Florida Gators thread

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UF baseball earns spot in SECs


By BRANDON ZIMMERMAN
Sun sports writer



Published: Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.

No SEC scores have been posted on the scoreboard. None have been announced over the public address system.
McKethan Stadium is enduring a complete SEC blackout this weekend during Florida's series with Vanderbilt. That's just how coach Kevin O'Sullivan likes it. He doesn't want the Gators to back into next week's SEC Tournament. He wants Florida to earn it.
That's just what happened Friday night when the Gators held off No. 13 Vanderbilt, 5-4, in front of 2,863 fans at McKethan Stadium. Gator ace Patrick Keating came out of the bullpen to strike out Vanderbilt All-American third baseman Pedro Alvarez with the tying run on second to end the game.
The win clinched an SEC Tournament berth for Florida (33-20, 16-13 SEC), the team's second straight.
"I feel good enough to know we're going to Hoover (Ala.) next week," said Gator shortstop Cole Figueroa, whose three-run home run put Florida up 5-3 in the fifth.
Now, here's more good news for Florida. The Gators can secure the No. 3 seed in the tournament with a win today and a Kentucky loss to visiting Ole Miss. The Gators are currently tied for the No. 3 seed with Kentucky (16-13) heading into today's regular season finale. The Wildcats hold the tiebreaker by way of a series win earlier this year in Lexington.
Florida also knows there is even more to play for today.
"We want to sweep these guys and have a chance to host a regional," said Gator starter Stephen Locke, who improved to 5-2.
Friday's game was delayed by 50 minutes at the start by rain. But it would be late into the night before McKethan Stadium began dripping with drama.
Gator reliever Josh Edmondson relieved Locke with men on first and second in the eighth inning and struck out the side to preserve Florida's 5-3 lead.
Vanderbilt would put runners on the corners with one out in the ninth, prompting Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan to pull Keating — today's scheduled starter — out of the bullpen.
Keating got Dominic de la Osa to ground out, which scored Parker Hanks from third to make it 5-4 Florida with two outs and David Macias on second. With first base open, Florida didn't want to put Alvarez on.
"We thought about it," O'Sullivan said. "Then you've got (Ryan) Flaherty up. By the book, you don't want to put the go-ahead run on."
Keating (8-0, 3.27), would strike out Alvarez swinging on a 1-2 pitch out over the plate.
"It was so intense," said Keating, who recorded his first save. "Sully had confidence in me to go right at him."
Alvarez, who finished 2-for-5, entered the weekend hitting .385 in SEC play.
"For it to come down at the end with Alvarez," O'Sullivan said, "that's not how you want to draw it up."
But the Gators survived, improving to 26-6 at home this season. Florida was overcome with joy afterward at the realization they would going to Hoover.
"That was our goal at the beginning of the week," Locke said. "We wanted to get it done early. That's why we had Patrick in in the ninth. We didn't want it to go to Sunday."
NOTES: O'Sullivan said Tommy Toledo or Kyle Mullaney will start today in Keating's place. ... Matt den Dekker extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a first-inning single. Den Dekker later stole second base to record Florida's 100th steal of the season.

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Baseball nabs 3rd seed at SECs


By BRANDON ZIMMERMAN
Sun sports writer



Published: Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 10:54 p.m.

