The Florida Gators used their strong defense and came up big on special teams to beat the Ohio St. Buckeyes 24-17 in the Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl on Monday.
2012 Gator Bowl, Ohio State Vs. Florida: Gators Use Defense, Special Teams To Beat Buckeyes
Florida held the Buckeyes, who finish the season with losing record (6-7) in 2011, to 299 yards of total offense and just 2-of-10 on third down conversions. Andre DeBose returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and Graham Stewart returned a blocked punt 14 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter to provide the Gators with most of their points.
Gators head coach Muschamp was realistic about where the program is following Monday’s win.
“The realization of this whole thing, if you want to see big pictures, in the last two years of the University of Florida we’re 15-11,” Muschamp said. “Sometimes I think you’ve got to put your realistic glasses on where you are as a program right at this point. It’s not where we’re going to be very long. I can assure you of that.”
Muschamp replaced a retired Urban Meyer following the 2009 season. Meyer’s retirement will end when he assumes the full-time head coaching position at Ohio State, with his tenure expected to begin when he meets with the team on Tuesday, Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Post-Dispatch reports.
"With coach Meyer coming in, I think everyone will be excited," linebacker Andrew Sweat said. "I think people will look back in a couple years when they’re national champions and be like, ‘You know what, that season helped them a lot."
For more on the Gator Bowl, visit Florida blog Alligator Army and SEC blog Team Speed Kills, and Ohio State blog Along the Olentangy and Big Ten blog Off Tackle Empire.
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