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Gators return to splendor

Florida gets four TD passes and four turnovers to beat Auburn 28-6 for its first SEC title since 1996.

By JOANNE KORTH

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 3, 2000

ATLANTA -- They danced.

[Times photo: Kevin White] Reche Caldwell, a sophomore from Tampa Jefferson, celebrates the first of two touchdown receptions as Florida beat Auburn 28-6.

They cajoled. They waved flags and carried signs. They proudly extended their index fingers and leapt into the stands to cavort with fans. They put on brand new caps. They mugged for cameras.

They hugged.

They emptied the icy contents of a water cooler onto coach Steve Spurrier, then carried him to midfield on their shoulders. Special delivery: a Southeastern Conference championship.

Ending a frustrating three-year drought, No. 7 Florida won its sixth SEC title in 10 seasons with a 28-6 victory against No. 18 Auburn before 73,427 at the Georgia Dome Saturday.

"It's an incredible feeling," said junior defensive tackle Gerard Warren, who shed his jersey for a freshly printed SEC championship T-shirt. "It's incredible."

The Gators (10-2, 8-1 SEC) will play in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2 in New Orleans as the league's representative in the Bowl Championship Series. Auburn (9-3, 6-3), the SEC runner-up twice in four years, will play Michigan in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Jan. 1.

Anyone who cynically declared the SEC title wasn't a big enough prize for the Gators, because winning the 1996 national title raised program standards, should have seen the spontaneous and gleeful celebration that broke out Saturday night.

The emotion was genuine.

"We're proud of these guys winning the conference championship," Spurrier said. "You get rings and your name in the history book. We're happy to win us another conference championship."

It will be tempting, in the giddy aftermath, to proclaim the return of the Florida dynasty. But this is not the same team that won four consecutive SEC titles from 1993-96, blasting holes in one of the nation's proudest football conferences with its Fun "n' Gun.

This is Dynasty, Part II.

Fourteen seniors risked leaving UF as the only class not to win a title in Spurrier's 11 seasons, but they can thank a precocious crop of fresh-faced heroes for their jewelry.

Silly kids.

They had no idea SEC titles were passe.

"It feels great," said quarterback Rex Grossman, who threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns to become the first freshman to win title game Most Valuable Player honors. "Hopefully, this is the first of four for my class."

The 2000 title looked a lot like a preview.

Sophomore Reche Caldwell became the first player to catch two touchdowns in the same quarter of an SEC title game. Jabar Gaffney caught five passes for 84 yards and one touchdown, his 14th of the season, and set an NCAA record for freshman receiving yards at 1,184. Sophomore tailback Earnest Graham set a title game record with 169 rushing yards.

Sophomore cornerback Lito Sheppard had two interceptions and sophomore linebacker Mike Nattiel recovered two fumbles for a defense that forced a nation-best 40 turnovers this season.

"This is a good, young team," Spurrier said. "We have a chance to be back here next year."

Nearly two months ago, Florida scored on its first five possessions in a 38-7 win against Auburn, prompting Grossman to note that UF's scout team defense usually stops the Fun "n' Gun once in five times. Auburn used the comment as motivation for the rematch.

It didn't help.

The Gators scored on three of their first four possessions as Grossman threw touchdowns of 10 and 66 yards to Caldwell and 34 yards to Gaffney for a 21-0 lead with 8:19 left in the half. All came after Auburn turnovers, including two inside the UF 20.

"We had some opportunities in the first half, but we made too many mistakes," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. "Their speed and quickness caused us problems."

Auburn scored on its final possession of the first half and opening drive of the second as Damon Duval kicked field goals of 44 and 22 yards. But momentum was fleeting.

The Gators capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 12-yard pass from Grossman to Brian Haugabrook for a 28-6 lead with 5:17 left in the third quarter.

When Sheppard nabbed his second interception with 3:36 left in the fourth, Auburn fans flocked for the exits, leaving the Gators to celebrate alone. And celebrate, they did.

Junior offensive lineman Kenyatta Walker, his SEC championship cap slightly askew, hoisted a cardboard SEC-logo sign high over his head and pointed to the crowd.

"This is an awesome feeling," he said.

One that never gets old.

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