JACKSONVILLE - It was a familiar postgame sight in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.
Players danced around on the field waving flags and doing the Gator Chomp.
Half the stadium bore the pockmarked look of a Jacksonville Jaguars home game, with more teal seats visible than fans, while the other was full and vibrant, punctuated with flashbulbs.
The scene resembled many recent after parties of the Florida-Georgia matchup, except something was out of place.
The flags bore giant G?s, the chomping players were in white-and-red uniforms and the dejected fans wore orange and blue.
For just the third time in 18 years, UF had lost to Georgia, 42-30.
For the No. 18 Gators (5-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference), it was their third loss in four games, a dizzying tailspin that has left the team searching for words.
BI think it?s only right to be frustrated and upset,C quarterback Tim Tebow said. BMy whole life when I lose I?ve been upset.C
It was an unhappy homecoming for Tebow, who battled a sore right shoulder en route to the lowest rushing total of his career (-15 yards) after being sacked six times.
He was outshined by Georgia signal-caller Matthew Stafford, who connected on touchdown passes of 84 and 53 yards, the two longest of his career.
Tebow walked to the locker room with tears in his eyes as he watched Stafford celebrate on his hometown field.
This wasn?t how it was supposed to be.
It should have been Tebow jumping into the stands, not Georgia tailback Knowshon Moreno.
Moreno looked more like a Heisman Trophy candidate than Tebow, giving the Gators? defense fits all afternoon as he ran for 188 yards and three scores.
When the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Bulldogs (6-2, 4-2 SEC) celebrated in the north end zone for the second time, the first coming after the entire team rushed the field following a first-quarter touchdown.
The incident provided a spark for the game, as Georgia coach Mark Richt told his team to commemorate their first score by spilling onto the field.
That didn?t sit well with many Gators.
BNo class,C UF linebacker Brandon Spikes said. BThey?ve probably never been in the situation they were in - just classless and disrespectful. I guess they kind of fed off of it, and it got them going.C
It was a rivalry reborn, as UGA students broke the chapel bell that is traditionally rung after wins with their incessant tugs.
Broken with it were UF?s miniscule hopes of a repeat national championship.
The loss moved the Gators from the SEC East?s driver?s seat to the trunk, and with No. 24 Tennessee and 10th-ranked Georgia up front, the Gators must now rely on both teams losing in order to have any chance to win the division.
What looked like a fast track to the conference title game has turned into a potential trip to the Liberty Bowl against the likes of East Carolina or Houston. Or a visit to the Capital One or Outback Bowl in a possible embarrassing matchup against former coach Ron Zook and his Illinois Fighting Illini.
BAll the games have been tough, but we were in control of getting to Atlanta,C Tebow said. BWe were focused and we had bounced back from the two losses and playing well. We thought that was a game we should have won.C