If Florida's baseball team would like a nickname, here's one suggestion.
The Rally Reptiles.
That's because the Gators never stopped rallying during their regular-season-ending sweep of No. 13 Vanderbilt. It culminated with a thrilling, 13-12, come-from-behind win in 11 innings Saturday afternoon at McKethan Stadium.
Senior Jon Townsend delivered a two-out, walk-off single in the 11th inning which scored Cole Figueroa from second base as Florida erased deficits of 7-1 and 11-8 to win the game.
It was quite a rally, and certainly the theme of the series. The Gators used a pair of two-out, two-run home runs in the eighth inning to win the series opener, 8-6, then came back from a 3-0 deficit to win Friday's heart-stopper, 5-4.
All the drama left Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan exhausted.
"I might sleep 12 hours tonight," he said.
Florida (34-20, 17-13) earned the No. 3 seed in next week's SEC Tournament while Vanderbilt (37-18, 15-14) slipped to the No. 6 seed.
That means these teams will face off again Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Hoover, Ala. Vanderbilt, which has now lost five straight, will certainly be hungry for another crack at the Gators.
"Saying that they're scrappy is probably an understatement," Commodores coach Tim Corbin said of Florida. "They are a whole lot better than a lot of people give them credit for. They know how good they are. They are plenty good enough."
Florida posted a first in each of the three wins over Vanderbilt. Thursday's win was the first time the Gators came back to win a game while trailing after seven innings. Friday's win was Florida's first one-run SEC victory. And Sunday marked the Gators first walk-off win in conference play this year.
"Coach O'Sullivan has always said we're tough when we've got our backs against the wall," Townsend said. "Going into this weekend we knew we had to get the job done to secure our future. We knew we had to win to keep playing."
Singles by Figueroa and Josh Adams put runners on first and second with two outs in the 11th. Townsend, who was honored on Senior Day prior to the game, laced a Brett Jacobson (1-4) breaking ball into left field. Figueroa charged hard around third and slid head-first into a cloud of dust at home plate as Parker Hanks' throw went up the line.
"I got a good pitch to hit," Townsend said. "He was probably tired. It was a breaking ball up in the zone. It was an easy one to hit. I'm glad I connected on it."
The Gators dugout spilled onto the field and mobbed Figueroa at home plate before charging toward Townsend near first base to celebrate Florida's first extra-inning win of the season.
"Nobody tried to do too much," said Figueroa, whose two-run, eighth inning double put Florida up 12-11. "Everyone just tried to get on base and get to the next guy. Bryson (Barber) and B-Mac (Brandon McArthur) came up with big hits (Thursday). Today, Jon came up with the big hit. It's all about getting the right guy up at the right time and him coming through."
Kyle Mullaney (3-4) got the win for Florida after giving up just one unearned run over the final three innings.
"Somebody needed to step up and get some zeros," O'Sullivan said. "That's what Kyle did."
Notes
This was Florida's best SEC record since winning the conference in 2005 with a 20-10 mark. ... Florida hit a season-high four home runs Saturday, giving them eight for the series. ... Florida is now 27-6 at home.

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Robey hops on board early

Buford (Ga.) teammates Omar Hunter and T.J. Pridemore aren't the only two true freshmen who are enrolled in the Summer A semester at Florida. Also starting classes on Monday was offensive lineman Sam Robey from Trinity High School in Louisville, Ky.

Hunter, of course, is the highly rated defensive tackle whom Urban Meyer thinks will have a chance to start this season on the Gators' relatively inexperienced defensive front. Pridemore also could get in the playing rotation at fullback, a position where UF currently has only one other scholarship player, redshirt freshman Steven Wilks, who made the move from outside linebacker this past spring.

Robey is considered a little bit more of a project. He was a defensive end in high school, but the Gators recruited him as an offensive guard or center, a position he has never played before.

Robey is the son of former Kentucky basketball star Rick Robey and has excellent bloodlines and moves extremely well for a kid his size (6-4, 275). Enrolling at UF more than a month earlier than the remainder of the true freshmen (they will arrive for Summer B in the first week of July) will give Robey a chance to gain some much-needed weight and strength " and enhance his chances of competing for the backup role at center behind starter Maurkice Pouncey. The No. 2 job is pretty much wide open, so Robey has a chance if he gets a little bigger this summer and shows some agility in mat drills and other elements in the offseason conditioning program.

I saw Robey at the spring game and it appeared he had already bulked up some compared to the last time I saw him during UF's pre-bowl practices last December. This kid seems serious about getting himself ready to compete.

Of the 22 players who signed with Florida back in February, 11 are already in class at UF and starting to gear up for the 2008 season.

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UF takes All-Sports Trophy again


By BRANDON ZIMMERMAN
Sun sports writer



Published: Monday, May 19, 2008 at 5:07 p.m.

