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Five worst moments in Florida's season

By Antonya English
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 30, 2002

• This is it • Gators more pathetic than hateable • FSU can't sink any deeper • Five key players for Florida against FSU • Five worst moments in FSU's season • Five key players for FSU against Florida • Divergent paths coming together

1. Willis McGahee's 27-yard run: Matt Leach had just kicked a 34-yard field goal to give Florida a 10-6 lead against Miami with 7:30 left in the first half of the Sept. 7 game in Gainesville. Moments later, McGahee pulled off his run to the Florida 18. Two plays later Miami scored a touchdown to go ahead. UM went on to take a 20-10 halftime lead and rolled, 41-16. Florida had no answer for McGahee, who went on to become a Heisman Trophy candidate.

2. Matt Grier's 24-yard interception return: Florida led 14-10 at Mississippi before Grier's shocking interception for a touchdown that put the Rebels ahead 17-14 midway through the third quarter on Oct. 5. Florida quarterback Rex Grossman was intercepted three more times -- one by Grier, who was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week as Ole Miss beat the Gators for the first time since 1989. The last time the Rebels beat UF in Oxford? 1935. Grossman's Heisman Trophy hopes began to wane in this game.

3. Corey Webster's 45-yard interception return: The nightmare returned the following week. LSU led Florida 3-0 when the Tigers' defensive back picked off a Grossman pass and ran for a touchdown. LSU went on to a 36-7 win -- the first time it had won in Gainesville since 1986. Second-guessers turned into doubters. It also was the second week in a row Grossman -- with four interceptions in two games -- helped an opposing defensive back win SEC Player of the Week honors. Webster had two more interceptions before the day was done. By the end of the game, angry fans began chanting for Grossman's backup, Ingle Martin.

4. Defensive collapse against Auburn: Florida entered the fourth quarter with a 23-7 lead over the Tigers before its defense crumbled in the Oct. 19 game. Auburn scored two touchdowns and converted two two-point conversions to rally and tie the game at 23 with just over five minutes remaining. The Gators were saved by their much-maligned special teams unit when Bobby McCray blocked Damon Duval's 23-yard winning field goal attempt with 20 seconds remaining. Grossman threw a 25-yard touchdown to receiver Taylor Jacobs in overtime to help the Gators avoid a three-game losing streak in SEC play.

5. Special teams debacle against Kentucky: In a game that threw a spotlight on Florida's inept special teams play, the Gators gave up a 100-yard kickoff return and a 49-yard punt return for touchdowns. Florida also had two extra point attempts blocked and was forced to come back after giving up four touchdowns in an eight-minute span in the third quarter. Backup quarterback Ingle Martin took over the punting duties, but the special teams unit has remained Florida's Achilles' heel.

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