It's too late for Doug Johnson to win a national title, a conference championship or the adulation of the thousands of Florida fans who never quite embraced him. Doug Johnson has thrown 62 TDs in his Florida career. Quite simply, all Johnson has left in his tumultuous college career is a chance to prevent a fractured season from getting any worse. Just looking back, I think he deserves the game since he was our quarterback most of the season. He's ready to play and we feel like he deserves it the most.
Most teams consider a bowl trip a reward for a good season.
Florida is trying to look at it that way, too. But the consequences of a loss would be too devastating to imagine, especially for Johnson. Lose here and he'll go down as the quarterback on a Florida team that lost three straight for the first time since 1988. Win and the Gators reach the 10-victory plateau for the seventh straight season. It's going to be the last memory you'll have as a Gator.