Florida's women once again rule the Southeastern Conference. As a result, so does the Gators' entire athletic department.
Backed by a first-place finish from Florida's women's athletic teams, the Gators have won the 2007-08 SEC All-Sports Trophy with 159.50 points. It is the second straight year and 16th time in 17 years the Gators have captured the trophy, which is presented by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group.
"It's a great source of pride," athletics director Jeremy Foley said. "It's a great league with great athletes, great coaches. Obviously when you can finish on top with an award like this it's a reflection of a great job by coaches and our athletes."
Georgia, which broke Florida's streak of 14-straight SEC All-Sports titles in 2005-06, finished second overall with 140 points while Tennessee was third at 128.50. LSU (136.50) and Auburn (106.50) rounded out the top five.
Florida won the overall SEC women's title in a landslide, finishing with 96 points. Second-place Georgia had 82.50 points.
The Florida women posted five SEC titles (volleyball, soccer, tennis, softball and golf) while its Swimming and Diving program added a runner-up finish.
The Gator men didn't fair too poorly themselves. Florida finished second in the men's standings with 63.50 points, one point behind first-place Tennessee.
"Give Tennessee credit," Foley said. "But our men had a great year too, finishing second."
Interestingly, Florida's defending national champion football and men's basketball teams were the two lowest-placing Gators men's teams this season. They finished tied for fourth and six, respectively, in the 12-team league.
The Gator men's swimming and diving team was the highest men's finisher with a second-place finish, while the UF baseball team finished third in coach Kevin O'Sullivan's inaugural season.
"We're proud of the men, proud of the women," Foley said. "But most of all, we're proud of the entire athletic department for bringing this award home."
Alabama was sixth while Arkansas, Kentucky, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State.
The All-Sports Trophy awards schools points based on the order of finish within the conference. A conference title, for instance, is worth 12 points while a last-place finish is worth one.
The award has been presented by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group since 1994. Prior to that, the league tabulated the SEC All-Sports totals.

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UF recruit happy to spur Hurricanes


By EDWARD ASCHOFF
Special to The Sun



Published: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.

Hallandale is relatively diverse when it comes to fans of different universities.
But when it comes to local talent, it's all Miami talk.
Except for Frankie Hammond Jr.
After his verbal commitment to the University of Florida in November, the Hallandale receiver put to rest any hopes of the locals keeping their hands on him.
“A lot of people wanted him to choose Miami,” said his father, Frankie Hammond, Sr. “A lot of people around town who attended Miami thought he was going to choose Miami.”
When he didn't choose the Hurricanes, chants of "Gators suck" and "You'll only block" rang in the younger Hammond's ears as he walked the halls of his school. His mother, Nida, even said some local newspaper blogs took time to question the receiver's decision to choose UF over UM.
The younger Hammond's allegiance to the Gators began early in his childhood and really materialized when he started competing in the Pepsi Florida Relays in middle school.
The former Junior Olympic high jumper was sold on atmosphere alone.
“The fans there and everybody there is just about the football team and I like to have that attention around me,” said Hammond, a former four-star prospect and the No. 31 player in Florida by Rivals.com. “When that stadium is full it just keeps the players going and going and I love that feeling.”
Making the 325-mile move to Gainesville wasn't an issue for Hammond, but for his mother the transition was a hard to cope with at first.
“As a mom you really want him to stay close to home, but afterwards, when he decided where he wanted to go, I could support him,” she said. “As a mom, personally, you wanted him to stay locally so he could be just a phone call or 15 minutes away from us. But at the same time, that's where he felt more comfortable at.”
The positive she said is that the naysayers could be silenced if UF comes through with a victory when the ’Canes head to Gainesville on Sept. 6.
“I guess for a lot of people locally who are putting UF down it will really give them the opportunity to see what UF is all about,” she said.
There's no doubt that most of the calendars in Hallandale have Sept. 6 circled, but the elder Hammond doesn't expect much love from the surrounding Hurricane fans come game time.
“I don't know about that,” he said. “I know a lot of the Miami fans that are around (Hallandale High) and Seminole fans around the school are cheering for him a little bit because he's from their school. They say, 'We'll root for you as long as you aren't playing our team.' ”
With all the talent the Gators return at receiver, getting a shot to line up against the ’Canes won't be easy.
“They haven't really spoken to me (about his role for the fall),” said Hammond, who is up to 176 pounds and plans to get to 180 before he reports to UF in late June. “A lot of people have been talking to me about redshirting, but when I talk to my coaches they specifically tell me that the spot is here to take and for me to just do what I have to do and if you work hard it's there for the taking.
“If they redshirt me, they redshirt me. I can't argue with that. If I'm not ready and they say I'm not ready, then I won't get mad or anything. I wouldn't say getting a redshirt is anything negative.”
In the meantime, Hammond is just enjoying the thought of seeing the ’Canes in The Swamp this fall.
“It makes it real exciting because we have a couple of teachers who are diehard UM fans and I come in and tell them every day that next year they're not going to win,” he said.

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Donovan: Speights waiting on NBA feedback


By ROBBIE ANDREU
Sun sports writer



Published: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.

In the six weeks that have passed since he declared for the NBA Draft, nothing has changed for Florida center Marreese Speights. His career continues to linger somewhere between pro ball and returning for his junior season.
He's been playing ball and working out — and waiting for some feedback from the NBA. So far, there has been none, UF coach Billy Donovan said Tuesday.
"Right now, there is no information (from the NBA where Speights projects to go in the draft)," Donovan said. "You've got a point where we finished playing our season over six weeks ago and there's just no new information.
"That's the unfortunate part for a lot of these kids. They're having to make these decisions and they have such a long time (where there is no information from the NBA). Then (when they finally receive information), they really don't have a lot of time to make a decision whether they should keep their name in or pull it out. That's the most difficult part.
"I just hope for Marreese's sake that whatever decision he makes is the best decision, and he's going to be OK."
Speights declared for the draft on April 8, but has not signed with an agent, which gives him the option to return to UF if the information from the NBA is not as favorable as he would like.
The problem right now is Speights has little or no feedback yet on which to base his decision.
"Marreese is not allowed to work out for any NBA teams until after the (NBA) Pre-Draft Camp (in Orlando next week and the first week in June)," Donovan said. "He's not even in a situation where he can go in and work out with a team and get feedback.
"He's working out and trying to keep himself in shape. Anything you see and read right now is all speculation."
Among the many draft analysts, opinions vary widely on where Speights projects. Some have him going in the top 15, others have him falling to late in the first round or early in the second.
"On all these draft boards, everybody's got their opinion," Donovan said. "But I don't know if any team has given their hand on what they're going to do. After you move out of the lottery (first 14 picks), I don't think anybody has any idea. You've seen so many times kids think they're going to go in one area of the draft and they don't. That's always a little dangerous.
"I feel my responsibility is to gather as much information as I can for Marreese to help him make an educated decision. But, ultimately, the decision is going to come down to him and his family and what they feel is best. I just hope they do have the right information."
There's a chance Speights could end up slotted as a late first-round pick, or early second. Donovan said history shows that those picks traditionally have a difficult time playing in their first two seasons, and rarely go on to have lengthy NBA careers. One of the exceptions has been former Gator David Lee, a late pick in the first round who is carving out a productive career with the New York Knicks.
"You can get in a situation where you're inactive for two years," Donovan said. "The thing I've tried to get across to Marreese is, 'What is the best situation for you to have a career in the NBA. Not a two-year career, but have a career.'
"He's trying to make the best decision."
Donovan said Speights has not decided yet whether to participate in the NBA's Pre-Draft Camp. He said Speights may opt out and then work out individually for teams. Donovan said he is in favor of Speights attending the camp, which would give him an accurate gauge.
"I would be in favor of Marreese putting himself in situations where he can find out where he's really at," Donovan said. "He's trying to make the best decision. Nothing is set in stone whether he's going to participate in the Pre-Draft Camp."
Gator in the Olympics?
Another prominent UF player whose Gator career is on hold this summer is rising sophomore guard Nick Calathes, who is trying to make Greece's Olympic team. His grandfather, who recently died, was born and raised in Greece.
"There are a lot of things that go into Nick's situation," Donovan said. "One, his grandfather. who he was very close to. He has an opportunity to go back where his grandfather was and maybe represent that country.
"The other part I don't know about. I haven't talked to anybody from Greece. I don't know if he has a tryout, if he's on the team or not on the team. I know Greece has to qualify for the Olympics. So, I think it all sounds good in terms of the fact he's going to be playing in the Olympics, but I'm not so sure it's even the case yet. Let's hope he does get the opportunity to play in the Olympics."
Newest Gator in class
Georgetown transfer Vernon Macklin is enrolled in the Summer A semester and has started working out with the team. The 6-foot-9 forward and former McDonald's All-America must sit out the 2008-09 season per NCAA transfer rules.
"My only view of Vernon is what I watched on film when he was at Georgetown and remembering him in high school," Donovan said. "He certainly provides a lot of athleticism to our frontcourt and provides a lot of experience. He's a guy that's played in a program that's been to the Final Four and that's been in the top 10 all year long.
"He's going to try to utilize this year to really try to get better and improve and maybe live up to some of his own expectations of what he thinks he can become as a player."

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Okine bulking up

Enrolling early at Florida looks like it's been a good thing for former Gainesville High star defensive end Earl Okine.

He had a solid spring and has really started to add bulk and muscle to his long, athletic frame.

