Alabama Dominates Florida

Seventh-ranked Alabama dominated fifth-ranked Florida for a 34-7 victory in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday, clinching its first title since 1992.

The Gators managed only 114 yards in the worst offensive performance of the Steve Spurrier era.

Alabama, which defeated Florida in the first SEC championship game seven years ago, likely earned a trip to the Orange Bowl to meet Michigan. Florida will probably have to settle for the Citrus Bowl against Michigan State.

“That was a pretty thorough beating they gave us,” Spurrier said. “Our offense is about the worst we’ve ever had at Florida. We’re a bad offensive team.”

The Crimson Tide (10-2) put the game away by scoring two touchdowns 18 seconds apart in the fourth quarter.

Freddie Milons broke loose for a 77-yard touchdown run with 11:54 left, giving Alabama a 22-7 lead. On Florida’s next play from scrimmage, defensive end Reggie Grimes picked off a deflected pass and returned the interception 38 yards for another touchdown.

The 288-pound Grimes tried his version of the “Lambeau Leap” into the end zone stands at the Georgia Dome. Unfortunately, he couldn’t jump quite high enough to reach the grasp of delirious Alabama fans, but that was about the only flop for the Crimson Tide on this night.

Florida (9-3), on the other hand, suffered its worst defeat since a 62-24 loss to Nebraska in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl. There was nothing fun about the “Fun ‘n’ Gun” offense, which managed only six first downs in the worst performance since Spurrier arrived on the SEC scene in 1990.

The previous low for total yards by a Spurrier-coached team was 194 against Tennessee, back in his first season. As for first downs, the previous low was 12 in a loss to Florida State a year ago.

Alabama ended the Gators’ 30-game home winning streak at the Swamp in Gainesville, Fla., on Oct. 2, winning, 40-39, in overtime. The game transformed the Tide’s season, which had been marred by personal turmoil surrounding Coach Mike DuBose and a shocking loss to Louisiana Tech at Legion Field in Birmingham.

Florida yearned for another shot at Alabama, believing the loss was a fluke. The Tide proved otherwise.

“With that kind of adversity, one of two things are going to happen,” DuBose said. “You either split up or you come together. We came together.”