Florida Gators thread

[azuquita8]

GATORS: THE BEAT
Meyer wants help from loud crowd

Dave Curtis | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted September 29, 2006


Urban Meyer remembers the benefits crowd noise brought last season against Tennessee and Florida State. He knows the troubles crowd noise caused last season at Alabama and LSU.

So, Florida fans, the head coach wants you at your loudest Saturday afternoon when the Crimson Tide roll into Florida Field.

"This is a call to arms," Meyer said after Thursday's practice. "Let's go. Let's break some windows in that building over there."

The building, and the atmosphere in it, provided UF with a huge edge in sweeping last season's home schedule and luring the nation's No. 1 recruiting class to town. Florida's coaching staff expects a slew of prospects to attend Saturday's game and hopes game day here will impress them.

Jones High DE Jaye Howard, who has committed to UF, and Edgewater S Lorenzo Edwards could be part of the collection of high-school seniors.

The crowd, Meyer hopes, also will rattle first-year Tide starting quarterback John Parker Wilson.

The Alabama atmosphere last season certainly hurt Florida, which was still adjusting to a new offensive scheme, in its 31-3 loss there last year.

"That played a part," Meyer said. "You're dealing with 18- and 19-year-olds. And they have a young quarterback.''

Tide receivers impressive

Count on Florida to deviate from the norm and implement some zone pass coverage against the Crimson Tide. Veteran Alabama receivers Keith Brown and D.J. Hall have impressed UF's coaches this season.

"Those are NFL players," Meyer said. "They're going to be playing for a long time."

A year ago, Alabama scored touchdowns on pass plays stretching 87 and 65 yards.

Harvin still recovering

There still is no certainty to Percy Harvin's condition for Saturday afternoon.

"He's still not full speed," Meyer said.

Harvin continues to recover from a high ankle sprain he suffered against Tennessee.

Meyer said fellow true freshmen Brandon James and Jarred Fayson could see time as a receiver or runner in Harvin's place.

[azuquita8]

Retro Gators: The Gators will wear throwback jerseys when they take the field today

By LEAH COCHRAN
Special to The Sun

Orange dominated the Gator home uniforms of the 1980s. This 1984 uniform finished second in our poll. It wasn't until Steve Spurrier's arrival in 1990 that Florida switched back to blue for its home jerseys.
When the Gators come barreling out of the tunnel for today's game against Alabama, you may just do a double-take.

The Gators will be wearing retro uniforms - blue jerseys, white pants and white helmets with an orange "F" on them - instead of their usual home-game blue jerseys with orange helmets.

It's all part of this weekend's festivities celebrating 100 years of Florida football.

"They are going to honor an era of Florida football that was a very successful time," says Norm Carlson, UF's assistant athletic director/historian, who has been working for the athletic association for more than 40 years.

Although the Gator uniforms have changed considerably over the years, the look of the Gators has been somewhat consistent since the '70s. The orange helmet was adopted by coach Ray Graves in 1968 and featured an interlocking UF symbol until Charley Pell introduced the script Gators logo in 1979, his first season as coach. The script was modeled after the New York Giants' helmets, Carlson says.

"In the '60s, the helmets changed a lot," Carlson recalls. "We wore various colors - orange, blue and white. Pell was a new coach looking for something to signify a new era was beginning and it's been popular ever since."

Many people remember the Gators' first championship season in 1984 by the orange jerseys that team wore. Under Steve Spurrier, however, the Gators never wore orange.

"He didn't dislike orange, but he was just more comfortable with blue," Carlson says. "He liked a more traditional white pants and blue jerseys. Which is what the teams wore when he played here in the '60s."

Since the Spurrier era, there have been no major changes in the uniform, which Carlson feels has given the Gators a brand.

"It's kind of in the sentiment around here that they like to keep it traditional," Carlson says.

He says people in the athletic department have joked that the Crimson Tide will be wearing throwback uniforms in this weekend's game as well, because Alabama will be wearing much the same uniform it has worn for decades. Bama's uniforms, Carlson says, are "practically the same" as when Carlson worked at Auburn in the early 1960s before coming to Florida.

So who decides what the players will wear in a game? In some games in recent years, the Gators have worn blue pants with white jerseys, like they wore in Knoxville two weeks ago. Other times they have worn orange pants with white jerseys, sometimes blue pants with blue jerseys, sometimes white pants and white jerseys - all with little apparent rhyme or reason. Carlson says the choice of uniform colors is typically the result of a mix of opinions from the equipment department, the athletic director, the coach and, of course, the players.

