AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > April > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USStand and applaud the mighty Gators
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
It’s the best team of the last 31 years, and it’ll be the best of the next 31. Even if some among us cringe at the thought of continuing Florida domination on every front, we all should stand and applaud as these mighty Gators pass into history. We might never see their likes again. It’s a wonder we saw them at all.
“There’s no lying in championships!” Joakim Noah fairly screamed. “You all can say what you want, but these are in the books!”
If these Ohio State Buckeyes stayed together two seasons more, they might become what Florida is. But they won’t because they can’t: The marketplace won’t allow it. What passes for excellence in neo-collegiate basketball is to do it once, Carmelo Anthony-style.
Florida did it twice while having only one real scare — against Georgetown in the regional semis a year ago — in a dozen NCAA tournament games. Think about that.
Think also about this: With 3:41 remaining in Monday’s first half, the exasperated Buckeyes called timeout. They’d played well enough, having made 10 of 22 shots — exactly the same as Florida. They trailed by 11 points.
For these last two years, that’s what the Gators did. They took an opponent’s best and flung it back harder. They were Jimmy Connors hammering Roscoe Tanner’s serve. They were George Brett turning on Goose Gossage’s 100-mph heater and smashing it against the façade of the upper deck.
To the second half: With Ohio State’s resistance stiffening, Al Horford wheeled on Greg Oden and had his shot snuffed. And yet … the Gators tracked down the loose ball and Taurean Green whipped a pass from the left corner to Lee Humphrey at the head of the key, and Lee Humphrey did what he does at this time of the year. A big-time block wound up with the Buckeyes staring at that same 11-point deficit.
It was supposed to be harder the second time around, but it really wasn’t. The Gators’ closest calls, such as they were, came against Purdue in Round 2 and Butler in Round 3, and once they overrode an early nine-point deficit against the Bulldogs the rest was rudimentary. Oregon thought it had the speed. UCLA thought it had the grit. Ohio State thought it had the players. Turned out nobody had a chance.
“We had a big target on our back,” Taurean Green said, “but we handled it.”
“It’s the reason we came back,” said Corey Brewer, the most outstanding player on merit. “To win another national championship.”
A word about the Buckeyes: They were good enough to have taken the title other years, and they acquitted themselves nobly Monday. (Oden was majestic.) They were simply in against the strongest championship assemblage — better than North Carolina of 1982, better than Georgetown of 1984, better than Duke of 1992, better than Kentucky of 1996 — since Indiana finished unbeaten in 1976.
Florida was a team of size and shooting, of offense and defense, of many stars yet no superstar. Noah, MVP of last year’s title run, made one basket in this championship game, and it mattered not one whit. That’s what separated these Gators from those worthies cited above: They were dependent on nobody, but also on everybody. They were what every team aspires to be but, at least over the last three decades, only this one truly was.
Green again: “We’re a team. That’s what it’s all about.”
And when it was all done, the winning and the net-cutting and “One Shining Moment,” the four juniors — Brewer, Green, Horford and Noah — posed for a picture. But someone was missing from the mix, and on cue Humphrey appeared. And there the five were, equals without peer.
Together they’d generated not one shining moment but two. Twenty, fifty, a hundred years from now, their legacy will shimmer still.
Permalink | Comments (106) | Post your comment | Categories: Mark Bradley
Comments
By George Hale
April 3, 2007 1:12 AM | Link to this
Slow down Gator fans…you survived, you didn’t dominate!
Noah can talk, and that’s about all. He was ineffective against a talented Greg Oden. He sat the bench most of the game. Where was Oden? On the floor, people. He was The Man.
Greg Oden, an 18-year-old Freshman single-handedly showed why the Gator’s 3 Musketeers are not yet ready for the NBA. You better go thank the hot shooting guys on the perimeter!
Oh, Ohio State won the 2nd half 46-44.
Sure, there were 14 points by one big man, but on mostly uncontested jump shots from 12 feet. Hoorah…
When contested, they came up empty…which is what you’ll have next year: Absolutely nothing…players, and possibly a coach.
You survived. Enjoy it while you can. And congratulations. You did win the game.
By Elliot
April 3, 2007 1:30 AM | Link to this
Winning is all that matters George…20 years from now the record books will say that Florida won, not that Oden dominated in a losing effort. Go Gators! Back to Back Champions!!
By ted
April 3, 2007 1:32 AM | Link to this
wow some one is a little bitter, what crawled up your butt and died george.
By Eric K
April 3, 2007 1:36 AM | Link to this
George Hale, you big empty wind-bag, welcome to the slow death that is the hallmark of the Florida Gators. Python-like, in that this TEAM works as a unit and slowly sucks the life out of you until before you know it, you try to get away, and alas, you’re out of breath, gone, dead.
Don’t you get it man? Billy D let Oden have all he could eat at the Paint Buffet tonight. Oden this, Oden that. Single coverage almost all night, right? That’s so everything else would be clamped down, not doing enough harm to win the game for OSU. We let Oden have his way — and did he ever look good, yes.
That is the beauty of this TEAM called Florida. With some teams, we’ll give you the perimeter, others the paint, but our unselfish boys take care of the big picture and win Championships.
Next year, we’ll have promise…and we’ll have a lifetime of sweet memories of this incredible TEAM.
By UFGATOR90
April 3, 2007 1:37 AM | Link to this
Sounds like sour grapes (or should I say buckeyes) Mr. Hale.
GO GATORS!
