ORLANDO — The Big 10 vs. the SEC has traditionally been a matchup of size against speed. On Friday afternoon size won out in a big way as the Michigan Wolverines dominated the Florida Gators in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl 41-7.
“I think a lot of it is stereotypes,” Michigan defensive end Chris Wormley said leading up to the bowl game. “If you see Jehu Chesson running nobody is going to catch him…. There’s a lot of stereotypes out there and I guess we’ll have to prove them wrong.”
Wormley was right. Chesson was running, and catching too. The senior had five receptions for 118 yards and a score. He beat All-American cornerback Vernon Hargreaves twice and looked every bit as good as any receiver Florida has faced this season. Senior transfer quarterback Jake Rudock completed 20-of-31 for 278 yards and three touchdowns in his final collegiate game as Florida couldn’t muster up a pass rush without Alex McCalister.
“Credit Coach Harbaugh,” sophomore cornerback Jalen Tabor said. “His offensive system is tremendous. That’s why he’s a head coach in the NFL.”
The Michigan domination started up front, where Florida couldn’t match the physicality the Wolverines brought to the table. The Gators were hanging on in the first half, going into the break down 10.
Michigan received the ball to start the third and the rout was on. Rudock led the offense down the field on a nearly nine minute drive that resulted in three-yard touchdown pass to Grant Perry.
24-7
Florida’s offense mustered up three plays, gained no yards and punted the ball back. Michigan was back in the end zone five plays later. 31-7 and, for all intents and purposes, ball game.
“It was a case of getting your rump kicked in. That’s what it was,” Jim McElwain said after the game. “Our energy was good. We came out and played inspired football and, you know what, call it the way it is. They out-physicaled us guys. No doubt about it. They did a great job with their pad level and really took it to us on both sides of the ball.”
Florida’s 6-0 start to the season seems like a distant memory after the team closed out the 2015 campaign with three straight losses. This loss hurts, it was ugly and there’s not much you can learn from it. The better team won on Friday and Florida had to accept that as the final seconds ticked off the clock and Michigan began to celebrate.
A long, long, way to go until championship caliber. When the worst starting QB in FBS is paired with the worst kicker in FBS, this is the horror show that results. Absolutely shameful.
It looked to me like Treon was on at the beginning of the game but the rest of the team was not. He hit some nice passes in the first half. There were at least four drops by receivers that would have been game changers. One was a sure touchdown and the other was a lengthy gainer. No telling how those drops impacted the outcome.
The team did not look like it was in the game mentally. Not sure if that is youth or not having been in a bowl game for a year or what.
Still, loved the season; loved the record; love the team; love the coaching staff. Go Gators. Coach Mac, Eat em Up and get us another elite class to build on this year’s success. Finish baby, finish!!
rj
Go back and watch the Ole Miss game and see the passion and fire that UF played with and then compare that 6-0 to the rest of the season. The fire left when Grier got suspended and the players knew it. The put up a fight against LSU but gave up after that. You listen to the players say they believe in Treon and all that lying garbage but they really don’t. They knew it wasn’t gonna be pretty because even the players know Treon is no good. Add that to the fact is UF didn’t even look like they wanted to be there yesterday. I guarantee if Grier was there that game would’ve had a totally different outcome, offensively and defensively. Next year will be different even if we don’t get Haskins, though I really hope we do. Hopefully we can end this class with Haskins, Mack, Craig-Myers and Manuel. At least we can all celebrate the fact Harris will NEVER qb for us again lol.