Tulsa World: Florida rallies around Spikes

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Florida rallies around Spikes
Gator linebacker has intensity, passion.

Florida head coach Urban Meyer (left) bends over to talk to linebacker Brandon Spikes (center) during practice Sunday at Florida Atlantic University. Spikes leads the Gators with 87 tackles, and he also has four interceptions. Jon Way/Associated Press

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 1/5/2009 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 1/5/2009 3:46 AM

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The story goes that Florida's 2008 fortune was made Sept. 27, the day the Gators fell to Ole Miss and quarterback Tim Tebow vowed something like that would not happen again.

A closer look, however, reveals that Florida's path to the BCS National Championship began one day last spring, when middle linebacker Brandon Spikes sat down in The Swamp with coach Urban Meyer.

"He made me feel like it was all on me," Spikes said. "It kind of shocked me, because at the time I really didn't know he was expecting too much of me. I guess he kind of noticed my leadership skills, that guys followed me on the field, off the field, the way I approach the game, with a passion, intensity and energy. I guess he kind of felt like I was the core of the defense."

If the Gators were going to improve on their four-loss '07 season, a drop-off they blamed on a sagging defense, Spikes would show the way.

Eight months later, the 245-pound junior owns a team-leading 87 tackles plus four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

His defense ranks ninth in the country, not 41st as it did a year ago. It ranks 19th against the pass, not 98th. It has 24 interceptions, not 11.

Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong simplified it: "Our defense is gonna go as Spikes goes."

The middle linebacker's impact can be measured by one play.

"We go into the Georgia game, and we didn't know how good we were gonna play," Strong said, referencing last Nov. 1. "The second play of the game, Spikes hits (Georgia tailback Knowshon) Moreno and then, Boom! All of a sudden ..."

The blood in the water, the Gators went on to avenge the previous year's 42-30 loss to their bitter rival by a 49-10 count. It was an impact like the dent Spikes made in the 51-21 rout of LSU on Oct. 11, when he returned one of his two interceptions for a score.

Along the way, Meyer was pleased to discover the challenge he issued Spikes last spring was being met head-on.

"Now Brandon Spikes is starting to play like the Brandon Spikes I hear about," he said.

How serious was Spikes taking this? He began calling players-only meetings after a 38-7 victory over Arkansas on Oct. 4.

"Letting guys know that football is your life. You can sacrifice some things," he said. "I think we've done that. We'd maybe watch film and have a pizza party, just getting around each other for chemistry. We kind of came together after that."

Jan. 8, the challenge will be Oklahoma's.

"Spikes in the middle, he jumps out," OU wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias said.

"You've got to bring your 'A' game against him," tight end Jermaine Gresham said. "He can do it all."

"We'll definitely have to get a hat (helmet) on him," center Jon Cooper said. "He'll make every play if we don't."

The Gators can only hope.

"That's why we're playing so well right now," Strong said. "It's because of Spikes."

Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer

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texasbill, (1/5/2009 7:35:44 AM)

Spikes WHO?

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