oupride
12/28/2008, 11:24 PM
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/28/280011/sp-where-would-gators-rank/
Where Would Gators Rank?
By JOEY JOHNSTON
[email protected]
Published: December 28, 2008
Updated: 12:11 am
The Florida Gators (12-1) can become the state's 10th Division I-A national title team by defeating Oklahoma in the BCS Championship Game on Jan. 8.
Given that possibility, could the Gators be viewed among the state's all-time best teams?
A national panel of 20 journalists, assembled by the Tampa Tribune to rank the state's nine previous national title teams, was mixed about the 2008 Gators' long-term strength.
"If Florida beats Oklahoma, you have to give them consideration as the best all-time team in the state," said Tony Barnhart of CBS Sports. "You're talking about a team that lost only one game by one point Ole Miss 31, Florida 30 on Sept. 27 and dominated its competition. You're also talking about a team that beat two No. 1-ranked teams Alabama, Oklahoma and a preseason No. 1 Georgia. If Florida wins, that will make for an interesting discussion."
"I'm big on the unblemished record when ranking teams historically, and the Ole Miss loss would leave these Gators no better than the middle of the pack, at least in the short term," said Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star.
But the best may be yet to come.
"Tim Tebow belongs in the pantheon of great SEC players, along with icons such as Archie Manning and Herschel Walker," said Dick Weiss of the New York Daily News. "I love their balance and embarrassment of riches at the skill position spots and their speed on defense."
"I don't think Florida would compare with some of the teams at the top of this list, both because they lost to an unranked team and because many of their best players are still young," said Stewart Mandel of SportsIllustrated.com. "Win or lose, I have a feeling next year's team - if Tebow comes back - will be far more acclaimed."
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/8950/images1ti8.jpg
By oupride (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/oupride) at 2008-12-28
Where Would Gators Rank?
By JOEY JOHNSTON
[email protected]
Published: December 28, 2008
Updated: 12:11 am
The Florida Gators (12-1) can become the state's 10th Division I-A national title team by defeating Oklahoma in the BCS Championship Game on Jan. 8.
Given that possibility, could the Gators be viewed among the state's all-time best teams?
A national panel of 20 journalists, assembled by the Tampa Tribune to rank the state's nine previous national title teams, was mixed about the 2008 Gators' long-term strength.
"If Florida beats Oklahoma, you have to give them consideration as the best all-time team in the state," said Tony Barnhart of CBS Sports. "You're talking about a team that lost only one game by one point Ole Miss 31, Florida 30 on Sept. 27 and dominated its competition. You're also talking about a team that beat two No. 1-ranked teams Alabama, Oklahoma and a preseason No. 1 Georgia. If Florida wins, that will make for an interesting discussion."
"I'm big on the unblemished record when ranking teams historically, and the Ole Miss loss would leave these Gators no better than the middle of the pack, at least in the short term," said Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star.
But the best may be yet to come.
"Tim Tebow belongs in the pantheon of great SEC players, along with icons such as Archie Manning and Herschel Walker," said Dick Weiss of the New York Daily News. "I love their balance and embarrassment of riches at the skill position spots and their speed on defense."
"I don't think Florida would compare with some of the teams at the top of this list, both because they lost to an unranked team and because many of their best players are still young," said Stewart Mandel of SportsIllustrated.com. "Win or lose, I have a feeling next year's team - if Tebow comes back - will be far more acclaimed."
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/8950/images1ti8.jpg
By oupride (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/oupride) at 2008-12-28