It wasn't the first time that "SEC" chants rained down onto Florida Field. But this time, there was something different about them.
This time, they seemed to be rhythmic sighs of relief, rather than a celebration of inter-conference dominance.
Under the bright lights of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, with a Skycam overhead, ESPN's College GameDay crew in attendance and the specter of six past losses hanging over them, UF escaped with a 26-3 victory that was narrower than any score sheet would indicate.
Offensive lineman Mike Pouncey high-fived a fan in the first row, thanking the young lad for his support. Cornerback Joe Haden earned a peck on the cheek from a young lady clad in orange, thanking him for his performance.
A fan farther back in the stands held up a sign that read "Superman Fears No Cane," and while that may be true, the Hurricanes appeared to be armed with a bit more Kryptonite than Tim Tebow had been accustomed to.
A matchup thought to be a mismatch was closer than expected. A clash between a possible team of the future and the team that hopes to hold the rights to the present, a game worthy of the top billing it received.
"That was one of the best environments in college football," UF coach Urban Meyer said.
Tebow, who seemed a bit frazzled by the Hurricanes' attacking defense, played the role of game manager most of the evening.
Wide receiver Louis Murphy, meanwhile, played a variety of characters this past week. He began as the antagonist during the week, when he claimed the nickname "The U" should belong to the Gators. Then his role shifted to potential scapegoat through three quarters Saturday. He ended the night as one of the game's heroes following his fourth-quarter touchdown reception.
Coach Meyer said Murphy asked his team for forgiveness after he made those comments.
They didn't just forgive him, they supported him when it seemed the pressure of his comments was impacting his route running.
"He did have a tough night, and it's the first time anything like that has happened," Tebow said. "But he had faith, and we had faith in him. He came back and kept making catches and made some big ones.
"It's a great example for all of our skill guys that even if they make a mistake, and they're not having a good night, we're going to stick with you."
And as the crowd breathed those rhythmic sighs of relief, Murphy put his arm around tight end Aaron Hernandez, seeming to be searching for rest after a week of feeling weary. He looked content, as if he knew he had escaped a tough matchup as a hero of the day and a leader for life.
"He's the guy that opened his mouth, and you can count on Louis Murphy not doing that again," Meyer said. "That's not Louis Murphy. He apologized to the team, and to me he's a great player."
