[Tuck4Bama]

When Auburn smacked Florida in the mouth a year ago, the senior-laden Gators responded by regrouping, refocusing and winning the rest of their games and capturing the SEC and national titles.


Meyer said Sunday he isn't sure how this young 2007 Florida team is going to respond after getting smacked in the mouth by Auburn on Saturday night in The Swamp. He will find out soon enough because new No. 1 LSU is up next for the Gators in Baton Rouge this Saturday night.

"The phrase I was taught as a young person is the soul of a man is exposed when you get hit in the face," Meyer said. "I don't want to overdramatize a loss in football with some of the major issues in life. But the soul of a man isn't exposed when you pick up a crystal ball and put on a championship ring. A lot of people can do that. It's when you have to rebound from some adversity.

"The negative right now is we probably have 10 seniors. How many of which are actually playing a lot? How are we going to respond? Obviously, I don't have that answer. I feel like there's a lot of character on this team and some good people."

With so many young players playing key roles, each week, each game has been another learning experience for Florida. Saturday night's lesson was the first real damaging one - a humbling 20-17 loss to a 19-point underdog on a 43-yard field goal on the final play of the game.

Gator football looks to regroup