--Yeah, it was ragged at times. Crept along because of the overly deliberative officiating crew. Lacking the anticipated offensive fireworks. But for football fanatics, it was a thing of beauty, prettied up by the defenses dealing admirably with Oklahoma's no-huddle and Florida's semi-spread. Urban Meyer may be the Gators boss man, but defensive coordinator Charlie Strong was the sideline star.
--Florida's wins over Oklahoma and Alabama were eerily similar: dead-even games for three quarters, then Gators dominate the fourth. It speaks to their will to win, and their coaching.
--Tim Tebow for MVP? Come on, give it to somebody on the Florida defense, which was superb. Me, I'd find a lineman, seeing as how the Gators' front often crushed the mighty Sooners line.
--Maybe the voters were swayed by Fox announcer Thom Brennaman, a solid play-caller except when he was campaigning for Tebow for sainthood. A little too much, Thom.
--Sam Bradford's rare misjudgment at the end of the first half may have cost the Okies the game. With 10 seconds left, he passed to a receiver shy of the goal line. The ball was picked by Florida. Had it been caught by the red shirts, the clock may have expired. Bradford knows better to throw it in the end zone or the seats, giving him (or his kicker) another snap.
--Percy Harvin can flat freakin' fly -- and is tough, to boot. What a threat.
--Only three seniors started for the Gators, meaning they'll be ranked No. 1 next preseason if the other 19 return. That won't happen, given all the NFL prospects in their junior class, but Florida could withstand the loss of a few and still open 2009 in the same spot where they finished '08. The biggest if is Tebow, still with a year of eligibility. Of course, to listen to Brennaman, he might just forego football and pledge to a life of missionary work.
Selah.
