GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Who does not want to peek ahead and consider the possibilities? No. 3 Alabama had just smoked another unbeaten Southeastern Conference opponent and the Crimson Tide players had to be asked, “Do you see L.S.U. out there?”
“Yes,” said nose guard Josh Chapman. He just smiled and said nothing more. The players pay attention, Chapman seemed to be saying. They know that L.S.U. has been thumping teams, too, and that Oklahoma is supposed to have something to say about the national championship race.
But Alabama, which has won five games by an average of 30 points, is not going to look at itself too long in the mirror and get too far out in front of the story. It hammered No. 12 Florida, 38-10, on Saturday night before the second-largest crowd in the Gators stadium’s history (90,888), yet it was obvious on the field there was no strutting or looking ahead to a Nov. 5 date with No. 1 L.S.U. in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama (5-0, 2-0) is all about finishing one job at a time. It led the Gators by three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, 31-10, but running back Trent Richardson was taking direct snaps from center and plowing into the line.
Alabama led, 24-10, with 11 seconds left in the second quarter and Coach Nick Saban was calling for a timeout as Florida kicker Caleb Sturgis tried to get lined up for a field goal. Sturgis missed the kick.
“Show no pity,” Chapman said. “In my mind we’re trying to go out there and not give up anything.”
Alabama’s defense gave up an early strike, a 65-yard touchdown pass from Florida quarterback John Brantley to wide receiver Andre Debose out of an unusual two-tight end formation, but the Crimson Tide brushed themselves off and throttled the Florida offense after that.
The Gators (4-1, 2-1) came into the game averaging 259 yards rushing per game. They managed 15 yards rushing against Alabama.
Florida’s swift running backs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey had 4 yards each rushing. The Tide front on defense did not try to dance around blocks and make plays, thus taking itself out of position. It just built a wall and waited for Gators backs and threw them to the ground.
“In the beginning of the game, we were a little bit too hyped up and made some mistakes defensively,” Saban said. “It really shows the resiliency of our team on the first play of the game to give up a 70 or whatever yard touchdown and from that time on to play the way we played. We just kept playing and playing. That’s the way you have to play on the road.”
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