TAMPA — With Penn State threatening to spoil Urban Meyer’s going-away party late in the fourth quarter, senior Ahmad Black thought back to the biggest play in his college career.
The Nittany Lions had driven more than 50 yards deep into Florida territory with just over a minute left. But Black reversed the Gators’ fortunes, jumping a pass intended for Penn State tight end Kevin Haplea and returning the interception 80 yards for a touchdown, sealing Florida’s 37-24 Outback Bowl victory in front of 60,574 fans at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Black felt the Gators’ defense getting pushed around late in the fourth quarter like it had in the national championship against Oklahoma in 2008, when Florida appeared to be an untouchable dynasty built for unwavering success as long as Meyer held the reins.
But that national title, one of two in Meyer’s six-year career at Florida, turned out to be a peak preceding a deep valley. Black, who helped clinch the 2008 championship with his fourth quarter interception of Heisman winner Sam Bradford, understands as well as anyone how far Florida (8-5) fell.
“It’s been a long season, a rough season,” he said. “There have been a lot of ups and a lot of downs. I’m just glad we were able to send coach out on top.”
Indeed, Meyer ended his career appropriately: with a win. After just 10 seasons as a head coach, Meyer won his 104th game, including seven bowl wins.
After the game, Meyer and his family gathered arm-in-arm in front of the UF band to sing the alma mater while other coaches posed for photos with players. For a lot of Gators, Saturday was mostly about saying goodbye, even for those returning next season.
Goodbye to Meyer and his two national championship rings. Goodbye to the familiar spread offense. Goodbye to several — if not all — assistant coaches.
But even with most of the attention directed at Meyer’s farewell, the Gators coach was low key, rarely commenting on his momentous departure. Instead, he spent most of the postgame press conference talking about the game as if it was September.
“I’m at full peace because I saw a bunch of smiles in that locker room,” he said. “I know this year was not a good year; however, (those departing) will leave here as one of the best group of seniors to ever play at Florida.”
While Saturday’s win was an appropriate finish for one of the most successful UF coaches in any sport, it also appeared at times to be a microcosm of Florida’s struggles in 2010.
Quarterback John Brantley was intercepted on Florida’s first offensive play of the game, redshirt freshman Andre Debose botched his first two kickoff returns before getting benched, freshman Trey Burton fumbled the ball one yard away from the Penn State end zone, center Mike Pouncey sailed a snap over Brantley’s head, Chas Henry was tackled a yard shy of the first down marker on a fake punt and Jordan Reed fumbled a snap on third and 7.
Still, the Gators won, perhaps mostly because the offense was bailed out by Nittany Lions turnovers. Florida intercepted Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin a season-high five times, including two by Black, who was named the game’s MVP.
Florida turned three of those picks into 21 points, and the UF offense’s average scoring drive was just 29.2 yards. Gators defensive end Lerentee McCray also returned a blocked punt for a score to give Florida a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
Looking toward next September, Florida has plenty of question marks, starting first with their signal caller.
After entering the season riding a wave of hype as the drop-back passer good enough to change the Gators’ offense, Brantley finished the year with 2,061 yards passing, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
When he struggled in the first half, Brantley was reduced to third-and-long cameo appearances, ending the game with just 41 yards on 13 attempts.
At Will Muschamp’s introductory press conference on December 14, Brantley said he had not decided if he would return to Gainesville for the 2011 season. Perhaps in his place will be Jordan Reed, who finished the game with 60 passing yards on 13 attempts and 68 rushing yards on 24 carries.
But Meyer said throughout the season he does not know where Reed’s future will be. And with Muschamp insisting Florida will run a pro-style offense, Reed seems like an unlikely candidate under center.
Whoever is throwing passes for Florida next season, the Gators will look much different than they have for the past six seasons. One year ago, that suggestion would have drawn the ire of Florida fans.
But after finishing the season second in a mediocre Southeastern Conference East division and ranked 10th in the conference with 350.8 offensive yards per game, change may bring optimism.
If nothing else, Meyer believes he is leaving the program with the resources to succeed.
“Will Muschamp is getting a good group of young men on a positive note,” he said. “We’ve only had one time when we had to go through an offseason after we lost a bowl game, and it’s terrible. Will Muschamp is getting a football team that’s going to have some bright eyes and is going to be ready to work.”
