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Gators face unlikely foe

After finishing 0-11 last season, South Carolina has a shot at the SEC East title.

By JOANNE KORTH

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 11, 2000

GAINESVILLE -- Huh?

That's what Florida offensive tackle Mike Pearson would have said in August if you had told him the Southeastern Conference's Eastern Division would come down to a winner-take-all game against South Carolina.

South Carolina?

"I would have been a little shocked after they went winless last year," Pearson said. "But they have a great coach, great players and they've turned it around. They're coming in here to beat us and we have to be ready."

Inconceivable as it seems, No. 5 Florida (8-1, 6-1) and No. 21 South Carolina (7-2, 5-2) play today at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for a spot in the SEC Championship Game.

Two teams.

One goal.

Opposite perspectives.

Florida, which won five SEC championships in the 1990s, considers the title game an entitlement. South Carolina, loser of 21 straight before this season, is challenging for the first time.

"The biggest problem you have is getting your players to believe they have a chance against Florida," USC coach Lou Holtz said. "Are we going to go play against Florida like we're capable of, or are we going to be like so many other people and just sort of get intimidated by them?"

Florida is no stranger to high-stakes SEC games. Every season, it braces for East rivals Tennessee and Georgia and faces challenges from the West. Hype is a way of life for the Gators, who have won the East six times in the past eight seasons and claimed consecutive SEC championships from 1993 to 1996.

Every time, beating South Carolina was a November technicality. Since the Gamecocks joined the SEC in 1992, UF has won eight straight by an average of 24 points.

"None of the media experts picked South Carolina to win the East, that's for sure," UF coach Steve Spurrier said. "They picked us or Georgia or Tennessee. Those are the ones you'd generally pick. But South Carolina has earned its way to the division championship. ... We're thankful it's in the Swamp."

As if beating Florida wasn't a big enough task, the Gamecocks also must block out the sounds -- and the fury -- of the Swamp, nicknamed by Spurrier and considered one of college football's toughest venues. The Gators have never lost an Eastern Division game at home, going 20-0.

"It can really be distracting," USC wide receiver Jermale Kelly said. "There's a lot of noise and if they get in your head, it can be a long day. This game is all about focus. This is our first time in a situation like this where so much is on the line. All we can do is prepare ourselves for the challenge."

If South Carolina must convince itself it can play with the Gators, Florida must convince itself South Carolina is worthy of its full attention.

The Gators occasionally have been guilty of overconfidence -- remember last season's 13-6 homecoming squeaker against Vanderbilt? -- so they are focusing on the stakes.

"We're trying to get to Atlanta, and South Carolina is the team we've got to beat," Pearson said. "If we lose this game, we're not going to the SEC championship, and that's one of our main goals."

South Carolina, which hasn't had a winning record in the SEC before this season, is trying not to let the stakes overwhelm it. Never mind that some argue this is the biggest game in the program's 107-year history.

The biggest moments so far? The Gamecocks won the Atlantic Coast Conference title with a 6-1 record in 1969 before any of the current players were born. South Carolina was 9-0 and ranked No. 2 as an independent in 1984 but lost 38-21 at Navy. USC hasn't come close to a championship of any kind since.

"This is the first time we have the chance to play for the SEC," South Carolina quarterback Phil Petty said. "They've been there before. They've won a couple. This is nothing new for them. But there's a first time for everything. They had to win a first one at some point."

Florida does not expect USC to roll over.

"I think they know what they're getting into," Pearson said. "Each and every game this year has been a big one for them. They're going to come in here fired up and try to knock us off to get to the SEC Championship Game. We need to be ready."

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