GAINESVILLE - During the game, Gators fans voiced their opinion about the officials with obscene chants and a barrage of trash. After the game, it was Florida guard Shannon Snell's turn.
"(The NCAA) needs to bring in officials from another conference, maybe Pac-10 or Big Ten, because this was definitely a biased game," Snell said of the ACC crew. "It was bull. (The officials) took the game away from us."
Snell cited several fumble calls that went against the Gators and, he said, cost them momentum.
The first came on the opening kickoff, when it appeared FSU's Antonio Cromartie fumbled and the Gators recovered. But Cromartie was ruled down.
The second came on the Florida 1, when Seminoles running back Leon Washington fumbled before the goal line. Although Gators linebacker Channing Crowder came out of the pile with the ball, the officials ruled Washington had recovered and Crowder pulled it away under the pile.
The Seminoles, however, had a different opinion.
"That's the way games go," Washington said. "Even if, and that's a big if, the referees made a bad call, (Florida) had the game won. They scored (with 2:50 left) and were up by three."
POSTGAME FISTICUFFS: As the game ended, the Seminoles went to midfield to engage in a ritual of removing sod from an opponent's field after a victory. The Gators didn't sit idly by as they have in years past.
"I was the first one out there," Crowder said. "When they saw me, it all kind of slowed down. But with them being so excited to beat us and the frustration on our end, something clashed, and a fight broke out."
FSU coach Bobby Bowden said he wasn't sure what incited it.
"I thought the sportsmanship was pretty darn good in the game," Bowden said. "I don't know what happened after. Something ignited that. I'm sorry about it."
FSU's Darnell Dockett and Florida's Steven Harris were among those who swung helmets and shoved others to the ground.
"I guess they couldn't handle the loss. It hurt their feelings," Dockett said. "They thought we were going to give up at the end."
Police arrived and used pepper spray to stop the fight.
Matt Delancy, Florida's assistant strength and conditioning trainer, was knocked to the ground by onrushing players and remained down for several minutes. His condition was not known.
TIGHT ENDS I: FSU rarely uses its tight ends, but it got two big catches from the position.
First, sophomore Matt Henshaw made an over-the-shoulder catch, his fourth of the season, inside the Florida 5 and tumbled into the end zone for a 20-yard score to make it 17-6.
In the fourth, sophomore Donnie Carter made a 34-yard catch over the middle to the 2. His fifth catch of the season set up Chris Rix's touchdown that gave FSU a 31-27 lead.
TIGHT ENDS II: After being named a finalist for the John Mackey Award, Florida's Ben Troupe showed he is one of the nation's finest tight ends.
With 2:50 left, Troupe hauled in a go-ahead touchdown. The catch was made as he tiptoed along the back line. He had four catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
KICKED OFF: Two early kick return miscues by Antonio Cromartie sent the freshman to the bench. Willie Reid replaced him and returned two kicks for 62 yards, including a 45-yarder in the third quarter.
