KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - It's fair to say that the rivalry between UF and Tennessee has become lackluster.
With Saturday's 30-6 demolition of the Volunteers (1-2), the No. 4 Gators (3-0) earned their fourth consecutive victory against Tennessee. It was also the 12th win in the last 16 games against Tennessee for UF.
The Gators wasted little time in sucking the air out of Neyland Stadium as they opened the game with a nine-play, 56-yard touchdown drive in which Tim Tebow brought his patented jump pass out of retirement with a 2-yard strike to tight end Aaron Hernandez.
UF took a 10-0 lead after a Montario Hardesty fumble on Tennessee's next drive resulting in a Jonathan Phillips field goal.
Junior kick returner Brandon James made the play of the game later in the first quarter after Tennessee's stagnant offense was forced to punt the ball. James, who returned an 83-yard punt for a touchdown against Tennessee last season, brought back a 78-yard punt for a touchdown.
"Usually on most of my returns guys do a great job blocking, and I don't have to go and make people miss," James said.
Tennessee did as good of a job losing the game as the Gators did in winning it. The Volunteers turned the ball over at the 1-yard line on two different occasions. The first came at the tail end of a 14-play, 71-yard drive that would have cut the lead to 17-7. Tennessee running back Arian Foster mishandled a handoff from quarterback Jonathan Crompton, and the ball was recovered by Carlos Dunlap.
The second turnover came at the end of the first half on what was an 11-play, 60-yard drive. Facing 4th and 1 with six seconds remaining in the half, Crompton threw an interception to cornerback Janoris Jenkins.
UF entered the half with a 20-0 lead.
Game. Set. Match.
"That wasn't us," coach Phil Fulmer said. "The penalties, the red-zone efforts …we've been outstanding in those areas (in our previous games). Our punt coverage has been exceptional. We never gave our defense a chance."
One year ago, it was Tebow's defense that never gave him a chance. For the second time this season, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner had less than spectacular stats - he finished 8-of-15 for 96 yards and two touchdowns - but once again the Gators came away with an easy victory.
"(The defense) is playing great," Tebow said. "It helps you out so much. You can really count on them. You don't have to force anything. It's a great thing. They're out there and they're playing hard and making plays."
And just when it appeared that UF was still a team without a workhorse running back, Emmanuel Moody finally had the game Gators fans have waited years for.
Moody leads UF with 55 yards on nine carries.
"All I want to do is have a role," Moody said. "That doesn't mean I have to be the key guy in carries, but I just feel like the whole team has meshed together well and whatever part I play, I'm going to keep going hard."
While this is Tennessee's first 1-2 start since 1994, the Gators still feel like this win is as important as any other they have enjoyed over the years. UF remembers how quickly fortunes can change. Last season, the Gators manhandled the Volunteers, but still played in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game.
"It was a huge step for us," Tebow said. "For the last 12 to 15 years, the winner of this game has had a lot of success in the SEC, and it gives you a lot of momentum. That surge going into SEC play, you can really feed off of and get focused."