By GatorFan
April 3, 2007 1:41 AM | Link to this
Ohio State won the 2nd? WTF? Do they give rings for winning the second half?
Kiss the rings George, Kiss the rings. Pick a hand.
Not yet ready for the NBA? Who cares about the NBA. This was the COLLEGE basketball championship.
What a sore loser. Can’t tell if you are a OSU fan or a UGA fan. Either way, you’re our B*tch!
By gwinnetian4life
April 3, 2007 1:52 AM | Link to this
I never thought I’d see a team better than Duke in 1992, but these Gators are that team. This game was never in doubt.
By Hairy Dawg
April 3, 2007 1:53 AM | Link to this
Eric K,
The Buckeyes didn’t hit any perimeter shots tonight. That’s why they lost. Oden ate your boys up inside, but 4-23 from 3 pt land was not the result of great defense. No. It was the result of poor shooting. Congrats on your title.
Mark,
Kudos to you for hyperbole. I hope Billy is stalking the sidelines for the ‘Cats next year.
By C. Benson Manica
April 3, 2007 1:54 AM | Link to this
It does this Tech fan’s heart good to know that all the UGA folks who beat me in my pools had to pick their favorite SEC team to do it!
It’s too bad nearly everyone involved in this great game is going to ship off to the boring $$$-fest that is the NBA. Would have been great to see this again next year.
By John Wooden
April 3, 2007 1:58 AM | Link to this
Same old, boring crap.
That Brewer kid was acting like a fool.
That Noah kid can’t shut up.
Thank God these peons will be in the NBA next year. That’s where such filth and trash belongs.
By Eric K
April 3, 2007 2:10 AM | Link to this
Hairy Dawg - another “fact-free” comment that OSU’s woeful shooting was a result of, well, bad shooting and not Florida’s D. I suppose you have reviewed the tape and analyzed every OSU perimeter shot, measuring the distance a defender was away from the shooter, the angle of the defender’s hand relative to the shooters, etc? And then you compared the same data for Florida’s shooting? What an idiotic statement Dawg! I think you’ve gotten mentally soft from losing 15 of 17 football games. Florida was all over those guys around the arc tonight. I’m not sure where good D ends and bad shooting begins but as long as shots are contested, I tend to give the D a lot for the credit.
Dawg - I can’t wait for Tebow!
By DowntownATLgator
April 3, 2007 2:12 AM | Link to this
Hairy Dawg, classic UGA BS! I love that y’all never give credit to Florida for winning. It makes it that much sweeter when we beat you and win national championships. You can have your victories from the 1930s. I’ll take 3 straight championships (that I was alive to attend) any day. Good luck in gymnastics loser!
By Eli
April 3, 2007 2:48 AM | Link to this
Come on, guys…you wouldn’t expect Hairy Dawg to know anything about good basketball, would you? He’s a Dawg fan, for crying out loud!
By Kibbles
April 3, 2007 3:35 AM | Link to this
Ohio State’s 4-of-23 shooting wasn’t the result of great defense? It was just a poor shooting night by Ohio State?
Tell me, HairyDawg, how did Florida become the #2 team in the entire nation in 3-point percentage defense this season? Did every single team they faced just happen to coincidentally have their worst 3-point shooting night of the season? Was Florida just the luckiest team in the nation? Or is it maybe, possibly, potentially even a little bit possible that this Florida squad was one of the best in the nation at defending the 3-point line, and that’s why over the course of a 40-game season, they allowed a lower percentage of 3-pointers to be made than 300+ other college basketball teams?
By Anonymous2
April 3, 2007 5:20 AM | Link to this
Hey, Hairy, no matter whether Donovan stays at UF or goes to KY, you can bet your arse his TEAM will kick the arses of your collection of Gator wannabe’s on the court.
By TheOtherGuy
April 3, 2007 6:39 AM | Link to this
To pronounce this team the best in 31 years is a bit of a stretch. Very good and deserves to be discussed, but they lost 5 games. Sure, you can counter with they won the important ones, but that is true of any team that you would list. I am partial to Duke ‘92, 34-2 which only lost two on the road.
By mike
April 3, 2007 6:51 AM | Link to this
the rumor down in gainesville the past few months is that all 5 might come back for one more season if they win there second championship and go for a third…i guess we will see if that has any truth here soon
By GT fan / UGA grad
April 3, 2007 6:58 AM | Link to this
I will never be mistaken for a Gator fan, but that being said, MB’s article is right on. The Florida Gators are one of the most complete basketball teams that I have seen since Duke or UNLV of the early ’90s.
Noah gets a lot of attention, but he is arguable the fourth best player of the starting five. Brewer, Horford and Humphrey were stellar last night. This is an exceptional team and should be given it’s due. Just imagine if those four juniors decided to come back again next year (probably won’t happen, which is a shame).
No upsets this year, the best team came out on top.
By Jeff
April 3, 2007 6:59 AM | Link to this
Mark, Great column, and you’re exactly right—this team is the best I’ve seen in my lifetime. During the game, I kept saying to myself, “Wow—OSU is really playing well!” Then I’d look at the score and Florida was up by 9 or 10 or 11. I am not a Gator fan, but I love the game of basketball. That’s why I enjoyed watching this talented and unselfish team play the game the way it was meant to be played.
