OK, loyal Phil on the Hill readers (do those exist?), it seems you're owed an apology.
A friend has ruthlessly pointed out that my fear of commitment has spread from girls to my column writing.
He says I take a stance and then back off. So, like I have said to a few females, I'm sorry.
To make up for it, I will give you not one but two Phil on the Hill promises.
(If either of these somehow turns out to be false, well, I'll run stadiums.)
So here we go. The first one is easy.
If UF wins its next two games, it will play in the national championship game.
Before you claim I pointed out something obvious (I know I did), you should realize a large number of illogical Gators fans are worried about this. They think UF might get squeezed out of the Orange Bowl. (Yes, I realize the game would technically be called the FedEx BCS National Championship. You make sacrifices for bad humor.)
Now that the easy guarantee is out of the way, here's one that might blow your mind.
If UF is in the national championship game, No. 7 will play.
I'm talking about senior tight end Cornelius Ingram.
You may recall the fifth-year senior blowing out his ACL in August. But if you were at The Swamp on Saturday, you also saw him sprint out during pregame ceremonies.
Coach Urban Meyer admitted Ingram has had "strategic people" talk to the coach about Ingram playing in a bowl game.
Imagine a healthy Ingram added to this offense, leaving an opponent's defensive coordinator only previous years' film to watch. All those two-tight-end sets that saw little use this season become a possible X-factor.
Also, there's no way Ingram petitions the NCAA for a medical redshirt and a sixth year, so him playing in the title game doesn't impact his eligibility. Ingram will be in the 2009 NFL Draft.
Nothing is certain in recovering from knee surgery, but I think if his teammates are gearing up for a Miami showdown, he'll be ready to go.
A few weeks ago, he walked past me on his way to the locker room in workout gear (no pads). He wouldn't commit to playing in a bowl game, but he didn't deny it, either.
Offensive coordinator Dan Mullen said a healthy Ingram would bring more than just a physical advantage.
"You see big No. 7 come jogging out there," he said, "it'd be a big lift for the team."
While this would add yet another playmaker to his disposal, don't think for a second Mullen would have any trouble incorporating him into the offense.
"I definitely don't see that as a problem," Mullen said. "If we happen to get to a bowl game and Cornelius is able to play - he's healthy enough, and he feels comfortable to go play - I think that'd be an unbelievable boost for our offense."
Mullen avoided giving any substantial update on Ingram's recovery but said Ingram hasn't started running routes.
Routes, including sharp, knee-testing cuts, would be a key juncture for the Hawthorne native, but freak athleticism will ensure a speedy recovery.
So when No. 1 Oklahoma plays No. 2 UF in Miami, expect to see No. 7 jog out for the offense.
Who said I was afraid of commitment?
