Halftime Notes
Florida sent out halftime BCS notes. This is the lowest halftime score since the 2001 Oklahoma-Florida State game (6-0).
2008 Florida Football
Halftime Notes
Florida vs. Oklahoma
BCS National Championship
January 8, 2009
Florida was first to score in the game, as junior quarterback Tim Tebow
connected on a 20-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Louis
Murphy with 14:02 to play in the second quarter. It marked Murphy's
27th consecutive game with a catch and his seventh touchdown of the
season.
The Gators are the first team to score on the Sooners this season and
they are 12-1 when getting on the board first.
With the Sooners threatening on first-and-goal, Major Wright made his
fourth interception of the season and fourth of his career. The Gators
have recorded at least one interception in 13 of the 14 games this year.
The Gators shutout Oklahoma in the first quarter, marking the first
time this season the Sooners did not score in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, the Gators went 4-for-4 on third downs in the period.
UF has allowed just five first-half touchdowns all season and are
outscoring opponents, 328-58, before the half. They have also forced
opponents to punt 45 times in the first half in 2008.
With the game scoreless at the end of the first quarter, it marked the
first time two teams did not score in the first quarter of a BCS
National Championship Game since 1999 (Florida State 23, Tennessee 16,
Fiesta Bowl). The last time the Gators did not score in the first
quarter was in the 31-30 loss to Ole Miss on Sept. 27.
The half ended tied at seven, marking the lowest scoring BCS National
Championship Game since Oklahoma led Florida State, 6-0, heading into
halftime in 2001.
Tebow recorded his third interception of the season with 9:20 to play
in the first quarter. It marked the first time he was picked off since
Oct. 25 in the 63-5 win over Kentucky. Tebow made 117 consecutive
attempts without throwing an INT. He threw his second interception of
the game with 7:29 to play in the half. It marked the first time in
Tebow's career he threw two interceptions in the same game.
The Gator defense made a crucial stop as OU had a fourth-and-goal on
the one-yard line. Sophomore defensive lineman Torrey Davis recorded
his season tackle-for-loss this season on the play.
With 12:44 remaining in the first quarter, sophomore linebacker Brandon
Hicks recorded his second sack on the season for a 14 yard loss. The
Sooners have only allowed 11 sacks in 13 games this season.
Back in Gainesville, 9,700 Gator fans are watching the BCS National
Championship Game in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
Game Captains: Cornelius Ingram, Louis Murphy, Brandon Spikes, Ryan
Stamper and Phil Trautwein
Weather: 68ºF clear skies, winds out of the NW 2 mph, humidity: 58%
Former Florida Gators at tonight's game: Trace Armstrong,James Bates,
Alex Brown, Lomas Brown, Kevin Carter, Joe Cohen, Cris Collinsworth,
Chris Doering, Jack Jackson, Chris Leak, Reggie Lewis, Ray McDonald,
Drew Miller, Jeremy Mincey, Jarvis Moss, Reggie Nelson, Jesse Palmer,
Steve Rissler, Tommy Shannon, Larry Smith, Max Starks, Fred Taylor,
Lawrence Wright and Danny Wuerffel.
Gator Men's Basketball coach Billy Donova and former UF Gator Al
Horford were also in attendance. Other UF coaches: Buddy Alexander
(Men's Golf); Jill Briles-Hinton (Women's Golf); Tim Walton
(Softball); Roland Thornqvist (Women's Tennis); Becky Burleigh (Soccer),
Andy Jackson (Men's Tennis) and Amanda O'Leary (Lacrosse).
Other celebrities in attendance: Michael Connelly (best-selling
author), A.J. Pierzynski (Major league baseball player) and Earle Bruce
(former Ohio State coach)
There are 23 players on Florida's roster who played in the 2007
Tostitos BCS National Championship Game in Glendale, Ariz., including
four who started. The starters include Percy Harvin, Cornelius Ingram,
Phil Trautwein and Jim Tartt. The other Gators appearing in their
second BCS Championship Game are Markihe Anderson, Tate Casey, Riley
Cooper , John Curtis, Dustin Doe, Andrew Fritze, Cade HJames, A.J. Jones, Kestahn Moore, Dorian Munroe, Louis Murphy, David
Nelson, Kyle Newell, Wondy Pierre-Louis, Butch Rowley, James Smith,
Brandon Spikes and Tim Tebow.
Yes, but did big mouth Emmanuel Moody ever get into the game? What a career he's cut out for himself. Nothing like competition to make the man!
Proud to say I didn't watch one second of the game.
Don't blame us Scott. They're your favorite conferences. I knew they were overrated.
Moody was in for one carry early in the game. He stubbled immediately and fell short, just like his career at USC. Must be fun for him to brag about his team's speed from the bench.