By Michael
April 3, 2007 7:07 AM | Link to this
What’s a Gator hater to do? Those $#% Gators are the class of the SEC, no, of the country. It’s like Steve Spurrier all over again except now Kentucky isn’t even ruling the hardwoods. Would someone please find evidence of Gator cheating so we can end this, this EMBARRASSMENT.
(GO DAWGS)
By Billy Donovan
April 3, 2007 7:21 AM | Link to this
I expect UGA to win it all next year. Dave Bliss is the man.
By B-Bro
April 3, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this
One of the best displays of unselfishness I’ve ever seen, that’s why they won and been winners for the last two years, they just play as a team. Congradulations Florida you deserve every bit of it.
By Rowdy
April 3, 2007 7:56 AM | Link to this
George, Get a life. The only score that matters is the score at the END of the game. And we won. Get over it. Must be a ‘Dawg fan. Loser.
By Mercer
April 3, 2007 8:02 AM | Link to this
No denying, its refreshing to see a fine group of kids playing and winning the right way as Donovan’s Gators did but hey Bradley we definitely can’t call this the best team in decades (man why do sportswriters give out those distinctions so easily)..I am not a die-hard Kentucky fan but to have 9 players from the ‘96 championship team play in the NBA, mostly all were 1st round picks and they went undefeated in the SEC @ 16-0, while only losing 2 games on the road..Again, congrats to the Gators if any coach wants to show his team unselfishness among all the qualities of teamwork then pop in last night’s tape…class in session
By Sly
April 3, 2007 8:02 AM | Link to this
WHAH WHAH! Who is this idiot punk George anyway? And who besides him cares? Hats off to the once again National Champion Gators who not only beat the “overrated” Buckeyes last night but less than 3 months ago as well for the football title. Suck on your sourgrapes George cause that’s all you and Ohio State got! Thanks for the memories Florida!
By jc
April 3, 2007 8:03 AM | Link to this
I’m georgia born and georgia bred and when I die, Florida will still suk…
By gdawginkalamazoo
April 3, 2007 8:09 AM | Link to this
Congrats Gators for a job well done!
In the era of “one and done” for most of these kids we probably won’t see this for a while. Those kids epitomize the TEAM concept and have been on a mission since last year and did a heck of a job completing it.
By Bernie
April 3, 2007 8:14 AM | Link to this
Gator fans enjoy. I was impressed by this teams togetherness and unselfishness. But OSU had open 3’s all night long and did not convert. Credit that to Oden who had a rotation of fresh bodies on him all night long and still had a tremendous game. So get off of George, and enjoy what you have accomplished for if these guys come out the Gators will not be the same.
By RomeG8r
April 3, 2007 8:22 AM | Link to this
Nothing is more gratifying than listening to UGA fans rant about how well somebody else played us. That is the most clear sign that they have thrown in the towel on any hopes of doing the job themselves. Analyze the game anyway you want but Ohio State was chasing from way behind for virtually the whole game. There was no luck involved. They were outcoached and outplayed.
By Orcel Marly
April 3, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this
“Oh, Ohio State won the 2nd half 46-44.”
Hey George if you want to grasp for straws don’t forget to mention that OSU also won the first 15 seconds of the BCS Championship.
By CSGDawg
April 3, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this
What’s with all the whining? UF just brought another title to the SEC, and hopefully UT will follow up tonight. Some things are bigger than interconference rivalry, such as beating the crap out of everyone else (esp. the B-10). Congrats to the Gators for bringing home the 3 last major NCAA championships.
By Kevin
April 3, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this
George Hale, grow up. And I am a Georgia fan. It’s great to be a gator hater, but show some class & tip your hat to them, you idiot!
By I need a miracle
April 3, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
Getting tickets to that game was ridiculous. A friend & I went down to the Dome/Olympic Park area and the fanfare was more amped than the Superbowl. Thousands were looking for tickets while very few had any to sell. Right up until tipoff, sellers were asking $200-300 for upper deck singles and at least $400 for any seat with a reasonable sightline. If you had a ticket, you were in demand last night. We ran into people that hadn’t planned to sell their seats but the money was too tempting and their view on tv would be alot better than their seats. I saved my money and went home to watch the game.
By Better Than You
April 3, 2007 8:41 AM | Link to this
Poor, George.
By UGA Guy
April 3, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this
George is a fool. I watched the game in a crowded location and there was no doubt about who would win after the 1st 5 minutes passed. Florida fans were loud and Buckeye fans just winced with every missed shot. Florida dominated this game in every aspect.
By Mayretta_Dawg
April 3, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
Thanks Gator fans for reminding me why I hate you guys so much. I know this would be like calling the kettle black for basketball but your fanbase is the BIGGEST bunch of bandwagoners I have ever met in my lifetime. Case in point, I asked many Gator fans at the Jacksonville Landing who was the coach before Steve Spurrier and not one person could do it. You guys always point to our 1980 National Championship that we live in the past, at least our fan base didn’t begin in the 90’s. LOSERS! All in all it was a great game, the Gator team was all class. Too bad that doesn’t rub off on your obnoxious fanbase.
By florida girl
April 3, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
Mr. Hale who won the game?
By IndianaGrad
April 3, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this
Oh-How-I-Hate-Ohio-State! it’s even sweeter to sing this morning!
Florida is what college basketball is all about. That team and the 76 Indiana team are the greatest teams ever because they did it without superstars. Congrats!
By publicenemynumberone
April 3, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this
“Oh, Ohio State won the 2nd half 46-44.”
THIS HAS TO BE THE STUPIDEST POST IN THE HISTORY OF THE INTERNET.
BTW, HONK IF YOU SACKED TROY SMITH.
By mariettaGator1979
April 3, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this
Long live the Gators! Football, Basketball……poor jawja!….you will be 3rd rate again this year.
Lets go for Back to Back football championships. A “Fourpeat”!
By publicenemynumberone
April 3, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this
Maryetta Dawg: I know that UF beats UGA like a drum.
I know that my 17 year old nephew can drive a car, but he has only seen the Bulldogs win two football games.
I also know in basketball that when I drove to Athens to watch the game this year, it looked like a Florida home game.
By Wertyu
April 3, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this
I’m certain Joakim has slept with his mom. I saw something in that hug. I’m not saying it wasn’t confusing and upsetting for them both - or that they haven’t moved past it, and won’t do it again. But it happened.
And GEORGE, yo mamma is so fat that when she got lost, it took all four sides of the milk carton to show her picture. irrelevant loser.
By mariettaGator1979
April 3, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this
Hey Mayretta_Dawg,
Doug Dickey, Charlie Pell, Galen Hall,…. you goofballs jumped all over the bandwagon in 1980 and again in 2002. Where were the fans during the Ray Goof era? …… get used to Gator Domination!
By Mo
April 3, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this
UF is over-rated. They got lucky because UCONN was not there. I went to a school near UCONN.
By mariettaGator1979
April 3, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
Let’s also remember this is the Gator’s THIRD championship game since 2000. Lon Kruger also took them in the 90’s.
Lets talk about jawja basketball….Dominique Wilkins…….that’s all folks!
By Mayretta_Dawg
April 3, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
publicenemynumberone:
NAME THE COACH BEFORE SPURRIER.
I know that UGA has a very obnoxious fanbase but ask anyone in or outside the SEC who have experienced Florida fans and they will say hands down that FU fans are the absolute worse. My cousin played for Stetson in baseball and even then the FU fans were just as trailer trash class as they could be.
By publicenemynumberone
April 3, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this
Darnell?
It was Galen Hall when we won our first SEC championship (back in “84). I was at the clinching game versus UK.
Pell was the coach when I started at UF.
But I must be upfront with you Maryetta, I don’t argue football with Dawg fans. Your school is not relevent.
By IndianaGrad
April 3, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
Name a school in the SEC that doesn’t have a trailer trash fan base. UGA just happens to be the best at it.
By UGAY fans
April 3, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this
You’re hatred of Florida is like a breath of fresh air. You can tell a team that can’t beat you because they hate you unmercifully. While we Gator fans look at Georgia as a game that’s not as hard as Vanderbuilt or Kentucky. Oh, that’s right, Georgia can’t even beat them either. LMAO
By Gatorgirl1
April 3, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Well, this “trailer trash” endodontist does not understand how someone saying they won the half 46-44 proves anything. Oh, by the way, Indiana, why are you here again? Please. Go stare at some Bob Knight posters from days long past and attempt to get some feel, if you can remember back that far, of what it means to be a champion. LOL AT JEALOUS WANNABES!
By smart
April 3, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this
WELL I HAVE TO SAY I’M BY NO WAY A FAN OF THE GATORS, I’M ONE OF GEORGIA BIGGEST FANS, BUT WE HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT WERE ITS DO AND APPLAUD THE GATORS FOR DOMINATATING THE SPORTS WORLD. I MEAN OHIO STATE HAD NOTHING TO LOOSE WERE AS THE GATORS HAD EVEYTHING TO LOOSE. ALSO MY HATS OF TO NOAH AS LAST YEAR HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE NUMBER ONE PICK AND GAINED MILLOINS MORE DOLLARS THAN HE WILL RECIEVE KNOW. THIS WAS THE DEFINITION OF A TRUE TEAM THAT HAD A STORY BOOK ENDING. NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY THIS BUT, GGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GGGGGGGAAAAAAATTTTTTTOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By gatordad
April 3, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this
Hey there, JOHN WOODEN: you are no better than the “filth and trash” snd “peons” you you point the finger at…they are WINNERS and you are a bitter LOSER !!!..get over it!!!
By gatordad
April 3, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
Mayretta Dawg:
You are as low as the trailer trash class you see in UF fans…take a look at yourself and point the finger inward, rather than calling others what you seem to be…
By corey
April 3, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
Um, did an Indiana grad call out SEC fans for having trailer trash? LOL now I’ve seen it all. I grew up in Indiana, you have no room to talk.
And to the UF/UGA bandwagon argument…UGA has been selling out Sanford, soft years or not.
UF was like Tech before Spurrier arrived, you could walk up and pick up a ticket at the gate.
It’s amazing that you had so many fans coming into town for this game given that you didn’t travel at all to the regionals. You put on a great face when you think it matters.
Congrats Gators, you were a great team and won! But please understand that UGA fans aren’t jealous of anything you have.
By Mayretta_Dawg
April 3, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
publicenemynumberone:
Great Google search on your coaches. Oh and by the way, UGA is relevant as in holding a very nice overall edge in football vs. FU even with your 17 year streak.
IndianaGrad:
Someone from Indiana chiming in on trailer trash??!! At least we have Atlanta to hold on to in a metropolis. What does Indiana have??!!
mariettaGator1979:
I was there win or lose with Goff and Donnan and supported them as a blind loyalist. You are in the minority of fans that remember anything before Spurrier becase everything pre-Spurrier was a train wreck when it came to playing the Dawgs, no matter how much talent you had.
