Normally, the sight of Brandon Spikes punting wouldn't be a good sign for UF.
But when the junior linebacker booted the ball into the south end zone stands of The Swamp on Saturday night, it signified redemption for the Gators defense, not some terrible mix-up on the depth chart.
Spikes sealed No. 5 UF's 51-21 victory against No. 13 LSU with a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown in the opening moments of the fourth quarter, and though his celebratory kick earned him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, it also erased the pain of last season's loss to the Tigers.
"I never took a pick to the house in my football career, so the passion for the game kind of took over," Spikes said. "(Punter Chas Henry) said something to me. He said, 'You kind of shanked that thing.'"
Last year, the Gators defense was largely to blame for a 28-24 defeat in Baton Rouge, La., when LSU converted five of five fourth-down attempts and racked up 247 rushing yards before taking the lead on a late eight-minute touchdown drive.
Florida players were constantly reminded of that performance this week, as televisions in the weight room and locker room looped footage of the loss. But that is a distant memory now, as the short, gritty runs that aided the Tigers on that night seemed to be all they could manage at times.
LSU running back Charles Scott came into the contest with a chance to break into the Heisman Trophy race after gaining 100 yards or more in all four games this season, but the Gators quickly silenced his hopes of extending that streak.
The big back managed just three yards on three carries in the first quarter and finished the game with 35 yards on 12 carries, well short of his previous season low of 102. As a team, the Tigers put up 80 yards on the ground, far below their season average of more than 206.
"That might be one of our best defensive performances in recent history," UF coach Urban Meyer said. "Our defense really answered the bell in terms of stopping the run."
The Gators couldn't have asked for a better start from their defense.
LSU gained a total of 4 yards on eight plays in the first quarter with zero first downs, and Spikes ended the Tigers' third drive with his first career interception after jumping in front of a Jarrett Lee pass.
Florida picked up another turnover on LSU's next drive, when linebacker A.J. Jones jumped on the ball after Scott dropped a handoff - the first fumble by a Tigers ballcarrier in 385 carries.
The UF offense couldn't convert either of those into points, but Spikes made sure the next big play from the defense showed up on the scoreboard when he pounced on another of Lee's throws on the first play of the fourth quarter and raced down the sideline for the score.
