Teams' Belt Records

Previous Belt Meetings

The top-ranked, 2-0 Florida Gators of coach Urban Meyer opened their SEC schedule with a meeting with the 1-1 Tennessee Volunteers of Lane Kiffin.  Kiffin was making his first appearance in a Belt game & had riled the Florida faithful when hired by Tennessee.  Kiffin said he would be "singing Rocky Top all night long after we beat Florida next year, it will be a blast."  Now was the time for Kiffin's team to back-up the coaches comments.  The Volunteers put in strong effort but were unable to overcome the talent laden Gators as the defense held Tennessee's offense to 210 total yards in a 23-13 Florida win to retain The Belt.  The Gators seemed to start early in their expected rout of the undermanned Volunteers as Florida's RB Brandon James returned the opening kick-off 50 years to the Tennessee 30-yard line.  In 8 plays, the Gators gained just 10 yards & settled for a 37-yard field goal from PK Caleb Sturgis for a 3-0 lead.  The Volunteers responded with a 15-play, 66-yard drive behind the running of RB Montario Hardesty who accounted for 52 yards rushing on the drive before Tennessee's PK Daniel Lincoln tied the game at 3-3 with a 24-yard field goal.  The Volunteers plan of controlling the ball with their running game while keeping Florida's All-SEC QB Tim Tebow on the sidelines worked perfectly in the opening quarter.  The Gators scored the only touchdown of the 1^st half as Tebow finished an 11-play 72-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run giving Florida a 10-3 advantage.  After Tennessee punt, the Gators made one of their few mistakes of the game as Tebow's pass was intercepted by Volunteers' All-American S Eric Berry at the Florida 20-yard line.  A run by Hardesty got the ball to the Gators' 4-yard line before the Florida defense showed why they are the top rated unit in college football.  Tennessee settle for a 20-yard field goal from Lincoln making the score Florida 10 Tennessee 6.  Just before halftime, the Gators got a 29-yard field goal from Sturgis for a 13-6 edge as the teams went to intermission.  Tennessee opened the 2^nd half with one of their few mistakes as Volunteers' QB Jonathan Crompton threw an interception to Florida's All-American CB Joe Haden at the Gators' 35-yard line.  Sticking to the ground game & short passes, Florida drove to the Tennessee 18-yard line before Sturgis kicked a 35-yard field goal for a 16-6 Gators' lead.  Another Volunteers' punt led to what seemed to be the clinching drive as Tebow drove Florida 69 yards in 13 plays using 6:52 of game time.  Gators' RB Jeff Demps capped the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run giving Florida a 23-6 lead.  The Gators believed the Tennessee had decided to keep the game close rather than try to win.  Meyer said, "when I saw them start handing the ball off, I didn't feel like they were going after the win."  Just as Florida seemed to be in position for the crushing score, Tebow rushed 13 yard to the Volunteers' 2-yard line before Tennessee's DT Montori Hughes forced a fumble that was recovered by Volunteers' CB Dennis Rogan who returned the ball 35 yards to the Gators' 37-yard line.  Helped by a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Florida, Tennessee drove 63 yards in 7 plays with Hardesty carrying the final 17 yards for the touchdown down making the score Florida 23 Tennessee 13 with 8:11 left in the game.  The Volunteers hopes of an upset ended on their next drive when Crompton's pass was intercepted Gators' S Ahmad Black allowing Florida to run out the clock.  Tebow finished with 115 yards passing with an interception to go with his rushing touchdown while Crompton threw for just 93 yards with 2 interceptions in the loss.  Florida finished the season 13-1, ranked 3^rd nationally while the Volunteers finished 7-6.  Tennessee has not played for The Belt again.