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David Stanley Ford

OU football: Gators get their bite back
BCS title game: Florida’s defensive resurgence led by linebacker Spikes

By John Helsley    Comments Comment on this article52
Published: January 2, 2009

All the yards and points produced by the Oklahoma offense, even the Heisman Trophy collected by Sam Bradford, seem to leave the Florida Gators a little bit, well, unimpressed.


Brandon Spikes and Ryan Stamper stop Graig Cooper from getting a first down during the third quarter of the University of Florida vs University of Miami game at Florida Field Sept. 6, 2008. ( Brandon Kruse/The Gainesville Sun )

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A year ago, Florida averaged 42.46 points per game behind Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow, yet finished 9-4 due to a dud defense.

A return to defensive dominance has returned the Gators to the national title game.

20072008

Total defense 361.8 (41) 279.3 (9)
Scoring defense 25.5 (46) 12.9 (5)
Pass defense 258.5 (98) 174.0 (19)
Pass efficiency defense 128.7 (71) 94.17 (2)
Interceptions 11 (t74) 24 (2)
National ranking in parentheses

Read between the lines in the stories emanating from the Sunshine State and you can almost sense the snickers from the Florida defenders.

OU’s record-setting offense, the theory goes, wouldn’t be throwing up any five-game stretches of 60-point poundings in the SEC.

"It would have been hard, because the teams in this league can play defense,” Gators defensive coordinator Charlie Strong told Florida Today.

How’s that for some not-so-subtle skepticism?

And the message is hardly subtle in an advance warning to the Sooners: get ready, by gosh, for the SEC champion Gators.

The span of a year has done much to heal the hurting for the Florida defense.

The 2007 Gator unit allowed more points per game – 25.5 – than any defense in school history. Florida might have been a national title team a year ago, if not for its porous defense, which ranked 98th in pass defense and seemingly wasn’t fit to claim itself SEC worthy.

All-American linebacker Brandon Spikes, the veteran in a young and overhauled defense, has led a resurgence that has the Gators ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring and total defense.

Big and physical at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, Spikes delivers production and toughness. Within the program, they say his presence rivals quarterback Tim Tebow.

"I look at it like this,” Strong told reporters earlier this season, "Tebow is our leader on offense; Spikes is our leader on defense.

"Our offense can’t do without Tebow. We can’t do without Spikes.”

A punishing tackler, Spikes leads Florida with 87 tackles.

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David Stanley Ford


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I was not surprised Dana about the outcome of the Alabama game. My jaw wasn't on the deck. When everybody disrepects an undefeated team this is what usually happens. It's not " wow " , but " I told you so " Much like everyone disrespects OU. I won't be surprised if OU wins and neither should the naysayers such as yourself.
KEITH, North Charleston - Jan 3, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Danny, a Ute is of course a member of the Ute Nation, something that you should know, living down there in injun country. And rather than dumping on SEC defenses, I'd like to congratulate the Utah football team on a awesome season and a Sugar Bowl that left most of us with our jaws on the deck. After that game, all I can say is "wow".
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 3, 2009 at 12:47 pm
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Sorry, make that traditional offenses, not defenses.
Jeff, Dallas - Jan 3, 2009 at 11:08 am
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Pretty easy to prepare for traditional defenses in the SEC. Florida has not played a team this powerful on offense, nor running the hurry-up as fast as OU does. Here's hoping Spikes is covering Gresham, JI and Manny on the outside. Good luck with that.