The Gators mostly wore blue jerseys in the 1960s. The traditional blue uniforms, voted sixth most popular, are what will be worn today against Alabama.

"The coach needs to feel that his players are comfortable and think it's neat what they are wearing," Carlson explains.

The SEC makes some of the decision for its members - it requires that teams wear their darker color at home (LSU, which always wears white jerseys at home, was granted the lone exemption, as long as the visiting team agrees). Thus Gator fans are used to seeing Florida in blue jerseys at The Swamp.
For a few big home games, Florida has worn blue jerseys and pants. This uniform ranked No. 3. The SEC requires home teams wear dark (LSU got an exemption).

Superstition can play a role as well. If the team wins a big game in a certain uniform, it may stick with that color scheme for a while, Carlson says.

This week more than 8,000 Sun readers voted for their favorite Gator uniform in an informal online survey, and the uniform Florida typically wears for home games - blue jersey, white pants - received the most votes percent of the vote. The next most popular was the 1984 uniform, which features orange jerseys and white pants. Surprisingly, the Nike promotion uniforms that the Gators wore in the 2005 game against Georgia placed fifth. Even though they were a one-game thing, Carlson says the athletic department had the impression that the blue jerseys with the orange left sleeve "didn't work out too well."

This is the standard home uniform for Florida, and it was voted No. 1 in our survey. For the 2005 Georgia game, the Gators wore a Nike promotion uniform. That “didn’t work out too well,” says Gator historian Norm Carlson.
F
ans seem divided right down the orange and blue lines. Douglas E. Whittle from Madison, Wis., wrote in an e-mail to The Sun, "The orange years were the worst by far, and I still feel like retching when they wear orange pants."

However, Dr. Nate Boles of Gainesville wrote, "If I had to choose, I think the mostly orange look of 1984 brings back the happiest memories for me."

The helmets also seem to be a point of contention. Many fans responded that the current helmets are classic, but others want to see it updated. "The Gators script is really looking dated," says fan Keith Frazier. "They could do many stylish things with our logos."

Still other Gator fans look beyond the uniform hype.

"How our team plays the game is more important than how it looks," says Gator fan David Flagg.

[ChaosFghtr]

Looks like I'll be breaking out my vintage orange Emmitt Smith Gators jersey today! Gators will ROLL THE TIDE TODAY!!! GO Gators!!!

[azuquita8]

Florida pulled off another win in The Swamp, and we got our revenge on Bama.

The Gators got off to a slow start after Bama picked up a Leak fumble and ran it in for a TD; they followed with a FG later. Too many penalties cost the Gators yardage, as well as some missed plays by Leak. He later redeemed himself with an impressive rush later in the 2nd quarter which set up the first Gator TD.

Chris Hetland missed two FG's in this game, which leaves a critical gap as far as special teams are concerned. He had missed two PAT's in the Kentucky game, so let's see how Coach Meyer addresses this.

I wasn't impressed with our defensive effort in the 1st half; sure we got a sack on Bama QB John Parker Wilson, but what hsould have been another sack wound up to be a completion for RB Ken Darby, who the Florida D could have done a MUCH better job of containing.

DeShawn Wynn went down with an injury to his right knee after completing a rush; we're hoping this isn't serious. Kestahn Moore can fill in here at tailback; he's starting to show some effort out there as far as making plays.

Tim Tebow was used to advantage once again, rushing for yards, completing a pass and running the ball in for a TD deep in the red zone . He gave up his 2nd fumble as a freshman toward the end of the game, but he did his assignment otherwise.

On offense Jemalle Cornelius deserves a game ball for his catches and a TD; Moore and Tebow also. We didn't see much of Dallas Baker this afternoon (fellow Bear fans, keep an eye on this guy as a WR prospect), but he was the "TD maker" on a 4th quarter play as was Bubba Caldwell, who scored one after being stale for most of the game before that.

Reggie Nelson deserves a game ball for his efforts out there; he converted an interception for a TD and gave us solid play in the secondary. Same to Brandon Siler at LB for forcing the plays on D. Kudos to Ryan Smith on the corner also; he made an INT and got an "almost" on another play in the 4th quarter.

Chris Leak had his ups-and-downs in this game. Sure I'm very critical of him, but I call things as I see them. When he's hot he's hot, and when he's not he sucks. CONSISTENCY is one of his weaknesses, and he needs to do a better job of ball judgment at times. This is the Urban Meyer-spread offense - NOT the Ron Zook "shotgun-draw-and-bubble-screen", and I'd like to see him be a little more aggressive and less conservative out there. Tebow seems to be more effective in the red zone, and with a 2-QB rotation we have an offensive weapon.

