Of course, there'll be plenty of other issues at hand when the Southeastern Conference rivals collide in a 3:30 p.m. EST college football game telecast by CBS.
Florida (2-0) happens to be the defending national champion and is ranked No. 1 in the nation. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow and the Gators will be facing real competition for the first time this season. They opened the 2009 campaign with victories of 62-3 over Charleston Southern and 56-0 over Troy.
Coach Urban Meyer’s team is on a 12-game winning streak dating back to last season’s 31-30 upset loss to Mississippi, and will be seeking its fifth consecutive victory over Tennessee.
The Volunteers, meanwhile, are trying to rebound from a 5-7 season, as well as a 19-15 loss to UCLA in Knoxville, Tenn. last week. And the Volunteers (1-1) will be trying to regain the upper hand in a series they once dominated.
In fact, Florida will be looking to take the lead in the series for the first time.
The Florida-Tennessee Rivalry
The rivalry between the SEC heavyweights has been intense, to say the least. Certainly, a factor in Philip Fullmer’s dismissal as head coach after last season was that he went 5-12 against the Gators – including nine losses in the last 12 games.
And things got even more intense last winter when incoming Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin publicly accused Meyer of a recruiting violation – which after further review turned out not to be a violation at all. Kiffin issued a statement of apology a day later.
But the incident added fuel to a rivalry that hardly needed any more heat. In 14 of the past 17 seasons, it’s been either Florida or Tennessee representing the SEC Eastern Division in the conference championship game.
The Volunteers won the first 10 meetings between the teams, the first contest coming in 1919. Florida and Tennessee played only occasionally until the alignment of an expanded SEC set up an annual contest. So they’ve met for each of the last 20 seasons.
Florida Offense Clicks in Early Games
As expected, Florida’s offense had little trouble in its first two contests, averaging 643.5 yards per game. If there’s been a problem, it’s been with fumbles. The Gators have lost three.
Tebow, who’s thrown for 425 yards and five touchdowns, holds a passing efficiency rating of 197.5. The senior’s also run 15 times for 76 yards and two touchdowns.
Two diminutive sophomores have sparked the Gators’ running game, which has averaged 330 yards per game. Five-foot-8, 183-pound Jeffery Demps has run 12 times for 176 yards and three touchdowns, and 5-9, 175-pound Chris Rainey has rushed 13 times for 161 yards and two TDs.
Emmanuel Moody was run 10 times for an additional 98 yards.
Florida’s receiving corps has featured Riley Cooper (10 catches, 187 yards, 1 TD), tight end Aaron Hernandez (8 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD) and Omarius Hines (7 receptions, 98 yards). Redshirt sophomore Deonte Thompson has made two TD receptions.
The Gators' special teams have been prolific as well. Brandon James is averaging 46.3 yards on his three kickoff returns, and ran one back 85 yards for a TD. T.J. Lawrence is averaging 34.5 yards per return, including a 46-yarder.
Gators Defense Taking Care of Business
Florida’s defense ranked ninth in the nation last season at 285.3 yards per game, and return stars like linebacker Brandon Spikes, defensive end Carlos Dunlap, and defensive backs Joe Haden and Ahmad Black.
So it’s no surprise that through two games against overmatched opponents, the Gators are giving up only 231 yards per contest.
Cornerback Haden and freshman linebacker Jonathan Bostic are leading the team with 10 tackles apiece. All-American Spikes and cornerback Markihe Anderson are next with seven apiece.
The Gators have produced four sacks – one by Dunlap, who had 9.5 last season.
Tennessee’s Problem? Turnovers
If the Volunteers hope to contend against Florida, they have to cure themselves of the turnover bug. They’ve had seven so far this season, including five interceptions by quarterback Jonathan Crompton. The senior had three passes picked vs. UCLA, and that was one reason his team managed just 208 yards.
On the season, Tennessee is averaging 432.5 yards per game, including 247.5 on the ground. But most of the yardage came in a 63-7 season-opening rout of Western Kentucky.
Crompton has passed for 326 yards and five touchdowns with a 63 percent completion percentage, and Montario Hardesty has carried the ball 44 times for 249 yard and two TDs. The Vols have an additional running threat in freshman Bryce Bowen (22 carries, 138 yards, 1 TD) and a big, strong receiver in Quintin Hancock (10 catches, 123 yards, 1 TD).
Sophomore Marsalis Teague has six catches for 86 yards and a TD, and tight end Luke Stocker has hauled in a pair of touchdown passes for the Vols.
But none of those stats will account for much if the Vols don’t stop turning the ball over. In last year’s game, Tennessee actually outgained Florida, but committed three turnovers to Florida’s one. The Gators won, 30-7.
Tennessee’s Defense Remains Sturdy
The Volunteers allowed just 263.5 yards per game last season, ranking third in the nation. Even explosive Florida couldn’t manage a lot of movement against Tennessee, netting just 243 yards in its victory.
It looks to be more of the same this year, as Tennessee is surrendering just 134.5 yards per game.
Nick Reveiz, a 5-10, 220-pound junior linebacker, is leading the Vols with 15 tackles. Eric Berry, the All-American safety, has recorded 13; and linebacker Rico McCoy has 12.
Dan Williams, a 6-3, 327-pound tackle, has filled the gap admirably with 10 tackles, and linebacker LaMarcus Thompson has three tackles for losses, a sack and a forced fumble among his eight tackles.
Defensive back Dennis Rogan has a sack, a forced fumble and a tackle for a safety, and defensive end Chris Walker leads the Volunteers with two sacks. Tennessee has seven sacks on the season overall.
Jon Matsune - Jon Matsune is a free-lance writer based in Northern California. He has 25 years of experience in newspaper journalism, mostly as a sports ...
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