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GAINESVILLE, Fla. _ On this night, the Florida Gators held nothing back.
On this night, they honored a fallen freshman teammate who never will know what it's like to play before 85,445 at Florida Field.
On this night, they showed up their former defensive coordinator and his band of cocksure players who boasted they were coming here to win.
Florida blasted Marshall, 49-14, on Saturday night, demonstrating to a national television audience exactly why it was the consensus choice as preseason No. 1.
Sophomore quarterback Rex Grossman demonstrated why he was Coach Steve Spurrier's choice as starter, passing for 343 yards and three touchdowns in a remarkable first half that saw the Gators outscore the Thundering Herd 35-0.
"We'll see what they're saying after the game," Grossman had said of a Marshall team that talked bold all week but showed little after kickoff.
When Grossman gave way to classmate Brock Berlin in the fourth quarter, he had completed 20-for-30 for 375 yards. Playing with confidence and poise, Grossman spread the field and rediscovered his special connection with wide receiver Jabar Gaffney (five catches, 102 yards).