I ran into Okine on campus Tuesday and he looked like a different person compared to when I interviewed him for a story about a year ago (the theme of that story, by the way, was whether Okine would enroll at UF early or opt to remain at GHS to play basketball in his senior season). He said he is now up to 265 pounds and looks pretty imposing for a kid who could still be in high school.

Shortly after Okine arrived at UF in January, Urban Meyer said Okine has the chance to be an athletic freak because of his growth potential and athletic ability. Well, it looks like Okine is quickly growing into a freak. If he continues to develop like he has so far, Okine could get some serious playing time at end in the fall.

Okine was with true sophomore defensive end/tackle Justin Trattou (the two were on a scooter). Trattou also looked to be in excellent shape. He said he's weighing about 250 pounds, which is pretty close to what he played at last season. During bowl preparation in Orlando, Meyer said the plan was to make Trattou a full-time defensive tackle this season. But he played both end and tackle in the spring, and now that he's staying in the 250-pound range, it could be an indication that he will be a full-time defensive end this fall.

In an earlier blog on true freshman offensive lineman Sam Robey, I neglected to mention that he was a three-time all-state offensive tackle and the co-winner of the player of the year award in Kentucky his senior season. I wrote that Robey was a defensive end in high school (which he was, but he earned his reputation as an offensive lineman). Robey is one of three true freshmen who recently enrolled in the Summer A semester and he's hitting it hard in the weight room. Robey is expected to be groomed as a center at UF, a position he did not play in high school. The coaches think he's an excellent prospect and may be the sleeper in the recruiting class.

When the grim news about Ted Kennedy's prognosis broke Tuesday, the first thing I thought about was Greg See, the former Gator who lost his battle with brain cancer a few years ago. See, like Kennedy, had a seizure that led doctors to eventually discover he had glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of cancer that usually strikes children and adults over 50 (See was only 22). I spent a lot of time with Greg during the last 18 months of his life and was inspired by his courage. I think about him often. I feel for Kennedy and his family. He's facing a tough, tough battle.

[azuquita8]

Okine bulking up

Enrolling early at Florida looks like it's been a good thing for former Gainesville High star defensive end Earl Okine.

He had a solid spring and has really started to add bulk and muscle to his long, athletic frame.

I ran into Okine on campus Tuesday and he looked like a different person compared to when I interviewed him for a story about a year ago (the theme of that story, by the way, was whether Okine would enroll at UF early or opt to remain at GHS to play basketball in his senior season). He said he is now up to 265 pounds and looks pretty imposing for a kid who could still be in high school.

Shortly after Okine arrived at UF in January, Urban Meyer said Okine has the chance to be an athletic freak because of his growth potential and athletic ability. Well, it looks like Okine is quickly growing into a freak. If he continues to develop like he has so far, Okine could get some serious playing time at end in the fall.

Okine was with true sophomore defensive end/tackle Justin Trattou (the two were on a scooter). Trattou also looked to be in excellent shape. He said he's weighing about 250 pounds, which is pretty close to what he played at last season. During bowl preparation in Orlando, Meyer said the plan was to make Trattou a full-time defensive tackle this season. But he played both end and tackle in the spring, and now that he's staying in the 250-pound range, it could be an indication that he will be a full-time defensive end this fall.

In an earlier blog on true freshman offensive lineman Sam Robey, I neglected to mention that he was a three-time all-state offensive tackle and the co-winner of the player of the year award in Kentucky his senior season. I wrote that Robey was a defensive end in high school (which he was, but he earned his reputation as an offensive lineman). Robey is one of three true freshmen who recently enrolled in the Summer A semester and he's hitting it hard in the weight room. Robey is expected to be groomed as a center at UF, a position he did not play in high school. The coaches think he's an excellent prospect and may be the sleeper in the recruiting class.

When the grim news about Ted Kennedy's prognosis broke Tuesday, the first thing I thought about was Greg See, the former Gator who lost his battle with brain cancer a few years ago. See, like Kennedy, had a seizure that led doctors to eventually discover he had glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of cancer that usually strikes children and adults over 50 (See was only 22). I spent a lot of time with Greg during the last 18 months of his life and was inspired by his courage. I think about him often. I feel for Kennedy and his family. He's facing a tough, tough battle.

[azuquita8]

Harvin is coming along fine


By ROBBIE ANDREU
Sun sports writer



Published: Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 9:11 p.m.

