ATLANTA (AP) -- Was it really just three months ago that Alabama staggered out of Legion Field, stung by a chorus of boos from the crimson-clad faithful and wondering just how much longer coach Mike DuBose would have a job?

	Alabama 's Shaun Alexander leaves Florida's Robert Cromartie in the dust Saturday night.

On Saturday night, all was forgiven.

The Crimson Tide (No. 8 ESPN/USA Today, No. 7 AP) completely dominated No. 5 Florida for a 34-7 victory in the Southeastern Conference championship game, limiting the Gators to 114 yards in the worst offensive performance of the Steve Spurrier era.

If that wasn't remarkable enough, consider where the Alabama program stood on Sept. 18, reeling from a 29-28 loss to Louisiana Tech after giving up a fourth-down, 28-yard touchdown pass with two seconds remaining.

DuBose already was under fire, having admitted in August that he lied about his personal relationship with a school employee who settled a sexual harassment claim against him. Angry fans called for his ouster.

"It's amazing how coach DuBose kept this team together," Shaun Alexander said. "We worked so hard. I'm proud of this team."

Spurrier hardly feels the same way about his team, which fell dismally short of its sixth SEC title of the decade.

"We're not really a lively bunch," said Spurrier, who has coached his alma mater since 1990. "We don't have a lot of fire in us. We went downhill from the middle of the season."

Alabama (10-2) had not won the SEC title since beating Florida in the first league championship game seven years ago. The Tide is likely headed to the Orange Bowl to meet Michigan.

Florida (9-3) will probably have to settle for the Citrus Bowl against Michigan State.

"That was a pretty thorough beating they gave us," Spurrier said. "Our offense is about the worst we've ever had at Florida. We're a bad offensive team."

How bad? The "Fun 'n' Gun" offense managed only 31 yards rushing and six first downs. The Gators were 0-of-9 on third-down conversions and held the ball for only 19 minutes, 49 seconds.

"Everybody has to be held accountable on offense," said quarterback Jesse Palmer, who completed only 7-of-20 for 80 yards, with three interceptions. "We just didn't get it done."

The previous low for total yards by a Spurrier-coached team was 194 against Tennessee, way back in his first season. As for first downs, the previous low was 12 in a loss to Florida State a year ago. It was Florida's worst defeat since a 62-24 loss to Nebraska in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl.

Alabama clinched the victory by scoring two touchdowns 18 seconds apart in the fourth quarter.

Freddie Milons broke loose for an electrifying 77-yard touchdown run with 11:54 remaining, pushing Alabama (10-2) to a 22-7 lead. On Florida's next play from scrimmage, defensive end Reggie Grimes picked off a deflected pass and returned the interception 38 yards for another TD.

The 288-pound Grimes tried his version of the "Lambeau Leap" into the end zone stands at the Georgia Dome. Unfortunately, he couldn't jump quite high enough to reach the grasp of delirious Alabama fans, but that was about the only flop for the Crimson Tide on this night.

"If we were scared of Florida, we wouldn't win," said Milo Lewis, grasping an unlit cigar in the Alabama locker room after coming up with two interceptions. "But we're not."

Obviously. The turning point for Alabama's season was a 40-39 overtime victory over Florida on Oct. 2, snapping the Gators' 30-game winning streak at The Swamp.

Florida yearned for another shot at the Tide, believing the loss was nothing more than a fluke. Alabama proved otherwise, controlling the ball for more than 40 minutes in a stunning replay of its first victory.

While the Tide dominated throughout, finishing with 300 yards rushing and 462 yards in all, the championship game didn't become a rout until the final quarter.

Milons, a receiver who frequently lines up in the backfield, took a snap at the Alabama 23 and ran left, finding nothing but Florida players. He headed the other way, broke a couple of tackles in the backfield, escaped the grasp of Daryl Dixon along the right sideline and ran untouched the rest of the way.

Milons finished with 116 yards rushing on six carries and was named MVP.

"The play of Freddie Milons was just unbelievable," DuBose said. "He may start at quarterback the next time."

Alabama clinched the victory on the next play from scrimmage. Palmer, who went most of the way at quarterback for Florida, had a pass tipped at the line by Jarret Johnson. The ball fell right in the arms of Grimes, who took off the other way for the clinching touchdown.

"I didn't know if I wanted to jump in the stands or punt the ball," Grimes said.

Alexander, who had 97 bruising yards on 30 carries, finished off the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown run.

Alabama rotated quarterbacks Andrew Zow and Tyler Watts on every series. Zow completed 10-of-17 passes for 134 yards, while Watts was 3-of-7 for 21 yards.

Doug Johnson, the Florida starter most of the season, played only one series, failing to complete his two passes. At the end, the Gators put up a white flag by sending in third-stringer Kevin McKinnon, who threw another interception.

The Gators had 55 yards on their opening drive, needing only four plays to take a 7-0 lead. Tailback Earnest Graham stunned the Tide by throwing a 3-yard touchdown to Erron Kinney just 1:40 into the game.

After that, Florida managed only 59 yards.

"It's surprising that the whole game we could not get anything going," Spurrier said. "It was a poorly coached offense, you've got to say that, too."