It's safe to say we were a little outcoached in the 1st half, but unlike the Zook regime adjustments are being made in the 2nd half that have been to Florida's advantage and give this 2006 team that same characteristic.

We're one down and three to go in this difficult stretch of our schedule. We need to work on cutting down the penalties and putting more pressure on the opposing QB than we've been doing. The upcoming game with LSU will likely be won on defense since both teams show strength in this area - JaMarcus Russell, Justin Vincent and Early Doucet for the Tigers must be shut down for the Gators to win this one, as well as finding a solution to our kicking dilemma.
IMO the Gators have a very good shot at a possible undefeated season if they WANT it bad enough - can they do it? Time will tell.

FINAL SCORE: Florida 28, Alabama 13

GOGATORS!!!!!

[azuquita8]

UF toughs it out for 5-0 record

By ROBBIE ANDREU
Sun sports writer


There was some talk earlier in the week about payback. But payback does not come easy in the Southeastern Conference. Sometimes it doesn't come at all.

Sometimes it comes down to simply surviving.

That's the situation the Florida Gators faced in the second half Saturday against Alabama.

It didn't come down to revenge or payback for last season's embarrassment in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

It came down to surviving.
And like they did in Knoxville a few weeks ago, the No. 5 Gators toughed it out, made the plays when they had to and rallied in the fourth quarter to pull out a huge SEC win.

Getting big plays from their offensive playmakers - and even more big plays from their defensive playmakers - the Gators managed to slip past the Tide 28-13 on Saturday before 90,671 emotionally drained fans in The Swamp.

"Thank you to our players. They toughed it out," UF coach Urban Meyer said. "They were challenged at the beginning of the season. They were challenged maybe six, seven or eight thousand times on their toughness. That's two games they've come from behind and won.

"The adrenaline surge that The Swamp gives you assisted, but our guys really toughed it out."

The victory atones for last year's 31-3 loss to the Tide and moves the Gators to 5-0 on the season and 3-0 in the SEC. Alabama falls to 3-2 and 1-2.

After an awful start Saturday, this was a game that could easily have gotten away from the Gators. They trailed 10-0 early in the second quarter and had less than 50 yards of total offense.

But UF gained a much-needed lift and a much-needed score by driving 95 yards for a TD in the closing minutes of the first half. Then, in the second half, the Gators took control with some huge plays on offense and some even bigger plays on defense, the biggest being safety Reggie Nelson's 70-yard interception return for a touchdown that put the Gators up 28-13 with only 4:19 to play in the game.

"That was my first interception for a touchdown," Nelson said. "It was a great feeling getting into the end zone."

It was appropriate that the Gators clinched this victory with a big play on defense.

While the offense was stumbling around in the first half, the defense kept the Gators in the game.

Then, in the fourth quarter, the defense helped win the game.

Leading only 14-13 midway through the quarter, cornerback Ryan Smith intercepted a John Parker Wilson pass on the Tide 34. Smith fumbled the ball, but Nelson came up with a big recovery.

Three plays later, quarterback Chris Leak threw a jump ball into the end zone that wide receiver Dallas Baker juggled and turned into a 21-yard TD reception with 6:47 to play.

"We never got down on ourselves when we were losing," senior outside linebacker Earl Everett said. "We got back in the game and continued to fight. We are a different team this year."

When the Gators faced adversity in Tuscaloosa last season, they folded in the first half. This time they held on and played their way back into the lead late in the third quarter and made it hold up with some clutch plays on both sides of the ball.

"Our coaches did a great job of adjusting at halftime," said Leak, who threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns. "And our guys did a good job understanding the adjustments. We kept our composure and made all the necessary adjustments we needed to make."

Leak gave the Gators their first lead of the game with 2:39 to play in the third quarter when he found Andre Caldwell open in the right flat and Caldwell juked a defender and went 16 yards for a touchdown. Officials reviewed the play to make sure Caldwell did not lose possession of the ball as he dove into the corner of the end zone. After an anxious few minutes, the play was ruled a touchdown and The Swamp erupted with its loudest cheer of the day.

"I was worried about Coach Meyer getting on my butt (if the officials had ruled it a touchback and given the Tide the ball on the 20)," Caldwell said. "I was very relieved."

So was the crowd, which had seen the Gators playing from behind since late in the first quarter when Alabama linebacker Prince Hall scooped up a fumble and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Tide lead.

Alabama went up 10-0 early in the second quarter on a 21-yard field goal by Jamie Christensen.

