Thanks for the memories

As the two teams changed sides of the field after the third quarter, there was more evidence that while Saturday's game between Florida and Florida State had a familiar result, this day was different.

Standing on the sidelines, a handful of Florida's star players - including senior quarterback Tim Tebow - stood with arms locked and swayed to "We Are The Boys" as the band played. There was still a quarter to play, but this emotional game had long been decided.

Florida defeated FSU 37-10, emptying the bench in the fourth quarter of an easy victory. A stadium record crowd of 90,907 saw the last game played in The Swamp by Tebow and his fellow seniors.

"I want to thank the Gator fans for sending these guys out the right way," said Florida coach Urban Meyer. "Coming in on the buses, there was no traffic. They were parked and ready to go."

For the seniors, it started with one last bus ride to the stadium and one last Gator Walk. As Tebow walked down the stairs to the field where he has made so many memories, he was greeted at the 10-yard line by Meyer and Meyer's daughter Nicki, who had surprised the family by flying in from Atlanta where she attends Georgia Tech.

Tebow was overwhelmed by the emotions of the day when he was introduced to the adoring crowd, visibly crying as he ran out of the tunnel.

"Yeah, 15 broke down pretty good when he came out of that tunnel," Meyer said.

And then, he put on a show. Tebow ran for two touchdowns and passed for three more - two to tight end Aaron Hernandez - as he became the SEC's all-time leader in total offense.

With the stands packed with fans, many wearing eye black and/or No. 15 jerseys, the Gators became only the second UF team to go 12-0 and set up a showdown in Atlanta next week with No. 2 Alabama, also 12-0.

The winner will play for the national title.

"The game was obviously a lot of fun," Tebow said. "You wanted to sit back and embrace every moment. It probably exceeded (expectations). I thought I would be able to control myself more on the jog out there."

Tebow saved the best for last as he bid Swamp fond farewell