Florida, Tennessee make it a day to forget in Dixie

Sporting News, The, Oct 27, 1997 by Tom Dienhart, Mike Huguenin

You can make a strong case for the state of Alabama being the center of the college football universe. After all, it's hard to find fans who are more passionate--actually, rabid might be the better term--about college football than those in Alabama. With that the case, last Saturday wasn't a good one in Dixie.

Granted, most people expected Alabama to lose to Tennessee. After all, it was hard to imagine a Crimson Tide team that had lost to Arkansas and Kentucky it up against Peyton Manning and the Volunteers.

Indeed, Manning, who produced 304 yards passing and three touchdowns, and the Vols had their way, rolling past the Tide, 38-21, in Birmingham.

But about 120 miles to the southeast, in Auburn, a lot of folks felt like the unbeaten Tigers could beat Florida. You had Florida coming off a loss to LSU--a team Auburn beat. You had the Gators without starting quarterback Doug Johnson, who had been suspended for the game by coach Steve Spurrier for breaking curfew, and starting defensive tackle Ed Chester, their best lineman who was out with another in a long line of injuries. You had a Florida offensive line that had been a sieve the previous two weeks. And you also had an Auburn team that was going great guns offensively; senior quarterback Dameyune Craig was gaining some Heisman notice after throwing for at least 300 yards in a school-record four consecutive games. All in all, the Gators looked ripe for the picking.

It wasn't to be.

The Florida defense turned in a remarkable performance, sacking the mobile Craig nine times, including four in the first quarter, and holding the Tigers (who had been averaging 418.2 yards per game) to 159 yards of offense. Auburn "gained" a school-worst minus-28 yards on the ground.

"It was just a case of their defense being better than our offense," Tigers coach Terry Bowden said. "There wasn't a lot of time for Dameyune."

Indeed, even in the shotgun, Craig was running for his life on most pass plays. Had it not been for his elusiveness, he could have been sacked an additional four or five times because the Gators' pass rush was relentless. "The best thing about it, when I came to the sideline, I had five guys apologize to me," Craig said.

Auburn's offensive line had been playing well, but the group was overwhelmed by the Gators' speed. Linebacker/defensive end Jevon Kearse might as well have lined up in Auburn's backfield, because he ended up there seemingly every play anyway. Kearse and end Willie Rodgers dominated Auburn offensive tackles Jeno James and Victor Riley. "They just outplayed us, especially me," Riley said. "I had a bad game."

Florida's offense continued to sputter, but that was almost to be expected because true freshman Jesse Palmer--who had thrown 15 passes this season entering the Auburn game--was making his first start. Palmer led the Gators to a touchdown and a field goal on their first two drives, then he and the rest of the offense bogged down; the Gators finished the first half with five first downs.

On the Gators' second play of the second half, Palmer was intercepted for the second time, and fifth-year senior Noah Brindise--who had thrown 17 passes in his career--replaced him on Florida's next series. One problem: The Gators were pinned on the Auburn 3 after a punt. Actually, it was no problem, as Brindise--a former walk-on who started his career at Division II Wingate (N.C.) University and who was awarded a scholarship in August--calmly led the Gators on a 14-play, 97-yard drive that was culminated in a 10-yard pass to Jacquez Green for a 17-10 lead with 7:50 left in the third quarter. The Gators' defense took over from there.

Interestingly, given Florida's offensive line problems and the inexperienced quarterbacks, the Tigers didn't blitz much. Palmer's first interception--on the Gators' third drive--came with an Auburn defender in his face, but he and Brindise really weren't pressured that much and Florida's line gave up no sacks.

Despite the defeat, Auburn almost assuredly will be the SEC West champion, as a result of LSU's shocking loss to Mississippi last Saturday. That means Florida and Auburn would meet again December 6 in Atlanta in the SEC championship game. Craig, for one, wouldn't mind not seeing Florida again: "If they're not in Atlanta, I wouldn't be disappointed."

Expect Florida to be there. The Gators have this week off, then get Georgia, South Carolina and Vanderbilt to finish off their SEC schedule. Florida will win those three. Then comes the showdown with Florida State in Gainesville on November 22 in a game that could--could--determine the Orange Bowl participant opposite Nebraska.

As for Alabama (3-3), first-year coach Mike DuBose already is feeling the heat. 'Bama has games left against LSU and Auburn and a losing season--the Tide's first since 1984 and just their second since 1957--is a distinct possibility. "We got beat by an outstanding Tennessee team," DuBose said. "Obviously, we've got a long way to go before we're in their class again. We'll get there; I just don't know when."