NEW ORLEANS — The Gators walked off the field on Wednesday — many of them for the final time — experiencing a range of emotions.
While the disappointment of losing 33-23 to Louisville in one of the biggest upsets in BCS bowl history stung, the finale dud in the Sugar Bowl was not enough to put a damper on Florida’s resurgent 2012.
“Obviously this is a sour day and a sour note, and I apologize to our fans and the university,” coach Will Muschamp said. “But we’ve had a great year, and we’re moving this thing forward at a rapid pace. And I’m excited where we are. Very disappointed with the outcome today, but very positive as we move forward.”
The Gators rode a stout defense, powerful running game and resilient attitude to an 11-win season. Although each of those components disappointed on Wednesday, the lackluster result could not dim the positive memories.
Before long, the players were laughing and joking in the locker room, reminiscing about the season and looking forward to their future, be it as a graduate, an NFL rookie or a piece of what figures to be a promising 2013 roster.
“It’s a great season in my eyes,” junior Sharrif Floyd said. “We wasn’t supposed to be here in a lot of people’s eyes, and we proved the whole country wrong. … Great season for us, and there ain’t nothing to do but go up the ladder for this team next year.”
Florida notched wins against top-10 opponents LSU, South Carolina and Florida State. Only a six-turnover meltdown in a 17-9 loss to Georgia on Oct. 27 kept a UF team that entered the season ranked No. 23 from playing for the national championship.
The Gators hardly looked championship-worthy on Wednesday, trailing from the opening play from scrimmage against a Cardinals team that had not previously faced a ranked opponent.
“They were what we were for the past 11 weeks,” defensive tackle Omar Hunter said. “They came out and they weren’t going to be denied. They played a great game. Everything went their way.”
On Florida’s first offensive play, quarterback Jeff Driskel dropped back, looked left and fired a pass a few feet behind wideout Andre Debose.
Debose skidded to a stop and reached back with his right arm to try to corral the pass, instead tipping the ball into Louisville cornerback Terell Floyd’s hands.
Floyd ran 38 yards uncontested for the score, giving the Cardinals a lead they never relinquished.
“We never got the momentum,” UF tight end Jordan Reed said.
Florida’s plus-17 turnover margin was one of the biggest keys to its four-win improvement from 2011, but the Gators posted a minus-2 on Wednesday.
Also critical was UF’s pass defense, which entered tops in the nation in efficiency before being torched by Teddy Bridgewater to the tune of 266 yards and two touchdowns.
Even Florida’s dominant rushing attack, so key to an offense that struggled through the air, never got on a roll. The Gators were constantly playing catch-up and ran the ball a season-low 30 times as a result.
UF’s signature post-halftime outburst was also absent. The Gators opened Wednesday’s second half with an onside kick attempt, but a Cardinals’ recovery and personal foul penalties against Chris Johnson and Loucheiz Purifoy put Louisville at Florida’s 19-yard line.
Bridgewater needed only one play to extend Louisville’s lead to 30-10, tossing a touchdown pass to Damian Copeland.
“This whole season we’ve been playing as one of the best teams in the nation in the second half,” Evans said. “I thought we were going to pull it off, like we usually do. But they came through and pushed forward and did a hell of a job in the second half.”
That UF even expected to come back is a reflection on Muschamp.
A season after Florida needed a win in the Gator Bowl to secure a 7-6 finish, the culture changed. Gone is the team Muschamp called “soft” after a loss against Florida State in 2011.
“This team has made great gains from where it was last year,” defensive tackle Omar Hunter said. “With coach Muschamp and his staff coming in and changing the face of this program, it’s been great.”
Florida is stronger and tougher, a reputation that can not be shaken by a single loss at the end of the season.
“[Muschamp] transformed us from what we were to what we are now,” Reed said. “We’re just going to keep getting better from here.”
Florida is losing nine senior starters, and juniors Matt Elam, Sharrif Floyd and Jordan Reed, who announced their intentions to skip their senior season and enter the NFL Draft. Dominique Easley and Jelani Jenkins may also decide to forgo their senior year and enter the draft.
But Muschamp will reload, hauling in a recruiting class that Rivals rates No. 5 in the nation.
More immediately, the Gators and sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel will turn their focus to an offseason of preparation, looking for ways to build on 2012’s impressive turnaround.
“It hurts that we lost like this,” guard Jon Halapio said. “But we will come back next year.”
Contact Greg Luca at gluca@alligator.org.
Junior tight end Jordan Reed dives for a few extra yards during the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Florida has five scholarship tight ends who will look to replace Reed this season.
