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Title: Gators Take a Beating, and Lose Their Quarterback in the Process Post by: Coach Hank Crisp on October 02, 2011, 12:12:15 AM http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/sports/ncaafootball/gators-take-a-beating-and-lose-their-quarterback-in-the-process.html
Quote GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Alabama led Florida by two touchdowns with 11 seconds left in the first half Saturday night when Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide coach, called a timeout as the Gators lined up for a chancy 52-yard field goal. Saban was not going to concede these 3 points. There was going to be no window slipped open for Florida, no mercy, no uncontested scores. John Brantley, the Gators’ quarterback, had just been helped off the field with a serious injury, but Saban was not taking anything for granted, not after last season and a stomach-churning loss against Auburn. He was going to make Florida’s kicker, Caleb Sturgis, think about this kick and these 3 points. Sturgis missed the kick. The third-ranked Crimson Tide, stung by Auburn’s second-half comeback in the Iron Bowl last November, has vowed this season not to let a team rally like that again. Alabama did not let Florida off the deck, and it kept hammering at the 12th-ranked Gators, winning the Southeastern Conference game, 38-10, before a crowd of 90,888. Saban was relentless and so was the 224-pound junior Trent Richardson, who rushed 29 times for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns. Richardson’s shoulder pads dropped a little lower during this game. His steps were quick and his cuts were sharp. |