Watching Gators remind Johnson of ``Land of the Giants''

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Watching the 17th-ranked Florida Gators on film is giving Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson flashbacks to a television show he used to watch.<br> <br> And it&#39;s ``Land of the Giants&#39;&#39; instead of ``Mission Impossible.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> ``It&#39;s returned in reruns,&#39;&#39; Johnson said Monday at his weekly news conference. ``I see it on tape as I watch it. They&#39;re huge, and they&#39;re fast, and they&#39;re very skilled. They&#39;re utilizing all that skill and speed and size. When you&#39;ve got those kind of weapons, you can play.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The Gators (6-3, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) are hitting their stride with a three-game winning streak and fresh off their 16-13 upset of Georgia.<br> <br> Johnson&#39;s Commodores (1-8, 0-5) just enjoyed their first Saturday off since the season started, a welcome break for a team coming off a 35-24 loss at South Carolina and whose only victory this season came over a Division I-AA opponent.<br> <br> The latest loss extended their SEC losing skid to 22 games dating back to a victory over Kentucky in November 2000. Johnson said his Commodores, with 16 starters sophomores or younger, remain in good spirits despite the trying circumstances.<br> <br> ``It certainly helps that they had some time off. They were certainly more jovial, I don&#39;t know what you&#39;d call it, yesterday at practice. They just didn&#39;t have the burden of a loss with you right there at practice,&#39;&#39; Johnson said.<br> <br> The losing is beginning to take a toll. Defensive end Jovan Haye said their youth helps them keep bouncing back but that they are tired of losing.<br> <br> ``We&#39;ve played too many games. A lot of could&#39;ve, should&#39;ve, would&#39;ve games. We&#39;ve got three opportunities to get there,&#39;&#39; he said of snapping the SEC skid. ``We start with Florida this weekend.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Florida has won 12 straight in this series, marking Vanderbilt&#39;s longest losing skid against the Gators. But the Commodores usually make it tough with four of the last seven decided by a touchdown or less.<br> <br> Last season, Vanderbilt trailed 21-17 and had opportunities to take the lead in the fourth quarter but couldn&#39;t put together a drive offensively.<br> <br> It won&#39;t be any easier Saturday when the Commodores visit the Swamp where Florida is 14-1-1 in this series and where Vandy hasn&#39;t won since 1988.<br> <br> The Commodores&#39; biggest problem remains the inability to put together a complete game. In losing 27-8 to Georgia on Oct. 18, the defense played well in the first half, while the offense played well in the second half against South Carolina.<br> <br> But the offense also turned the ball over three times in that loss at South Carolina, and Vandy ranks last in the SEC in turnover margin. The Commodores have twice as many turnovers (22) as they have forced (11).<br> <br> Receiver Erik Davis said they have to deal better with their turnovers.<br> <br> ``The mistakes are going to happen. You have to be more mentally prepared to deal with them,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Or get bitten again by the Gators.

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