means one thing, Tennessee-Florida.
published: September 15 2007 03:24 PM updated:: September 15 2007 07:14 PM

7:12 p.m. And it's official. The Gators roll to a 59-20 victory and there will undoubtedly be screams from the Volunteer faithful for some changes in the program after this one. That's all for me tonight. Have a good one.

7:09 p.m. Backup quarterback Cameron Newton just ran in to extend the lead to 59-20. Florida drove down the field easily and there's is a huge lack of pride being displayed by the effort of the Vols at this point. At least my Dr. Pepper commercial just came on to cheer me up a bit.

7:06 p.m. Crompton just got intercepted. Tebow is out of the game so it appears the Gators are content to run the ball and move on to next week.

6:59 p.m. The Gators kick a field goal to go up 52-20 and they've definitely sent a message today. I'm about ready to start drowning my sorrows fans. Too bad I'm not old enough to do that.

6:53 p.m. Florida goes for it on fourth down and at this point is just trying to run up the score. Too bad we'll never get the chance to repay the favor with the current talent gap between the two programs. Another long pass and they're about to score again to break 50. 

6:49 p.m. The Vols wave the white flag with a punt with 10 minutes to go. They just showed Kenny Chesney doing a concert in Gainseville. He's supposed to be a UT fan. Traitor. There's a great game on ESPN2 as UCF tries to upset Texas. I'd have it on if I didn't have to be doing this but I'd highly recommend it for anyone reading.

6:42 p.m. Just typical of the day, Tebow underthrows the deep ball to Harvin and it deflects off Willingham for a long gain. Next play: Tebow touchdown run. 49-20 Gators. This is embarassing.

6:39 p.m. A blitz by Florida on fourth down gives Ainge no time to find a receiver and the ball is thrown to no one in particular. Turnover on downs. Excellent play call by Florida defensive co-ordinator Charlie Strong to send pressure and not let Ainge have time to find a receiver. John Chavis might want to take some notes on that.

6:24 p.m. Percy Harvin with an unbelievable touchdown run to open the fourth to put the Gators up 42-20 and barring a miracle it's all over. That's the second time they've run an end around to Harvin for big gains because the weak side end doesn't stay home. Tennessee tried the same play earlier and got stuffed for a nine-yard loss because the end stayed home. Outcoached on that side of the ball all day long.

6:20 p.m. Tebow rolls out on fourth down and finds his receiver for the first down on the final play of the third quarter. Florida's threatening to put this game away right here. Eric Berry we need another play.

6:14 p.m. Play action out of the end zone to Percy Harvin out to midfield. Barring another defensive touchdown I think that's the ballgame.

6:11 p.m. Tennessee is forced to punt after a pass interference goes uncalled and nearly comes up with another huge play as the punt was muffed but Florida managed to fall on it at their own 1-yard line. A safety would sure be nice right here.

6:02 p.m.  And just when we thought we had a game on our hands a botched handoff leads to a Florida fumble return for a touchdown. 35-20 and that could be the dagger.

5:58 p.m. The Vols defense bends a bit but forces a punt around midfield. Hefney muffs the punt but jumps on it to avoid disaster. Yet another blunder for Hefney in what has been a poor season thus far for the senior.

5:50 p.m. There's the big play the Tennessee defense needed. Eric Berry with a 97-yard interception return for a touchdown. Definitely made up for getting burned on Florida's second score. HUGE PLAY and the Vols are back in this. 28-20.

P.S. I think Eric Berry has the potential to be a very good football player.

5:47 p.m. A third down completion to Ingram puts Florida into field goal range. Not what the defense needed to do.

5:42 p.m. Tebow runs for the first down on 3rd-and-short on the same play Tennessee fans have seemingly seen 100 times over the past two Florida games. I hate that play more than any other in the history of football.

5:37 p.m. Best moment of the day so far: the Dr. Pepper commercial with the big offensive lineman dancing. Definitely at the top of my list as far as recent commercials go. Too bad they followed it up with the stupid "Go Gators" commercial. Buzzkill. Second half is about to get underway. The Tennessee defense has to get a stop to open the half.

5:27 p.m. Ainge has already thrown the ball 29 times in this game. That's way too much. If Tennessee hopes to win this game they have to get some production on the ground. Getting outrushed 115-7 in two quarters just doesn't cut it, especially when 15 out of the last 17 winners in this series have won the battle on the ground and the two who didn't were both Florida teams.

The defense has to make tackles. They're doing a better job than they've done all year getting pressure on the quarterback, but they've failed numerous times when they've had a shot to bring down the ball carrier. Hefney needs to step up and be the All-American caliber player he was hyped to be before the season. He's supposed to be the leader in the secondary and has looked awful all season. 

Ainge has 204 yards through the air at the half, with both Josh Briscoe and Lucas Taylor racking up over 50 receiving yards apiece. Tebow has 150 total yards and has accounted for three scores for Florida.

