Sunday, September 18, 2005

What A Win!

I know this is getting too much. Three consecutive posts on football - and most of my readers (I am sure they exist - why don't you nice folks put a comment in sometime?) just don't appreciate football. But can not be helped - that was perhaps the only thing which was on my mind the entire weekend - afterall such high stakes game don't take place too often.

The offence was mediocre in most parts. Chris Leak did not throw for a touchdown pass after ages. Two of our best playmakers on either side of the ball suffered potentially season ending injuries. But we made plays when we needed to. Our defense and special teams could not have played any better. The key moment came when after review a Tennessee catch at our 1 yard line was called incomplete on a 3rd down play and their field goal was blocked in the next play. That changed the whole complexion of the game. And this team showed true character to hold on to the advantage.

But lets not get carried away. This team is not yet a national championship material. We should win the SEC - giving us a BCS bowl game. That would be a great year for us - and then with Leak in his senior year next season - we should be going all the way.

But after last few years of disappointments and close loses - this win almost ignited Gainesville. I went for a drive along the University Avenue just after the game ended - it was choc-a-bloc with traffic, honking like crazy, with delirious fans clad in orange and blue clapping, cheering and singing. This is what makes college football so special - the passion, the intensity - which you can never see in professional football.

(And I promise - I wont mention the word "football" in my next three posts!)

No comments: