The Florida players filed one-by-one into a crammed media room in the bowels of Neyland Stadium, fresh off a 38-28 loss to Tennessee.
Running back Mark Thompson, linebacker Alex Anzalone, quarterback Austin Appleby and cornerback Quincy Wilson each took his turn speaking with reporters after blowing a three-touchdown lead, the largest collapse by the Gators since a loss to Miami in 2003.
Each echoed the same sentiment: No national championship team at Florida has ever gone undefeated.
Yes, that is true. All three of Florida’s national championship teams had one loss.
But no, that does not justify this loss.