The Tide looked in complete control at that point because the UF offense had done nothing.

"That was an awful first quarter," Meyer said.

The Gators put some much needed make-up on an ugly half with the drive of the day, going 95 yards to finally crack the Tide defense. Leak set the offense up with a 45-yard run to the Alabama 3, then true freshman quarterback Tim Tebow bulled his way into the end zone on third-and-goal from the 2.

"Our guys made plays when they had to," Meyer said. "We were dead in the water. Someone asked me on the field (after the game), if you had to say what was the turning point, it was taking the ball 95 yards against that defense. Chris really mixed it up well and had that big run. He did a nice job."

Once Leak and the offense finally took the lead, the defense took over from there.

"When the offense scored, (junior middle linebacker) Brandon Siler gathered up the defense and said, 'The offense did what they needed to do. It's on us now,' " defensive end Jarvis Moss said. "We stepped up and ended up coming through."

The Gators survived - and now it's on to an even bigger game. LSU in The Swamp on Saturday.

[azuquita8]

Meyer credits seniors with the Gators' focus

By ROBBIE ANDREU
Sun sports writer

Florida quarterback Chris Leak looks to pass against Alabama during the first quarter Saturday.
TRACY WILCOX/The Gainesville Sun
Now that No. 5 Florida has gotten past Alabama to move to 5-0, the television analysts and college football experts have started weighing in on the next three games on the schedule and projecting where UF might be at the end of October.

As for the Gators, they are staying in the present. Their focus, Florida coach Urban Meyer said Sunday, is on one Saturday, one game.

LSU in The Swamp in six days.
"I credit our seniors," Meyer said. "We're simply trying to get a third-and-six from our six and get a 95-yard drive going (against Alabama). I credit Chris Leak and Jemalle Cornelius (and the other seniors). We're not thinking about something (in the future).

"The only chance of surviving in this conference is you worry about one play, one quarter, one half at a time. That's what our guys have done. Our guys have really logged in on that theory. Who's setting that tone? Certainly not me. It's the players, those seniors."

Meyer said he's coached on teams in the past that got caught looking ahead and lost games. He said the coaches played a role in creating that mentality.

"I've been on staffs where you start hearing coaches say, 'Let's save this for (a future opponent),' " Meyer said. "I swallowed real hard and said, 'That's wrong.'

"We don't have that kind of staff here. We have a very professional staff. If that's going on, we're cheating our most important people and that's the players. I've seen it, I know it happens."

The Gators began perhaps the nation's most difficult four-game stretch Saturday against Alabama. Up next is No. 9 LSU (4-1), followed by No. 2 Auburn (5-0) on the road and No. 10 Georgia (5-0) in Jacksonville.

As tempting as it is for some to look ahead, Meyer said UF's focus was solely on Alabama in the 28-13 victory Saturday. A day later, the focus shifted solely to LSU, a team many consider the most talented in the SEC.

"Last year, no question they were the most talented team from top to bottom in the conference," Meyer said. "They lost a few players, but I'm hearing the same thing (about this year's LSU team)."

A major part of UF's focus this week figures to be on its tailback situation.

Starting tailback DeShawn Wynn twisted his knee in the second half and was scheduled to have an MRI on Sunday. Meyer said he is questionable for Saturday's game.

"They are doing an MRI, but I do not believe it's a (cartilage or ligament) tear," Meyer said. "I believe it's a sprain."

If Wynn is unable to go, sophomore Kestahn Moore is expected to assume the starting role. The backup likely would be either true freshman Brandon James or sophomore Markus Manson, who has seen limited playing time after rushing for 365 yards last season.

Running backs coach Stan Drayton said last week that Manson has not improved from last season and that's why he's not been a factor in the running game thus far.

"Markus has made a little push in the last week," Meyer said. "The evaluation of tailbacks usually happens in the spring. It's not a tryout camp anymore. We've got to get a guy ready. Markus has shown some improvement.

"Someone has to play. My educated guess would be that Markus Manson would make that step. He has to do it Tuesday and Wednesday (in practice)."

Meyer said true freshman wide receiver Percy Harvin might line up some at tailback if he's able to play in Saturday's game. Harvin sustained a high ankle sprain against Tennessee and missed the Alabama game and played only one play in the Kentucky game.

"The way the first half went (against Alabama), we needed him," Meyer said. "He was not ready."

Harvin will be evaluated this week in practice. His status for Saturday is uncertain.