And Florida, PLEASE keep underestimating OU. This is truly when Stoops' teams shine.
Jeff, Dallas - Jan 3, 2009 at 11:05 am
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Dave, maybe your brother Nathan should work on his communications skills, then.
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 3, 2009 at 7:01 am
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BAMA WINS BAMA WINS BAMA WIN... wait sorry I was just reading some espn bs about the staunch bama defense holding the Utes (what the hell is a yute) to 3 points and showing that mighty SEC defense! Maybe we can quit hearing about Boise St-OU and hear about the great upset of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl!
Danney, Oklahoma City - Jan 2, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Utah 31 Alabama 17. Final. What happened to the great SEC defenses? More like, no all american lineman, no rushing game was the story.
KEITH, North Charleston - Jan 2, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Yes, the great SEC defense of Alabama was not quite effective against Utah.
William, Fairfield - Jan 2, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Looks like that outstanding SEC defensive stats that Alabama has might be a bit misleading.
Bob, Edmond - Jan 2, 2009 at 9:47 pm
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Keith, you seem to be the only one on the chat line. Utah IS taking it to Alabama for the time being. I, for one, would like to see Alabama get beat and take some starch out of SEC backers. However, for OU to beat Florida the Sooners would have to play lights out football (like Coach Wilkinson used to tell us) and be focused, execute well and play smart defense. It won't be easy as Florida is good, very good. But the Sooners can do it. GO SOONERS!!! BEAT FLORIDA!!!
William, Fairfield - Jan 2, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Utah 21 Alabama 0 End 1st QT. Thats some stout SEC defense isn't it ? Just the way Florida plays defense too OU = Utah
KEITH, North Charleston - Jan 2, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Utah 14 Alabama 0, 1st QT. I think Utah could be Florida.
KEITH, North Charleston - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I forgot, Cambodian Troll
KEITH, North Charleston - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Dana's not an idiot, but an ignorant Troll that lives under the Tacoma bridge.
KEITH, North Charleston - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I compare this OU offense to a combination of Alabama's running game with USC's passing attack with Matt Leinart a few years ago.
KEITH, North Charleston - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Florida by 3 isn't much of a " heavy " favorite.
KEITH, North Charleston - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Dave, we heard you.
Dave, we heard you.
Dave, we heard you.
Dave, we heard you.
Earl, Oklahoma City - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:10 pm
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I hope they put Spikes on Grisham. He'll get run over like a grease spot if he trys to tackle him. More likely he'll just see him race down the sideline.
KEITH, North Charleston - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Mississippi beating TT shows it was no fluke to beat Florida in the Swamp. OU does stand a chance to win this game. Everyone assumes OU 's mammoth O line can't plow striaght at the Florida D. That is OU's run game, not running side line to side line against Florida's speed. Physical man o man O line against D line is the game. Alabama showed it can be done. They just didn't have OU's pass game. If they did we'd be playing them instead of Florida.
KEITH, North Charleston - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Dana, should I say it one more time for emphasis!!!
Dave, Californication - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:02 pm
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Dana, your the idiot. The trojan's colors are Cardinal and Gold. I suppose you think OUs colors are red and white? Get your facts straight man.....
Dave, Californication - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:01 pm
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Dana, your the idiot. The trojan's colors are Cardinal and Gold. I suppose you think OUs colors are red and white? Get your facts straight man.....
Dave, Californication - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:00 pm
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Dana, your the idiot. The trojan's colors are Cardinal and Gold. I suppose you think OUs colors are red and white? Get your facts straight man.....
Dave, Californication - Jan 2, 2009 at 6:59 pm
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Nathan, USC are Trojans, Stanford, the catholic school are Cardinal. Idiot.
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 2, 2009 at 6:23 pm
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Dana, did you watch that game? It was almost 80% USC Cardinal in that stadium. Idiot.
Nathan, Norman - Jan 2, 2009 at 5:51 pm
