JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Urban Meyer knows the truth in the old proverb about revenge being a dish best served cold.

With time running out in the Gators' 49-10 rout of Georgia on Saturday at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, he froze the moment.

He called timeout with 44 seconds left and again with 30 seconds left.

This wasn't so he could run it up with another score, but something more cunning.

It was so his team, coaches and fans could enjoy this giant victory a little bit longer, and maybe, just maybe, so he could prolong Georgia's misery.

Meyer wouldn't admit as much afterward, saying coyly that he just wanted running back Emmanuel Moody to get a couple more carries.

But everyone knew.

"I didn't know what was going on when he called the first timeout," strong safety Will Hill said. "When he called the second timeout, I said, 'That Urban's a funny guy."'

The Gators enjoyed the giddy revelry in those late timeouts as reward for all the hard work they put into gaining their retribution. No matter how this win's couched, that's what it was. Meyer called the intense media focus on Georgia's bench-clearing Gator Stomp after that first score here a year ago "nonsense," and players insisted the insult they felt went deeper than that stunt.

The Gators said their summer was built around reps of 42. That's how many points the Bulldogs scored against them in their 42-30 victory last year. Whether it was push-ups or sit-ups or some exercise, the Gators used that number to remind them and drive them.

Nobody relished those late timeouts Saturday more than Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who hopped in front of the stands waving a towel. He got Gator fans to whoop it up even more.

"Enjoy the moment," Tebow said when asked what he made of the meaning of Meyer's timeouts. "We didn't do anything wrong. We were just enjoying the game."

Give Meyer credit that he could use the highly charged motivation from last year's loss so effectively and efficiently. We've seen lesser coaches fail to control their teams in ugly paybacks. But there was no brawl here, or overheated taunts or excessive celebrations, just ferocious football.

"That's a sign of grown men when they take a challenge to heart, and instead of using their mouths, they work," Meyer said.

Meyer said work was the right answer, the only answer to what happened a year ago.

"College football is a great sport," Meyer said. "We didn't invent it and our guys aren't the first to play it. You always respect the game of football."

Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes set the tone on the second play, jolting Georgia's dynamic Knowshon Moreno with the hit of the game. He picked up Moreno and planted him on his back.

Meyer had another clever answer to Georgia's bench-clearing celebration in the end zone after the Bulldogs' first score a year ago.

He answered with a parade through Georgia's end zone this year.

The Gators' 49 points were their most against the Bulldogs since coach Steve Spurrier put 52 on them in 1994 and again in '95.

What Meyer found most satisfying in the end is that Florida is in position to play for the SEC title and perhaps an even greater title. His Gators have been an indomitable force since their stumble against Mississippi five weeks ago. They've beaten Arkansas, LSU, Kentucky and now Georgia by a cumulative 201-43.

The play of the defense really stands out. A year ago, Meyer said the unit looked "soft" against Georgia, but he heaped love on them after intercepting Matthew Stafford three times, forcing a fumble and limiting Moreno to 65 yards.

"It doesn't get much sweeter than this," Tebow said.