CAPITAL ONE BOWL: Gators are out to help prove SEC is best conference in nation
When Florida squared off against Auburn in late September, a trip to the Capital One Bowl seemed an unthinkable end to its season.
The Gators were ranked No. 4 and had their eyes set on a repeat Southeastern Conference championship and a possible BCS game. Instead, they reeled off three losses in their next four games, eventually leading to a trip to Orlando against Michigan.
The game isn’t exactly what they had in mind, but the players are trying to see the positives.
“We had our goals and sights on something different, but it’s a great game and close to home,” quarterback Tim Tebow said. “The Gator Nation is very strong here so we’re happy being here.”
Whereas Florida (9-3) will try to avoid feelings of disappointment, Michigan is looking for a happy ending to a tumultuous year.
The Wolverines (8-4) opened their season with embarrassing home losses to Appalachian State and Oregon, fell to archrival Ohio State for the fourth consecutive year and enter the contest as heavy underdogs to the Gators.
They have lost their past four bowl appearances, and the game will be the finale of Lloyd Carr’s 13-year tenure as coach.
A win against the defending national champions would go a long way toward saving face for the program and the coach.
Since arriving in Orlando on Christmas, Carr has been quick to downplay his resignation as a focal point.
“I want this to be about this team, and there’s always a lot of guys playing their last game,” Carr said. “Even that can be a distraction. What we’re trying to focus on is an outstanding Florida team and there really is not much room for anything else if you’re going to play your best.”
Michigan will try to get back to full strength over the next few days, as quarterback Chad Henne and running back Mike Hart are both battling injuries. Carr told reporters Tuesday that several players didn’t make the trip because of academic issues, but he expects them to be cleared before the game on Jan. 1.
Meanwhile, Florida will have a full roster available as long as it can avoid injuries during practice. Wide receiver Percy Harvin sprained an ankle on Wednesday, but was able to finish practice after getting it taped.
“Everybody’s here and ready to go play,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said.
A major story line in the game will be the clash of teams from the Big Ten and SEC. After handling Ohio State in the BCS national championship game last season, the Gators are feeling confident they can do the same to Michigan.
“We’re trying to go out there and make a statement and show that the SEC is the best and most competitive conference with the best athletes,” receiver Andre Caldwell said. “We’re going to beat those guys and hopefully the other SEC teams can do the same thing to their Big Ten opponents.”
LSU will face Ohio State for the national title, and Tennessee will play Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl.
Caldwell believes that his team and their conference mates won’t have a problem in those games because of a speed advantage.
“I don’t think they have seen that many athletes like us,” he said. “They have a couple of them, but in the SEC we have a whole team of them. It’s a big difference and they think they have bigger, more physical teams, but they don’t.”
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