TAMPA — Less than two months after undergoing surgery on his heel, Florida
wide receiver Percy Harvin is already running again. Well, sort of.
He's started running in a pool, which is a very good sign, UF coach Urban
Meyer said before Thursday night's Gator Gathering at the Grand Hyatt.
"It's real positive right now," Meyer said. "I just talked to (strength
and conditioning coach) Mickey Marotti five minutes ago and Percy is almost
200 pounds. He's 199. His attitude is terrific.
"He's real strong right now. He didn't go home for the break (after the
spring semester). He stayed and rehabilitated. He's doing very well. He's
ahead of schedule."
Harvin underwent surgery in early April to alleviate a painful heel
problem. The original prognosis was he could be back to full speed in eight
weeks and would be 100 percent for the start of two-a-days in early August.
Now, it appears he might be full go before the end of July.
Meyer said Harvin is putting in the work.
"He's a junior now," Meyer said. "He's always been a guy who loves to play
the game of football. He's a very competitive guy that when it doesn't go
right, that's his biggest issue.
"He's got to learn to fight through it. He's had some injuries. A lot of
times race-horse athletes that deal with those injuries, it's tough. I'm
hoping this is it. He's preparing himself. So much of having a great year
is preparation. So far, he's doing everything we've asked."
There's also positive news on the rehab of true freshman defensive end
Matt Patchan, who was shot in the shoulder two weeks ago at a park in
Brandon, near his hometown of Seffner. Meyer said the bullet was removed
from the soft tissue area during a brief surgical procedure at Shands three
days later and that Patchan is now participating in all the team's
offseason workouts and conditioning drills.
"He's full speed ahead. He's going," Meyer said. "It took a 15-minute
procedure (to remove the bullet). He's as tough as nails. I love Matt. I
love his family and what he stands for. You recruit as many Matt Patchans
as you can because he truly loves football.
"He works extremely hard in the weight room and training room."
Meyer said Patchan was very fortunate that he wasn't more seriously hurt
in the incident, which the Hillsborough County Sherriff's Office continues
to investigate.
"He's father called me to tell me," Meyer said. "The first thing you worry
about is health and what the heck happened.
"Then after I got the story and met with him and his family, and talked to
Dr. Pete (Indelicato), they told me those are nothing to joke around about.
It's a very serious injury, but it happened to be perfect where it was at
and they got it out and he's fine and ready to go."
Wilson return possible
Although offensive lineman Ronnie Wilson is no longer part of the football
program, he has stayed in school at UF on his own dime and there's a chance
he could reappear in August as a walk-on if he meets certain criteria
between now and then.
"I don't know (if it will happen)," Meyer said. "He's been in school. One
thing that we've always done is give a guy a chance if he's not on
scholarship and has nothing to do with the football program. I've done that
with other people who are currently on the team that the media doesn't even
know about.
"I take your scholarship and you're done, get the heck out of here. If you
can get yourself right and everything else, I'll evaluate that at the right
time with the leadership team. The right time is not now. (Defensive
coordinator) Charlie Strong is dealing with him right now."
Wilson was suspended from school for a year last spring when he was placed
on two years' probation after reaching a plea agreement with the State
Attorney's Office. Wilson was facing two misdemeanor charges, one for
firing a rifle over someone's head to scare him during an altercation.
Wilson also was charged with battery.
Wilson had hoped to try and return to the football team this summer, but
was dismissed again for violating a team and university rule earlier in the
year.
There also has been speculation on the Internet that troubled outside
linebacker Jonathan Demps also might have an opportunity to rejoin his
former teammates. Meyer said there is no chance it will happen.
"From what I know, Demps is not in school," Meyer said. "(Demps and
Wilson) certainly are not part of the program. They have nothing to do with
the football team."
Davis on the academic bubble
Meyer said true sophomore Torrey Davis is the only player the Gators are
concerned about academically heading into the season. Meyer said Davis must
do well in the classroom this summer to be eligible in the fall.
"Academically, everybody is in good shape," Meyer said. "The only one is
Torrey Davis. He's the only one we're still waiting on. I think he'll make
it. He has to do well in summer school."
Summer baseball for Cooper
Junior wide receiver Riley Cooper, who is playing in the outfield for the
Florida baseball team, will play in a summer baseball league after UF's
season ends. Meyer said he's fine with that.
"Baseball is helping him," Meyer said. "He's going to play summer
baseball, probably in Virginia. That was part of the deal when we recruited
him. He's a guy that could have a future in baseball or football.
"His biggest issue is dealing with injuries. He's been hurt since he's
been here. I'm just hoping he gets healthy. He doesn't handle adversity
real well, but he's a junior and he's learning to deal with it."

