Urban Meyer Continues to Put Stamp of Dominance on Tennessee

Filed under: Florida, Tennessee, SECFor six Septembers, Urban Meyer has led the Florida Gators onto the field against the Tennessee Vols. The first four years were all wins over Phil Fulmer's Vols. But the past two seasons, Tennessee has trotted out replacement head coaches, first-year coaches Lane Kiffin and Derek Dooley. Nothing has changed. Meyer still owns the Vols.

But this year's beating features a play call that epitomizes that dominance. Facing a fourth and six midway through the third quarter, Meyer called for a fake punt. The resulting 36-yard gain staked the Gators on a drive that would give Florida a 17-10 lead it would never relinquish. The end result was cosmetic. The Gators took down the Vols 31-17 and Meyer had his fourth consecutive double-digit win.

The fake punt was vintage Meyer. Cool, calculating and destined to succeed no matter the odds. As fake punt calls go, none have yet equaled the play call in the 2006 SEC championship game, but all eight attempts have ended with the same result: the Gators gaining a first down.

With his sixth win in a row over the Vols, there is only one coach in modern history who has surpassed Meyer's dominance over the Vols: Bear Bryant. And for weary Volunteer fans, there's very little to suggest that Meyer's streak is going to end any time soon. Indeed, hate him if you will -- and I do, passionately -- but Meyer is individually responsible for the Derek Dooley era beginning. More than anything else, Phil Fulmer was fired for his inability to beat Meyer's Gators.


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