By ANTONYA ENGLISH, St. Petersburg Times

It is the most anticipated game of the season, the showdown college football fans and prognosticators predicted long before Florida and Alabama actually clinched their respective Southeastern Conference divisions.

No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Alabama will clash for the second consecutive year in Saturday's SEC Championship Game, with a trip to the BCS national title game on the line.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - In five years as a Florida linebacker, Ryan Stamper has steadfastly worked his way from afterthought to starter on the Gators' No. 1, undefeated team, yet up until two weeks ago, he never had a single interception. Now with three regular-season games remaining in his final season, Stamper has had an interception in back-to-back games.

It was the first preseason scrimmage, and wide receiver Riley Cooper had been in pads just six days. He hadn't played football since January, so he, his coaches and his Gators teammates were eager to see how quickly he would return to form.

Every now and then, Brandon Spikes can still hear the voices.
Even now, as the leader of the No. 4 scoring defense in the nation, he can hear it. Even now, considered among the nation's best linebackers, he hears them. Even now, as he helps the No. 2 Florida Gators prepare to take on No. 1 Alabama in Saturday's SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, he still hears it.