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Meyer: Guns, Gators don't mix

By JOEY JOHNSTON
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
Published: May 23, 2008
TAMPA - As University of Florida football coach Urban Meyer has learned, late-night telephone calls usually bring bad news. This one was a stunner. On May 9, he learned that lineman Matt Patchan, a cornerstone of UF’s recruiting class, had been shot in the left shoulder.
“The first thing you worry about is his health and what the heck happened,” Meyer said Thursday night, prior to his appearance during the Tampa Gator Club’s spring gathering at the Tampa Bay Grand Hyatt.
After meeting with Patchan and his parents, Meyer learned that the player was a bystander during an altercation at Brandon’s Sadie Park. Meyer said the bullet was removed from Patchan’s shoulder during a 15-minute procedure. Patchan is back lifting weights, working out and “going full speed ahead.”
“Matt will be a factor and he’ll see some playing time on the defensive line,” Meyer said. “He’s tough as nails. You recruit as many Matt Patchans as you can.
“You worry about the guys who don’t have the support at home. Matt has that. He comes from a great family. He was just in an unfortunate situation, but he’s going to be fine.”
Meyer said Patchan was not at fault, but he’s still uneasy about the number of occasions that guns mix with athletes.
Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, during a recent booster-club visit to Tampa after running back Preston Parker’s arrest on a weapons charge, said he owned a gun and “if you are in certain neighborhoods, you better have a gun. You have to protect yourself and your family. I really hate to say that, but it’s the way things have gotten.”
After his hiring as head coach last season, Miami’s Randy Shannon instituted a team rule. “Zero tolerance,” Shannon said. “Get caught with a firearm, you get dismissed from the university.”
Meyer’s policy?
“I don’t think there’s any place for it,” Meyer said. “I’ve actually had some conversations with parents who bought their children a gun. It’s where they’re from and what they believe in. But I tell them that’s not acceptable here. Get rid of the gun or they won’t play.
“It’s one of our core values. We had a guy do it—offensive lineman Ronnie Wilson was suspended in 2007 for firing an AK-47 assault rifle into the air during an altercation. He didn’t play. The University of Florida doesn’t allow guns.”
In other UF news:
•Receiver/tailback Percy Harvin, who missed most of spring practice after undergoing heel surgery, is “ahead of schedule” and running in a pool during rehabilitation.
•Defensive lineman Torrey Davis, of Armwood High, is facing a major academic battle to become eligible and “has a long way to go.”
•Taking a cue from quarterback Tim Tebow, Meyer and his family will make a mission trip this summer to feed poor people in the Dominican Republic. Meyer was asked if he’ll do any recruiting. He laughed, then said, “I think you’re allowed to text message down there.”
Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

[azuquita8]

Q & A with Gator football coach Urban Meyer


By Robbie Andreu
Sun sports writer



Published: Friday, May 23, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.

Florida football coach Urban Meyer's early summer was altered this year by the new NCAA rule that prohibits head coaches from going on the road to recruit. But Meyer is staying busy and keeping tabs on his players, mostly through strength and conditioning coordinator Mickey Marotti. Veteran Sun football beat writer Robbie Andreu had a chance to catch up to Meyer on Thursday night before a Gator Gathering in Tampa. Meyer shared his thoughts on several topics:
Q:What's your mind-set where the program is coming out of spring ball and going into next season?
A:I'm excited. There are a couple of areas of concern, which I think everyone in the country knows what they are. We have a chance to be a real good football team. The offensive line just excites me when I think about those players. I talk to them a lot. It all starts there. Then if we get a little better on the D-line, I think we have a chance to be really good.
Q:With some of the off-the-field problems, the most recent being the arrest of safety Jamar Hornsby, do you worry a little bit about perception versus reality?
A:No, I don't care about perception at all. I care about young peoples' lives and our football program and doing things the right way.
Q:What has strength and conditioning coordinator Mickey Marotti been telling you about the offseason program?
A:We're well ahead of where we were a year ago. All the extras. That's the amazing thing, to think the NCAA mandates that 20 hours a week and eight hours in the offseason, you can't play football. That's just the reality. I agree with the rule because coaches would go overboard. I also coached a bunch of first-round draft picks. I've also coached a Heisman Trophy winner and coached a bunch of guys that were good enough to lead the SEC in offense and win a national championship. You can't play football unless you devote yourself to academics and football. And our kids right now, from what I'm hearing, that's what they're doing.
Q:What is the early word on freshman defensive tackle Omar Hunter, who is enrolled in the Summer A semester?
A:They're using that ‘F’ word down in the weight room a little bit. Freak. Pound for pound, Mickey said (he's one of the strongest on the team). He's about six-foot tall, and a very strong football player. Now it's a matter of having a great summer. Because he's a great kid. I've had a lot of people say why did you put so much pressure on him (calling Hunter the Tim Tebow of this recruiting class)? Because I love great players. What I love better are great players that are great people, and he falls in that category. It was real critical to get him in (for Summer A), so he can get acclimated. He is without question (going to play). If he can play the game, which from what I saw on film he can, he's going to be very involved in this team. So will T.J. Pridemore (Hunter's high school teammate, who also is already enrolled). I'm not sure yet (whether he's going to play fullback or linebacker). He's going to play though. I'm hoping he's going to play. He's got a great family and falls into that great family, great person (category). For sure he'll been involved on special teams. The guy in charge of the punt team loves him, and that's me, so he's going to be on the punt team.
Q:What's your general feeling about guns and athletes?
A:I don't think there's any place for it. I've actually had some conversations with parents who have bought their children a gun. And I said that's not acceptable here. Get rid of the gun or he won't play. That's one of our core values. You're off scholarship immediately and you won't play. We had a guy do it (former offensive lineman Ronnie Wilson) and he didn't play. The University of Florida. ... We don't allow guns.
Q:How is team chemistry coming along?
A:We had our team dinner over at our house on Sunday and it was great. We're going to have a good football team.
Q:Has tailback Chris Rainey gotten bigger and stronger?
A:He actually lost a couple of pounds going to the SEC track meet (and running the 100 meters).
Q:Tim Tebow comes back this season with the Heisman Trophy on his mantle. Do you have any kind of template for managing his time and how he approaches this season?
A:He's the first Heisman winner we've coached. Danny (offensive coordinator Dan Mullen) and him are very close, as well as I am. We're very close to his family. We're just going to watch it because people are pulling at him in every direction. It's now football time. When he spends his spring break on a mission (to the Philippines) and then he comes back on his week break between the end of spring and Summer A, and he goes on another trip to Croatia for what he does, that concerns you. But what are you going to say? My goodness, that's what it's all about. I just worry about people pulling him in too many directions. Steve (sports information director Steve McClain) is helping, Dan is helping and I'm helping.
Q:Will Tebow be going on another mission this summer?
A:I don't think so. I know his father goes to the Philippines for over a month. But I think Tim is finished.
Q:Word is Tebow has been trying to get you to go on a mission with him. Is that going to happen?
A:I'm going on one, but not with him. I'm going on one this summer to the Dominican Republic with my family. We're going to be feeding the poor. We're going with a church group out of Orlando and with a good friend of mine. I'm looking forward to it. We'll be gone for five days. I've already talked to Tim about it. As it gets closer, I'm going to sit down with him. That's the impact he's had on me. He's something.
Q:Are you getting a feel for the 2008 team yet?
A:Yeah, I'm getting a lot of positive vibes right now. It's coming from our strength coach and coming from calling four or five players every night just to see how it's going.
Q:Are you getting some positive feelings on the defense getting better?
A:Yeah, I like (middle linebacker) Brandon Spikes' attitude. It all starts with that position. (Brandon) Siler kind of ran that defense (on the 2006 national championship team). Spikes was a sophomore (last season) and didn't run the defense very well. He played well, but didn't run it very well. (Safety) Major Wright was a true freshman. When we had Brandon Siler and (All-America safety) Reggie Nelson. ... it's like the baseball axiom, that you've got to be strong up the middle. Absolutely, you have to be. When we had Reggie Nelson and Brandon Siler, was there any better? Then you go to a sophomore and a true freshman and you're kind of giving up plays. Those two players (Spikes and Wright) have to be a lot better for us to be good.

[azuquita8]

UF softball advances to CWS


By Kevin Brockway
Sun sports writer



Published: Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 5:32 p.m.

After being ousted in the Super Regionals a year ago, the Florida softball team began the season with a goal to reach the College World Series.
On a sweltering Saturday afternoon, the Gators accomplished that mission, outlasting California 4-2 in nine innings to reach the CWS for the first time in the program's 12-year history.
Florida junior Sta