Florida's Orange hopes turn blue in Death Valley

Sporting News, The, Oct 20, 1997 by Tom Dienhart, Mike Huguenin

Steve Spurrier was mad Saturday night. In fact, he could have been flagged for excessive display of anger.

Near the end of Florida's 28-21 loss at LSU, Spurrier huffed and he puffed and he threw his country-club visor down. It was what you would expect from a perfectionist.

Who woulda thunk it: Florida drops its first game of the season and loses the inside track to the Orange Bowl--along with its hearing because of the deafening din at Tiger Stadium--because of its offense.

"They just outplayed us, outcoached us," said Spurrier, whose cause is hampered by a lack of depth at running back. "They beat us and deserved to beat us."

That was obvious. Yet, you look et the "28" and figure, "What happened to the Florida defense?"

What happened was the Florida offense put the defense in bad situations all night. One LSU touchdown came on an interception return. Another touchdown was set up by a 6&yard interception return to the Gators' 7. The clinching LSU touchdown culminated a 35-yard drive that started when Florida's Bo Carroll muffed a kickoff return.

"We had some bad plays that we usually don't have," Spurrier said. "Usually, the other team has those. Whoever has them loses the game to a good team. LSU is a good team."

The biggest problem for Florida was an inability to stem LSU's relentless pass rush. It's obvious that left tackle Zach Piller is the key to the Gators' offensive line. Because of injury, Piller missed almost all of the Arkansas game October 4, and quarterback Doug Johnson was hammered throughout even though Florida won, 56-7. Piller was hurt again early against LSU, and the Tigers' pass rush was too much. Johnson was sacked five times and repeatedly hurried en route to throwing four interceptions. The Gators failed to record a touchdown pass for the first time in 62 games and were held to 45 yards rushing on 29 carries.

Florida also was hurt by the solid play of LSU quarterback Herb Tyler, who had been woeful in big games--until Saturday. Tyler ran for two touchdowns and hit some key passes against a talented Florida secondary. Still, while LSU's SEC West fate is in the hands of others (the Tigers need Auburn to lose twice), Florida will claim the SEC East if it wins out, thanks to its victory over Tennessee.

Obviously, Florida's game on Saturday at Auburn takes on new meaning. Most folks expected Florida to be riding a 26-game conference winning streak. Instead, the Gators will be in a must-win situation against unbeaten Auburn if they want to claim their fifth consecutive SEC title.

Given that the mobile Tyler hurt Florida, you have to think Auburn's Dameyune Craig--a much better quarterback than his LSU counterpart--is smiling. At the same time, you have to think Florida defensive coordinator Bob Stoops will come up with something to keep Craig contained and in the pocket. If the Gators' defense can't do that--and if their offensive line doesn't improve--Florida will be staring at its first two-game losing streak since falling in the 1992 SEC championship game.

Incidentally, the folks who were happiest about LSU's victory weren't in Baton Rouge. Nope, it was the people in State College, Pa., home of Penn State, which moved to No. 1 in the AP and ESPN/USA Today polls because of the upset (PSU already was No. 1 in the TSN poll.) Hornhonking, yelling and general merriment went on for a solid 23 minutes on the main drag of College Avenue as soon as the LSU-Florida game ended.

Be like Spikes

It was Auburn's dirty little secret last season, but it was impossible to keep under wraps when it was there in black and white for all to see: total defense, Auburn, 12th in the SEC.

It wasn't supposed to be this way with Bill Oliver, who had left the evil Alabama empire to join the Auburn cause. This guy knew how to make his defensive X's neutralize the offensive O's, so how could a unit he coordinates allow 370 yards per game?

Brother Bill preached patience, and the Tigers and their fans now are being rewarded with a strong defense that is led by middle linebacker Takeo (Tuh-KEY-o) Spikes.

The fact Spikes has spearheaded a rejuvenated Tigers defense comes as no surprise when you discover how focused he is. Want proof? Check out his list of goals tacked to his bedroom wall.

"It's something I started as a 10th grader," Spikes says. "Each year I accomplish something, I mark it out. First, I wanted to start as a freshman. I also wanted to be a freshman All-American. After that, I wanted to be a two-time consensus All-American before I leave Auburn. Last year, I was second-team AP All-American. Another one is I want to win the Butkus Award. When it is time for me to leave Auburn, I want to be picked in the top 10 of the draft."

Spikes' chances of striking those items from his list have been augmented by playing in Oliver's scheme, which the players finally have grasped after struggling with its nuances last season. In 1996, the Auburn defenders didn't know what teammates' responsibilities were. Now, everyone has improved awareness and understanding, which has translated into success.