Jan. 1, 2001
By EDDIE PELLS
AP Sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS – The Sugar Bowl shootout most people expect might notall come courtesy of offense.
Miami and Florida have two of the most opportunistic defenses in thenation, and special teams players who can break games open.
The Gators, near the bottom of the nation in turnover ratio the lasttwo seasons, turned that around this year. They lead the country in turnoverscreated, with 40.
The Hurricanes not only create turnovers, they score off of them. Theyhave eight defensive touchdowns, and tied the NCAA record with five more specialteams scores, including four punt returns by All-America receiver SantanaMoss.
“They’ve been very alert, catching some tipped balls and picking offsome behind throws and things like that,” Florida coach Steve Spurrier said.”Hopefully that won’t happen to us.”
Florida defensive coordinator Jon Hoke says the Gators’ turnaround ondefense came because of a change in attitude and focus in the offseason.
“We had periods during the preseason where we worked on it,” Hoke said.”It was how to intercept the ball, strip the ball, know how to recover afumble, scoop a fumble and score with it.”
At the beginning of the year, the Gators set the goal of creating threeturnovers a game.
Safety Todd Johnson did more than his part, with five interceptions andfour fumble recoveries. He says there’s some instinct involved in creatingturnovers, especially interceptions.
“Sometimes, in a split second, you have to make a decision of whetherit’s too risky,” Johnson said. “You have to decide whether to come up and go foran interception, or hang back and try to break it up or just make a tackle.”
Of Gators cornerback Lito Sheppard’s six interceptions, the mostexciting came against Georgia, when he snaked across the field for a 61-yard returnbefore halftime. It set up a Florida touchdown and changed the complexion ofthe game.
Sheppard also has two punt returns for touchdowns.
It seems almost everyone on Miami’s defense can strike. Defensive backsPhillip Buchanon and Ed Reed each have two touchdowns. Another four playershave one apiece.
—<>>UNLIKELY GATOR FAN: While talk of bad blood and a rancorous rivalryabounds, Miami receiver Santana Moss is clear about his allegiances.
“I’m a Florida fan, I’ve been a Florida fan all my life,” he said. “I’mgoing to leave this school being a Miami-slash-Florida fan. I’m going tostill root for those guys.”
Moss wanted to go to Florida, but knew he had no chance because of theconservative offense he played in at Carol City High School. He caught 25passes for 600 yards his senior year.
Naturally, this week, he must set his loyalties aside.
“It’s all about Miami,” he said. “I just want to go out and win thisgame, but then I’ll act like I still love them afterward.”
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MOTIVATION: When Florida receiver Reche Caldwell looked across thefieldearlier this season, he saw what he wished he could be.
His name was Jabar Gaffney.
The Florida freshman’s huge surge in the early season made Caldwell anafterthought and prompted him to redouble his efforts. In the last sixgames, Caldwell has caught six touchdowns. In the first six, he had none, and wasstill fighting a penchant for drops and inconsistency.
“I think I had a lack of concentration,” Caldwell said. “I wasn’tconcentrating on the ball, I wasn’t running my routes as crisply as I shouldhave. But when Jabar stepped up and I saw him make the big plays, I wantedto do the same things as well. I started concentrating more, practicing harderand things like that.”
Suddenly, the Florida offense has two big-play receiving threats.Caldwell figures Gaffney’s emergence is the best thing that could have happened tohim.
“I think we push each other,” he said. “We both want to go out, makebig plays and score touchdowns. We’re kind of competing against each other onthe field.”
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SUGAR DROPS: Starting Florida offensive lineman Leon Hires missedpractice with the flu. … Florida tailback Robert Gillespie (knee) didn’t practice….Linebacker Andra Davis (knee) returned to practice and Hoke said there was achance he could play late in the game. … Buchanon will start in place ofsenior Leonard Myers, who failed to earn back his starting job after anankleinjury in October. … Both teams had an 11 p.m. curfew for New Year’s Eve.”I’ll just turn to my roommate, wish him a Happy New Year and go to sleep,”Miami tackle Joaquin Gonzalez said.