date with michigan
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 9:28 am
Florida is not playing for a national championship and the Gators are not in a BCS game but there is still a lot to play for when they battle Michigan in the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day in Orlando. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
"College football is momentum," Florida coach Urban Meyer said Sunday night. "We have momentum going right now. We're going to go right into recruiting following the bowl game and prior to the bowl game. We're an extremely young team. There's a lot to play for in this game for the seniors.
"Even more important than that is we're building for the future. We're going to take these next three weeks and get them ready to play in this bowl game. Momentum is everything."
Ninth-ranked Florida (9-3) finished the regular season on an upswing with four straight victories. The Gators beat in-state rival Florida State, 45-12, on Nov. 24. Unranked Michigan (8-4) finished with losses at Wisconsin and at home to Ohio State, which will play LSU for the national championship.
Rest can only be a good thing for the Wolverines, who drew even more national attention than normal after an opening week loss to Division I-AA Appalachian State in Ann Arbor. Senior running back Mike Hart and senior quarterback Chad Henne have dealt with injuries this season.
Hart leads Michigan with 1,232 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Henne has thrown for 1,565 yards with 14 scores and seven interceptions. Each played in nine games. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr will be coaching in his final game. His successor has not been named. LSU's Les Miles, thought to be the leading candidate, said prior to Saturday's SEC Championship game that he will stay in Baton Rouge.
"I grew up in the state of Ohio, I'm very familiar with the University of Michigan and I always admired coach Carr," Meyer said. "I got to meet coach Carr and I have great respect for the way he's handled (the program) and the consistency of his program the last 13 years."
Sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow is recovering from a broken right (non-throwing) hand he suffered in the win over Florida State. He is expected to be fine in a couple weeks. Tebow, a Heisman frontrunner, has completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 3,132 yards with 29 touchdowns and six picks this season. He has also rushed for 838 yards and 22 touchdowns on 194 attempts and has broken all kinds of records in the process.
"We are excited about the opportunity to play Florida in the Capital One Bowl," Michigan director of intercollegiate athletics Bill Martin said in a statement. "Our players, staff, fans and alumni have always enjoyed the Orlando bowl experience. I anticipate a large Michigan turnout from our Florida alums coupled with the fact that this will be Lloyd's last game as head coach."
If Florida cannot play for a national title or in a BCS game, the optimal situation is to play in a bowl game close to home. Traveling problems are reduced and the opportunity to show off the program to recruits is maximized especially when playing in the state. Meyer said it's a favorable situation for the Gators, who beat Ohio State for the national championship last season.
"I'd rather play in the most prestigious bowl that's out there and that's the Capital One and it's in the state of Florida," he said. "As far as the travel nightmares and then the recruiting advantage you have in your home state."
"College football is momentum," Florida coach Urban Meyer said Sunday night. "We have momentum going right now. We're going to go right into recruiting following the bowl game and prior to the bowl game. We're an extremely young team. There's a lot to play for in this game for the seniors.
"Even more important than that is we're building for the future. We're going to take these next three weeks and get them ready to play in this bowl game. Momentum is everything."
Ninth-ranked Florida (9-3) finished the regular season on an upswing with four straight victories. The Gators beat in-state rival Florida State, 45-12, on Nov. 24. Unranked Michigan (8-4) finished with losses at Wisconsin and at home to Ohio State, which will play LSU for the national championship.
Rest can only be a good thing for the Wolverines, who drew even more national attention than normal after an opening week loss to Division I-AA Appalachian State in Ann Arbor. Senior running back Mike Hart and senior quarterback Chad Henne have dealt with injuries this season.
Hart leads Michigan with 1,232 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Henne has thrown for 1,565 yards with 14 scores and seven interceptions. Each played in nine games. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr will be coaching in his final game. His successor has not been named. LSU's Les Miles, thought to be the leading candidate, said prior to Saturday's SEC Championship game that he will stay in Baton Rouge.
"I grew up in the state of Ohio, I'm very familiar with the University of Michigan and I always admired coach Carr," Meyer said. "I got to meet coach Carr and I have great respect for the way he's handled (the program) and the consistency of his program the last 13 years."
Sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow is recovering from a broken right (non-throwing) hand he suffered in the win over Florida State. He is expected to be fine in a couple weeks. Tebow, a Heisman frontrunner, has completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 3,132 yards with 29 touchdowns and six picks this season. He has also rushed for 838 yards and 22 touchdowns on 194 attempts and has broken all kinds of records in the process.
"We are excited about the opportunity to play Florida in the Capital One Bowl," Michigan director of intercollegiate athletics Bill Martin said in a statement. "Our players, staff, fans and alumni have always enjoyed the Orlando bowl experience. I anticipate a large Michigan turnout from our Florida alums coupled with the fact that this will be Lloyd's last game as head coach."
If Florida cannot play for a national title or in a BCS game, the optimal situation is to play in a bowl game close to home. Traveling problems are reduced and the opportunity to show off the program to recruits is maximized especially when playing in the state. Meyer said it's a favorable situation for the Gators, who beat Ohio State for the national championship last season.
"I'd rather play in the most prestigious bowl that's out there and that's the Capital One and it's in the state of Florida," he said. "As far as the travel nightmares and then the recruiting advantage you have in your home state."