Tuscaloosa, AL (U-WIRE) -- It doesn't get much better than this, at least not for now.

With the eyes and ears of the college football world focused on Tuscaloosa on Saturday, No. 15 Alabama's thrashing of No. 5 Florida made a loud and proud declaration of the Crimson Tide's championship past and also of its possible championship future.

Alabama's win over the Gators was its first home victory over a top-5 team since beating Penn State at Legion Field in Birmingham in 1982, and it was the first for the Tide in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

It was also the most lopsided loss in Florida head coach Urban Meyer's 52-game head coaching career.

"I've always believed the most prepared team wins," Meyer said. "The team in red was much more prepared than the team in orange."

The Gators' pass defense entered the game as the nation's best, yielding 144 yards per game, but quarterback Brodie Croyle and his multitude of wide receivers were up to the challenge, picking apart the Florida secondary almost at will.

Croyle was 14 of 17 on the day for 283 yards and three touchdowns, the third of which set a UA career record for touchdown passes: 36.

"I don't know if any college quarterback played better than Brodie Croyle did today," offensive coordinator Dave Rader said.

Running back Ken Darby had 101 yards on 15 carries against what was, said center J.B. Closner, the best defensive line Alabama has faced this season.

"All the attention was focused on them," offensive lineman Kyle Tatum said. "And they had all the trash talking, but we just ignored it and let our actions do all the talking. I think they can see that from the score on the scoreboard."

The only disappointment of the afternoon came late in the game, when wide receiver Tyrone Prothro landed awkwardly in the end zone and broke both the tibia and the fibula in his left leg while trying to haul in a fourth-and-5 pass from the Florida 27 with the Tide ahead 31-3.

"It leaves you with an empty feeling," Shula said. "Our heart goes out to him."

The team gathered in prayer while paramedics attended the star wide receiver.

Minutes later, as he was being carted off the field, the student section chanted Prothro's name.

Prothro's injury, however, didn't overshadow what was easily the biggest win of the Shula era.

On Alabama's first play from scrimmage, Croyle unleashed a pass from his own 5 yard line that fell in the waiting hands of Prothro en route to an 87-yard-touchdown reception, the third-longest touchdown in Alabama history.

The result marked the third time since 1973 that Alabama scored on the first play of the game.

"It's just a matter of getting Prothro the ball and letting him go," Croyle said. "It was just fun to watch in my view."

The offensive explosion, however, didn't stop there.

On the ensuing possession, defensive end Chris Harris intercepted a Chris Leak pass and ran it back to the Florida 2-yard line, and three plays later fullback Tim Castille barreled into the end zone for the score.

Throw in a Jamie Christensen field goal, and Alabama had the Gators down 17-0 before the first quarter was even over.

"The first three series set the tone for the game," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "We didn't execute well enough, and we crumbled early."

The lead grew to 24-3 midway through the second quarter when, on the drive's first play, Croyle gunned a pass to receiver Keith Brown, who despite being surrounded by a bevy of defenders turned the simple slant route into a 65-yard touchdown.

"I don't know how he caught it," Croyle said. "Keith said he didn't see the ball, he just saw a speck and got his hands up."

Said Brown, "When I came across on my slant route the linebacker was in my way and I just saw a flash of brown go by his head. I put my hands up and made an awesome catch right on my fingertips."

The score would remain the same for the remainder of the half, however, it could have been even worse.

A 64-yard punt return for a touchdown by Prothro was called back due to an illegal block in the back.

Alabama only had to wait until the outset of the second half to add to its already seemingly insuperable lead.

Aided by a 33-yard Darby run, the seven-play, 80-yard drive ended with Croyle's 15-yard-touchdown pass to Prothro, putting the Tide up 31-3 and, in the process, breaking the career touchdown mark previously held by Andrew Zow and Shula

"It's nice," Croyle said. "It was a fun way to get it, against Florida. I'm not concerned about records. If I break them, I break them. If I don't, I don't. I'm about winning football games, whether I throw for 100 or 330."

Said Shula, "I'm happy for him. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. To know what football means to him and what he's been through, he's one of our toughest players and toughest competitors. I'm just happy I was around."

Once the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Alabama players made a beeline toward the student section and the celebration was on.

Defensive linemen Wallace Gilberry, Rudy Griffin and Jeremy Clark as well as Tatum each took turns waving one of the huge Alabama flags in front the vivacious crowd.

Cornerback Simeon Castille "Lambeau Leaped" into the throng of students, much to their delight. And to top it all off Shula trotted over and raised his cap four times in appreciation, with the roar of the crowd increasing each time.

The win paid off with the Tide in the top 10 of both major polls, ranking No. 7 in The Associated Press writers' poll and No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll.

"There were a lot of questions about how we'd match up against a very talented football team," Shula said. "And hopefully we answered some of those questions today."

(C) 2004 The Crimson White via U-WIRE