5:18 p.m. It's halftime and Fulmer just said we need to play better in his interview. Thanks for that coach, we weren't quite sure that needed to happen. Now go work like heck to make that happen.

5:13 p.m. Touchdown Chris Brown. I should be a poet. 28-13 Florida. If the defense can put a couple of stops together the Vols might have a puncher's chance in this game.

5:11 p.m. UT moves into the red zone with under a minute left in the half. Have to have a touchdown here if this is going to be a game in the second half.

5:03 p.m. Another touchdown for Florida as Cornelius Ingram is left all alone by Hefney and Parrish in the end zone. 28-6 Florida. I am officially depressed. Not sure I can handle another half of this.

4:56 p.m. The Tennessee offense moves nowhere and is forced to punt after three plays. A personal foul after the punt return on Florida helps out the Vols bigtime. Defense has to get a stop here if UT wants to have a chance to comeback.

4:51 p.m. Tebow runs it in for the touchdown on first down. At some point the defense is going to have to say he's not going to beat us with his legs. Give him the Vince Young treatment. 21-6 Florida.

4:50 p.m.  First down Florida inside the Tennessee 10-yard line. UT could really use a turnover here.

4:46 p.m. Tebow runs for about 20 yards on 3rd-and-1 on the same play he ran about 10 times against the Vols last year. Everyone I'm watching the game with knew that was coming, why didn't the defense?

4:41 p.m. Tennessee fails on another third down and has to settle for a field goal. Lincoln knocks it through to trim the lead to 14-6.

4:38 p.m.  Taylor with another huge grab, this time on a fourth down. He's got five catches for 50 yards already today. Vols inside the 10, need a touchdown on this drive.

4:31 p.m. Lucas Taylor with another big catch on third down followed by a long pass to Austin Rogers. The running game has to get going if the Vols are going to stay in this one. Just 11 carries for 12 yards so far.

4:28 p.m. End of the first quarter with the score 14-3 in Florida's favor. Tennessee has a key third down coming up to start the second.

4:22 p.m. Tebow just showed off the arm on with two long passes, the second of which goes for a touchdown over freshman Eric Berry. Berry had a shot at the pick but came up just short. 14-3 Florida.

4:16 p.m. The third down play calling on offense has been very questionable thus far for Tennessee as they just failed on yet another 3rd-and-1. They did put the ball in the air this time, though. Daniel Lincoln makes the short field goal to trim the Florida lead to 7-3. Lincoln has been a very pleasant surprise for the Vols as he has made his first five field goals of the year.

4:11 p.m.  Lucas Taylor makes a man miss to pick up a 3rd-and-12. The Vols need some points on this possession. Can't count on the defense to keep the Florida offense off the board all day.

4:07 p.m.  Another stop for the Tennessee defense. Looks like they've carried over the momentum from the second half of the game last week. Tebow looks scared to put the ball in the air.

3:59 p.m. And for the second time already in this game Tennessee fails to pick up a yard on 3rd-and-1. It seems like that happens a lot these days; maybe they should try something other than a run straight up the middle in that situation.

3:54 p.m. Three plays, three straight runs by Tim Tebow, no first downs for the Gators. Eric Berry just made an outstanding play to keep Tebow from picking up the first down. He's going to be a special player here at UT.

3:48 p.m. And the Vols waste Coker's huge kick return as Ainge is picked off on 3rd-and-10 inside the red zone. It wouldn't have mattered even if it was completed though as it was just a two-yard pass. I don't understand the concept of running a two-yard pass play when you have to get 10 yards.

3:42 p.m. Lamarcus Coker is unbelievable. The Vols have to get the ball in his hands if they're going to win today.

3:37 p.m. Couldn't have asked for a worse start if your a Tennessee fan. Three-and-out followed by a punt return for a touchdown and now the Vols are already down 7-0. The offense needs to do something here or it could be a very long day.

3:33 p.m. Gary Danielson just said no one in college football has more on his shoulders than Erik Ainge and that this is a legacy game for him...I don't know about all of that. Let's get this thing underway.

Pregame
It's Tennessee-Florida day and I'm going to be here throughout to provide my thoughts on the action. I'm not really sure what to expect in this one. It might take 40 points to win it as neither defense has much experience. I'm picking the Gators 38-34. 



Comments

Comments are temporarily disabled.

#1

Jake Weiland commented, on September 15, 2007 at 5:57 p.m.:

That is what we've been waiting for! Eric Berry is a complete stud.

#2

John Mackey commented, on September 15, 2007 at 6:07 p.m.:

Fulmer sold his soul for the national title. That is the only reason why we could have this bad luck.

#3

Common Fan commented, on September 15, 2007 at 11:07 p.m.:

It is time for a regime change on Rocky Top. Fulmer needs to move on. Since 2004 Tennessee is now 15-12, this is unacceptable. We need to hire somebody outside of the good 'ol boy network to fix this mess.

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