This time, Florida didn't have to worry about Antonio Langham. He was standing on the Alabama sideline while the Gators rolled to a 28-13 victory Saturday in the Southeastern Conference championship game, locking up a trip to the Sugar Bowl.
Terry Dean threw for two touchdowns and ran for one as No. 9 Florida (10-2) won its second SEC title in three years, defeating the 16th-ranked Crimson Tide in a rematch of last year's inaugural championship game.Alabama (8-3-1) was a different team than the one which defeated Florida 28-21 for the 1992 championship on the way to the national title. In that game, Langham returned an interception for the winning touchdown with less than four minutes to go.
On Saturday, with Langham declared ineligible for signing with an agent, Alabama was forced to go with Tommy Johnson and Willie Gaston at cornerback against Florida's pass-oriented offense.
Johnson had two interceptions but was burned for a 43-yard touchdown pass to Jack Jackson which broke open a tight game late in the third quarter.
Gaston also gave up a TD pass, getting sucked in by Dean's pump fake while Harrison Houston broke open for a 13-yard completion in the first.
Dean, who usually shares the quarterback duties, went the distance with Danny Wuerffel sidelined by a knee injury. Dean completed 20 of 37 passes for 256 yards and also ran for a 2-yard touchdown late in the first half which put the Gators ahead to stay 14-10.
Alabama closed the gap to 14-13 on Michael Proctor's second field goal with 2:14 remaining in the third period. Then Florida punter Shayne Edge came up with the key play of the game.
On fourth-and-8 at his 37, Edge took off along the right sideline for a 30-yard gain. On the next play, Dean hit Jackson in stride over the middle for a 43-yard touchdown.
With starter Jay Barker sidelined by a knee injury against Auburn two weeks ago, Alabama opened with sophomore Brian Burgdorf at quarterback but had star receiver David Palmer calling signals most of the second half.
The loss capped a disappointing season for Alabama, which will settle for a Gator Bowl match against North Carolina on Dec. 31.
Florida is expected meet No. 3 West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl.