Crimson Red Sports

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- The Florida Field I remember was a swath of grass where the Gators routinely ripped apart anything that wasn't orange and blue.

I've pumped out more than a decades worth of stories since I lived in Gainesville, where I earned my journalism degree in Weimer Hall across the street from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Someone suggested I share my perspective on Florida's home-field advantage as No. 3 Alabama prepares to face No. 12 Florida on Saturday night. So here goes.

Will Muschamp's Gators are off to a 4-0 start, and the renewed enthusiasm of Gators fans will make for a challenging atmosphere.

During my time in Gainesville, Florida Field was a place former Gators coach Steve Spurrier turned into one of the toughest places for opponents to earn a win. Spurrier made slamming visors fashionable. His sharp barbs and stellar golf shots made him one of the most hated coaches in the nation.

Spurrier's swagger and loose lips personified his Gators of the 1990s. He was a master of diversion, often lobbing grenades to reporters, who tossed them into newspapers where they exploded into controversy.

I attended the last Florida game Spurrier coached at The Swamp, a 34-32 loss in 2001 to bitter rival Tennessee coached by archenemy Phillip Fulmer.

The Florida I remember owned Tennessee. Spurrier ate at Fulmer like a termite. Spurrier once quipped, "You can't spell 'Citrus' without UT," a reference to the contractual obligation for the second-place SEC East team.

And from 1993 to 2000, Spurrier's Gators often blocked Tennessee from the top of the SEC. During that span, Spurrier held a 7-1 record against Fulmer's Volunteers.

Peyton Manning has a Super Bowl ring. He played in multiple Pro Bowls, and will one day enter the NFL Hall of Fame. But he never beat Florida. It likely cost him a Heisman Trophy.

It's funny to realize how many of my memories as a student are from Florida football home losses.

That's because Florida lost only four home games during the Spurrier years, and I attended three of them.

The one I missed but vividly recall was Auburn's 36-33 win when the sixth-ranked Tigers upset No. 1 Florida in 1994. Who could forget Terry Bowden bouncing up and down?

Afterward, Florida went on a 30-game winning streak before No. 21 Alabama rode the back of Shaun Alexander in a memorable four-touchdown performance for a 40-39 overtime victory in 1999. I was there that afternoon and will not forget Alexander's wrecking-ball style.

And it's hard to forget the slippery athleticism of Florida State receiver Peter Warrick, who helped the Seminoles to a 30-23 win at Florida Field. Gator fans went into that one sensing it was the Seminoles' game to lose despite Florida's home dominance.

Sure, Spurrier had some amazing teams. His pride-and-joy quarterback was Danny Wuerffel, who helped Florida reach back-to-back national titles games, including a win in 1996.

Spurrier was a ringmaster entertaining under the spotlight at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. He orchestrated the Fun 'n Gun, with its five-wide sets, bubble screens and track stars posing as wide receivers.

First time this year that Alabama will play in front of a crowd that is less than 100,000.

So, you expecting a cakewalk?  Think we'll be able to run on them effectively during the first half?

The Swamp is going to be very loud. CNS said several times this week that our crowd helped us win on Saturday.  We need to come out quick and hard to shut down the crowd. THEN, the "swamp" won't be a problem.  I agree that we are the better team - I want us to show up and PLAY like the better team on Saturday!

Dayum, girl. You're showing that your winning picks was no fluke. I hope they play it just like this^^^.

 #+

Nepotism??  ;)

Wrong girl.  ;)

Dang, thought that was Bread.  Now you know why I'm a one-girl-at-a-time guy.

Can't believe you didn't know who I was!!