GAINESVILLE, FLA. ? Everywhere the Florida Gators turned this week, they saw replays of last year’s demoralizing loss at LSU.
UF coach Urban Meyer showed the 28-24 loss on a continuous loop in the football facility, hoping it would motivate his team heading into tonight’s rematch in The Swamp – the first meeting between the two previous national champions since Miami and Notre Dame in 1990.
Last year, LSU converted five times on fourth down, with two going for touchdowns.
The No. 11 Gators (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) are looking for every advantage they can get, knowing they can’t really afford to lose to No. 4 LSU (4-0, 2-0) again.
“Just for momentum, just for confidence, just for defending The Swamp again, I think it’s huge,” Florida quarterback Tim Tebow said. “Probably other games might be more important as far as losing in the SEC East or something, but this game is huge just based on everything else, on us losing last time we were in The Swamp, on us losing to LSU last time we played them, on so many things like that.”
Added LSU running back Charles Scott, rather bluntly: “We’re preparing for a knockdown, drag-out, fist-fight.”