Well this Saturday the Florida State Seminoles face their antagonists and instate rivals the University of Florida Gators. In a game that all but will signify who has bragging rights to call themselves the instate champions of college football within the state. That being said we’ll also be seeing two of the heralded players within that state’s much heralded college football program. They are Myron Rolle of Florida State and Tim Tebow of the University of Florida.
Tim Tebow the Gators’ quarterback runs for a first down against the Citadel during the first half of he game played in Gainesville, Florida. The Gators would go on defeat Citadel 70-19 in a lopsided win. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/Phil Sandlin ………….
Tim Tebow we already know as the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and with Myron Rolle he’s the Rhodes’ scholar who one day hopes to become a neurosurgeon. What hasn’t escaped many who understand the intricacies of the game is what this will mean to both programs as well as the players themselves. To say that they’ll end their careers on a high would be an understatement. Albeit that Tebow has yet to make it clear as to what his ambitions are once the season is over. The one thing for sure that we know concering Rolle is that having graduated already in 2 1/2 years with 3.75 GPA and with a degree in Exercise Science and a Masters in Public Administration. But it has been his interest in articulating his passion for medicine and helping others less fortunate than he. His interests in biochemistry and all that it entails shows that this young man is indeed a very extraordinary human being. And with the aspirations to become a neurosurgeon it can be said that his calling is a profound one. The beckoning of the NFL can’t be far from his mind but pursuant of that may well lie the fact that Rolle himself doesn’t seem to be overly concerned by the riches that particular will reward him with.
Florida State Seminole safety Myron Rolle is congratulated after the Noles’ defeat of Maryland 37-3 in a game played in College Park, MD. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Rob Carr ……………..
For Rolle’s counterpart who’ll be on the opposing team. In Tim Tebow we have a player who it can be said is having another stellar year. Though on the face of it his statistics aren’t as eye popping as last year. It can be said that he’s now leading the Gators with even more assuredness than anyone could’ve imagined. And what the team has been doing as of late to their opponents has sent a shiver across the college scene. So much so that there’s the belief that this team is by far and a way playing better than any other college program at present. In every facet of the game at present they’ve been playing with an exuberance not seen in a team in a long while. Their confidence now is at an alltime high but that’s not to say that they’re about to go into this game thinking that all they’ll have to do is just to turn up to intimidate their opponents. Nothing could be further from the truth and one doubts that the Gators’ coach Urban Meyer would even allow them to think that way. The game singularly would have tremendous ramifications were they to lose. National championship aspirations are still within their grasp. And with a game against Alabama in the offing for the SEC championship, one has to say that there’s still a great deal to play for.
Tebow(15) and teammate backup quarterback John Brantley(12) leave the field after the team’s win over the Citadel. They’re congratulated by fans as they make their way to the locker rooms. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/Phil Sandlin ………………………
When the two teams step unto Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. This game will mean a great deal to the fans in attendance and those watching nationwide. Both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25. The BCS rankings as they now stand leaves a lot to be desired and any slip up by any of the teams ranked within the top5 most assuredly would signal the death knell as to their ambitions. And an emphatic win by the Gators over their instate rivals could very well be the thing that’s needed to cement an even greater presence amongst the national championship aspirants as well as the justification to the public at large. Seemingly playing the best of any of the teams at the upper echelons of the rankings. Florida’s ranking of #4 in the BCS doesn’t on the face of it do them any justice. But for their loss to Ole Miss we mightn’t be discussing the facts and opining on it. But that’s indeed why the games are no doubt played on the field and not in the minds of the protagnosticators and analysts.
Florida State safety Myron Rolle is congratulated by Back Judge Tommy Pace having entered the game in the first half against Maryland. The game played in College Park , Maryland was won 37-3 over Maryland. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Rob Carr ………………
As for Bobby Bowden and his Seminoles’ team this may well be all the inspiration that they need to derail the ambitions of Urban Meyer’s team. Though the team has played with a great deal of gusto of late. They’ve been viewed as somewhat of a disappointment within the ACC. Their 8-3 over record though (5-3) within conference and sitting atop of the Coastal Division. So much were was expected of the team as a whole. Nor too was the inconsistency of their play throughout much of the season. There’s a great deal of talent on both sides of the ball on this team. And in Christian Ponder they’ve a quarterback who’s playing with a great deal of confidence and it’s now beginning to be embraced by his teammates. And they’re feeding of this with their play, raising it to what’d been expected by Bowden himself. And for all of the coaching experience by one of the grand old men of the game it can be said that for Bowden this is a season that has turned around somewhat. A bowl berth is theirs for the taking should the team close its schedule with the wins needed. But much of that now is predicated upon their performance this upcoming Saturday in their home stadium.
Gators’ offensive lineman Carl Johnson(57) celebrates with teammate Percy Harvin after he’s scored a touchdown on an 11yd reception in the game played against the Citadel, in Gainesville, Florida. The Gators went on to win with game in a lopsided fashion, winning 70-19. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/John Raoux ……………………..
Rivalries being what they are can either be exciting or they can dampen the ardor of the fan should the event fail to live up to expectations. And that if anything is something that I for one feel won’t be happening this upcoming Saturday. With so much at stake for both teams they’ll be playing with a great deal of passion and physicality. Both teams it can be said have their set of renowned athletes. The Gators however have been lighting up the scoreboards with such propensity that it has become downright scary to see them play with a full head of steam.
Seminoles’ quarterback Christian Ponder(7) splits Maryland defenders Jeff Allen and Dave Philistin to score a touchdown during the second half of the game played in College Park,Md. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Rob Carr …………..
The Seminoles for their part know that they’ll have to raise the level of their play if they’re to have a remote chance winning the game. Such has been the ferocity of this rivalry at times that it has to be said that without these two teams college football within the state as of late would be nothing more than afterthought. Yes Florida’s most recent championship was in 2006 . And with the Seminoles now appraoching on almost a decade since their last win of national championship. The woes of within the state though not acute it has to be said that if there’s not the presence of at least either Florida, Florida State or Miami on the national landscape when it comes to the college game. There isn’t as such any veracity to the game overall.
Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder is sacked by the Terrapins’ defense during a game played in College Pk, Maryland. The Seminoles would go on to defeat the Maryland Terrapins 37-3. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/Rob Carr ………………….
As the season slowly winds down to its culmination, it can be said as to the vagaries therein. We’re all unsure as to what’ll happen as to the fortunes of a number of teams. But for many of them their fates will lie in their own hands. And for others it’ll lie in the hands of the BCS committee and the computer geeks who’ll be playing with the numbers in deciding who’s worthy of a BCS Bowl Berth and who’s not. Technology for all of its advances and we can’t yet to decide on a national champion in athletic endeavor . That it may well come down to the crunching of numbers when it’s all said and done as to who’ll be a participant in the game itself.
tophatal ………..