By gatordad
April 3, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
MARK:
Thanks for a very good column and your sportsmanlike approach to this latest Gator accomplishment…a good deal better than your earlier articles before the BCS game..you just may be getting it, and let’s hope your readers do, as well!!
By wmac
April 3, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
True, about the tickets, lots of counterfeits floating around almost bought two but common sense prevailed. Finally found two in the upper for a reasonable price. Money well spent to enjoy that beat down.
Favorite Post
“welcome to the slow death that is the hallmark of the Florida Gators. Python-like, in that this TEAM works as a unit and slowly sucks the life out of you until before you know it, you try to get away, and alas, you’re out of breath, gone, dead.”
Loved it..
By Mayretta_Dawg
April 3, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
gatordad:
Thanks Dr. Phil for your insightful post. I was just pointing out the fact that time after time I have heard stories of how low brow Florida fans have ruined many a peoples’ gameday experiences. And the trash that was aired in earlier posts by FU fans in this blog proves my point. Again, my hat goes off to the Florida team but you Florida fans are the absolute worse.
By smart
April 3, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE NOW IS IF DONOVAN IS AS FAITHFUL AS HIS PLAYERS WERE. HE HAD A TEAM FULL OF NBA TALENT WHOM GAME BACK TO SCHOOL FOR A REPEAT AND GOT IT. THEY RISKED MILLIONS BY STAYING IN COLLEGE AND WILL LOSE MILLIONS. IF DONAVAN STAYS I THINK HELL WOULD FREEZE OVER BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO TAKE THE MILLIONS AT KENTUCKY NEVER BE SUCCESSFUL AND IN FIVE YEARS WE WILL SEE FIREDONAVON.COM ON THERE WEBSITE AND HE WILL TAKE THE JOB AT GEORGIA STATE WATCH AND SEE.
By kevin
April 3, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
The only thing that compares to winning national championships is seeing the bitterness of the posts from the UGA fans. Give this team the credit it deserves!!!!!!!
By sb
April 3, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this
George, you sad bitter man. How going 0-3 against the Gators must pain you daily…why not take up knitting or chess.
By IndianaGrad
April 3, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this
First of all, there are very few trailer parks even in Indiana. See, in the midwest, we work and own our homes. and what do we have in Indiana? Let’s see we have Notre Dame, Indiana U, Purdue, and numerous very good private schools. We also happen to have the Super Bowl Champs and a good NBA team.
What does Georgia have outside of Atlanta? Peanut farms and cotton fields and trailer parks. And Atlanta is all transplants from up north anyway.
By gr
April 3, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this
Some of you people really crack-me-up this is why I keep reading these blogs. I am a BAMA fan first but I am a SEC fan second, That is why I Pulled for Florida to beat Ohio State last night and it is also why I pulled for Florida to beat Ohio State in football a couple of months ago. In both caese Florida did what everyone wanted to do. Win the NCAA championship, isn’t that the goal. You can say what you want about the players, their coach, even their school but you still have to admit they won. They all came back for another year of school and a chance to win another championship. You can say Greg Oden dominated and to a degree you are right, but his team lost. In the end Florida has shown what is to be a Team. They won as a team and they lost as a team. CONGRATS FLORIDA! for a job well done. I am one SEC fan who enjoyed seeing you all play!!!
By Tigerdog
April 3, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
Congrats to the Florida Gators for winning their back-to-back National Basketball Championship. A great win for the SEC. Ohio State is owned.
Tigerdog LSU
By steve
April 3, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this
Why does it always come down to verbally bashing the gators? What a bunch of cry baby losers…why can’t you jealous little gator hater fools give respect and credit when due? I’m a gator and live deep in enemy territory and until I moved here never gave one negative thought to the Dawgs. However, having been here a while and experienced the overwhelming hatred for everything orange and blue, I’m now convinced that some Dawg fans need a serious exorcism. Give it a break, sickos!
By Mayretta_Dawg
April 3, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
IndianaGrad:
Wow, you have good colleges but alas nothing in Indiana compares to Atlanta. I can also name some good colleges in Emory, UGA and Georgia Tech.
Glad to hear you guys repair your trailers up there. Me on the other hand will be having my home painted and it is a permanent home that did not arrive on the back of a truck.
By mariettaGator1979
April 3, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Mayretta_Dawg
If I remember even in the “glory year” of 1980, Jawja had to have a miracle play to beat the Gators.
By br
April 3, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
Hey Tigerdog, gr, CSGDawg, etc: You people crack me up! I mean, “they won it for the SEC?” Are you nuts? You do realize that Florida is laughing at your loser @$$es right now, don’t you? Look, THEY own the SEC, over UGA, Bama, LSU, Auburn, everyone and you have the gall to bring your pathetic, whiny, @$$es on here and puff out your chest, and claim that Florida won it for the SEC? Bullcrap, I’ll tell you who they won it for: F-L-O-R-I-D-A, that’s it, oh, and for pride. As much as this probably pains you, they did not go out there and say, “You know what? Let’s do this for UGA, LSU, Kentucky, Auburn, and the rest of the SEC” They’ve kicked your tails, toyed with your emotions, and laughed at you all while stampeding through the SEC and you all just cower in a corner and whine like little girls. If I were you, I’d be pretty peeved at my institution for not going out there and bringing in better players, better athletes, and better coaches than Florida’s because isn’t that what you should be striving for, beating the team that has demoralized you for the past couple years? Nope, typically, you puff your chest out and stand up on your soapbox and claim, “WE’RE #1, Florida did it for us, hoorah, hoorah!” Outside of Kentucky in basketball and LSU in football, who else from the SEC has the right to gloat? You should be ashamed of yourselves!
BTW, way to go Gators, you truly have made tremendous history with your basketball and football titles! You have every right to gloat and whoop it up. I hope you do too, right in the faces of all the other SEC wannabes…what losers!!!!!
By IndianaGrad
April 3, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this
UGA does not belong in the same conversation as Notre Dame, Indiana U, Purdue, Emory, or Georgia Tech. THAT’S why I didn’t mention Ball State, Indiana State or Evansville. Some quality schools as UGA.
Let’s see: Colts v Falcons. Guess that got answered earlier this year.
Pacers v Hawks. HAHAHHAHAH!!!!
Indianapolis v Atlanta. Traffic, crime rate, pollution. Yep. gotta give it up to the ATL.
By ABF
April 3, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
Mark, your article summed it up perfectly. Great heart OSU, even marginal outside shooting would’ve made it go to the wire. However, this group earned it all season long and is an example of what a really great coach can do with great talent. Brewer played his butt off, his story is inspiring and am sure his ailing father is walking on air. Which is why most sports fans can’t embrace this paradox - the bad news is that they represent the “tradition rich since the 90’s gators”, never a basketball school, known more for obnoxious fans, mullets, tank tops and gold chains. This team earned their way thru the season & tournament, whereas last year they had several equals. Unlike the UF football team who played an unworthy Big 10 champ and had to get favorable calls to eek out there SEC games at crucial times. Don’t worry rest of SEC, they’ll have to hang on to this for decades, the luck has run its course. ABF (Anybody But Florida, except their Miami cousins)
By Hogan CAT FAN4LIFE
April 3, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
They were not as good as the 1996 Champs. Sorry! The Gators might have won back to back but I guarantee you they couldnt have run with the 1996-1997 Wildcats. Those kids put up hundreds of points against the best of their day. Lee Humphries one dimensional game would have been overshadowed by the MAN, Tony Delk. Otherwise, nice article.
By Mayretta_Dawg
April 3, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
IndianaGrad:
“Yea, my teams are better than your teams.” Whatever, Indianapolis is a cesspool compared to Atlanta. Oh and by the way, I don’t care what your pasty white Northerners think of UGA, most people down here give no props to my wife’s Alma Mater, The University of Michigan. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good school. Same goes for UGA, I could name accolades we’ve received as a public institution but I don’t want to confuse you.
By gatordentist
April 3, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
br: Sorry, but you are wrong. You just don’t understand the SOUTH. We can pick on each other but we don’t let outsiders do it. If my beloved Gators can’t win it all, then I am pulling for someone else in the SEC to do it. The only chant that happened at the BCS game this year was SEC, SEC, SEC with about 4 minutes to go.
It was great to see a bunch of guys spurn the NBA and come back for one reason and accomplish it. This is what it is like to play as a team and any HS coach in the country will be using their example this year.
And here is to the UT women winning tonight. SEC!, don’t mess with us.
By Hogan CATFAN4LIFE
April 3, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this
I meant the 1995-1996 Cats, my high school graduation year. However, the 96-97 Cats would have spanked them around too. Especially if D. Anderson was healthy.
By thepeopleseason
April 3, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this
To br:
Forgive me if I’m wrong, but as far as I can remember, Gator success in football quite frequently elicited cheers of “S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C!” during major games. And following the BCS in January, that was a common chant amongst the Gator faithful, suggesting that even our Southeastern Conference brethren could have held their own against the heretofore #1 ranked team from the Big Ten. We have pride in our school, we have pride in our teams, and we have pride in our conference.
And those of us who are not snot-nosed punks and bandwaggoners accept the respect and congratulations from our peers.
To CSGDawg, TigerDog, and gr: Simply, thanks.
By macyboosmom
April 3, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
Mayretta_Dawg - Classy Gator fans - kind of like how classy you are by continually calling them FU. That’s just down right class let me tell you. Every school has their obnoxious fans including UGA - believe me I’ve been to UGA games too. I think I would have to rate you as one of the obnoxious ones. Definately not how any of my UGA friends are. Way to represent your school.
By D Ellis
April 3, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this
F*******% the Gators…..Hey congrats on the repeat gators…no doubt about it…but you get no “Win it for the SEC” kudos here…I am a DOG true and True….I don’t hate gators…I HATE VOLS…I just dislike Gators….See you guys in Jacksonville again this year…and all you Gators and Vols, and Tigers and yellow jackets and commodores, and wildcats, and rebels, and whatever else we play in every sport can kiss my arse…oh yeah lamecocks can kiss my arse as well. You get no kudos from this Dog…with you guys being the defending champs this year in football….it will make it that much sweeter when we kick the crap out of you guys…..who cares about how obnoxious fans are…who wears more jean short…who has more trailers…by the way who let the Indiana fan on here…I had no idea you guys had a football team till Antwan Randle El was drafted…but anyway….screw all the rest of the SEC teams…I don’t give a crap who wins if it ain’t Georgia….It’s good ol fashion hate and dislike…..love it or go root for a west coast team…..or Indiana…..or whoever else the big ten has….oh yeah Paul Hewitt is garbage….so is Chuck Amato…who else wants a verbal beating HAHAHAHAH I love it…GO DOGS!!!!
