Gators escape the BCS Cliff, barely

[travisduncan]

November 10, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Marcus Roberson (5) defends a pass intended for Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns wide receiver Jamal Robinson (15) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida won 27-20. Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE


Update: QB Jeff Driskel is doubtful for Saturday's game against Jacksonville State.

"Right now, they [team doctors] just think he would be doubtful for the game," Will Muschamp said via ESPN.

"We're going to continue to work through the week to see if he can do anything. If he can, great, if he can't, we'll move forward."

By Travis Duncan
Gator Envy writer

Had the Gators lost Saturday, a lot would have changed about the 2012 season. The SEC title game was out of play-which was determined in fact rather than theory later Saturday night when Georgia slaughtered Auburn-but other bowl and BCS opportunities would have been lost-and the sludge of "failed expectations" that surrounded the 2011 season would have shown its face again.

Had the Gators not blocked a punt and scored a touchdown in the final seconds for a 27-20 victory, they may have found themselves in an overtime loss to a Sun Belt team. Instead the Gators gave themselves all of 59 minutes and 58 seconds to put the hammer down on the Ragin' Cajuns and continue marching back towards the elite status of college football. But make no mistake a loss to Louisiana-Lafayette would have pushed the Gators over the BCS cliff for the 2012 campaign.

With an impending playoff system, the four BCS Bowls are beginning to lose their luster at a quickening pace. But BCS Bowl games are pivotal for football programs and TV makes them so. The hype surrounding the games promoted by the networks, notably ESPN, and the conversation leading up to them makes them important destinations for college football's elite. Bragging rights, recruiting all of that. It's not a national title game-but usually represents the next best eight teams in the country, and it sure beats the Capitol One bowl or the Chik-Fil-A which the Gators have been projected by some to attend.

If you are of the mindset any bowl other than the national title game is less than to be expected, then perhaps Saturday didn't mean much, but if you are among those who believe a BCS bowl game appearance is the next best thing to the unreachable national title game, then Saturday was significant.

The lull in disposing of the Ragin' Cajuns may have already affected the BCS hopes of the Gators. They can make up for it with a win against Florida State, and of course against Jacksonville State next Saturday.

The Sugar Bowl at this point likely will feature an Alabama team, depending on what happens with undefeated Oregon, Kansas State and Notre Dame. The Fiesta Bowl could be looking for an at-large if Kansas State remains undefeated and plays in the national title game. Right now LSU and the Mad Hatter even with two losses would appear to be a better brand name for the Fiesta than the Gators-at least CBS Sports thinks so. But a one-loss Florida team with a victory over Florida State in two weeks would, on paper, have a lot of appeal for an at-large BCS appearance.

The Gators are not a bad team, and the serious flaws, as troubling as they may be, notably the passing game and weak pass protection at times, are not as bad as the fact the Gators played down to their competition Saturday for a homecoming game. The Swamp and everyone in orange and blue Saturday knew the program has so many better things to look forward to, but based on the enthusiasm both last week against Mizzou and Saturday, many failed to realize the impact of a loss to the emerging Sun Belt could affect their reputation-when reputation means so much in the BCS era.

Notes

-The Gators are ranked No. 7 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, a poll which factors in to the BCS rankings released later Sunday night.

-Will Muschamp said Sunday morning he thinks quarterback Jeff Driskel "is going to be OK" after suffering an ankle sprain. It will be interesting to see if Jacoby Brissett gets the start Saturday against Jacksonville State, but likely Driskel will be on the field against FSU. Brisett has been a good soldier in a backup role but this could serve as an audition for a potential transfer.

-The Gators were penalized 10 times for 79 yards against the Ragin' Cajuns. Muschamp said after the game, "The players need to understand that they need to take some responsibility, that’s what I told them in the locker room. We have to get over this. We have to get over jumping offsides on third-and-ten. Eventually, as a player you have to look in the mirror and realize that you need to play smarter."

-Via UF Communications: Junior tight end Jordan Reed had a career day for the Gators with five catches for a career-best 85 yards, including a career-tying 39-yard reception

 

[DRU2012]

So, when all is said-and-done, it is STILL "take care of our own business" through to the end of the regular season, and the rest will take care of itself--as it should be.
I think you hit it right on the head, Travis: both our fans (including most clearly the ones that DIDN'T show up at the Swamp, as much as the ones that DID--Y'all SEE the number of empty seats? Just watched the replay and I'd guess that Ben Griffin in truth was only at about 1/2 full, though actual ticket-sales said otherwise) AND our players, to a certain extent, just didn't take anything but preparing for FSU seriously before this. DESPITE all our Coaches could do to keep their heads in it...much like the effort to curb crucial careless penalties, they try everything but to no avail, kids being kids, I suppose--but hopefully unlike the penalty-problem, THIS abject demonstration of their careless attitude's (ie. overlooking "the NEXT opponent") concrete consequences may well have the desired effect: There is at least SOME chance that they'll have their young-charges' attention this NEXT week after all...As for how much that changes our chances once we DO get to FSU-week, at least we will more likely prepare properly for JU, and maybe even Pease can work on some things THIS week that can help us in that final game too (although more likely, it'll be a "get through it in good shape and get back as many healthy starters as possible for the NEXT one" kind-of-week all around).

(Oh--I actually almost forgot already: Can you BELIEVE that F-ing ENDING?!!)