KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Rex Grossman couldn't help himself. Neither could his father. So even though they stood before some 30 reporters, the Grossmans refused to hold back their excitement one bit.

There was Dad Daniel, after popping his head into the interview room: "Did you plan on beating Tennessee today?"

Rex, recognizing the voice: "Yes sir."

Dad, standing on his tippy toes to reach over reporters and slap his son a thunderous high five: "Damn straight!"

Earlier in the week, Grossman called former coach Steve Spurrier looking for advice. Later in the week, he called his receivers and linemen, reminding them that if everybody did their job, the Gators would come out on top.

	Rex Grossman got himself back into Heisman contention with Saturday's effort.

So on Saturday, when it finally happened, when the Gators dominated Tennessee and sent the message that they are far from done this season, Grossman was the first to celebrate. On the field, he performed a postgame breakdance with receiver Kenneth Tookes. Then, orange Florida helmet held high above his head, he skipped his way to the locker room like an eight-year-old boy at recess.

"We earned this one," lineman David Jorgensen said. "Look at him go."

Throughout Saturday's game, Grossman looked dead and buried on so many different occasions, lost in sea of drooling Tennessee defenders, only to escape and find the open man -- often for a critical completion.

Similarly, the Gators looked dead walking into this game, suffering through homefield boos in an ugly win last week against Ohio, only to show up in Knoxville, capitalize on Tennessee's mistakes and skip out of Neyland Stadium with a 30-13 win.

Afterwards, the biggest reason was summed up in one word: Rex.

"He makes us what we are," offensive lineman Shannon Snell said. "He is the Florida Gators. Without him, we aren't standing here today. We aren't talking about beating Tennessee. The way he played today, the guts he showed -- he's the man."

Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer was just as impressed.

"In my opinion, he won the Heisman tonight," Fulmer said.

It was a far cry from two weeks ago, when Grossman shouldered the blame for a 41-16 loss to No. 1 Miami and many threw his Heisman chances out the Florida Field press box window.

On Saturday, the cannon-like arm was there. So was the crucial decision-making. But most impressive was a talent that few outside of the Gator program realized the kid from Indiana possessed -- elusiveness.

"He's a tough dude," running back Ran Carthon said. "You look at him and you see a well-built guy. Bouncing off defensive ends and linebackers is what he does. And as a teammate, that gets you fired up."

There was plenty to be fired up about on Saturday. Just like the Miami game, Tennessee put plenty of pressure on Grossman, flushing him out of the pocket on most plays and beating him up when he stayed. After one play, Grossman hobbled to the sidelines after twisting his ankle and spraining his knee on the same hit.

But unlike the Miami game, he bounced off most of those hits like a pinball. And when he did, he zinged Favre-like bullets through a driving rainstorm for big Florida gains. One such play -- a 52-yard strike to Taylor Jacobs -- set up the Gators first score. Another Houdini act led to a 22-yard pass to Carlos Perez, setting up Florida's third score.

	“	He is the Florida Gators. Without him, we aren't standing here today. We aren't talking about beating Tennessee. The way he played today, the guts he showed -- he's the man. ”
		— Florida offensive lineman Shannon Snell

Afterwards, Grossman called it "backyard football," a brand of unorganized, catch-me-if-you-can sandlot ball he hasn't played since high school.

"A lot of fun," Grossman said. "Anytime you can make something out of nothing, it's a plus. I'm just back there trying to buy a little time, let my receivers show me their numbers and make things happen."

His teammates, on the other hand, called it toughness. Determination. And the pure core of what makes the Gators tick.

"When the protection breaks down and guys are bearing down on him, he doesn't care, even if they're 300 pounds," Jorgensen said. "He still makes plays. And that's why he's our leader."

Grossman started the game 4-of-13, but completed 15 of his last 20 attempts. Perhaps most impressive was an 8-of-11 performance during a second quarter plagued by torrential downpours.

While Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen was struggling to receive the ball from center Scott Wells, fumbling on three straight occasions, Grossman had his best quarter, throwing for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

On one play, Tennessee defenders blanketed Grossman so that he disappeared, only to escape and break loose for an 18-yard gain. At the end of which, he refused to slide.

"I've never slid in my career," Grossman said. "They keep telling me to slide, but I'm like, 'I don't know how.'"

It was a critical quarter that sent Gator confidence soaring, which was important.

Leading into the game, morale was low, both inside and out of the program. At one Gator booster function, a Florida reporter wrote that only ¼ of the fans in attendance raised their hands when asked if they thought Florida would beat Tennessee. Said one fan, draped from head to toe in Gator gear: "I just hope we don't get embarrassed."

Even Grossman, despite his confident exterior, was a tad uncertain. Why else would he have called his former coach asking for some tips?

"We played phone tag," Grossman said. "I wanted to ask him for a few routes here and there. He's been in these big games and knows what it takes. That was it."

But so has Grossman. And as it turned out, he didn't need Spurrier's help. Now, the Gators are 3-1, Grossman is a legitimate Heisman candidate again and all seems well in Gainesville.

"If you read anything, it hasn't been extremely positive the past couple weeks," Grossman said. "So this was sweet. Real sweet. We're back on line for the season we want to have. And that's what today was all about."

Damn straight.

Wayne Drehs is a staff writer at ESPN.com. He can be reached at wayne.drehs@espn3.com.