The Florida Gators will be taking on the undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats on New Year’s Night at the Sugar Bowl. There was a time when that sentence would have sent chills up and down the spines of the Gator Nation. But this is 2010, not 1990. Big time bowl games are now old hat for the Orange and Blue. The Gators in the last two decades have played in 10 of the BCS Bowls already. They have played in four Sugar Bowls. With the new BCS system where there is a Championship Game after the big bowls, the goal is no longer to make the Sugar Bowl. It has been reduced to a consolation prize. In the last two years, it has been little consolation.

Last year when Florida met Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, the winner went on to the BCS Title Game and the loser to the Sugar Bowl. Florida won. So ‘Bama trudged off to New Orleans to face an unbeaten Utah. Utah was pumped to be in the Sugar Bowl. It was a big deal for them. For ‘Bama it was a let down. The results bore this out. Utah jumped on Alabama early and often. By the time the Tide woke up they were down 24-3. They could not recover. It’s hard to blame them. They had their sites set on playing for the National Title. How were they supposed to react?

This year the shoe is on the other foot. Again Florida and Alabama have met for a chance to play for title. Again, the loser has had to settle for the Sugar Bowl. Only this time the Gators are the ones headed for the Big Uneasy. They too will meet an undefeated foe. An opponent who is excited to be in the game, Cincinnati will be on their game. They are an offensive juggernaut. But they have a weak defense. Under different circumstances, I feel the Gators would beat them. But it will be tough for them on this game. How do they get back off the mat? They had their hearts ripped out against ‘Bama. So much was riding on that game, the SEC Title, the BCS opportunity, the chance for the first unbeaten season in UF history, a chance for back to back titles, and possibly a second Heisman for Tebow. All of it gone.

If the Gators can rally to win this game it will be impressive. That’s a lot to overcome. It would be a shame if this group of seniors went out on a two game losing streak. They are after all the winningest class in SEC history. Hopefully they can pull it together one more time. Win or lose, I would like to thank them. They have been fun to watch and a great representative for the Gator Nation.

By: Jim Folsom