# NOTES:
College GameDay will be at The Swamp on Saturday, ESPN announced Sunday. Florida will be making its 22nd appearance on GameDay, a figure that leads the nation. ... Leak's 45-yard run in the win over Alabama was the longest by a UF quarterback since Terry LeCount broke loose for 76 yards against Georgia in 1977. ... The Gators had 100 yards in interception return yardage against the Tide, the most by a UF team since 1995. ... Meyer did not agree with an assessment that the Gators have been slow starters in the first quarter. "Against Kentucky we went right down the field and scored (on the opening possession) and we scored in the first quarter against Tennessee. I don't know if I agree with that. We've played some fairly good teams. I'd say we need to improve. We didn't play very well in the first quarter (against Alabama). We need to be more consistent and play well," he said. ... Meyer said true freshman quarterback Tim Tebow's development is coming at an accelerated pace. "We have a Tebow package (for every game) and it's getting closer and closer to our base package because he's becoming a better all-around player who understands the system. Tim's not an ordinary freshman quarterback. He's pretty much game ready now," Meyer said.

Robbie Andreu can be reached at 352-374-5022 or andreur@gvillesun.com

[Ditka Licker]

the gators looked really good I still think they will not win out

[azuquita8]

Originally Posted by Bearsman

the gators looked really good I still think they will not win out

Like I said in my review of the Bama game, time will tell. As much as I'd like to see Florida go undefeated this year it's probable but not favorable; there's likely to be one loss this season.

We're facing our two toughest games on the schedule with LSU and Auburn. If we can win these next two the likelihood of going 12-0 looks better. However, this team still has work to do as far as getting the number of penalties down, the number of missed tackles down and our kicking game.

Leak for Heisman? No way he wins it. His completion % is only 64.6, and he's ranked @ 9th as far as passing and 24th in total offense in the NCAA overall. His consistency needs to improve as well.

One Gator I'd like to see in a Bear uniform is WR Dallas Baker. He's averaging 89.6 yards per game recieving so far, and he has some legitimate speed.

[azuquita8]

Wynn might play Saturday
Coach Urban Meyer talks with running back DeShawn Wynn after Wynn was hurt in the third quarter of the Florida v. Alabama game Saturday. [ Alexander Cohn/The Gainesville Sun ]
Tailback DeShawn Wynn's sprained knee may not prevent him from playing in Saturday's game against LSU, Florida coach Urban Meyer said in a press conference Monday.

"There's a chance he'll play," Meyer said.

Wynn's knee was referred to as "a little sore," after being "very sore" Sunday night, Meyer said.

Wynn's performance in Florida's 28-13 win over Alabama earned him a grade of champion. Wynn played his best half of football, Meyer said.

"Obviously Wynn is a big part of the running game," said quarterback Chris Leak. "I think DeShawn will be ready to go."

"I think he'll try to play," said Kestahn Moore, who would likely start in place of Wynn. "I think it depends on how he feels in practice."

[azuquita8]

Meyer expects to have Harvin set

By Robbie Andreu
Sun sports writer

It appears Florida's offense will receive a speedy boost heading into Saturday's game against the nation's No. 1 defense.
True freshman wide receiver Percy Harvin is on target to return after missing most of the past three games with a high ankle sprain, UF coach Urban Meyer said Monday.
"This week, I'm understanding he should be pretty close to 100 percent. He'll play this week," Meyer said. "I'm 99 percent sure he'll play this week."
Harvin was one of UF's biggest playmakers in the first two games of the season. He injured his ankle in the first half against Tennessee and has played only one play since (a run early in the Kentucky game two weeks ago)."
The recovery time for a high ankle sprain is usually several weeks.
"They are bad deals," Meyer said. "I didn't anticipate (Harvin's) lingering. I prayed and hoped it wouldn't."
Harvin's return would give the Gators more playmaking ability against an LSU defense that is giving up only 7.4 points and 193.4 yards total yards a game.

Nelson honored

Junior free safety Reggie Nelson was named the SEC's defensive player of the week for his performance in UF's win over Alabama.
Nelson sealed the victory with a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown with 4:19 remaining in the game. Earlier in the fourth quarter, he recovered cornerback Ryan Smith's fumble (following an interception) that helped set up a touchdown that gave the Gators a 21-13 lead.
Nelson also had five tackles and deflected a pass.
"He played exceptional," Meyer said.

