OSU v. Florida Live Blog

Here we go: #1 Ohio St. and #2 Florida are about to square off for the national title.

8:15: I don't care if the game is on Fox, every big college football game should open with Brent Musberger yelling, "We are looking liiiiiive."

8:18: Bald eagle flies in at the end of the national anthem......very cool.

8:19: Being a Michigan fan it is hard for me to admit this, but I cannot see Florida knocking off the Buckeyes. As a matter of fact, there is a better chance of this game being a blowout than the Gators winning. I will go with 27-10 OSU.

8:24: Gators take the field. Let's see if Urban Meyer lets the freshman Tim Tebow make an impact. If I was a Gators' fan I would not want to see Chris Leak in too many third and longs.

8:26: Buckeyes take the field led by the sweater vest himself, Jim Tressel. I hate the guy, but he is an amazing big game coach. BTW, Joe Laurinitis is an "Animal." Sorry, couldn't resist myself.

8:28: Our crew tonight: New Reds' broadcaster, Thom Brennaman, Barry Alvarez, and Charles Davis. Not bad, not great. I'm surprised I don't see Joe Buck tonight considering he does everything else over at FOX. Wait, he is probably still taking off his eye-liner from last night's NFL game.

8:30: John McCain and some guy named Bud are out for the coin toss. The referree is addressing everyone like they are little kids, it is pretty amusing. "Everyone say hi to Senator McCain. Come on, don't be shy." UF wins the toss and defers. We will get our first look at Troy Smith and the powerful OSU offense.

8:33: Kickoff, ballgame. Ted Ginn has just taken the opening kick 93 yards for a TD. No one even close on the coverage there. 7-0 OSU.

8:35: BA: Urban Meyer coaches the special teams. I am sure that is just how he has coached them up all week.

8:36: Good return by UF with an obvious facemask by the OSU kicker tacked on to the end of the run. UF starts at the Buckeye 46.

8:38: 3rd and 3 for UF. Where is Tebow?? Leak complete to Dallas Baker close to a 1st down, and a generous spot gives it to them.

8:40: UF 1st down at the OSU 20 and Tebow has made his first appearance. Leak has stayed in the game and goes in motion for the direct snap to Tim Tebow who picks up 8 yards up the middle.

8:42: TOUCHDOWN, Dallas Baker the touchdown maker. Nice double move by Baker, leaving him wide open for the score. Leak was 5-5 on the drive, and we might have a ballgame. 7-7.

8:44: Alpha Dog: JT is really intimidating as a bad guy. I mean, seriously, he has me shaking. Look at those tats!!!

8:49: QB draw by Troy Smith, and the Gators front shows off their speed. 3rd and 6 for OSU.

8:50: Big time sack on 3rd down by Harvey forcing OSU to punt. Harvey got Smith in the knee from behind. Good thing this isn't the NFL or else harvey would have gotten a penalty for going low. The NFL is full of a bunch of wusses.

8:52: Dumb personal foul penalty on OSU following the Buckeye punt. These are the types of mistakes Tressell led teams usually avoid. UF will take over again with great field position.

8:53: Ex-President Palmer wants to know if you are in good hands.

8:55: Direct snap to Percy Harvin and he gets drilled as tries to sweep around the right side, 2nd and 7.

8:56: 3rd and 3: Leak rolls right and connects with Ingram for 22 yards. 1st and goal at the 7 with Tebow back in. Tebow fumbles the ball on the run up the gut, but he is ruled down, and the replay shows that it was the correct call.

8:58: Touchdown Percy Harvin!!! He goes in from 4 yards out on the option pitch from Leak. Wow. This is shocker. OSU's defense looks too slow to keep uo with the Gators. Play under review. Harvin's knee appears to be down around the one. Nevermind. Play stands as called. Touchdown, and UF takes the lead 14-7.

9:06: 3rd and 1 for OSU; and Pittman plows ahead for 3 yards and a first down at the 47 yard line.

9:06: Ted Ginn is shown hobbling off into the locker room with a left foot.

9:07: Another sack by Derrick Harvey. He drops Smith back at the OSU 37, but Harvey is down after the play. Harvey sprints off the field. I wonder if it was a "groin" problem.

9:09: False start OSU. It is now 2nd and 25. This is not a good position for an offense to be in against the ball-hawking UF secondary.

9:10: UF brings the blitz off the corner forcing Smith to throw an errant pass which is picked off by Reggie Lewis. 1st and 10 UF at their own 29.

9:12: People kept saying that UF was fater than OSU, but I wasnt buying it all week. Now that I am watching it with my own eyes, there is no doubt that there is a difference in team speed between the two clubs.

