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A game where heroes are born

Saturday could be the chance for the UF-UT starting quarterbacks to make history.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 13, 2001

GAINESVILLE -- Nearly a month ago, Rex Grossman was battling teammate Brock Berlin for the Florida starting quarterback's job.

Two weeks ago, Casey Clausen struggled so badly in Tennessee's opener against Syracuse that Vols fans did the unthinkable: booed their starting quarterback.

Both take the national stage Saturday, making their first start as quarterbacks in a Tennessee-Florida game.

That's No. 2 Florida versus No. 8 Tennessee.

That's Gators versus Vols.

That's big-time rivalry and a battle for SEC East supremacy.

Over the past decade, it has been the premiere game in the SEC East, the one that has given the winner the advantage in taking the division title.

Grossman and Clausen have seen it from the sideline. Now they will be in the driver's seat.

Grossman's teammates believe he is ready for the challenge.

"He's one of those guys who is a gamer," offensive tackle Mike Pearson said. "For some reason when the lights turn on, something kind of clicks for him. He has a lot of confidence going into this game."

Clausen thinks he's ready, too.

"All the road games are tough in the SEC," Clausen said. "For us going down there, we've just got to take care of ourselves and execute. We need to worry about what we have to do as a team and just execute."

Since 1990, the stakes always have been high for this game and heroes are made in the eyes of their fans.

Danny Wuerffel set records in completions (29) and touchdowns (six) against Tennessee in 1995, and had a big game in 1993. Doug Johnson made his mark in the 1997 game. And Jesse Palmer's winning touchdown pass to Jabar Gaffney last season still is being talked about by players and coaches.

It also is a game where heroes fall short, at least in the eyes of the fans. Despite all his success, former Vols QB Peyton Manning forever will be saddled with the label of the player who couldn't beat Florida.

Which role will Clausen and Grossman fill?

Grossman enters averaging 353 passing yards, which leads the SEC and ranks third nationally. He also has thrown six touchdowns in two games, although admittedly against lesser opponents than Tennessee should prove to be.

Yet he feels ready for the challenge.

"Last year I felt like a rookie out there," Grossman said. "I knew what to do on paper but really couldn't execute it and get to the things I needed to on the field. I think I am just a little more relaxed, and I can see things a lot clearer. I feel a lot more in control of what goes on out there."

Coach Steve Spurrier said Grossman has improved from last season, as well as in the first two games.

"Rex is an excellent passer who is getting smarter," Spurrier said. "Really it's only his second year of playing so he's made some nice progress. He's a very good quarterback."

Clausen started the final seven games last season and set several Tennessee freshman passing records once held by Manning, including season yards (1,473), completions (121), touchdowns (15) and single-game yardage (362).

Vols coach Phil Fulmer said he was pleased with the way Clausen bounced back after the 14-for-27, 136-yard showing against Syracuse that caused the crowd to boo. He is confident Clausen can play well against the Gators.

"Casey, I think, proved to a lot of people that he can manage a game plan," Fulmer said of Clausen's performance against Arkansas last week (13-for-17, 136 yards). "Particularly in a hostile environment and in that kind of weather (heavy rain), it was good to see. He took coaching very well during the week and made himself a better quarterback."

On Saturday, Clausen and Grossman will get a chance to take over the latest role of hero in Tennessee-Florida lore.

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