Lots of champions on 'D'

The Gators won Saturday's game with defense and that was reflected in the weekly grades handed out by the coaches.
All 11 defensive starters, plus two more players on defense, graded out as champions, Meyer said.
The champions were linemen Derrick Harvey, Ray McDonald, Javier Estopinan, Joe Cohen, Steven Harris and Jarvis Moss, linebackers Brandon Siler, Brian Crum and Earl Everett and defensive backs Tony Joiner, Reggie Lewis, Ryan Smith and Nelson. Nelson was named defensive player of the game.
On offense, the champions were Leak, tailbacks DeShawn Wynn and Kestahn Moore, offensive linemen Rissler, Drew Miller and Phil Trautwein and wide receivers Dallas Baker, Andre Caldwell and Jemalle Cornelius, who was the offensive player of the game.
Meyer said Wynn was having perhaps his best game before he sprained his knee in the opening minutes of the second half.
"He played his best half of football," Meyer said. "A couple of plays stood out. On the goal line, he launched himself over and I've never seen him do that in the past. And he caught a pass in the flat and got five extra yards by reckless play, hard play. He needs to continue to do that."

The Manning influence

Meyer said starting quarterback Chris Leak has benefitted from spending time with Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning at the Mannings' passing camp this summer in Louisiana. Leak was invited by Archie Manning to work at the camp.
"What wasn't a strong point for him is becoming a stronger point," Meyer said. "I've learned a lesson. I'm going to send a quarterback every year to go watch the big boys doing it.
"You can count on Tim Tebow being in New England next year. He's going to go. Certainly, we're not allowed to pay for him, but he's going to go watch Tom Brady operate the (Patriots') offense. I think that's a better way to learn, watch the big boys do it. The Mannings helped Chris Leak this summer."

Failure to connect

Center Steve Rissler said the shotgun snap that hit Leak in the chest and resulted in Alabama's only touchdown Saturday was caused by a communication breakdown between center and quarterback.
"It was just a miscommunication with the cadence," Rissler said. "The running back didn't go in motion at the right time and Chris yelled something. He should have motioned (to the back) with a signal. When I heard him yell something I snapped it.
"I snapped it and here comes the ball rolling up on my feet. I went to dive on it and someone had already grabbed it. I wasn't expecting it at all."
Alabama linebacker Prince Hall scooped up the ball and ran 50 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.
"It's just bad fortune. It should never happen again," Rissler said. "It was a good snap, but it wasn't good. If (Leak) isn't paying attention it doesn't matter where it hits him."

Harvey coming on

After being pretty much a non-factor as a redshirt freshman last season, Harvey, a former High School All-America, is starting to make plays as a starting defensive end.
"He's doing great," Meyer said. "That's the normal progression of a young guy - come in and redshirt, play a little bit (the next year) and then you're a starter. The third year is when you start playing. He's doing an excellent job.
"If you play for (defensive line) coach (Greg) Mattison for three years you're going to be a much better player than two years prior. You can see that in Derrick Harvey."

LSU guard out

One of LSU's best offensive linemen will miss Saturday's game. Starting left guard Will Arnold sprained his ankle in the Tigers' victory over Mississippi State last Saturday and is expected to be out for two to three weeks.
He will be replaced in the starting lineup by sophomore Herman Johnson. Johnson holds the distinction of being one of the biggest babies ever born in the state of Louisiana. At birth, he weighed in at 15 pounds, 14 ounces.
He is now 6-foot-7 and weighs 340.

[azuquita8]

By ROBBIE ANDREU
Sun sports writer



Speculation that defensive tackle Marcus Thomas had been spotted on the Florida practice field spread fast and furious across the Internet and talk radio Tuesday afternoon.

As it turns out, Thomas was actually there, but his status with the team has not changed. Thomas remains under indefinite suspension and he is not allowed to participate in any team activities.

Thomas was on the practice field before practice working out on his own, UF coach Urban Meyer said.

"That's something he's allowed to do," Meyer said.

Meyer said he does not know if or when Thomas might be allowed to rejoin the team.
Wynn, Harvin hurting Starting tailback DeShawn Wynn missed his second consecutive day of practice and remains questionable for Saturday's game against LSU. Wynn sprained his knee early in the second half of UF's victory over Alabama last Saturday.

True freshman wide receiver Percy Harvin continues to nurse a high ankle sprain and his status for Saturday's game is uncertain.

"(Wynn) is getting better," Meyer said. "I asked (strength and conditioning coordinator) Mickey (Marotti) if there is any chance (he'll play) and he said there's a chance. I'll know more tomorrow. He's supposed to be out here tomorrow.

"(Percy was) gimpy today. I was hoping he'd be a little further advanced. He did a little bit, but not a full practice today."
Tough Tebow Tim Tebow's tough, physical runs have become a big hit with Florida fans, but they make his coach cringe just a little bit.