9:12: Big completion down the middle to Ingram. Great throw by Leak, and that is followed by an 18 yard pass to another wide open Gator WR.

9:14: Leak has been perfect so far as the Gators are moving the ball at will. Take away the opening kickoff and this game has been dominated by the Gators.

9:16: Leak connects with Andre Caldwell for six yards on a 3rd and five. Another 1st down for UF.

9:17: Oh those tricky Gators! End around to Caldwell for another 1st down to the OSU seven.

9:18: Tebow runs it up the middle to the 2 for the final play of the 1st quarter. It will be 3rd and Goal from there to start the second quarter.

9:21: Touchdown Deshawn Wynn. The Cincinnati native followed the power I into the endzone. Wow, the gators dominated the line of scrimmage on that play. 21-7 UF.

9:24: Smith avoids the pressure and makes a big play. Add on a 15 yard roughing the passer penalty and the Gators have moved OSU to the UF 36.

9:27: Well, OSU took advantage of the Gator penalty and marched the rest of the way capped off by a nice 18 yard TD run by Anotnio Pittman. Just when it looked like the Buckeyes were in trouble, their Heisman Trophy winner leads them down the field for a necessary score. 21-14 UF.

9:29: There are no free rides on the road to victory. I am ready to pay the toll. Too bad Tony Romo wasn't.

9:32: Leak completes to Cornelius for 10 yards and a 1st down even though the play clock appeared to have expired. Oh well, I will take it.

9:35: Forget what I said about Chris Leak on 3rd downs. He comletes another 3rd down pass, this time to Baker for 8 yards and a 1st down.

9:40: Big 3rd down stop by OSU. This will be the Gators' first punt of the night. Laurinitis showed why he is the best LB in the country making a good play to break up the 3rd down pass.

9:43: JACK IS BACK. I cannot wait till Sunday night and the return of 24. Jack Bauer would win this game single handedly.

9:45: OSU misses out an opportunity and goes three and out. They did not attempt to run it once after having great success on the ground on their previous drive.

9:50: UF does the Leak motion out and direct snap to Tebow again. Its good for 4 yards leaving a 3rd and 2.

9:51: Leak rolls right and completes another 3rd down pass. First down Gators.

9:52: Deshawn Wynn was the only top 10 Ohio recruit whom Tressell missed out on thanks in part to his signing of Maurice Clarett. I wonder if he would like to have that decision back.

9:53: Back to back incomplete passes leaves the Gators with a 3rd and 10 at the OSU 21. A false start pushes them back five more yards. 3rd down and 15.

9:55: Chris Hetland comes on to attempt a 43 yard FG. He is 4-13 on the season, but he drills that one right down the middle. I guess he has been saving up for the big game. 24-14 UF.

9:56: That Dodge Ram sure is tough. I believe that is the sixth time I have seen that truck beat the rock-em-sock-em robot. Your undefeated, undisputed champion.

9:59: OSU is going for it on 4th and 1 on their own 29. Wells is stopped short. I do not know what Jim Tressel was thinking with that one. UF now has it inside the 30 with only 3:37 left in the half. This is a huge opportunity for the Gators to add to their double digit lead.



10:03: 3rd and 3 for the Gators at the 22. Leak uses UF's second timeout as the play clock was about to expire. Urban Meyer should bring in Tebow and take a shot down the field with him. Everyone will think he is going to run it which could leave someone open down the middle.



10:05: Leak's pass is high and it is 4th down. Leak had all kinds of room to run for the first down out to the right, but he tried to make something happen with his arm. Hetland drills another one down the middle, this time from 40 yards. 27-14 UF.



10:08: Smith is sacked again, and he fumbles the ball. It is picked up by Harvey, and he scrambles down to the OSU 5. Wow, not a good first half for Smith who is 2-7 with 24 yards and 2 turnovers.



10:09: 3rd and goal from the one for UF as they use their final timeout. Tebow fakes the run and hits Andre Caldwell in the endzone for a Gator touchdown. I did say that I thought this game wouldn't be close didn't I? 34-14 UF.

10:14: Dumb penalty on UF as OSU was trying to run out the half. The personal foul puts the ball on the Gator 45 with two seconds left, and now OSU will have a chance to throw one in the endzone as time runs out.

10:16: Incomplete pass and that is the half. Total domination by the Gators so far, and they get the ball to start the second half. Be back after the break.

*************************************************************************************
OK. I did not blog the second half because this game was over already. 41-14 UF is your final. I have never seen a team that was supposed to be so good be dominated that badly. Good luck next season sweater vest.