We know that OU won't put up 50-60 on Florida. But Florida has put up those numbers also and I know OU can't stop Florida's offense. Florida's secondary can match up man to man on OU's WR's and we will put pressure on Sam Bradford. It's an easy offense to stop if you have the personnel and Florida does.
Chris, Ocala - Jan 2, 2009 at 5:12 pm
M - the team and the fans gave them way more than a snowballs chance. Just like the odds heavily favor Florida, and you guys think you have a snowballs chance. And Earl, half of that stadium was Penn State fans. It's the way the Rose Bowl has always been. The Big 10 travels very well.
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 2, 2009 at 5:03 pm
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I don't recall anyone giving Penn State a snowballs chance in hell to play with USC... Where do you get your news from Dana? The Nittany Lion Tribune?
m., Oklahoma City - Jan 2, 2009 at 3:46 pm
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"Our offense can’t do without Tebow. We can’t do without Spikes.” OU is #1 without its defensive leader, Ryan Renolds.
Your, way - Jan 2, 2009 at 3:44 pm
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Dana, one has to wonder what the Rose Bowl score would have been had it been played in Happy Valley, PA. And to the hate mongers, can it. The issue will be decided on the field... in Florida.
Earl, Oklahoma City - Jan 2, 2009 at 2:21 pm
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Mark. I dont think UF will shut OU down, but I dont see OU putting up 50 or 60. I could see 35-40ish. Im not sure that Florida will have a terrible time scoring either though
matt, Moore - Jan 2, 2009 at 2:14 pm
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It's difficult to believe that people think OU is going to lose. I don't care how good UF's defense is They wont shut down the OU offense. No one has, all season. It will be great to watch OU score, easily, on the first series, and whenever they have the ball. Defense in the Big XII is good. The spread offense and no huddle are going to be the Gators nightmare come true.
mark, oklahoma city - Jan 2, 2009 at 1:17 pm
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Yeah, and Penn State was gonna shut up the skeptics, too.
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 2, 2009 at 10:59 am
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Nameless one. I agree on one point. I dont beleive that OU will blow Florida out. Florida's defense is better than OU's I beleive, but I dont think it is night and day. Probably the best offenses that Florida faced were Georgia and FSU. Both are good, neither are great. The debate is whether the Big XII defenses are that bad or if the offenses are that good. Not many comparison games, but here is one. Texas and Arkansas, Texas held them to 10. At the same time Florida held them to 7 and Bama held them to 14. Pretty close. Texas put 52 on them, while Florida scored 38 and Bama scored 48.
matt, Moore - Jan 2, 2009 at 10:25 am
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OU does not have a chance! The Gators will kill the OU Off. and their def. will not allow many td's. OU might as well just not show up for the game because of god, Tebow! He walks on water or the swamp I hear! I hope we score some points. I am not even going to watch the game because it will be like the USC Nat. Champship game. Poor Oklahoma in the title game again. Who do they think they are anyway? Oh! that was a bad dream I just had. Go Sooners!
Robert, Denver - Jan 2, 2009 at 10:20 am
Anyone that knows football knows this game will come down to defenses. And I think we all know who has the best defense, the Gators. Oklahoma will not put 60 points on the Gators nor will the Gators put 60 on the Sooners. But, the Gator defense will make more stops than the Oklahoma defense. I don't know what's in the air in Oklahoma, but to think the Sooners will blow the Gators out, that's crazy.
Chris, Ocala - Jan 2, 2009 at 10:12 am
Anyone that knows football knows this game will come down to defenses. And I think we all know who has the best defense, the Gators. Oklahoma will not put 60 points on the Gators nor will the Gators put 60 on the Sooners. But, the Gator defense will make more stops than the Oklahoma defense. I don't know what's in the air in Oklahoma, but to think the Sooners will blow the Gators out, that's crazy.
Chris, Ocala - Jan 2, 2009 at 10:09 am
Anyone that knows football knows this game will come down to defenses. And I think we all know who has the best defense, the Gators. Oklahoma will not put 60 points on the Gators nor will the Gators put 60 on the Sooners. But, the Gator defense will make more stops than the Oklahoma defense. I don't know what's in the air in Oklahoma, but to think the Sooners will blow the Gators out, that's crazy.
Chris, Ocala - Jan 2, 2009 at 10:07 am
BTW, Florida was the only SEC team to score more than 24 on S. Carolina. TWO non-conference schools (Clemson and Iowa) scored 31. Florida is definately the class of the SEC, but how much is that really saying THIS year?
matt, Moore - Jan 2, 2009 at 9:52 am
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Ho hum, yawn...Another story about Florida's other worldly invincibility. Maybe the reason the SEC plays such stellar defense is that SEC teams don't play great offense. One linebacker won't beat Oklahoma any more than one QB will beat Florida. The play is on the field, not in the ESPN broadcast booth. All the politicizing
