Steve and the Tank! - Florida-Ohio State BCS Championship Game Report and Photos

Florida-Ohio State BCS Championship Game Report and Photos

Steve and The Tank were blessed to have Columbus Craig's relatives to report live from the BCS Championship Game in Glendale, Arizona. They captured the party mood outside the stadium with these great photos of Gators fans tailgating and Buckeye fans entering the stadium, respectively.

The game gets off to a fast start as Ted Ginn Jr. returned the opening kickoff 93 yards and the Buckeyes take a 7-0 lead.

The Gators strike back with touchdowns from QB Chris Leak to Dallas Baker through the air and Harvin on the ground to take a 14-7 lead.

As Ginn is limping to the locker room to check an injury, Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith is sacked with 3:34 left in the first quarter. The Tank's football instincts tell him that this is a turning point.

Gators 14 - Buckeyes 7 at the end of the first quarter.

DeShawn Wynn scores on a two yard run to open the second quarter. The Gators lead 21-7.

The Buckeyes strike back with a key pass and an unwise Gator penalty to get the Buckeyes to the Gator 36.  Antonio Pittman scores on a 18 yard run a few plays led to cut the Gator lead to 21-14 with 13:32 left in the second quarter.

The Buckeyes must make a stop on this drive. The Buckeyes are going to have to change defense to more man-to-man from zone and get pressure on Leak. Florida has the ball much longer than the Buckeyes. Though the Gators get a couple of first downs from the short passing game, the Buckeyes step up, get press, and force the Gators to punt.

When the Buckeyes get the ball back after the ball bounced out of the end zone on the punt, Ginn is still on the sideline from his injury. The Buckeyes fail to capitalize on their momentum and go three and out. The Gators lead 21-14.

The Gators drive down the field and Chris Hetland splits the uprights on his first and 42 yard field goal attempt of the game. Coming into the game, Hetland was only 4 of 13 and one of the Tank's keys to the games. The Gators extend their lead to 24-14.

The Buckeyes are going for it on fourth down inside their own 30 and don't get the first down.

Hetland converts his second and 40 yard field goal of the game to extend the Gator lead to 27-14. He has half as many field in the first half as he did all season. You've got to be kidding me!

After the kickoff, Moss strips the ball from the scrambling Smith and Harvey recovers the fumble and the Gators are first and goal from the Buckeye five yard line.

On third and goal from the two, Tim Tebow converts a short left handed pass to Jenkins to take a 34-14 lead.

An unwise Gator penalty gives the Buckeyes a chance from the Gator 45. However, Smith's "Hail Mary" pass is deflected out of bounds. At the half, the Gators lead the Buckeyes 34-14.

Will the Buckeyes be able to mount a second half comeback? The Gator get the second half kickoff. Will Buckeye native Urban Meyer get the national championship his so lobbied and lusted for? Will Buckeye Coach Jim Tressel climb the ladder to coaching immortality?

Kudos to the rival Buckeye and Gator fans in the Tostitos for building a Habitat for Humanity home in a week's time for Fred Banks and his daughter Natalia.

As psyched as the Tank is for the start of "24" (the best show on TV) to start this Sunday, he is saddened that age discrimination prevents him from competing for the "American Idol" crown he so richly deserves.

After the second half kickoff goes out of the end zone, the Gators fumble the opening snap and Leak throws it away. A penalty to force 2nd and 15 and a key third down stop by Freeman forces the Gators to punt. Wilbur doesn't replicate his first 59 yard punt and only hits a 20 yard rugby style punt. Remember, this is college football, not time for cuteness or a beauty contest.

Can Ohio State put a drive together? No, the helmet less Earl Everett sacks Smith to end the Buckeye drive.

The Buckeyes get a key stop and a penalty on the punt return gives the Buckeyes the ball near mid field. The Buckeyes can't convert and the Gators get the ball back.

The Gators don't score but run most of the time off the clock in the third quarter.

Smith is sacked for the fourth time tonight and the Buckeyes have to punt again.

Tebow scores on fourth and goal to take a 41-14 lead. I just lost some respect for Florida Coach Urban Meyer. A field goal would have given them a 37-14 lead with 10:20 left in the game. Three touchdowns is plenty at this point of the game.

Though Urban Meyer is from Ohio, he was never a candidate for the Buckeye head coaching job. Does he want to coach there next? (He has jumped from Bowling Green State University to Utah to Florida in less than four years.)

Leak takes a knee to end the game. The Gators win the BCS Championship 41-14. Congratulations to the Gators and their fans. They are now the defending basketball, football, and "Dancing With the Stars" (Emmitt Smith) champions. :-)

Conclusion: The Gators offensive line dominated the Buckeyes. Gator Coach Urban Meyer came up with a great game plan to utilize the short passing game underneath the Buckeye zone defense. Ginn's early injury exit didn't help the Buckeyes either. The Gators also put lots of pressure on Smith. I guess the Heisman Trophy jinx continues.

Football condolences to Columbus Craig, his family, and Buckeyes fans everywhere.

In the meantime, the Boise State Broncos are undefeated but won't have a chance to play for a national championship. The Broncos beat the Oklahoma Sooners 43-42 in a great overtime game on the same field less than a week earlier. If Broncos to play the Gators, the Gators would probably win nine out of 10 times. But, doesn't it make you wonder what if there was a playoff system?

Division I-A college football is a great game but desperately needs a playoff.  Until then, the Tank won't have closure. May the off season go quickly and the "Powers that Be" institute a real playoff system.

Posted by the Tank in NY and mega thanks to Columbus Craig's Family for the photos.

College Football

Tuesday, January 09, 2007 1:29:26 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

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