GAINESVILLE - With the first of its two "cupcake" games safely out of the way, Florida turns its attention to SEC East rival Tennessee.
The No. 11 Gators travel to Knoxville this weekend, and traditionally the winner of this game gets a leg up in the conference race - not to mention serious bragging rights.
But Florida coach Ron Zook said Sunday he won't allow the team to treat the game like its entire season depends on it.
"Obviously, it's very, very important, but you can't say, "Hey, this is the season,' " Zook said. "The last couple of years now the team that has gone to Atlanta (the SEC Championship Game) has had two losses. I'm not trying to say, "Well we can lose.' I'm just saying that every SEC game is important. This is a big one in the fact that it's the first SEC game, and as I told the players, it's the biggest game of the year. But the next game is going to be the biggest because it's the game that's at hand. But this is why you came to Florida to play in games like this."
No. 13 Tennessee (1-0) was idle last weekend after defeating UNLV in its season opener.
ROLL WITH IT: Despite Hurricane Ivan, the Gators will try to prepare as usual this week.
Florida's preseason was hampered by bad weather, as was Saturday's game that was delayed by lightning. Zook said he and the staff discussed the potential weather problems, but decided they can't rush preparations.
"You've got to be very, very thorough," he said. "You attack this game as what it is: It's the first SEC game, it's a big game and it's a game that you need to make sure you cross all your T's and dot all your I's. I think if you just start trying to go ahead too fast, you may miss some things. The sense of urgency will be there, but I don't know if it's the fact that there's a storm, but more the fact that it's a big game."
Zook said the adversity has made the players mentally tougher, and many of them agree.
"We're so used to it now," offensive lineman Jonathan Colon said. "I'm kind of like we can practice anywhere. I-75, the street, just anywhere."
EVERYTHING'S FINE: With its young secondary the focus of preseason questions, many were watching to see how sophomore safety Dee Webb would fare Saturday. Webb had five tackles, three solo, and nearly intercepted two passes, both of which he admits he should have had. He said after the game it was critical that he got an opportunity to play 60 minutes before Tennessee.
"It was very important to get one game under my belt because going into a big game you always need some experience right before that game ... " Webb said. "I got a game under my belt and I know the things to watch out for on my side of the field. So I feel very comfortable and confident right now going to Tennessee."
Zook said that after reviewing most of the game film he was pleased with the team's overall effort in a 49-10 win over Eastern Michigan: "I probably feel better after looking at tape than I did (Saturday). There were a lot more good things than negative."