By Kim
April 3, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
“That Brewer kid was acting like a fool.” I think you mean “MVP.”
“That Noah kid can’t shut up.” Don’t be jealous!
“…had to get favorable calls to eek out there SEC games at crucial times.” First of all, it’s ‘their.’ Secondly, if you think the SEC refs favor UF, you need to put down the crack pipe.
We are representing for the SEC & no one will ever have this BFB championship sandwich again!!!
IT’S GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR!!
By br
April 3, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
thepeopleseason: Wow, I didn’t know you needed that reassurance!
gatordentist: yeah, I know nothing about the south…I’ve only been living in Georgia for 29 years! That may be fine with YOU, I mean there ARE exceptions to every rule, but I guarantee you the majority would agree with ME, such as D Ellis!
By GatorFan
April 3, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this
Mayretta_Dawg - “we hold the overall series lead” Is that what you tell your self on the long, losing drive back home from Jax? Does that make you feel better?
What does the overall series look like over the last 70 years (that includes a few years before SOS, right?)? Ok, I’ll tell you:
10 yrs: UF win % over UGA: .800 20 yrs: UF win % over UGA: .750 30 yrs: UF win % over UGA: .600 40 yrs: UF win % over UGA: .538 50 yrs: UF win % over UGA: .571 60 yrs: UF win % over UGA: .559 70 yrs: UF win % over UGA: .515 80 yrs: UF win % over UGA: .481
What have we learned? UGA will in the 20’s and 30’s are the reason you have the overall lead.
Wow a dawg fan bringing up football on a gator blog. What a fool
By Carey
April 3, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
Best team in decades - Bradley were you drinking when you wrote that? With all the best players opting for early entrance to the NBA, it will be hard to compare to teams of the past. Even Conneticut from 2004 was better. Maybe the 1990 UNLV team, which basically had an NBA team playing college ballm, and making a pretty good salary doing so.
By UGAy fans are stupid
April 3, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this
D.Ellis, you’re the exact reason why everyone laughs at the Georgia Balllickers. Your team chokes every time they are in the spotlight. See the W.V. Sugar Bowl. We don’t hate Georgia, we are too busy kicking your a* in all sports.
By Al Davis
April 3, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this
I think OSU should have played Michigan for the title!
By get real, mark.
April 3, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this
‘99 duke would have dominated this gator team, and they didn’t even win the title.
best-teams-for-the-past-half-century also don’t get abused the way florida was in knoxville this year.
florida was a very good team. great? sure, let’s call them great. best of the last decade? no. best of the last half-century? absolutely not.
florida won two national titles in a row. why not leave it at that? why strain credibility this much?
By Mash
April 3, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
Mark, this Florida team is good, but the best over the past 31 years seems like a major stretch. The fact that this was the first year in 12 -15 years that college basketball was remotely competitive and interesting says all you need to know.
Ever hear of UNLV or Duke in the early 1990’s? Both of those teams were much better than this year’s UF team. Along with countless other teams in the 80’s.
By Gator-N-Atlanta
April 3, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this
Please stop and think about how difficult it is to win back to back basketball titles and a football title in the same year. Give these teams their proper respect. It has NEVER happened before in the history of sports. It will probably NEVER happen again. For those of you living in the past, I am really enjoying the now! I do know the Florida coaches all the way back to Van Fleet, but that is completely irrelevant right now.
Georgia, relax, your time will come again. I am sure at that time your fans will be the classiest fans when you beat Florida, because there are absolutely NO classless, white trash fans for Georgia;)
By tarktheshark
April 3, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this
the 1990 unlv squad would run this team out of the gym. best in the last 30 they arn’t but they are good.
By Bill
April 3, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this
I really enjoyed watching the Gators play the last two years. I understand you have a need to write and seem interesting. However, being the best for two years in a row does not make them the best over the last 30+. They are a perfect modern basketball team, and their accomplishments are great, but they are not the best.
By Lance
April 3, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
I’m an Alabama fan/alum, but I would LOVE to see if Florida could do it a third time. Unfortunately, we likely won’t get the chance.
By Gators Back to Back to Back
April 3, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this
UNLV was a dirty program that payed its players, including Grandmama Johnson (look up Richie “The Fixer” Perry). They were damn good, but they were a semi-pro team. They got what was coming against Duke in 1991.
By nate
April 3, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this
Congrats to Florida. My hats off to you. Great job and great effort on the court. You proved me wrong, but that’s what being competitive is all about. I still say though, that Billy Donovan takes the Kentucky job. He just won a second national championship (back-to-back). He’s the hottest coach in College Basketball. Yes, he is a family man but a man that is driven by the passion of the game of basketball. Some people will say that he’s happy at Florida and should stay and build a legacy, and I agree. But there is one small problem. Good coaches usually stay but Great coaches always look for new challenges. Especially when you feel you’re one of the best. Kentucky is a challenge and Kentucky is nothing but basketball. Not we want to build a great athletic program. No, Basketball is it at Kentucky and when you win big at Kentucky, you go down as one of best of all time.
When coaches win in the mid-major conferences, they move up to the major conferences. When coaches who are already winning at a major conference, they move to a team in a major conference that has rich tradition and history. I can’t see Billy Donovan walking away from the opportunity of seeing how he stacks up with the Legends of College Basketball. That’s what Tubby Smith did when he left Georgia. Tubby was building at Georgia what Donovan has built at Florida. Tubby had to see how good he really was. Of course Billy Donovan doesn’t have to prove a thing, but the challenge is there and I think he takes it, or maybe he will learn from Tubby and stay at Florida and be happy with his family. After all, that is most important, isn’t it.
