AP Top 25 College Football
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The next time Tim Tebow and Eric Berry see each other after today will probably be at the college football awards show in December.
After that, perhaps the NFL combine in Indianapolis. Or backstage in the green room on draft day, waiting to hear their names called.
Today they make a little history as a side note to the SEC grudge match between Tennessee and Florida.
Never before have the reigning SEC offensive and defensive players of the year faced each other on the field.
It's history, but not ancient history. The SEC didn't divide the MVP award into offense and defense until 2003.
Tebow, Florida's senior quarterback, already has one Heisman Trophy on his mantle.
"The problem with him,'' said UT coach Lane Kiffin, "is that even when people have him out-schemed and stopped and there's a guy sitting there in the hole, he falls forward for three or four yards every time.
"So you think somebody's done a decent job of scheming 'em up and they still gain four yards.''
It was at Florida Field two years ago that Berry, UT's junior safety, introduced himself to Tebow. Playing the second game of his career, Berry intercepted a Tebow pass and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown. He even made Tebow miss on the runback.
Berry opened his junior year needing only 15 yards to break the NCAA career record on interception-return yardage. After two games, he's still looking for his first pick of the season.
The Series: By winning the last four meetings, Florida has caught Tennessee in the overall series at 19-19.
The Gators hold a 9-5 edge in Gainesville. UT last won here in 2003.
The Vols are 5-0 on Sept. 19. Today is the 11th anniversary of UT's 20-17 overtime win over Florida in 1998.
UT and Florida have been selected by CBS for its SEC game of the week annually dating to 1996.
Number One: UT is 2-5 against teams ranked No. 1. Two of those losses were against the Gators.
Tennessee's two wins over top-ranked teams were against LSU in 1959 and Auburn in 1985.
Old Home Week: The rosters are dotted with former high school teammates and rivals alike.
UT corner Art Evans is the only Vol from Lakeland, Fla., but seven Gators call Lakeland home.
The Vols' Quintin Hancock and Florida return ace Brandon James were teammates at St. Augustine.
Think Pahokee product Janoris Jenkins wouldn't like to lay a hit on his former teammate, UT freshman Nu'Keese Richardson?
Vol Notes: Jonathan Crompton is 4-4 as a starting quarterback. He completed 67.6 percent of his passes in the wins and only 49.2 percent in the losses. … He has thrown eight TD passes in the wins, zero in the losses. … Montario Hardesty ranks third in the SEC in rushing at 124.5 yards per game. … Hardesty hopes to improve his career rushing total against the Gators. So far Hardesty has 22 carries for 29 yards, a 1.3 average.
Gator Notes: Since 2005, Florida has had the second fewest turnovers in the nation, 68. Only Ball State (66) has been better at ball security. … Florida's current 12-game winning streak matches the longest in school history. That is also tied (with Southern Cal) for the nation's second-longest streak behind Utah's 16. … The Gators are averaging 8.4 yards per rushing attempt in 2009, compared to 2.7 for their opponents.
UT's new $45 million football…
Images from Larry Murphy's book on…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group motions to the crowd after a tackle against UCLA on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at Neyland Stadium.){kind=link}
Comments » 12
CrankE writes:
On a rock at Thermopylae, Leonidas and his army of 300 left a message for Xerxes and his army of several hundred thousand. They carved it in stone. Just two words. “MOLON LABE.”
Pdiddy10 writes:
Yep - Berry already had 2 interceptions this time last year. WHAT IS GOING ON?!?! im getting impatient. we are going to get killed by florida. i just hope somebody will get in berrys head and get him fired up. lets get an upset and not embarass ourselfs and scare our recruits away!!! go vols!
9krpms writes:
I love the analogy, good movie too.
TommyJack writes:
Hey Mike, does JA know you mentioned Tebow?
vol88 writes:
Let's tee up the dang pigskin and just see what happens. I know two things: No. 1, next year, Tebow will never again play against the University of Anybody. No. 2, next year, Florida won't have the "cigars...Rocky Top" thing to post on their bulletin board. So no matter what, at 7 p.m. tomorrow, it's gonna be better. Enjoy it Gators. Enjoy it while it lasts. GBO!!!!!!
LEXKYVOLS writes:
Looks like it has lasted a long time - at least long enough!
flafan2001 writes:
It means' Welcome to the Florida Homecoming Game.
UrbanCryer writes:
uf wins and kiffin gets 3 more uf recruits to flip. ha ha, last laugh. give it time orange nation. foolmore left this team in shambles.
99PairsOfJortsOnTheWall writes:
It's Greek not Jort hand. Geez! Somebody please help PhlaPhagg2001!
BlakeyWakey writes:
I am so TIRED of hearing about Tebow.. once he leaves college you will never hear of him again...Eric Berry on the other hand.. you will hear about him for years to come!
crimsonviper writes:
And you are batting 0 for 2009 in relevancy.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
You're starting to sound as stupid about Berry as VolRob is about Manning, and you DON'T want to get that rep! I will try ONE MORE TIME to explain why Berry hasn't gotten any INTs yet this year. 1) He only played 25 total snaps against WKU; he had ONE pass thrown anywhere near him and he ALMOST picked it off--nobody gets them ALL; 2) UCLA didn't throw much nor did they throw near him--he can't just run all over the field with no plan and HOPE they throw it his way; 3) He is playing closer to the line in this year's defense so he can get in on MORE plays, not fewer; 4) Berry is nowhere NEARLY as obsessed as you are about his INTs or any other stats as long as he is doing what the coaches want him to do to give us the best chance to win--I trust MONTE KIFFIN to have a better idea of what that is than I do YOU, you clueless turkey!
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