By Dan Harralson
The Florida Gators and Urban Meyer enter the 2010 A.T. season. This A.T. (after Tebow) season is crucial for Meyer and the Florida program to try and stay even par with Alabama. It was one thing to lose to Saban and Alabama, but Meyer lost in a convincing way. Saban beat Florida in a way that Spurrier beat Alabama in the 1990's. Spurrier accumulated a 6-3 record against the Tide, proclaiming the Florida program above Alabama's in that decade. There is no doubt that Florida (from '06-'08) was the top program nationally and in the SEC. Look back at Saban's track record of taking down 'the giants.' When Spurrier left for the Redskins, Phillip Fulmer and Tennessee were the top program in the SEC. Saban and LSU quickly defeated the Vols in a game that would have sent Tennessee to the Rose Bowl National Championship Game. That game would have put Tennessee in a Florida and Alabama type dominate category historically. Oklahoma was a program (from '00-'03) that the media proposed that no team could defeat. Once again, Saban took the Sooners off their pedestal in the BCS National Championship Game. You can even go back to Saban's 1999 Michigan State days when he defeated Michigan 34-31 (after Michigan won the '97 national championship.) That began Lloyd Carr's downward spiral in Ann Arbor (with the addition of Jim Tressel in Columbus.) Urban Meyer and the Gators are playing catch up and ironically enough, it is because of one game last December. Condolences go out to Urban and his health, but sometimes one may think that his retirement helped 'salvage' a top recruiting class. Sometimes desperate times equal desperate measures. Meyer is a great coach and has the talent to win the East once again. Through his first five seasons he has recorded a 57-10 overall record compared to Spurrier's first five season's 49-12-1. Back-to-back 13 win seasons is a true testament to what Meyer has installed in Gainesviile. The question is: Can Meyer overcome the calling card Saban has sent him? Look for the Gators and new quarterback John Brantley to record a 9 or 10 win season. Below I asked Coach Meyer about having Alabama circled on their schedule like Nick Saban had Florida circled last season:
