GAINESVILLE — A reality check for Florida Gators fans? The football team, in the modern era, has never had an undefeated season.
It's how Florida reacted after losses that determined what kind of season it went on to have. In 1996, the Gators lost to Florida State but rebounded to beat the Seminoles in the Sugar Bowl for the program's first national title. In 2006, Florida lost at Auburn but went on to clam the national championship. In 2008, it was a defeat to Ole Miss that prevented perfection but UF went on to win its third national title.
Simply put, it's how the Gators have used a loss that has determined what kind of season they have than the defeat itself.
"Our team has a really positive attitude right now," said Gators quarterback John Brantley, who threw a pair of interceptions in Saturday's 31-6 loss at No. 1 Alabama. "After the game in the locker room, it's a little tough to take that loss. But I think our team is old enough and mature enough: 'Hey put that loss behind us.' "
They better hurry. Florida hosts LSU at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The Tigers are ranked ninth in the USA Today coaches' poll and are another undefeated team (5-0) from the SEC's Western Division that has a great defense.
Gators coach Urban Meyer, who is 9-1 after a loss since becoming the UF coach in 2005, called the '06 team after its only loss, "a very angry group." The '08 team after its defeat was a "dejected group." Meyer said this team is "a combination of both."
While it was Tim Tebow who stood in an interview room and gave an emotional speech to the news media that became known as The Promise, with the words now on a wall outside of Florida Field, there was plenty said after the loss to the Tide as well.
"It's very easy to stand up and say something," Meyer said on Monday. "You've got to be a grown man to back it up."
Backing up any vows to rebound strong will start with figuring out the offense, which hasn't been done all season. Florida turned the ball over five times and got just three points out of four trips inside the Alabama 20.
"I think our running game is fine," UF lineman Carl Johnson said. "We drove up and down the field on them running and passing. . . . When we got down to that 10 and 5 we couldn't capitalize."
Actually, the Gators had just 79 yards on 31 attempts. Florida was a combined 4 of 16 on third and fourth-down conversions. Starting tailback Jeff Demps said Monday he was about 90 percent for the Alabama game with a sprained foot and was limited to 11 carries.
Getting Demps healthy could cure a lot of ills. But even he seems uncertain how healthy he will be by Saturday. Backup Mike Gillislee has a bone bruise and is probably out.
"I'm trying to tough it out," said Demps, who wasn't sure he could play against the Tide until after pregame warmups.
UF's other top back, Emmanuel Moody, carried the ball six times for 5 yards against the Crimson Tide.
Now Florida must face an LSU defense that is giving up 79 yards on the ground, good for sixth nationally and No. 1 in the SEC. The Tigers' defense, overall, is allowing just 246.6 yards and 12.4 points a contest.
The Gators are ranked 65th nationally in rushing offense (151 yards a game), 83rd in passing offense (188.8) and 84th in total offense (339.8).
If Florida doesn't find some solutions on offense soon, there will be no happy endings like there were in '06 and '08.
"Our goal is to get back to Atlanta (for the SEC title game)," Brantley said. "Even with one loss, there's still a chance. We've got to forget about this last game and move on."
Will Florida respond this time?
"We're a young team," Meyer said. "On Thursday, I'll let you know."
Some other things that could help the Gators get better in a hurry:
Sharpen special teams. Normally a strength, it's been shaky.
Offensive lineman Matt Patchan hasn't played all year because of a wrist injury and is doubtful for this game.
"We need him," Meyer said. "In a lot of ways, we need him."
UF's receivers continue to be inconsistent. After five games, only one wideout has caught more than 13 passes (Deonte Thompson, with 21).
Meanwhile, the strange season got even weirder when kicker Caleb Sturgis suffered a back injury lifting weights and was replaced by punter Chas Henry in Tuscaloosa. It meant walk on Brad Phillips had to handle kickoffs. "I made him stand up in our meeting (Sunday) because I wasn't quite sure who he was," Meyer said.
He went on to joke about how a veteran coach was depending on a player he didn't know to help his team win games.It's been that kind of a mysterious season for the Gators, who still are trying to find someone to step up and become a major force on offense.
"We've still got a lot of ball left," Johnson said. "You never know how the season is going to end.
"If Meyer still is looking out over his collection of players in team meetings in December and he can't name the stars of his offense, there's no doubt what the ending will be -- nothing like '06 or '08.
"We still have a great team and LSU obviously has a great team, too," center Mike Pouncey said. "If we dwell on the past, we'll let this one get right past us, too. We need this game."
