TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida coach Urban Meyer walked into the small interview room at Doak Campbell Stadium, took a seat in front of his captive audience, and immediately addressed the issue on everyone’s mind.
“I can assure you we are going to rebuild this thing and build it up the right way and do it right,’’ Meyer said. “Obviously, we’re down a little bit. I didn’t believe we’d be that far down, but we are.’’
Since taking over the Gators in 2005, Meyer had never walked off the field at the end of a Florida-Florida State game on the losing side – he was 5-0 in head-to-head meetings with former FSU coach Bobby Bowden. That changed early Saturday evening after Florida’s 31-7 loss to the Seminoles capped a 7-5 regular season, the most losses Meyer has endured in any season of his coaching career.
The Gators have an undetermined bowl game left on the schedule, but the real work will come on the recruiting trail the next couple of months.
“Recruit our butt off is what we’re going to do,’’ Meyer said.
After the way Saturday’s game played out, it was difficult to remember that the Gators led 7-3 in the first quarter following quarterback John Brantley’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Robert Clark on Florida’s first drive of the game.
However, Florida’s fortunes soon started to turn for the worse before an announced sellout crowd of 82,324 on a sun-splashed afternoon. Four of the Gators’ next five possessions resulted in turnovers – two fumbles, an interception and a fake-punt attempt that failed.
The first miscue was a fumble by third-string quarterback Jordan Reed that didn’t lead to any points. The Gators weren’t so lucky on their next drive when Chris Rainey fumbled after catching a screen pass from Brantley. Florida State’s Xavier Rhodes recovered at Florida’s 17.
Two plays later, FSU’s Lonnie Pryor scored on a 9-yard run and the Seminoles were on their way to snapping a six-game losing streak against the Gators in Jimbo Fisher’s first season at the helm. The win and a North Carolina State loss to Maryland on Saturday earned the Seminoles a trip to Charlotte next week to face Virginia Tech for the ACC Championship.
“The big thing was Florida,’’ Fisher said. “This is just a topping to a great day for us.’’
The game started to get away from the Gators on the drive following Rainey’s fumble. Down by three, the Gators faced a fourth-and-five from their 36 when punter Chas Henry took off running on a fake-punt attempt. Henry was stopped a short of the first, turning the ball over on downs.
On the very next play, FSU quarterback Christian Ponder hit Rodney Smith for a 39-yard touchdown pass and a 17-7 Seminoles lead.
Later in the second quarter, the Gators fell behind 24-7 when Ponder connected with Taiwan Easterling for a 15-yard score. Ponder finished 16 of 24 for 221 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Florida rushed for 212 yards but managed only 64 yards passing.
The Gators’ offense showed life on its final drive of the first half behind the running of Reed and Rainey. Starting at the 20, Reed carried three times for 29 yards and Rainey twice for 31, moving to FSU’s 20.
After a timeout, Brantley entered the game but his pass was picked off by Seminoles cornerback Michael Harris, ending the threat.
“It’s been tough,’’ Brantley said. “You never hope for a season like this. Things happen, and we’ve stuck together throughout it all.’’
The mood afterward was one of dejection and reflection for the Gators.
After winning a national title in 2008 and being ranked No. 1 most of the regular season in 2009, the 2010 season has been one of new challenges because of the loss of nine players to the NFL and several key injuries.
After a 4-0 start, the Gators lost five of their final eight games, marking the first time in 22 years they have suffered five losses in the regular season.
“It’s been a battle,’’ Meyer said. “Every day is a battle.’’
Despite the uncharacteristic down season, constant questions about the offense’s struggle to execute and the team’s attitude, the players put up a strong front following Saturday’s disappointing loss.
“This one hurts a lot because it comes at the end,’’ receiver Frankie Hammond said. “Losing a game like this makes you want to go back and watch film and see how you can improve.’’
Senior center Mike Pouncey was in physical and emotional pain. Pouncey was hit in the chest in the second half and left the game. He winced as he took a seat at the podium to answer questions from reporters.
After four years in the program, Pouncey understands the expectations that come along playing for the Gators. He knows five losses in the regular season are unacceptable.
But Pouncey remains proud of the way the Gators remained united amid a turbulent season.
“Through all the (adversity), the team kept fighting,’’ Pouncey said. “They could have easily given up, but everybody kept playing hard. Turnovers killed us this game. You hate losing, but through this whole season, we just kept fighting.’’
As for Meyer’s pledge to quickly return the Gators to among the nation’s elite, Pouncey expects it to happen.
“He’s a great coach and he is obviously going to get the right players in,’’ Pouncey said. “He is going to turn this program around fast.’’
How fast?
“The fix starts tomorrow with recruiting,’’ Meyer said.
