GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida cornerback Joe Haden didn't
want to relive his last trip to LSU.
He didn't care to see all the fourth-down conversions, the
game-winning drive that took more than eight minutes off the clock,
or the raucous celebration that followed.
Haden didn't have a choice. Last week, defensive coordinator
Charlie Strong made his guys watch video of Florida's 28-24 loss in
Baton Rouge two years ago. His reason? Sometimes a painful memory
can be a powerful motivator.
The top-ranked Gators responded by vowing not to let it happen
again when they return to Death Valley on Saturday to face No. 4
LSU in a matchup of unbeaten Southeastern Conference teams.
"There's no way that can happen anymore unless the whole team
just lays down," Haden said. "Honestly, we feel like there's no
way somebody should ever do that to us again."
Florida (4-0, 2-0 SEC) certainly fields a much different defense
these days. The unit leads the nation in total defense, allowing
212 yards a game, and ranks second in scoring at 7.25 points a
game.
"Same guys playing after two years, so you have a lot of
maturity and guys who will make plays in those critical
situations," secondary coach Chuck Heater said. "It's a game
about making plays at those critical moments, and we've done that
well the last couple of years."
Not at LSU in 2007.
The Tigers racked up 391 yards against Florida, including 247 on
the ground. Maybe even more glaring were those fourth-down
conversions and the pivotal fourth quarter.
The Tigers were a jaw-dropping 5 for 5 on fourth down. Backup
quarterback Ryan Perilloux scored on a fourth-and-goal run from the
1 in the second quarter. Starting quarterback Matt Flynn pulled off
a fake field goal that led to Keiland Williams' 4-yard TD run in
the third quarter. Flynn tossed a 4-yard scoring pass to Demetrius
Byrd on fourth-and-goal with 10:15 remaining.
"We did a lot of things that didn't go right," safety Ahmad
Black said. "We've got to change that this time."
But LSU wasn't done.
Trailing 24-21 with 7 minutes left and the ball on its side of
midfield, LSU passed up a punt and went for it needing nearly 2
yards. Jacob Hester took the handoff, put his head down and barely
moved the chains.
LSU kept driving and found itself facing another fourth-and-1 at
the Florida 6. Most coaches would have taken a chip-shot field goal
and their chances in overtime. Not LSU's Les Miles, who was mindful
that kicker Colt David already had missed from 43 and 37 yards.
Hester got the ball again, dove forward and picked up another
first down. He scored three plays later from 2 yards out, bullying
his way into the end zone on virtually the same play that had
worked twice before. His TD run capped a 15-play, 60-yard drive
that milked 8:11 off the clock and left the Gators without enough
time left to mount a comeback.
It also helped the Tigers overcome a 10-point deficit and
propelled them to the SEC title and the national championship.
"That was a tough night," Florida coach Urban Meyer said.
"All we have to do is make a stop. But I put it on much more than
just making a stop on defense. All we have to do is go score or not
turn the ball over twice. Does it haunt us? Yeah. It sure does."
The Tigers ran 19 times for 111 yards in the fourth quarter
alone. Hester did most of the damage, finishing with 106 yards on
23 carries.
"You feel like you're going to stop one of those, unless
Hester's back," Heater said. "Is he gone? Yes? Then we've got a
shot. He was such a man that night. That's how you win big games.
Some guy steps up and refuses to lose. That's what they had that
night. Those guys are valuable.
"Hopefully we've got some guys that will refuse to lose as well
and step up in a big game like that."
Maybe so, but Strong still wanted his defenders to relive all
those lapses and near misses. So he showed the video in the meeting
room despite moans, groans and objections. Haden even reminded
Strong that the defense played much better in last year's 51-21
romp in Gainesville.
It didn't matter.
"He showed it to us because he's always thinking we're going to
get complacent," said Haden, one of more than a dozen current
defenders who played in that game. "He just wants us to keep
working hard and remember what we used to be like."
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
