In the time between the start of his career, at the height of which he was the most balls-out, hardest skater then competing, and his crime, which he committed in 1991, Gator passed through a veritable template of '80s decadence and celebrity.
Texas A&M scored on its next possession, baffling the Gators with a reverse pass from wide receiver Kenric McNeal to Mike Evans for a 27-yard gain to Florida's 12. Tailback Christine Michael finished the drive with a 1-yard run after taking a direct snap following a shift in which Manziel moved to the slot position.
But last year, Meyer stopped his daily meetings on Marotti's couch, instead spending more time on the Gators' special teams and passing game.
Florida's Reche Caldwell had 5 catches for 105 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown reception, and Jabar Gaffney added 6 catches for 80 yards as the Gators racked up 397 passing yards.
Sumlin faces even more of an unknown in Johnny Manziel, a redshirt freshman who will throw his first collegiate pass against a Gators defense that has 10 starters back from last season.
Photo: Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who will be the starter next season, celebrated his touchdown pass as the Gators' imaginative offense worked as planned in a rout of Ohio State for the national title.
When Tebow arrived in 2006, he had a booming arm, and the Gators began to throw longer passes.
Auburn could give up more points to the Gators, whose quarterback, Rex Grossman, passed for 464 yards and 5 touchdowns on Saturday.
It was not hard, either, to detect what the Gators' maladies were: an anemic passing game, an overreliance on special teams, a dependence on turnovers that kept bouncing their way and into their hands.
