Florida’s Meyer sees similarities between Florida, Bama

ATLANTA — Florida coach Urban Meyer dismisses talk that it’s a game featuring contrasting styles.

Alabama power against Florida speed?

No way, says Meyer.

Today’s SEC Championship Game battle of all battles between No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Florida is actually one between two very similar teams, so says the Gator coach.

“I think they’re identical,” Meyer said during his press conference at the Georgia Dome on Friday.

Say what?

Doesn’t the intriguing part of this matchup revolve around Florida’s speedy, wide-open offense in contrast to Alabama’s smash-mouth style?

That’s not Meyer’s perception. He seems insulted by the thought of such.

“We take great pride in the strength of our team, the offensive line on our team,” he said. “You watch them (Alabama) play, it’s the same thing. They have great pride.

“Now, we maybe motion a little bit more. We do a few spread sets, but at the end of the day we want to run the ball for 230 yards a game; that’s our strength right now.”

Meyer says all young coaches should be tuned into this game to see how teams should play traditional, hard-nosed football. He’s especially impressed with the strength of both down the middle — at center, quarterback and running back on offense, and at noseguard, middle linebacker and free safety.

“If you truly love the game of football — blocking, tackling, efficiency, ball security, all the ways to win a game — these two teams are very similar.

“If I’m a 22-year-old coach and I have to figure out how to go win a game, I sit in front of the TV or somehow find a tape and watch this thing, because this is classic football.

“The same way you won 70 years ago, 70 years from now, and that’s how you’re going to win again.”

While Meyer talks about the similarities of the two teams, the similarities of the two coaches is much easier to spot.

Meyer and Alabama coach Nick Saban looked incredibly uneasy during the grip-and-grin photo shoots of the two together at the press conference podium.
Though they stood and forced smiles for what was only a few minutes, I imagine it seemed like forever for them.

They are so focused on the job at hand that any kind of distraction is just that — a distraction.

Where Meyer and Saban prefer to be is on the field coaching instead of behind a microphone talking.

They’ll leave the pre-game build-up to us.

And we can all analyze this thing over and over. We can talk about the greatness of Gator QB Tim Tebow going against the rock-solid Tide defense. We can wonder about whether Florida playmaker Percy Harvin will be able to play, and if so, how effective he will be on a hurt ankle.

How in the world will Florida react if it’s involved in a close game for a change? Will Alabama surprise us all and totally control the game like it did in the season-opener here against Clemson? Or will Florida blow the Tide away like it has almost all of the others?

The guessing game is fun, but ultimately we all know it’s between the lines where the game will be won or lost.

It’s there where both coaches excel, just as their teams do.

You know, Meyer may have it right. Alabama and Florida are very much alike.

The time draws near to find out which one is better.