for their favorites evaporates at the kick. If demoralizing Florida's opponents is their goal, I doubt the Sooners are intimidated. If they are, they may as well stay in Norman. Which I doubt they have any plans to.
ED, MULESHOE - Jan 2, 2009 at 9:48 am
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I am not surprised by the trash that the media spits out towards the Oklahoma Sooners and coach Stoops. The fact of the matter is this: another year has gone by and the Sooners are back competing for the national championship again.The fact that the media darlings: USC, Ohio State, and Texas are not infuriates the media especially a certain broadcasting corporation. The rules of the championship have been abided by and the top 2 teams are in the championship game. Quit throwing cheap shots out and saying OU did not earn their way in. The haters are just mad because Oklahoma did not fall apart after the loss to Texas. They kept winning and winning big. The problem is with the system that is in place for determining the national champion. A playoff system eliminates media speculation and manipulation that is running rampant in the current BCS system.
jerry, Hephzibah - Jan 2, 2009 at 9:27 am
I am not surprised by the trash that the media spits out towards the Oklahoma Sooners and coach Stoops. The fact of the matter is this: another year has gone by and the Sooners are back competing for the national championship again.The fact that the media darlings: USC, Ohio State, and Texas are not infuriates the media especially a certain broadcasting corporation. The rules of the championship have been abided by and the top 2 teams are in the championship game. Quit throwing cheap shots out and saying OU did not earn their way in. The haters are just mad because Oklahoma did not fall apart after the loss to Texas. They kept winning and winning big. The problem is with the system that is in place for determining the national champion. A playoff system eliminates media speculation and manipulation that is running rampant in the current BCS system.
jerry, Hephzibah - Jan 2, 2009 at 9:22 am
I am not surprised by the trash that the media spits out towards the Oklahoma Sooners and coach Stoops. The fact of the matter is this: another year has gone by and the Sooners are back competing for the national championship again.The fact that the media darlings: USC, Ohio State, and Texas are not infuriates the media especially a certain broadcasting corporation. The rules of the championship have been abided by and the top 2 teams are in the championship game. Quit throwing cheap shots out and saying OU did not earn their way in. The haters are just mad because Oklahoma did not fall apart after the loss to Texas. They kept winning and winning big. The problem is with the system that is in place for determining the national champion. A playoff system eliminates media speculation and manipulation that is running rampant in the current BCS system.
jerry, Hephzibah - Jan 2, 2009 at 9:18 am
We dont have a chance. We havent faced a REAL defense. They have been shutting down the great SEC offenses. #2 offense in the SEC? Georgia. Held to 6 in the first half and 24 total against Michigan St. The same Michigan St that gave up 49, 45, and 38 to PSU, OSU and Cal. South Carolina, one of the great SEC defenses just got 31 handed to them by Iowa. The Big XII's offensive numbers MAY be a little bit watered down, but the same goes for a lot of these defenses.
matt, Moore - Jan 2, 2009 at 8:41 am
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What the bowl games have shown us so far is that we are in for a tough game with both teams battling it out. But when have we seen Stoops more motivated than now. And I have a lot of confidence in Kevin Wilson to keep the offense on track and attacking. And a lot of confidence in Sam to not turn the ball over. I feel we are well positioned for this game, especially since we are getting no respect. That is when Stoops is at his best.
tom, Lawton - Jan 2, 2009 at 8:13 am
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Strong is right ... No Tebow + No Spikes = Same result as No Ryan Reynolds = OU loss to Texas = Florida loss to OU
KEITH, North Charleston - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:45 am
The Gators must be at least a little bit concerned the Sooners will beat them. If they're not, it's time to make believers out of them and their fans.
Bradley, Tulsa - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:06 am
I concur with Keith.
Patrick, Fayetteville - Jan 2, 2009 at 5:53 am
Likewise I'm not impressed with Florida.
KEITH, North Charleston - Jan 2, 2009 at 5:40 am
Hang half a hundred on em! BOOMER SOONER!
cooter and joe SUX!, duncan - Jan 2, 2009 at 4:39 am
This will be a historic win for the Sooners, with all the smack talkin going on. It seems unlikely, but I would really like to put 60 up on the Gators.
Cory, Adair - Jan 2, 2009 at 1:08 am
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keep talkin gators, just how i want it.
B, Norman - Jan 1, 2009 at 11:48 pm
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