"It doesn't scare me (when he runs), it concerns me," Meyer said. "It alarms me, not because of Tim, but because we have (only) two scholarship quarterbacks.

"That power play (when Tebow scored on 2-yard run against Alabama), he ended up four or five yards deep in the end zone. (His running) alarms me just because we don't have a lot of depth there."

Tebow said he isn't concerned about taking shots or getting hurt. He certainly passed the toughness test in high school. He finished a game his sophomore season playing with a broken bone in his leg. Tebow also played several games late last season on a sprained ankle.

"You really can't worry," said the true freshman from St. Augustine Nease. "If you're worried about getting hurt you're not playing to the best of your potential. If you think about stuff like that, you're a long way behind.

"I guess it's the coaches' job to be worried about players. I don't try to worry about it too much. That's something you really can't control."

Tebow is UF's second-leading rusher with 193 yards on 32 carries.
Feeling Peyton's pain Tebow said he understands how Peyton Manning must feel about going 0-for-4 against Florida. At Nease, Tebow had the same record against arch-rival St. Augustine.

"I feel like Peyton Manning against Florida. I was 0-and-four," Tebow said.

Tebow is now friends and teammates with former St. Augustine stars Brandon James and Jacques Rickerson, who also are true freshmen.

"I never hated Brandon James and (Rickerson)," Tebow said. "We were always cool off the field. They were great players, and they gave us a little havoc in those games."

Tebow and the St. Augustine guys have been going back and forth a little bit this week because Nease plays the Yellow Jackets on Friday night.

"We haven't talked about it too much," Tebow said.

Tebow is predicting Nease will win Friday night's game, 28-21.
No crying in football? Meyer, of course, became emotional after last year's loss at LSU and shed some tears in his postgame press conference.

Monday, he was asked if it's OK to cry in football.

"I'll tell you one thing about football," Meyer said. "After a hard day's work, you don't see guys shake hands and leave. Everybody hugs each other.

"In some sports, it's just good game (and you shake hands). You don't do that in football. Football is hard, really hard."
Support for Hetland Chris Hetland missed (barely) a 36-yard field goal attempt against Alabama and is now 0-for-3 for the season. Almost midway through the season, UF is the only team in the Southeastern Conference that has not made a field goal.

Despite the latest miss, Meyer is standing behind Hetland.

"He hit the ball well," Meyer said. "I'm going to stay with Chris. He does need to make 'em. But I have great confidence in Chris."

Contact Robbie Andreu at 374-5022 or andreur@gvillesun.com.

[azuquita8]

BY ROBBIE ANDREU
Sun sports writer



UF junior linebacker Brandon Siler makes his way around Florida Field after a win against Alabama on Saturday. More college football, 5C
DOUG FINGER/The Gainesville SunCompared to The Swamp's glory days, Florida's current home winning streak is rather modest.

But, it's a promising start for a program that completely lost its home-field edge in three years under Ron Zook.

"Getting The Swamp back to where it was. ... That's the goal," junior wide 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 that field we can't be beat."

The Gators have been searching for that feeling because it became lost under Zook's watch.

In Zook's three seasons, the Gators lost six games in The Swamp. That may not sound all that atrocious until you consider the Gators lost only five games at home in 12 seasons under Steve Spurrier. Four of those losses were to top six teams - No. 1 FSU in 1993, No. 6 Auburn in 1994, No. 1 FSU in 1999 and No. 5 Tennessee in 2001.

From Oct. 29, 1994 to Sept. 18, 1999, Florida did not lose at home. The Gators ran off a school-record 30-game home winning streak.

Under Urban Meyer, the Gators have started streaking again in The Swamp. Meyer is 10-0 at Florida Field, and the Gators have now won 12 consecutive games at home dating back to the end of the 2004 season.

It's a start.
"I think we're getting it back. We're still in the process," senior wide receiver Jemalle Cornelius said. "The fans are into it now. The bigger the game, the louder the crowd and that helps us.

"That's something we definitely take pride in. ... Defending The Swamp."

In 2002 through 2004, the Gators failed to keep The Swamp swagger alive. They lost two home games in 2002, three in 2003 and one in 2004.

When Meyer arrived in Gainesville the poor home record was one of the first things he set out to fix. Winning at home has been emphasized ever since.

"He was embarrassed by some of these past years and how many games we've lost at home," sophomore defensive tackle Javier Estopinan said. "We're the Florida Gators. We're not supposed to lose, especially at home."

