As Carl Johnson approached the tunnel - just minutes away from storming onto the field for his first career start against defending champion LSU - he received some simple but choice words to give him inspiration from the man he is attempting to replace, Jim Tartt.
"He came up to me and said 'four to six seconds,'" Johnson said. "'Four to six seconds and leave nothing on the field. If you can look at yourself in the mirror on Sunday morning, and you have doubt, then you didn't give everything you have.' My goal was to not let my boy down and give everything I had."
Maybe it was Tartt's inspirational words or finally being given the opportunity he'd been patiently waiting for, but Johnson certainly took those words to heart as he, and UF's offensive line put together its most consistent effort of the season.
Quarterback Tim Tebow certainly has noticed and felt a difference in the intensity of the line. Though Tebow was sacked just five times in the Gators' first four games, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner often looked uncomfortable by the amount of pressure opponents were putting on him.
Tebow has looked comfortable in the past two contests though, and that has resulted in two of UF's most lopsided victories this season.
"Our line wore out Arkansas' defense which allowed us to get some good runs towards the end of the game," Tebow said. "We moved the ball and continued to execute better every week. Ever since the Ole Miss game we've done a really good job maintaining blocks."
Johnson maintains the Gators' offensive line has been solid throughout the season, and onlookers are only beginning to recognize a line that had aspirations of being the best in the nation entering the season.
"There hasn't really been a turnaround because in my eyes if you go back to Ole Miss in a loss we played good," he said. "There were a couple of mistakes, but I don't really think of it as a turnaround. I think people have their eyes on us more than before, and they're seeing what we've been doing all year."
For the redshirt sophomore, the key has been seeing the type of effort it takes to compete in the Southeastern Conference. Johnson has placed himself under the tutelage of senior lineman Phil Trautwein, who takes the time to give Johnson pointers whenever necessary.
Also, realizing the type of intensity needed to compete in the SEC was a hurdle for Johnson.
A highly touted offensive lineman coming into UF, Johnson was accustomed to simply getting by on his athletic ability, rather than having to outplay his opponent.
A few meetings with former Gators Joe Cohen and Ray McDonald changed his perceptions early on though.
"This is the closest in my eyes you can get to the NFL," he said. "You have to come every day and every snap. If you don't go hard in this conference you'll get put on your butt."
"I got put on my butt by Joe Cohen and Ray McDonald."
With LSU defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois saying that the Tigers' defense would love to get a shot at Tebow, Johnson would have an opportunity to defend not only his home field, but also the respect of his fellow linemen.
"It's like coach says, if someone calls you out in your house what are you going to do?" he said. "Are you going to barbecue or mildew?"
"Either you're going to barbecue or you're going to be in your room crying. Either you're going to eat steak or Popeye's Chicken. Personally, I love steak. I don't want any Popeye's Chicken."
