updated 1:32 p.m. ET Oct. 6, 2006

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Florida’s home winning streak might be more impressive had it not been for Steve Spurrier.

The fifth-ranked Gators have won 12 in a row at Florida Field, including all 10 under second-year coach Urban Meyer. But the streak pales in comparison to the 23 straight games Spurrier won in Gainesville between 1990 and 1993 and his school-record 30 consecutive home victories between 1994 and 1999.

Nonetheless, the current run is an encouraging start and exactly what the Gators wanted when Meyer replaced Ron Zook.

“Getting The Swamp back to where it was, that’s the goal,” receiver Andre Caldwell said. “We see it’s coming back. We have not lost here in a while. We’re going to try and continue that tradition.

“We feel like nobody should come on our home turf and beat us. We’re starting to get that feeling back that whenever we step on the field we can’t be beat.”

Florida’s streak will get its biggest challenge of the season Saturday against No. 9 LSU. The Tigers (4-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) are the last team to win in Gainesville — a 24-21 victory in 2004 — and have won two in a row and three of four against Florida (5-0, 3-0).

“We had one test at Auburn, but The Swamp is awfully difficult,” LSU receiver Craig Davis said. “There will be hostile fans in a hostile environment.”

Florida Field was most hostile under Spurrier.

The Gators went 68-5 at home during Spurrier’s 12-year tenure, including 18-5 against ranked teams, and created one of the best home-field advantages in college football. That changed under Zook as Florida foundered to a 13-6 home record in three angst-filled seasons. The Gators were 0-5 against ranked teams — losing three of them by at least two touchdowns — and even fell to unranked Mississippi in 2003.

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When Meyer took over in 2004, he made it a point to change his players’ attitude toward what he called the program’s “sacred place.” He wanted them to have a better appreciation for being a member of the football team and care more about playing — and winning — at home.

“He’s just embarrassed by some of the past years and how many times we’ve lost,” defensive tackle Javier Estopinan said. “I mean, we’re the Florida Gators. We’re supposed to win all the time.”

Meyer kicked players out of the locker room during summer conditioning and told them they couldn’t wear orange and blue or anything with the Gators logo on it. He also removed the large replica gator head that was on display between the locker room and the field. Players typically rub the head for good luck before games.

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Meyer got the players’ attention. He eventually relented, allowing them to wear team colors and returning the gator head. Then he instituted the “Gator Walk” — a pregame stroll from the bus to the stadium that runs through thousands of cheering fans — and started a tradition of having players sing the school’s alma mater with fellow students following games.

The moves have seemingly paid off, with the Gators winning every home game under Meyer, including two against ranked Tennessee and Florida State teams last season.

The Gators would like to eventually have the same home swagger that Spurrier’s teams enjoyed. But they understand it will take time. They also know it starts against the Tigers.

“We’ve still got to win a lot more games to get to that stature,” receiver Jemalle Cornelius said. “You got to have big wins against some top schools. This will definitely be a big one for us in The Swamp. We feel like we’re getting it back.”

Added center Steve Rissler: “We’re not saying that it’s back yet, but we’re well on our way.”

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