MIND GAMES

Although I rarely do so because of Covenant’s goal to win the Wilson Award every season, I am a firm believer in using psychological tactics against our opponents whenever possible. 

For those that remember the PCCS locker room incident in 2007, it helped inject doubt into the PCCS players and added a cocky confidence into our team in the 15 minutes preceding that game.  

The result?  CCS totally dominated PCCS in every category from the tip-off until the final buzzer, avenging the humiliating loss at the Regional tournament a week earlier.

Yesterday’s GA vs. FL football game had an eerily similar feel to it.

The Gators shut down Knowshon Moreno, took advantage of Georgia's numerous mistakes and avenged last year's 42-30 loss in which the brazen Bulldogs used a full-team, end-zone celebration after their first score in the game to energize them.

Florida's response?

How about the worst loss in Georgia coach Mark Richt's career, which left the preseason No. 1 staring at being No. 2 in the SEC East for the second straight season.

Florida coach Urban Meyer added fuel to the fire by calling not one, but two timeouts in the final 44 seconds -- surely to prolong Georgia's misery.  Meyer said he did it because running back Emmanuel Moody deserved a couple extra carries, but no one inside Jacksonville Municipal Stadium believed that.

How important was this game to the Gators?

During each of Florida's conditioning workouts during the offseason, players had to complete 42 reps at each station in the weight room -- one for every point the Bulldogs scored against them last season -- and 188 push-ups, sit-ups and crunches -- one for every yard Moreno gained.

"All because of this game right here," Black said.

Plus, strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti put a picture in each player's locker of Georgia's massive celebration.  The photo next year might be of Brandon Spikes' bone-crushing hit on Moreno early; it certainly set the tone.  Or one of all those empty seats left behind by Georgia fans early in the fourth quarter.

When we face Central in 12 days, what will be on your mind?  I’ve already got a little surprise for Central’s locker room.

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