Colleges

One-sided

The Gators answer critics by winning a national title.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published January 9, 2007

Florida linebacker Earl Everett doesn't let a lost helmet slow him as he chases down Troy Smith in the third quarter.
	[Times photo: James Borchuck]

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Brian Cassella] Chris Leak holds the BCS trophy after the Gators beat Ohio State 41-14 on Monday, Jan. 8. View celebration photos, share your pictures Game photos Buy Times front page Download wallpaper for your PC | Page 2 | Page 3 Gainesville reacts: An audio slideshow Gators 41, Ohio State 14 Nothing matters but that trophy Gators flatten high-flying OSU Leak makes mark on UF history in farewell GatorShotz Ginn provides big start, bigger disappointment Key underclassmen pondering early exits More coverage

GLENDALE, Ariz.

It had ruffled their feathers for the past month, and two days leading up to Monday night's national championship game, the Florida players let their feelings be known.

They were tired of Ohio State getting so much publicity, so much credit for being a good team, so much recognition with its tradition and its Heisman Trophy winner. They were tired of being asked if they really deserved to play for the national championship.

The Gators had been the underdog all season, and frankly they were getting a little tired of it.

Maybe now the underdog has finally earned its respect.

In a dominating performance, No. 2 Florida stunned No. 1 Ohio State 41-14 to win the BCS national championship in front of 74,628 at the University of Phoenix Stadium on Monday night.

The Gators (13-1) earned the school's second national football championship and became the first Division I school to have reigning national champions in football and men's basketball.

"We were unappreciated and came in here and said we were going to make the world appreciate us and know that Florida football is the best football out there," said junior receiver and Tampa native Andre Caldwell. "We played the toughest schedule in the country, so we weren't fazed by Ohio State coming in here all big and bad. We stepped up to competition."

Maybe defensive tackle Jarvis Moss was correct: Florida was a team of destiny. The team that never seemed to have a specific identity won again Monday with a little bit of everything. Passes to tight end Billy Latsko, whose season had consisted of mostly blocking, and rising star Cornelius Ingram; just enough of a running game from oft-injured DeShawn Wynn (69 yards on 19 carries), an Ohio native. Key runs by freshman quarterback Tim Tebow (39 yards), who also had a 1-yard touchdown pass to Caldwell and a 1-yard touchdown run.

And then there was senior quarterback Chris Leak. In the biggest game of his career, he completed his first nine passes and went 9-for-10 for 99 yards in the first quarter, finishing 25-of-36 for 213 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown to Dallas Baker that tied it at 7 with 10:31 left in the first quarter.

"This is the greatest feeling in the world," Leak said.

Florida coach Urban Meyer earned his first national title in his sixth season as a head coach, but credited his 21 seniors for taking the team to the top.

"These seniors have earned my admiration because they've been through a lot," he said. "I love them."

In a 16-second opening-game span, it looked like Florida might be in trouble. Ohio State (12-1) took a 7-0 lead when Ted Ginn returned Joey Ijjas' kickoff 93 yards.

But the Gators scored on six of their first seven possessions and led 34-14 at halftime against the nation's No. 1 scoring defense. The 41 scored were one shy of a record 42 scored against the Buckeyes in the 1973 Rose Bowl.

The Florida defense gave Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith problems all night. Smith was sacked five times (three by Derrick Harvey), fumbled once leading to a field goal and was intercepted by Reggie Lewis. The Gators held Ohio State to 47 rushing yards and Smith was 4-of-14 for 35 yards. Ginn Jr., suffered an ankle injury with 3:53 left in the first quarter and did not return.

"We just played our ball, SEC, that's all we have is speed and power," senior Joe Cohen said. "We showed it today."

Florida may have finally silenced the critics who vehemently argued the Gators had no right to be in the national title game.

"They did a great job and earned a national championship and there's no question about it," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.

"I can't say enough about the University of Florida and their play," OSU's Smith said. "You know, the spread and the score, who would have ever thought it would be like that?"

Who would have thought?

[Last modified January 9, 2007, 05:46:55]