Colleges

Gators flatten high-flying OSU

A stingy Florida defense holds the Buckeyes and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith to 82 yards.

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published January 9, 2007

Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey and linebacker Earl Everett sack Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith.
	[Times photo: Brendan Fitterer]

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GLENDALE, Ariz. - Florida coach Urban Meyer's wide-open offense gets lots of publicity - and deservedly so.

But in case you missed it during the season, his defense isn't too shabby, either.

The Gators shut down a high-powered Buckeyes offense, led by runaway Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith, to key a 41-14 win Monday night.

The top-ranked and heavily favored Buckeyes looked hapless and mustered just 82 yards and seven offensive points. They averaged 409.75 yards and 36.33 points, sixth nationally.

It's the fewest points Ohio State had scored since a 10-6 win at Purdue on Nov. 9, 2002.

"You play defense like that, you don't lose," Meyer said.

Smith, who had insisted for a month that he didn't believe in jinxes, continued a trend of Heisman winners who struggled in losing efforts in the BCS finale, following Florida State's Chris Weinke 2001 Orange Bowl, Nebraska's Eric Crouch (2002 Rose Bowl), Oklahoma's Jason White (2004 Sugar Bowl) and USC's Reggie Bush (2006 Rose Bowl).

Smith completed just 4 of 14 passes for 35 yards and threw one interception that led to a touchdown. His low this season was 108 yards against Illinois and coach Ron Zook.

"I've never held anybody to 35 yards," junior cornerback Ryan Smith said. "That's amazing against him. The main reason is our front four. They did all the work."

"We knew that Troy Smith hadn't seen the kind of speed this team has," senior tackle Joe Cohen said. "Our plan was to come out and go at him right at the beginning to try to shake him up."

They sure did that.

Led by defensive MVP sophomore end Derrick Harvey (three sacks and a fumble recovery that set up a touchdown), the Gators sacked the elusive Smith five times, leaving him with minus-29 yards rushing.

"I understand that not everything in life is going to go that exact way you want it to go," Smith said. "Florida is extremely well-coached, and they're a great team. I can't say enough about those guys.

"But I have to say it was a lack of execution on my part as a quarterback simply because I am the one guy who pretty much controls everything. I didn't do a well enough job of controlling what was going on. Florida did some great things defensively but nothing that we couldn't have handled. And I have to take all the blame in the world for that."

It didn't help Smith or the Buckeyes that Ted Ginn, who scored on a kickoff return to start the game, went out shortly after with an ankle injury. But coach Jim Tressel said championship teams survive such losses.

Maybe not against these Gators, who so completely had the Buckeyes' number, they probably could have dotted the I in script Ohio.

Not that anyone should have been shocked the speedy and veteran defense was so dominating. It entered sixth nationally in scoring defense (13.5 points) and 10th in total defense (268.77 yards).

"Everybody stepped it up tonight," Harvey said. "Everybody came out and played as hard as they could, and that is why we are national champions."

Brian Landman can be reached at landman@sptimes.com or at (813) 226-3347.

[Last modified January 9, 2007, 02:34:55]