Gators give Seminoles ‘tail-whipping’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews walked into the interview room, said he was embarrassed and then left without taking questions.

Coach, you’re not alone. Tim Tebow and No. 2 Florida have left many others feeling the same way the past two months.

Tebow threw three touchdown passes, ran for 80 yards and another score, and the Gators thumped No. 23 Florida State 45-15 in sloppy conditions Saturday. It was the most points Florida has ever scored at Doak Campbell Stadium.

“It was a good tail-whipping,” Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden said. “The last time we had a beating like that was last year against them.”

Florida (11-1) extended its winning streak to eight games, continued its dominance in the intrastate rivalry and set up a 1-2 showdown with Alabama in next week’s Southeastern Conference title game.

The Gators have won five in a row against Bowden’s team, and this one was nearly as big a laugher as last season’s 45-12 victory in Gainesville.

Florida scored on five of its first seven possessions, held the Seminoles (8-4) without a touchdown for the first 2 1/2 quarters and again proved that the gap between the two programs is as wide as ever.

Tebow and Co. pretty much ruined Florida State’s day. Boston College piled on, beating Maryland and knocking the Seminoles out of the hunt for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.