I wonder if Steve Jobs thought this up all by himself.  Apple could not even script this for Gator fans.  If ever the Gators needed an “APP” for a victory Saturday, its like they pulled out their  iPod and dialed up Appalachian State.  This Senior Day started with flowing tears as the seniors played their last home game and ended with flowing locks.  Walk-on DT Gary Beemer’s one yard helmet-less plunge into the end zone to give the Gators a 38 point victory on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Before the game, the speculation was that the Swamp would only have about 50, 000 fans show up with the thought of an SEC or National Championship long gone.  Usually the drive from my home takes 30-45 minutes to get to the parking lot-it took 18 minutes Saturday.  The fans were laid back but they matriculated into the Swamp just as the emotions of the day hit Mike Pouncey and he donned his helmet to hide his tears as he ran out of the tunnel toward Coach Meyer.

These Gators have been through a lot lately, but Saturday was not about the records, the close losses, the two blowouts we endured, it was about accomplishments and championships won by this senior class. One SEC Championship, One National Championship, back to back 13-1 records, and an overall 42-10 record since 2007 (’07 9-4, ’08 13-1, ’09 13-1, ’10 7-4)

The Seniors have a lot to be proud of.  They weathered the storm of adversity this year and continued to play hard and it showed on Saturday against Appalachian State.  ASU came in with a better record that Florida at 8-1, and most likely will win their conference in FCS (what was the NCAA Division II).  The hype that surrounded this team as a giant-killer after their victory in the big house against Michigan in 2007 (**Note for those of you paying attention, that is the same year Michigan beat Florida in the Capital One Bowl in January of the same year).  It made for an interesting subplot given the year that the Gators have had to this point.  It was over in the first quarter and certainly after Jordan Reed connected on a TD pass to John Brantley to make it 28-0 just before the half.  ASU was able to accrue 274 yards in the game, most of it was after the cheerleaders and waterboys were on defense.  After that, it was all smiles in the Swamp for a change.  It will not last long, a date with FSU is now on tap.

The trip to Tallahassee and the upstart Noles who won at Maryland late last night 30-19 is on the mind of the Gators this morning.  Emotions will run high as this is the Seniors last game against FSU and Pouncey, Black, and Hicks have never lost to the Noles.

In a season that has no real championship aspirations left, a victory over arch rival FSU will be a state championship game of sorts.  I will be glued to my TV ready for that one.

Thank you Gator Seniors for your commitment to our University.  Thank you for enduring the boos this year, thank you for the championships and know you will be remembered and loved for your honor to the University.

Go Gators!

(AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)

When CBS presented the starting lineups for the Florida-Georgia game Saturday, true freshman was listed as the “slashback.”

And while the term “slash” probably applies to Burton seeing time at quarterback, tailback, and wide receiver, it took on a whole new meaning against the Bulldogs.

Burton slashed through the Georgia defense in Jacksonville Saturday, leading the Gators with 110 rushing yards on 17 carries and racking up an additional 26 yards passing and 35 yards receiving.

And the scariest part about Burton is that Florida head coach Urban Meyer is just now learning how to use his most impressive freshman.

“I could kick myself for not [using Burton more] this summer,” Meyer told The Gainesville Sun. “I didn’t know he was that good a runner.”

Well, coach, he’s that good.

Burton is so good, in fact, he is very close to breaking the school record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season by a freshman held by the NFL’s all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith.

And while the new-look offense suggests that Burton, who currently has 11 rushing touchdowns, will eclipse Smith’s mark of 13 scores, that’s not the biggest thing that lies ahead for the young playmaker.

With their 34-31 overtime victory against Georgia, Florida kept their SEC title hopes alive and still controls its own destiny in the SEC East race.

The Gators still have difficult SEC tests on the road against a better-than-advertised Vanderbilt squad and at home against the Ol’ Ball Coach and current SEC East leader South Carolina.

However, with a weapon like Burton in Florida’s reinvigorated offense, the Gators should be very optimistic about clinching a third consecutive trip to Atlanta at the end of the regular season.

Simply put, this season’s offense looks very similar to the 2005 version.

In perhaps the most inspired play of Florida’s 33-29 loss to LSU, redshirt freshman Andre Debose returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown, cutting the Tigers’ lead over the Gators to 26-21.

For Debose, who has yet to live up to the endless Percy Harvin comparisons that have been thrust upon him, that touchdown could not have come at a better time.

After recovering from his season-ending hamstring injury in 2009, the Gator Nation expected big things from the prized recruit of Urban Meyer’s 2009 recruiting class.

However, Debose was given very limited playing time and had only six catches for 66 yards in Florida’s first five games.

Luckily for No. 4, the left foot injury to junior running back Jeff Demps’ forced Debose into service on kickoff returns and each game quickly became a “do or die” scenario for the young Florida speedster.

And in a big moment against the Bayou Bengals, Debose “did and didn’t die,” and if that isn’t enough for Meyer and Steve Addazio to make him an integral part of the offense, then the Florida faithful should prepare for continued offensive woes.

While he may not be the second coming of Percy Harvin, Debose is still very quick, can find holes easily, and will make defenders look silly in the open field.

“We identified an electric playmaker tonight,” Meyer told The Gainesville Sun. “Now we need him to do that more consistent and more often.”

If Meyer keeps giving Debose opportunities to make plays with the football in his hands, he will do just that and give Florida a much-needed home run threat.