By Gators Rule
April 3, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this
This is for all of you ugly uga fans. I put you in the same group as the muslim terroists. Must be miserable being a mutt fan right now. You won’t be claiming any titles like winning football and basketball champiionships in the same yr.ever. So get over it.
By nate
April 3, 2007 2:55 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with mark. To win back to back NCAA basketball titles in a era where there is so much parity in the game is truly remarketable. In the UCLA era with John Wooden, Kareem, Walton and rest won all those titles. They did it in a time where nobody had caught up with UCLA. they dominated because no one played there style and couldn’t handle there full court pressure. UCLA was before there time. Now everyone has talent and play pressure defense and all the elements of the game is now balanced across the country. To win back to back titles is truly difficult in this day and age of college basketball. Florida proved what is rare and will probally never happen in college basketball for number of years. and that is your starters come back for another year to win it again. UCLA players did it year and year out because they had to, Florida players did it when they didn’t have to. Yes, I APPLAUD THE GATORS!!!!
By Gator4Life
April 3, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
Everyone who hates the Gators immediately reacts with, “Donnavan will leave Florida”. That could be true, but today, he is our coach and we have two national championships in basketball (one last night - SWEET!)and one in football. As usual, it is GREAT to be a Florida Gator.
By Gator4Life
April 3, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
Everyone who hates the Gators immediately reacts with, “Donnavan will leave Florida”. That could be true, but today, he is our coach and we have two national championships in basketball (one last night - SWEET!)and one in football. As usual, it is GREAT to be a Florida Gator.
By Jay from Conyers
April 3, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
nate: there’s this new invention called Spell-Check…use it!
By MMGator
April 3, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this
Mr. George Hale - That is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Oh, we will enjoy this “while it lasts”. The thing is, it will last forever! Those trophies and these memories will NEVER be taken away.
We WILL thank the hot shooters on the perimeter…for this game. We will thank Al Horford, Joakim Noah and Chris Richard for other games. We’ll thank Corey Brewer for a few. That’s what you don’t get - this was a TEAM in every sense of the word. Somebody always stepped up.
If you think this was merely “surviving” some kind of OSU onslaught, you’re delusional. Besides, you only “won” the second half because the Gators backed off the 3 point defense when the game was already decided.
ALL YOUR TROPHY ARE BELONG TO US!
By nate
April 3, 2007 3:38 PM | Link to this
Thanks Jay from Conyers. forgive me for my IGNORANCE. Did I spell that right Jay? Let me know.
By phillips
April 3, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this
For this remarkable Florida season(football and basketball), I must express sympathy for one school and all their want to be great athletes. That would be the bulldoggies from athens. I feel so sorry for them. Always #1 in all sports until the start of the season. Now they must deal with the GREAT GATORS of ALL TIME! WOW. Can’t wait to continue this mastering of them in the next openhouse C Party…….GO GATORS
By austindog
April 3, 2007 5:36 PM | Link to this
Yikes. This is the largest bunch of Techies posting as Gators I’ve ever seen. The UF posters are boasting about their team and titles. The cowardly bees are focused squarely on Georgia.
Here’s to lots of Gators in the draft and a jumbo package from Kentucky for Donovan. (he’s staying)
By Jay from Jax
April 3, 2007 6:41 PM | Link to this
Simply put, the University of Florida owns college athletics and there’s nothing the Dawgs can do about it except show up and take their annual butt-kicking. Remember how you guys used to put it on us when Dooley was your coach and how merciless you all were with your taunts? Well now we’ve got our clawed feet on the back of your necks and we’re shoving your faces down into your own doo doo. Get used to it, Dawgs, we aren’t going to let you puppies come up for air for a long, long time. IT’S GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR!!!!!!
By The_Truth
April 3, 2007 7:33 PM | Link to this
Enjoy it now Gators fans because what goes around comes around. And I can assure you, it’s coming around in every sport next year. You guys will be crying for the Urban Myth’s head by the end of the season and Billy’s goin’ bye-bye to blue pastures.
By Jay from Conyers
April 3, 2007 7:35 PM | Link to this
Hey nate, wow! You actually got one right…maybe your teacher will give you a gold star for your “triumph!” Then again, you probably cheated and used the dictionary. Nice try, Sparky!
By MabletonGator
April 3, 2007 8:51 PM | Link to this
New sports will need to be created. The Gators need new competitions to dominate.
By Andrew
April 3, 2007 10:41 PM | Link to this
Honestly, I can’t believe you people get all hot and bothered over what is merely glorified children’s sport.
Good luck to the kids who played but to the adults who think it matters: grab some perspective and have yourselves a nice, long lie down.
By JD
April 3, 2007 11:20 PM | Link to this
Ladies and Gents,
A few of life’s realities:
The sports world and sports fans have very short memories.
All schools have obnoxious fans, as this blog clearly shows.
Right now, it is the Gator’s moment. Our time will pass and we will hit the doldrums as all programs do.
But most importanly, four NBA prospects individually decided to return for a chance to repeat. Regardless of what we all print here, I’m not sure any of us would have elected to return, leaving millions of dollars on the table. Noah and the pack (essentially) did that, and we should truly respect them and admire that decision. The are a great team, and great individuals.