Meyer knows something about winning at home. In his five-plus seasons as a head coach (Bowling Green, Utah and UF), he has won 32 of 34 home games, one of the best home records in college coaching.

"Winning at home was the big focus for him when he got here," Caldwell said. "This is our home field and we have to protect this house. That was the big focus in the offseason."

Said senior defensive tackle Steven Harris: "You're not supposed to lose at home. Coach Meyer has stressed that a lot."

The Gators have been perfect in The Swamp under Meyer.

"I think we've gotten The Swamp back to some degree," senior center Steve Rissler said. "We're not saying it's back yet, but we're well on our way."

Meyer's first big home win came early, a 16-7 victory over Tennessee in the third game of the 2005 season. Then came one just as big at the end of the season, a 34-7 drubbing of arch-rival Florida State.

Now comes the next protect-this-house test - No. 10 LSU on Saturday.

Not only are the Tigers the last team to beat the Gators in The Swamp, they've won the last two times they've been here.

LSU routed Florida 36-7 in 2002 and came from behind to win 24-21 two years later.

The Tigers will be going for The Swamp trifecta Saturday, while the Gators strive to keep their promising, young home winning streak alive.

"This is a big game to let everyone know The Swamp is back and we can't be beat here," Caldwell said. "It's going to be a big test and we're going to try and win."

A victory Saturday would restore some of the old Swamp mystique.

But would it bring Florida Field back to where it was in the magical 1990s?

"I don't know if we've earned that yet," Cornelius said. "In the 1990s, they were dominant at home. We have to win a lot more games to get to that stature. We have to win some big games against some top schools. We need to keep playing and winning (at home), then we'll have that stature."

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Gators defense is learning to step up
Florida finds success in adversity as several players have come forward on defense.

Dave Curtis | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted October 4, 2006


GAINESVILLE -- Florida defensive tackle Marcus Thomas appeared on the practice field Tuesday for the first time since Coach Urban Meyer suspended him from all team activities two weeks ago.

Meyer said Thomas went through a workout on his own and that his status with the team hadn't changed. He declined to comment on whether Thomas would play Saturday against LSU.

"It's out of my hands," Meyer said.

When news hit of Thomas' suspension, which his mother, Sheila Mote, said related to a failed drug test from late in the summer, it seemed debilitating for the defense. But some position shuffling along the line, and the impressive performances of two backups, have softened the effect of Thomas' absence.

"Everybody else," backup end Derrick Harvey said, "had to step up."

The words have become a motto. Without their top defensive lineman against Alabama and Kentucky, the Gators have recorded nine sacks and remained in the nation's top 10 in scoring defense (fourth, 9.4 points per game) and rush defense (fourth, 50.2 yards per game).

Maintaining those standards has fallen to players unfamiliar to most Gators fans before this year. Harvey, a third-year sophomore, became a starter at end when Ray McDonald slid inside to cover for Thomas. And Javier Estopinan, another third-year sophomore, made his first career start Saturday at tackle.

Estopinan opted for Florida over Ohio State and North Carolina State and arrived three years ago expecting to become the next great UF linebacker. Instead, he grew too much, moving from 230 pounds as a freshman to almost 270.

"He just got big," co-defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said. "He outgrew the position, so we moved him up."

"Up" meant defensive line and eventually defensive tackle, where he spent last season learning in the trenches behind Thomas, Steven Harris and Joe Cohen. He sat out the season with a leg injury, but the year proved more beneficial than the 36 snaps he played in 2004. Estopinan's weight-room prowess made him a "Maximus" lifter, an elite designation given as the Gators train.

"We've got a handful of guys you're not allowed to mess with," Meyer said of the Maximus status. "And he's one of them."

All of Harvey's high-school success and awards came in football. He set the Maryland high-school, single-season record with 31 sacks in 2003 and was a consensus top-five defensive end nationally in his class.

He redshirted as a true freshman in 2004, but played in just five of eight SEC games in '05 and some wondered whether he'd fulfill his high-school promise. Backed by Meyer and position coach Greg Mattison, Harvey never doubted. "I knew it was going to take me a couple years to get it rolling," he said. "But once it starts rolling, it's not going to stop."

The Gators hope the same goes for this line. After allowing 119 rushing yards in the opener against Southern Miss, the Gators have allowed 132 yards total in their past four games.

With the nation's top three scoring defenses as their next three opponents, Florida's defense needs to keep following Harvey's mantra.

"We've got to keep it up," he said. "We've got to just keep stepping up and making plays."

Dave Curtis can be reached at dcurtis@orlandosentinel.com