REMATACH WITH AUBURN? OR AR-KANSAS?

Gators clinch SEC East Division

By LOUIS ANASTASIS
Alligator Staff Writer

Tim Casey / Alligator Staff
UF senior quarterback Chris Leak runs during the Gators' 25-19 win against the Commodores on Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Book the reservations.

Despite a sputtering offense, another painful win and continuing to elicit more questions than answers, the Gators (8-1, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) are heading to Atlanta to play in the SEC Championship game for the first time in six years. UF advanced by defeating Vanderbilt 25-19 and having LSU down Tennessee 28-24.

"This means a lot to the program," UF linebacker Brandon Siler said. "It means Florida is back where it should be."

A shocking Steve Spurrier departure. The disastrous Ron Zook experiment. More than a life's worth of Outback Bowls.

None of that matters now.

"I hate to say this, but it was almost a relief," Coach Urban Meyer said in a Sunday teleconference. "It was because we wanted this so bad for the seniors. You don't come to Florida for the palm trees. You come to Florida to get a great education and go play in Atlanta. It was a monkey off my back. It was relief. It was whatever you want to call it. Thank God for these seniors to get out of here and at least have the opportunity to play in it. I've never been there, but I hear it is a great atmosphere to play in."

Just as UF's plane touched down in Gainesville on Saturday evening, players found out a shot at redemption was theirs. The Gators heard how LSU's JaMarcus Russell found Early Doucet for a late 4-yard touchdown that eliminated Tennessee from the conference title race. What ensued was a sudden release of pent-up energy for a program tortured in recent times.

"That hasn't happened in a while around here," receiver Andre Caldwell said. "To accomplish something like this is huge for UF football."

So much for the Spurrier showdown. Had Tennessee pulled out a win against the Tigers, the Gators would have had to go through the man that was UF football for a bid to Atlanta.

Considering how sloppily the Gators have played, Spurrier might still pull off the upset. It just wouldn't mean as much.

Saturday, UF advanced to the title game by edging Vanderbilt (4-6, 1-5 SEC) 25-19. Not that the Gators looked good doing so.

Offensively, UF continued sputtering like a vintage Pinto. At least the Gators didn't implode.

"Are we playing all the time like a championship team? No," Meyer said. "Championship teams take a big swing at you in the third and fourth quarters and knock you down. We're not doing that."

Once again led by its defense and special teams, UF did just enough to claim the victory.

The Gators blocked two punts - one by cornerback Ryan Smit